Apple’s iPhone X family got bigger last week with the launch of two new flagships and one modest range device. Out of all, the first new model is a straightforward upgraded version of iPhone X, the 5.8-inch sized dubbed iPhone XS whereas the one with the 6.5-inch screen size is named iPhone XS Max. We have already discussed all the new iPhone models on broad categories, let’s go through the early review of each new iPhone X individually.
With a bigger display, groundbreaking camera technology, the latest operating system, dual SIM support and other advanced technologies, the new iPhone XS is all set to replace its parent model, iPhone X.
iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max come in gorgeous gold, space grey and silver finishes. Source: Apple
iPhone XS Review: Display
Though the new iPhone seems complete look-alike of iPhone X with the same price tag of $999, look closer and you may notice apparent differences between the two models.
The iPhone XS features all-screen OLED panels which the company describes as ‘Super Retina’. It is made to deliver 60 percent better High Dynamic Range (HDR) display than the predecessor iPhone models. The new advanced display attributes remarkable color contrast ratio of 1,000,000 to 1 and wide color gamut for most precise color distinction output.
Discussing the sturdiness of iPhone XS body, it is enclosed in high-grade stainless steel and a glass back for wireless charging. Unlike OnePlus6 splash-proof specification, the Apple 2018 flagship phone with IP68 display demonstrate a great resistant to water, that is, the phone can survive under the 2m deep water for 30 minutes. Moreover, it can also bear a splash of coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages. The earlier iPhone models boasted IP67 waterproofed screen. In addition, there are few improvements made on the sound segment also.
Tim Cook addresses guests at iPhone XS launch event. Source: Apple
iPhone XS Review: Performance
More than the design element, the tagline of this year’s Apple annual September event was ‘powerful and intelligent processor’.
The iPhone XS is built on state of art architecture. As announced earlier, the new Apple phone is fitted with the all-new in-house built CPU, 7 nanometer A12 Bionic chip with multi-core Neural Engine.
The next-generation Apple processor guarantees up to 15 percent better performance and 50 percent less power usage than the A11 Bionic chip. There is another 4-core GPU configured inside iPhone XS body providing 50 percent faster graphics performance than its predecessor for the demanding applications, immersive gameplay and high-quality video editing.
And the faster processor can easily support large storage space of up to 512GB without slowing down the phone’s operations. Along with all these extraordinary capabilities, the iPhone XS operates for 30 minutes more than the iPhone X on a single charge.
The A12 Bionic chip is designed in such a way that it can learn and understand the user’s regular activity on the phone and then ultimately turn into an efficient digital assistant.
Fresh Machine Learning Support
The most interesting technology which comes on the iPhone XS is the Neural Engine. It is an 8-core machine learning technology to compute large complex algorithms in all sub-sets starting from photography to augmented reality in the real time. To put this in numbers, it can perform five trillion operations per second.
And the innovation giant has opened up this platform to Core ML, allowing developers to design machine learning based apps.
Plus, iPhone XS runs on the most advanced mobile OS of the world, iOS 12, supporting new augmented reality experiences.
Apple made sure that with so many things happening inside the iPhone XS, the battery consumption should be limited.
CEO of Directive Games Atli Mar Sveinsson demos the gameplay of Galaga AR with three players. Source: Apple
Advanced Face ID
The combination of Neural Engine and TrueDepth Camera enabled the new iPhone to recognize faces even if the owner is wearing a hat or sunglasses, and that too at a faster rate. The new deep-sensing technology uses capabilities far beyond two-dimensional facial detection.
Besides unlocking iPhone, the Face ID on iPhone Xs can be employed to open apps, locked notes and documents and use Apple Pay.
Dual SIM Support
For the very first time, the iPhone X series setup supports dual-SIM. The owner can insert two SIM cards in the iPhone XS – one nano-SIM and the other one eSIM, that’s the digital SIM which activates mobile plan without using an actual SIM card. The dual SIM feature was earlier available on Apple Watch and iPad.
At the same time, the innovation giant has installed a Gigabit-class LTE system in the 2018 flagship enabling for faster downloads.
iPhone XS Review: Camera Technology
“Shot on iPhone” is a worldwide trending hashtag on the social media. Building on the same photography prowess with Apple-designed Neural Engine and enhanced Image Signal Processor along with Smart HDR, the new iPhone XS gets 12MP wide-angle, telephoto dual-camera at the rear and 7MP true camera at the selfie side. There also lays a new sensor supporting deeper and larger pixels up to 1.4 µm from 1.22 µm in the earlier iPhone model.
Interestingly, the new iPhone camera has received a superior Bokeh effect, especially for clicking stunning pictures in Portrait mode. This features operation is not as simple as said, post clicking an image, the phone’s software itself identifies the subject and blurs the remaining portion.
In fact, the photographer can edit the depth-of-field effects after the shot is taken. Though the feature was earlier introduced in HTC way back, Apple technology gives far better output.
iPhone XS users can record videos up to 60 frames per second, matching the performance of a DSLR lens.
A breakthrough new 12MP dual camera system with 2x optical zoom and dual optical image stabilization introduce a new era of iPhone photography. Source: Apple
iPhone XS Color
The iPhone XS is available in storage size – 64GB, 256GB and 512GB. One can buy the device in space grey, silver or a new gold color at price starting from $999.
The pre-orders for iPhone XS started on September 14th, 2018 and the phones will hit the stores this Friday on September 21st.
Technowize Verdict
Though the exterior design elements are significantly similar to the predecessor iPhone X, the 2018 flagship iPhone is a composition of all new, advanced, future-oriented and in-house built systems.
Always ahead in the technological innovations, this time Apple focused on the software side of iPhone XS while launching it last week. The iPhone XS gets the latest iOS, advanced A12 bionic processor, 12MP dual camera technology, AR support, improved face ID technology and a new gold finish; everything available for the same price at the launch price of its parent phone.
This is too early to put any substantial comment on the performance on the iPhone XS, however, we are eagerly waiting to see amazing clicks under the ‘#ShotOniPhoneXS’ on the social media platforms.
