iPhone X vs. XR: Which Phone Is Better?

Shakila Hansika
7 min readJul 11, 2021

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If you’re looking to shop for an iPhone, the X and therefore the XR are two fairly new models that probably come to mind. But what’s the difference between the iPhone X vs XR and which one is best for you?

In this guide, we break down everything you would like to understand about the X and therefore the XR models, including features, reviews, pros, cons, pricing, and more — to assist you to create the simplest decision. If you stick around to the top of the post also, we offer you access to some crazy good deals on new and premium used iPhones too!

Overall, the iPhone X and XR are both phenomenal phones that have hailed highly regarded reviews from the Apple community. Both have their place, each fitting a particular sort of user. Determining which one is best for you to come right down to price point, features, and private preference.

It’s 2021, and though the iPhone X still feels relatively new, it’s been a short time since its release. If you’re wondering whether you’d be happier with the XR, you’re not alone! Let’s break down the features each phone has got to offer to urge to the rock bottom of which iPhone is best for you — the X or the XR.

iPhone X vs. iPhone XR: What’s the difference?

The iPhone X marks the departure of the house button, which created a self-contained phone shielded from water and mud like none before. Both can survive underwater at 1m for up to half-hour without damage, but the XR pushes the boundary to 2 meters. Apple also introduced Face ID which has continued with the XR.

The XR may be a bigger and heavier phone. It feels more almost like a little tablet, and for many people, it is often a two-handed device. Besides size, the most important change may be a faster processor.

The richness of the display is far better within the X than the XR. Each phone has its pros and cons.

Let’s undergo each category that folks consider most vital when buying a replacement phone to offer you a thought of which phone is best for you.

1. Dimensions: Which is that the Best Size?
The iPhone XR is that the bigger of the 2 phones by about 5%, but that extra size makes it about 10% heavier and thicker. the rationale behind this difference in weight and size is that the iPhone X uses a more lightweight and versatile OLED display instead of the thicker LCD.

To catch up on the heavier and bigger LCD, Apple wrapped the iPhone XR in aluminum instead of chrome steel. the texture of aluminum could also be a deal-breaker for a few because chrome steel exudes top quality.

For some size matters, but bigger isn’t always better. Gripping a bigger phone could convince be challenging and you would possibly need to purchase add-ons to stay from dropping it or to form it feel easier in your hand. Others are willing to travel with a bigger size especially if visuals are important. you’ve got to think through how you employ a phone and whether the additional size will improve the experience.

2. Camera: Which Phone Captures Cleaner Images & Videos?
With the arrival of the iPhone X, camera quality took an enormous leap into the longer term. the twin 12-megapixel camera array offered better photos than previous versions of the phone. the twin setup creates an optical zoom advantage. Unfortunately, this was lost with the iPhone XR.

Even with the loss of the twin setup, the iPhone XR retained the portrait mode. Portrait mode allows you to require pictures of individuals with a subtle blur within the background and improved lighting of the topic. this enables you to make highly professional studio-quality photos of friends and family.

The loss of the improved zoom feature could also be only an inconvenience. you’ll need to step a touch closer to your subject where the iPhone X allowed you to zoom from further distances.

Both phones support ‘Smart HDR’ image processing. Smart HDR allows you to require multiple photos at different exposures then combine them into one crisp image.

The two rear cameras on the iPhone X combine a 12Mp f/1.8 fisheye lens and a 12Mp f/2.4 zoom lens, both with OIS. the mixture of the cameras leave 4K video capture at up to 60 frames per second and 1080p movie at 240 frames per second. The XR only features a 12Mp f/1.8 fisheye lens with OIS but comes on the brink of X performance with a replacement processor and sensor.

If you’re a photograph bug, the iPhone X is that the superior phone with both stills and videos. However, the iPhone XR remains an improvement over previous iterations before the X was released.

3. Software & Internals: Is There a huge Difference in Performance?
The iPhone X will come installed with iOS 11 and therefore the iPhone XR comes with iOS 12. There are a couple of main benefits of iOS 12, but don’t let be a deciding factor for purchasing the XR. you’ll upgrade the OS to 12 on the iPhone X and receive equivalent benefits.

iOS 12 brings greater processing performance while saving battery life. you’ll even install it on an old iPhone 6 and apps will load 40% faster. iOS 12 also offers software with AR capability and app developers can cash in for making programs that leave Augmented Reality. There also are improvements with Siri, Facetime, and Animated Emojis.

The real boost with the iPhone XR is that the upgrade to the A12 Bionic processor.

The A12 comes with a way faster CPU. it’s touted as 1.5x faster than the iPhone X: 4 x 2.49GHz & 4 x 1.6GHzvs2 x 2.53 & 4 x 1.42GHz. The semiconductor size drops from 10nm to 7nm.

Besides a more powerful processor, the iPhone XR improves over the X with faster LTE and Dual SIM capabilities.

If you’ve got a requirement for speed and are an important app user, you’ll see a big improvement with XR over the X thanks to the processing power it possesses.

4. Battery: Which Phone Lasts Longer?
Battery life is often tricky to gauge. one among the quality measures is to research talk time. The battery improves by 4 hrs with the iPhone XR vs. the iPhone X. The X advertises 21 hrs of continuous talk time and therefore the XR improves that to 25 hrs.

One reason the XR has improved battery life is that the diminished quality of the display. While you’ll not be ready to distinguish the standard of the OLED display vs the iPhone XR’s LCD, the LCD improves battery performance. Having a much bigger phone, allowed Apple to put in a bigger battery also inside the XR.

Both models offer wireless charging, but wireless charging with the iPhone X is really faster than the iPhone XR. The wireless charging adapter isn’t included within the box with either phone and is an add-on purchase.

5. Display: Does Retina Display Make A Difference?
The iPhone X wins handily with its display. It features an OLED Retina display versus the quality LCD of the XR.

The term “retina display” is an Apple term given to its technology. The display images are so crisp and sharp the human eye can’t differentiate individual pixels. The whites are brighter and therefore the blacks are deeper creating amazing contrast you are doing not get with other displays.

Pixel density is higher with 458 pixels per inch vs the iPhone XR pixel quality of 326ppi, and determination is additionally higher on the X with 1125 x 2436 vs the iPhone XR resolution of 828 x 1792.

Although the resolution might not be as sharp, the XR does win on screen size. But even with the larger screen, it can’t display full HD 1080p content.

If you watch tons of video content on your phone, you’ll enjoy the experience of the upper picture quality the iPhone X provides.

iPhone X vs XR Comparison: Which is the Best?

New Features: What’s New within the iPhone XR?
So what does the iPhone XR have that the iPhone X is missing?

New color schemes: White, Black, Blue, Coral, Yellow, and a special Product Red edition.
The A12 Bionic Chip. this is often the primary 7nm chip housing the CPU, GPU, and advanced Neural Engine. The 6 core CPU is quicker than any previous model. It can launch apps 30% faster than the iPhone X.
Second Generation Face ID system. More accurate, easier to use, and more intuitive Face ID system for locking and unlocking your phone.
Haptic Touch. The XR doesn’t have the 3D touch that previous phones have. However, you employ an extended press and receive similar haptic feedback. The 3D touch caused problems for Apple because customers would often press too hard on the phone and damage it over time.
Portrait mode on one camera. Allows you to require photos in portrait mode, which filters out background movement and provides zoom for professional-looking photos and selfies.
Dual SIM. you’ll have access to a second number without having a second SIM card.
Longer Battery Life than previous phones. The iPhone XR features a battery life of about 25 hours of continuous calling, vs. the 21 hours of the iPhone X. Both are excellent by any means, but the XR provides a touch better battery life.

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Shakila Hansika

I love to discover new technologies and share knowledge with peoples