Create and Construct

When compared to the iPhone X, the iPhone XS has a premium frame and exterior made of stainless steel and glass, for a shiny and smudge-resistant surface. It is only slightly bigger and heavier than the iPhone X, measureing at 5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches (143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm) and weighing 6.24 ounces (177g). Appearing in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold, it has a fashionable appearance. Face ID uses the TrueDepth camera in the notch, and you now use gestures instead of the home button.

• Stainless steel frame
• Glass front and back
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• No home button
• Lightning port
• Physical SIM card slot

The gadget supports Qi wireless charging at 7.5W, but does not have a MagSafe hole. The improved IP68 rating enhances durability. Apple’s decision to remove the home button is part of their effort to use the whole screen for navigation.

iPhone XS Display

The iPhone XS has a 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED display that offers a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels and a PPI of 458. Thanks to HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the TV produces vivid colors and almost no brightness. It supports Face ID but does not have a Dynamic Island. It produces 625 nits of brightness, allowing it to suit most environments, but offers only a 60Hz refresh rate.

• 5.8-inch OLED
• 2436 x 1125 resolution
• HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
• 625 nits (typical)
• 60Hz refresh rate

While the visuals for video are great, the fact that the screen doesn’t refresh quickly and lacks an Always-On Display displeases some users. Notches are still present and do the job, yet they look a bit old-fashioned.

Software and Processor

The iPhone XS runs on an A12 Bionic chip, using a 2-2-4 CPU system and a 4-core GPU. This phone is good for multitasking and playing games, thanks to its 4GB RAM and storage options of 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB. Thanks to iOS 12 (which you can update), the iPhone lasts a long time. The A12 is 15% faster and uses less power than the A11.

• A12 Bionic chip
• 4GB RAM
• Storage: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB
• iOS 12 (upgradable)

iOS 12 brings speed and long battery life on the A12 Bionic, however, some users experienced minor bugs, which were usually solved in updates.

Camera System

An iPhone XS has two 12MP cameras on its back. Both lenses have a wide f/1.8, 26mm setup and a telephoto f/2.4, 52mm lens with 2x optical zoom and OIS. The phone comes with Portrait mode and Smart HDR for better pictures. It allows for Face ID and stunning Portrait selfies, with the help of the 7MP TrueDepth front camera (f/2.2). It takes videos in both 4K for fast motion and 1080p to capture slow motion at 60fps and 240fps, respectively.

• Rear: 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto
• 2x optical zoom
• Front: 7MP TrueDepth
• Video: 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps
• Modes: Portrait, Smart HDR

On the one hand, the camera works better in dim lighting than the iPhone X’s, but it doesn’t have a Night mode. You can use a telephoto lens for close-up pictures as well as zoom-out views.

Battery Specifications

The iPhone XS has a battery that holds 2,658mAh of power, letting you talk for up to 20 hours or browse for about 12 hours on the web. Real-world tests show that the phone can work for around 10-12 hours when you mix things like calls, web browsing, and watching videos. It supports wired charging at up to 15W and also lets you charge wirelessly at 7.5W. The A12 Bionic makes the phone faster, but you might not get as long of a battery life as with the XR.

• 2,658mAh battery
• Up to 20 hours talk time
• 15W wired charging
• 7.5W Qi wireless charging

Connectivity

The iPhone XS has 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The phone comes with a single SIM, as well as support for eSIM and NFC for Apple Pay. GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo make sure location services are always accurate. It lacks 5G and ultra-wideband.

• 4G LTE
• Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Single SIM, eSIM
• NFC for Apple Pay
• GPS, GLONASS, Galileo

Pricing and Availability

The 64GB model started at $999, the 256GB model at $1,149, and the 512GB model at $1,349, with the official launch on September 21, 2018. Apple, carriers, and retailers offer the phone, and you can trade in your old one as well.