Should you upgrade to the Apple iPhone XR?

The iPhone XR is available today, but should you get one? We're here to help you decide.

First of all, here's a quick recap of everything you need to know about the XR:

• 6.1-inch LCD "Liquid Retina" display with a 1,792 x 828 pixels resolution (326 ppi). This is the same pixel density used on every non-Plus LCD iPhone since the iPhone 5.
• The all-screen display has the same 19.5:9 aspect ratio as the iPhone XS and XS Max. 
• Notch in the display houses the same 7-megapixel f/2.2 front-facing camera, and the same TrueDepth FaceID setup as the XS and XS Max.
• Same DCI-P3 wide color support, up to 625 cd/m² brightness, 120Hz touch-sensing, and True Tone as the XS and XS Max.
• However, the XR's LCD display only has 1,400:1 contrast ratio, versus 1,000,000:1 for the OLED displays on the XS and XS Max.
• 3D Touch is also not available on the XR, although it can still provide haptic feedback.
• The display supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, but it is not a true HDR display. You will see some visual enhancements when playing HDR content, but they won't be as drastic as with a true HDR display like the OLED ones on the XS and XS Max.
• Series 7000 aluminum frame and a glass rear.
• The front and rear glass are the same extra durable glass found on the XS and XS Max.
• IP67 rating (slightly worse than the XS and XS Max's IP68 rating).
• Single-lens, wide-angle rear camera that is the same as the 12-megapixel, f/1.8 module on the XS and XS Max.
• Despite the single-lens setup, the XR still has a Portrait Mode that offers depth of field control (both before and after the shot is taken).
• Same Bionic A12 chip as the XS and XS Max, but only 3GB RAM.
• Same stereo speakers as the XS and XS Max.
• Same support for LTE Advanced for fast cellular download speeds as well as dual-SIM functionality (nano-SIM + eSIM). 
• 2,942mAh battery and wireless charging.
• Available in three storage capacities: 64GB (S$1,229), 128GB (S$1,299), and 256GB (S$1,469).
• And six colors: Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue.
• iPhone XR Telco price plan comparison.

iPhone XR or XS/XS Max?

If you're trying to decide between the iPhone XR and XS/XS Max, go for the XR. It's at least S$420 cheaper, and does about 90% of what the XS and XS Max can do. It even has a bigger display than the XS. The only thing you're really missing out on is a telephoto rear camera lens.

If you're a fan of big displays and you're trying to convince yourself to shell out S$1,799 for the iPhone XS Max, make sure you take a look at the XR first. You might be surprised by just how spacious its 6.1-inch display is. Yes, it's not as huge as the XS Max, but it's still much bigger than the 6, 7, or 8 Plus.

From iPhone X to iPhone XR

If you already own an iPhone X, the XR is not much of an upgrade as there are some considerable tradeoffs to consider. You lose the OLED display, 3D Touch, stainless steel frame, and dual rear camera setup, and the display isn't that much bigger than the iPhone X's 5.8-inch display. If you're using an iPhone X, hold onto it.

What you get for upgrading

• Slightly larger display.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• Louder stereo speakers.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Improved wide-angle camera.
• Improved Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• Faster and more secure Face ID.
• 128GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• 3D Touch.
• OLED display.
• Higher resolution display.
• Stainless steel frame.
• Secondary telephoto camera.
• Silver and Space Gray colors.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were the last generation of Apple's 2014-2017 iPhone era, which started with the iPhone 6. They're also the last iPhones with TouchID and Home Buttons, but FaceID is so good (and more secure) that you'll find you don't really miss them. The main reason to upgrade to the XR is the larger, bezel-less display.

What you get for upgrading

• Larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Louder stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• More RAM (if upgrading from the iPhone 8)
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Improved wide-angle camera.
• Improved Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 128GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• 3D Touch.
• TouchID
• Home Button
• Higher resolution display if upgrading from the iPhone 8 Plus.
• Secondary telephoto camera if upgrading from the iPhone 8 Plus.
• Silver, Space Gray, and Gold, color options.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were the first iPhones to introduce a dual rear camera setup and Portrait Mode  (but only on the 7 Plus), IP67 dust and water resistance and stereo speakers. They were also unique because Apple introduced two black color options that haven't been seen since: Matte Black, and Jet Black (although the Black XR has a very similar aluminum frame as the Matte Black iPhone 7).

Once again, the main reason to upgrade to the XR is the larger, bezel-less display. You also get wireless charging, a much better wide-angle camera, and a much faster processor for upgrading.

What you get for upgrading

• Larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• IP67 dust and water resistance.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• Glass rear with wireless charging.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Louder stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• More RAM (if upgrading from the iPhone 7)
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Improved wide-angle camera.
• Improved Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 64GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• 3D Touch.
• TouchID.
• Home Button.
• Higher resolution display if upgrading from the iPhone 7 Plus.
• Secondary telephoto camera if upgrading from the iPhone 7 Plus.
• Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, and Jet Black color options.

The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus were the first iPhones to introduce 3D Touch. They were also the first iPhones available in Rose Gold and the last iPhones with 3.5mm headphone jacks. Once again, the main reason to upgrade to the XR is the larger, bezel-less display, but you also get stereo speakers, wireless charging, a much better rear camera, Portrait mode, and a much faster processor for upgrading.

What you get for upgrading

• Larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• IP67 dust and water resistance.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• Glass rear with wireless charging.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• 3GB RAM.
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Better rear camera.
• Better selfie camera.
• Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 256GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• 3D Touch.
• TouchID.
• Home Button.
• 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Higher resolution display if upgrading from the iPhone 6s Plus.
• Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold color options.

The iPhone SE (short for Special Edition) was a unique, one-off iPhone that packed the processor and rear camera of the 6S into the 4-inch body of the older iPhone 5. If you're still using the SE, you probably bought it for its compact size, but now that the phone has been discontinued, and Apple isn't rumored to be releasing any more small iPhones, it's time to leave 2010 behind and join the rest of modern society by embracing a bigger smartphone display. 

Upgrading to the XR will give you a much larger display, stereo speakers, wireless charging, a much better rear camera, a better selfie camera, more RAM, and a much faster processor.

What you get for upgrading

• Much larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• IP67 dust and water resistance.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• Glass rear with wireless charging.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• 3GB RAM.
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Better rear camera.
• Better selfie camera
• Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 256GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• Compact size.
• TouchID.
• Home Button.
• 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold color options.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were the first generation of Apple's larger iPhones, with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens respectively. These phones are really old though, and you get a lot of meaningful upgrades for upgrading. The main reason to upgrade to the XR is the larger, bezel-less display, but you also get stereo speakers, wireless charging, much better front and rear cameras, more RAM, and a much faster processor.

What you get for upgrading

• Larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• IP67 dust and water resistance.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• Glass rear with wireless charging.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• 3GB RAM.
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Better rear camera.
• Better selfie camera.
• Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 256GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• 3D Touch.
• TouchID.
• Home Button.
• 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Higher resolution display if upgrading from the iPhone 6 Plus.
• Silver, Space Gray, and Gold color options.

The iPhone 5S was the last generation of Apple's 4-inch iPhones. Compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone XR, its 4-inch display looks tiny in comparison. Beyond just extra screen real estate, you also get stereo speakers, wireless charging, a dual rear camera setup, more RAM, and a much faster processor for upgrading.

If you're still holding onto one of these phones, what are you waiting for? It's time to upgrade.

What you get for upgrading

• Much larger 6.1-inch display.
• Taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio bezel-less display with notch.
• IP67 dust and water resistance.
• FaceID and Animoji.
• Glass rear with wireless charging.
• More durable front and glass rear.
• Stereo speakers.
• More powerful A12 Bionic processor.
• 3GB RAM.
• 4G LTE Cat 16 support for up to 1024Mbps download speeds.
• Dual Sim functionality.
• Better rear camera.
• Better selfie camera
• Portrait Mode with adjustable depth-of-field.
• 256GB storage option.
• Black, White, Coral, Yellow, Red, and Blue color options.

What you lose for upgrading

• Compact size.
• TouchID.
• Home Button.
• 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Silver, Space Gray and Gold color options.

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