Please note: AirPods 2 (2019) have been released and are available to order as is Apple's 2019 lineup, the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.
Apple has launched a big product this year in every sense of the word. The iPhone XS Max pronounced "10S Max", features a display 1 full inch larger than Apple's iPhone 8 Plus -- packed into a smaller housing. Other upgrades include improvements to the dual-rear camera, a more powerful and efficient processor, dual-SIM capability, and a water-resistant build.
iPhone XS Max: UK Price
Prices for the 64 GB entry-level version of the Max start at £529. This is £100 more than the smaller iPhone XS, which is priced at less than £1000. The iPhone XR, Apple's more budget-friendly option, is available at less than £450 for the 64 GB model. Anyone looking to save some cash on an iOS smartphone will also be happy to see that Apple's iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X have all dropped in price.
XS Max v. iPhone XS and XR
Both XS models feature the same dual-rear camera. The XR, on the other hand, is lacking the secondary telephoto lens. All 3 share the same selfie shooter. The word "Max" calls up expectations. Due to its size, the Max is also powered by the largest battery. Surely something must be bigger and better about this version of the iPhone. Is it only a matter of size? Below is a brief overview of the differences:
- Build: The Max is the largest of the 3 released smartphones in the X series. The XS is the most compact, and the XR falls somewhere in between.
- Display: The 6.5-inch OLED display on the Max is also significantly larger than those of the other two phones. The XS features a 5.8-inch OLED display, while the XR is equipped with a 6.1-inch IPS display.
- Power: All 3 phones are kitted out with the same processor, but the two XS versions offer 4 GB RAM. The XR makes do with 3 GB.
Max-imum Specifications
Headline feature and main reason to buy the Apple iPhone XS Max is the 6.5-inch True Tone OLED display. This is 0.1 inches larger than the screen on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Super Retina resolution (2.688 x 1.242) results in a pixel density of 458 ppi. The display supports both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision for an absolutely stunning viewing experience.
This massive screen is squeezed into a stainless steel and glass housing that measures only 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm -- smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus. At 208 g, the new phone is slightly heavier, but it is also more robust. The display is scratch-resistant and treated with an oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprinting. It is also rated IP68 dust and water-resistant.
Both the physical Home Button and the 3.5 mm headphone jack are absent. Apple includes a set of lightning connector compatible earbuds in the box, or if you prefer a boost in audio, you can purchase the AirPods 2 or the AirPods Pro. Dual-SIM support is also on board for the first time (nano-SIM and eSIM), though it is not compatible with current microSIM cards. The large 3300 mAh battery supports both fast and wireless charging via the Qi standard.
Powering the phone inside is Apple's new A12 Bionic processor with fusion architecture and two performance cores. This beast is backed up by 4 GB RAM, a quad-core GPU, Apple's Image Signal Processor, and a video encoder. The result is all-round higher and more efficient performance, from photography to gaming. A next-generation Neural Engine for advanced machine learning is also ticking away, delivering extra oomph for AR and camera effects. The processor runs iOS 12, the latest version of the brand's operating system. New AR features, privacy enhancements, and "Siri Shortcuts" to help Siri cooperate smoothly with other apps, are some of the highlights.
Dual-Rear Cameras
The dual rear camera is very similar to 2018's iPhone X setup: twin 12 MP cameras, one with f/1.8 aperture and the other with f/2.4 aperture. The secondary camera serves as a telephoto lens for zooming and assists in Portrait Mode. The two biggest changes are:
- Depth Control: This feature enables you to adjust the level of bokeh in Portrait Mode.
- Smart HDR: Smart HDR captures many photos at once, then selects the best few and uses them to create an optimised image with outstanding dynamic range.
Up front is a 7 MP TrueDepth selfie shooter with f/2.2 aperture. It supports Portrait Mode and can be combined with Animojis and Memojis to create AR effects.
Apple iPhone XS Max: Verdict
The XS Max is the largest of this 2018's iPhones. The main difference between it and the more compact XS is simply size. This translates into a bigger OLED display and a more powerful battery. If multimedia is your top priority, it is definitely the iPhone to buy. The Max is available in gold, silver, or space grey with a choice of 64 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB internal storage. Storage expansion via microSD card is not supported.
