Apple iPhone XS Max vs. HTC U12 Plus: Does more expensive mean better?

Apple has finally taken the wraps off the latest and greatest set of iPhones, including the ultra-premium iPhone XS, the massive iPhone XS Max, and the so-called “budget” device, the iPhone XR. Featuring a new processor, improved camera features, and more, the new iPhones have a lot going for them. In particular, it seems like the iPhone XS Max is a great phone — considering its huge display and top-tier specs.

But how does the iPhone XS Max fare against other flagship phones for the year? The HTC U12 Plus is HTC’s best phone so far, boasting premium specs, a dual-sensor camera, and more. In case you’re considering buying one of these phones, we’ve put them head-to-head to find out which is better.

Specs

HTC U12 Plus
Apple iPhone XS Max

Size
156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7 mm (6.17 x 2.91 x 0.31 inches)
157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches)

Weight
188g (6.63oz)
208g (7.34oz)

Screen size
6 inch Super LCD
6.5 inch Super Retina OLED

Screen resolution
2880 x 1440 pixels (537 pixels per inch)
2688 x 1242 pixels (458 pixels per inch)

Operating system
Android 8.0 Oreo
iOS 12

Storage space
64GB, 128GB
64GB, 256GB, 512GB

MicroSD Card slot
Yes
No

Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Apple Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Apple A12 Bionic

RAM
6GB
4GB

Camera
Dual 12MP + 16MP rear, dual 8MP + 8MP front
Dual 12MP + 12MP rear, 7MP front

Video
4K at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps
4K at 60 fps, 1,080p at 240 fps

Bluetooth  version
Version 5.0
Version 5.0

Ports
USB-C
Lightning

Fingerprint sensor
Yes
No

Water resistance
IP68
IP68

Battery
3,500mAh

Quick Charge 3.0 (QC 4.0 supported but requires separate charger)

3,174mAh

Fast charging (requires separate charger)

Qi wireless charging

App marketplace
Google Play
Apple App Store

Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon

Colors
Translucent Blue, Ceramic Black, Flame Red
Silver, Space Gray, Gold

Price
$800+
$1,099+

Buy from
HTC
Apple

Review score
3 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Under the hood, the two phones are pretty different devices. While many Android flagships feature the latest Qualcomm processor, Apple makes its own mobile processors for its smartphones. The iPhone XS Max features Apple’s all-new A12 Bionic chip with 4GB of RAM, while the HTC U12 Plus boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and 6GB of RAM. Both chips are very powerful, though when it comes to sheer performance, it seems as though the A12 Bionic is ahead of the pack, based on early benchmarks.

The actual battery capacity on the two phones is similar, but the HTC U12 Plus comes out ahead, with its 3,500mAh battery — versus the 3,174mAh battery on the iPhone XS Max. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the HTC U12 Plus will last longer on a charge, especially considering the improvements Apple has made in the processor to boost power efficiency. On top of that, the iPhone features wireless charging, something that the HTC U12 Plus does not offer.

Because of the better performance and the addition of wireless charging, the iPhone is the winner here.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Both the HTC U12 Plus and the iPhone XS Max are relatively well-designed, but the iPhone simply seems a little more modern. Part of that has to do with the fact that the iPhone boasts an edge-to-edge display, while the HTC U12 Plus has a small forehead and chin. Both phones have a metal frame and a glass back. The U12 Plus has a fingerprint sensor on the back below the camera module, while the iPhone XS Max relies on the front-facing camera for FaceID.

While both phones feature IP68 water resistance, which safeguards against drops into shallow water, they won’t cope well with drops, so cases are a good idea. Neither of the two phones feature a headphone jack. The HTC U12 Plus features a USB-C port, while the iPhone XS Max, as you’d expect, has a Lightning port.

The iPhone XS Max is the more modern and attractive of the two.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The HTC U12 Plus and iPhone XS Max have pretty different displays. For starters, the HTC U12 Plus features a higher resolution, thanks to its 2880 x 1440-pixel display. But in almost every other metric, the iPhone wins out. The iPhone’s display, for example, is larger, and it’s an OLED display which offers much higher contrast and inky blacks you just won’t find with LCD.

While the resolution is slightly higher on the HTC phone, considering the fact that the iPhone’s display is better in every other metric, it’s the winner here.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Both the HTC U12 Plus and the iPhone XS Max feature dual-sensor rear-facing cameras, but they’re not necessarily created equal. The HTC U12 Plus features a dual 12-megapixel and 16-megapixel rear-facing camera. The main lens has an aperture of f/1.75, which should be fine for many low-light shots. The secondary lens on the HTC U12 Plus offers 2x optical zoom and a Portrait Mode, which we found to perform decently well in our review.

The iPhone XS Max, on the other hand, offers dual 12-megapixel lenses with an aperture of f/1.8 in the main lens. Like the U12 Plus, the iPhone XS Max’s secondary lens offers 2x optical zoom, and also supports things like Portrait Mode, with the option to adjust background blur after capturing the shot. There’s also a new sensor and software in the iPhone XS Max, compared to last year’s iPhone X, enabling it to combine frames for perfect exposure.

The cameras are similar, but ultimately the image processing and software of the iPhone beat out the camera on the HTC U12 Plus. At this point, if you’re an Android user and want the device with the best camera, the Google Pixel series is probably the way to go.

The front-facing cameras are also relatively different on the two devices. The HTC U12 Plus offers dual 8-megapixel lenses on the front, while the iPhone XS Max instead offers a single 7-megapixel sensor. The iPhone, however, boasts features like Face ID — something the HTC U12 Plus doesn’t have.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

We’re not going to do a deep dive into the Android vs. iOS debate — but we will go through a few main points. Android, for starters, is generally a little more customizable. You can add widgets where you want to add them, install apps from third-party app stores, and so on. With iOS, on the other hand, you get a slick, accessible platform that’s a little more organized. Everything is pretty much where you expect it to be, and it’s generally pretty secure.

Updates, however, are another issue — and one that iOS far excels in. With an iPhone, you’ll get the update as soon as it’s available, as long as your phone is compatible. With an Android phone, that’s really only true for Pixel phones — HTC phones will likely take a few months to get new Android version updates, if they get the update at all. Because of that, the iPhone’s the winner here.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Both the iPhone XS Max and HTC U12 Plus offer a few interesting features. For starters, the iPhone XS Max features Apple’s Face ID — and while some will prefer a fingerprint sensor, it’s still an interesting bit of tech that enables other features, like Animoji.

The HTC U12 Plus offers a few special features, but not all of them will be considered advantages. For example, we found that the digital buttons, while interesting, were overly sensitive and didn’t really work the way they should. One thing that the HTC U12 Plus does offer over the iPhone is the inclusion of Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa — so you can use your digital assistant of choice when you want to.

Winner: Tie

Price

The iPhone XS Max and the HTC U12 Plus come at very different prices. While the HTC U12 Plus starts at $799, the iPhone XS Max costs $300 more than that at $1,099. Safe to say, if you’re on the fence between these two phones and money is a concern, the HTC U12 Plus may be a better choice.

Overall winner: Apple iPhone XS Max

It’s hard to get around the fact that the Apple iPhone XS Max is simply a better device — but it’s also a whole lot more expensive. The iPhone is more powerful, has a better display, a better camera, and will get updates nice and quickly. You do, however, pay for those advantages — so if money is an issue and you’re not too concerned about the special features the iPhone XS Max has to offer, then the HTC U12 Plus may be for you.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple iPhone XS vs. iPhone XS Max vs. iPhone XR
• Apple iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR: All the hands-on photos you could ever need
• Apple iPhone XS: News, release, specs, and more
• Apple iPhone XS Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Powerhouse face-off
• Apple iPhone XS Max vs. Huawei P20 Pro: Clash of the titans

AMD RX 500 graphics card refresh may launch in 2019 with die shrink, clock boost

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

AMD may not wait until next year to debut its next-generation graphics cards, according to a series of rumors from different sources. They seem to point to a launch for some refreshed RX 500-series graphics cards, using a die-shrunk 12nm core called Polaris 30. If true, this could lead to AMD offering a slightly more competitive midrange product, which those intrigued by the possibility of a still-unannounced GTX 2060 or 2050 could find an attractive alternative.

In the aftermath of Nvidia’s rollercoaster ride of a graphics card launch with its new RTX series, the question remained as to whether AMD would respond with a big GPU reveal of its own. The red team is expected to debut a new range of cards code-named Navi in 2019, but it may be that before then we see a refresh of its capable RX 500-series. If it was high-end only, we could see an RX 590 or RX 585 appear, but it’s equally possible such a range could be designated the RX 600-series.

The first hint of a stop-gap GPU generation from AMD appeared in a recent Linux driver release where a new Polaris ID was spotted by Phoronix. The ID, “0x6FDF” doesn’t correspond to any existing AMD graphics chip, but it is listed as being part of the “Polaris 10” family of graphics cards. That rules out it having anything to do with AMD’s planned 7nm die-shrink of its Vega technology, which is slated to be an enterprise-only product.

Backing up this rumor was a source on Chiphell, which WCCFTech translated, highlighting that Polaris 30 would be built on the 12nm process, a slight shrink of the 14nm process used in the RX 500 series. Such a rumored range could improve performance over the RX 500 series by around 10-15 percent, we’re told. That would hardly make them competitive with the RTX series of Nvidia cards, but if there is a significant delay in launching midrange GPUs from that generation, it would make such rumored AMD cards more attractive than the GTX 1060 and 1050 GPUs.

The Chiphell rumor suggests that the new range of cards will debut in October, too, so if any of this turns out to be true, we won’t have long to wait for it to be confirmed.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Everything you need to know about the Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs
• Nvidia vs. AMD
• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 might launch next year without ray tracing
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile sighting hints at more powerful gaming laptops
• No games will support ray tracing when Nvidia RTX graphics cards launch

The next big Windows update could launch as soon as October 2

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

The upcoming fall update for Windows 10 may arrive sooner than expected. New rumors suggest that the October 2018 Update could arrive at the start of the month, potentially as soon as October 2. Such a release would coincide with the Microsoft event set to take place in New York City where it is expected to reveal a number of new Surface products.

The Windows 10 October 2018 update is the next big update for the operating system since the 2018 April update and brings with it a number of improvements. Swiftkey will allow for typing with onscreen keyboards by swiping, rather than tapping; added support for Microsoft’s “Your Phone” app, which lets you sychronize your mobile device with Windows; a Clipboard history that lets you go back to things previously cut and copied, and updates to Windows 10’s theme, as well as how it handles screenshots and HDR.

All of that has been expected to release in October — as its name would suggest — for some time, but an exact date has yet to be confirmed. The new rumor of an October 2 debut stems from a user on the MyDigitalLife forum, as per WindowsLatest. They claim that they have discovered electronic software delivery — digital product keys — images for Windows 10 build 17763. Considering those tend to only be sent out for a release build of an operating system update, as happened with the April update, this would suggest that 17763 is the final Windows build for the October update.

In the supposed XML file that contains the ESD images is a release date, stated as “20181002,” which equates to October 2. Considering Microsoft is already hosting a large event on that date, it could choose to announce the rollout of the new OS update at that time. As TechRadar points out, this is hardly verifiable information and October 2 is a very quick turnaround for an update as major as this one. It would give little time for Microsoft to discover any bugs, considering the 17763 build only became available to Slow Ring Windows Insiders on September 20.

If bugs were discovered, it could delay things. The Windows 10 2018 April update was pushed back several times due to large issues which needed to be fixed before a general release.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Microsoft confirms Redstone 5 as Windows 10 October 2018 Update
• Refreshed Surface Pro 6 could arrive at Microsoft’s October 2 event
• What to expect from Microsoft’s October 2 Surface event
• Microsoft could debut transparent Surface Dial sequel at October event
• Microsoft may go back to black with 2018 Surface Pro and Surface Laptop

eSIM Functionality Available in iOS 12.1, But Carrier Support is Required

Apple’s iOS 12.1 beta introduces support for the eSIM, aka a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan from your carrier without needing to use a physical SIM card. In the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, the eSIM pairs with the included nano-SIM to enable dual-SIM functionality.

The eSIM in the new iPhone XS and XS Max was not available at launch, with Apple promising to activate it in a later update, which appears to be iOS 12.1.

eSIM settings are available by going to the Cellular section of the Settings app and choosing “Add Cellular Plan,” which is the method used to add another cellular provider via the eSIM.

All contacts in the Contacts app also now list a “default [P] Primary” setting in iOS 12.1 which lets you change the default phone number that you contact each person with if you have multiple phone numbers.

According to German site iPhone-Ticker.de, some Deutsche Telekom users are able to use the eSIM feature in iOS 12.1 to add two SIMs to their iPhones. Carriers need to implement the eSIM feature before it will work, and Apple offers a list of carriers that plan to offer the eSIM it in a support document.

In the United States, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon plan to offer eSIM support, but the carriers likely won’t roll out the feature until iOS 12.1 launches to the public.

Dual-SIM support with the eSIM is useful for people who use two cellular plans at once, such as for home or work, and it is also beneficial when traveling.

As Apple outlines on its website, both numbers used with a dual-SIM iPhone can make and receive voice calls and SMS/MMS messages, but an iPhone can only use one cellular data network at a time. That means if one number is on a call, a call to the other number will go to voicemail.

Both networks are active at once, however, and with dual-SIM enabled, you will see two carrier signal readings in the Control Center.

eSIM support will be available to everyone with an iPhone XS, XS Max (and future XR) when the iOS 12.1 update launches to the public. We’ve only had one beta of iOS 12.1 so far, so there is still a ways to go.

The iOS 12.1 update also includes support for Group FaceTime for up to 32 people, a new real-time Depth Control slider that can be used when taking Portrait Mode photos, and, with watchOS 5.1, new color watch face options in the Apple Watch app.

Related Roundups: iPhone XS, iOS 12Buyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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Jaguar and Land Rover Set to Begin Offering CarPlay and Android Auto

Jaguar and Land Rover will soon offer CarPlay and Android Auto in both new and existing vehicles in the United States.

A spokesperson for the brands confirmed to MacRumors that, from the 2019 model year forward, all Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles equipped with its InControl Touch Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems will be available with an optional smartphone connectivity package including CarPlay and Android Auto.

Jaguar and Land Rover say the smartphone connectivity package will be an optional installation in new vehicles, either at the factory or port-of-entry, at a cost of $280 and up depending on the model and trim level.

There’s also good news for existing owners of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles with an InControl Touch Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, as the spokesperson confirmed a retroactive update with CarPlay and Android Auto functionality will soon be available at authorized dealerships in the United States.

The spokesperson was not able to provide an exact date when new vehicles with CarPlay and Android Auto will arrive to U.S. dealerships, or exact availability of the retroactive update, but did note the rollout should be imminent.

The retroactive update appears to already be rolling out to select Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in the United Kingdom.

2018 has been a successful year for CarPlay adoption, with Toyota and Lexus, Mazda, and now Jaguar and Land Rover beginning to offer the Apple software platform as a preinstalled option. Apple’s website says CarPlay is now available in over 400 vehicle models in the United States, from almost all major automakers.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
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Deals: Save on Koogeek’s HomeKit Light Strip, Refurbished Beats, and Get $450 Off 12-Inch MacBooks From 2016

Woot today has Apple’s 12-inch MacBook from Early 2016 (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $849.99, down from $1,299.99. While an older model, today’s sale is $450 off the original price tag and $450 cheaper than the latest 12-inch MacBook models with similar specs. The MacBooks are available in Gold and Rose Gold.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Woot’s sale lasts one day only, so if you’re interested head to the retailer’s website and place your order before the day ends. Amazon Prime members will get free shipping, and Woot is offering cheaper $6 shipping today only for non-Prime members.

On Amazon, there are a few notable sales today:

• Save on select SanDisk storage products, including the iXpand Flash Drive for iOS at $44.99, down from $119.99 and matching its lowest-ever price on Amazon
• Save 20 percent and more on Logitech PC accessories
• Koogeek Dimmable Light Strip (HomeKit compatible) for $29.39 with code TCCDYAG5, down from $41.99
• Koogeek Smart Plug (not HomeKit compatible) for $11.99 with code BFE3I537, down from $15.99
• Choetech fast wireless stand charger for $9.99 with code MACHO524, down from $17.99

Best Buy’s Daily Deals page is highlighting a few refurbished Beats products on sale today only, with savings as high as $115. You can get the BeatsX in Black for $63.99, down from $149.99, and the Powerbeats3 for $84.99, down from an original price of $199.99.

Both headphones beat their typical sale prices as well, with the BeatsX usually getting marked down to around $90 in more recent sales. In regards to its refurbishment process, Best Buy promises that Geek Squad certified refurbished products are tested to verify that they work like new and are restored to original factory settings.

Check out our full Deals Roundup for more information on this week’s sales, including the HomePod for $299.99 at Costco.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 66 With Bug Fixes and Feature Improvements

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced over two years ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 66 includes bug fixes and feature improvements for Web Share API, Conic Gradients, WebRTC, Shadow DOM, CSS, Web Inspector, Web API, Apple Pay, JavaScript, Media, Web Animations, Web Assembly, and Password AutoFill.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released to the public earlier this week. After installing macOS Mojave, Apple says you may need to reinstall Safari Technology Preview.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
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Get Cash for Your Old iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch Through MacRumors and MyPhones Unlimited

With new iPhone and Apple Watch models now on the shelves, you may be thinking of paving the way for an upgrade by selling your current device. We’ve partnered with MyPhones Unlimited, an Arkansas-based company that buys used iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and much more at competitive prices, to offer our readers a way to get cash in hand to make an upgrade happen.

Entering the details for my iPhone to get a quote, MyPhones Unlimited is offering $490 at the time of writing this post (as with all buyback programs, a device’s age and condition have a large impact on how much you can get for it) for my unlocked 256GB iPhone X. It’s fully functional with no screen damage (thank you, screen protector and Apple leather case).

If you like the quote you get, the process to get paid is simple. You provide your contact and address information and MyPhones Unlimited will send you a box with a pre-paid shipping label so you can send your device to them. You’ll receive a check in return within 10 business days of mailing your device. MyPhones Unlimited then refurbishes your device, if needed, and resells it. If it’s unfit for reselling, it gets recycled. You can find more information in this FAQ.

With Apple’s new GiveBack program, I get a quote of $525 for my iPhone X. Apple offers this in the form of an Apple Gift Card or a refund on a purchase, which is great if you plan to buy your next device from Apple. But if you plan to purchase it from your cellular service provider or another retailer, you’ll have to find a way to convert that Apple gift card into cash so you can use it. MyPhones Unlimited offers an advantage here since you’ll get a check you can cash and use however you wish.

Note that you could probably get more for your device through a private sale through Craigslist or even eBay. Right now, the going rate on Craigslist for an unlocked 256GB iPhone X is around $800 in the Boston area where I live. While you can get more cash this way, you have to post the ad, respond to potential buyers, and meet them. This can be inconvenient depending on your schedule or location and your own safety can be at risk (please follow Craigslist’s own Personal Safety guidelines, at the very least). Selling your device to MyPhones Unlimited eliminates the hassle from this process.

MacRumors gets a portion of each transaction made through our buyback page. MyPhones Unlimited offers full support by phone and email if you have any questions not answered in the FAQ or need help with your transaction.

Tags: buyback, MyPhones Unlimited
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Apple’s Special Version of iTunes That Still Has an App Store Currently Incompatible With macOS Mojave

Last year, Apple removed the App Store from iTunes. Soon after, however, Apple quietly released a special edition of iTunes that retains access to the App Store for “certain business partners” who “might still need to use iTunes to install apps.”

Apple provides a download page on its website for the special edition of iTunes, which originally had a version number of 12.6.3. Two updates have since been released, including version 12.6.4 and the current version 12.6.5.

As brought to our attention by a MacRumors reader, and confirmed by our own testing, however, iTunes 12.6.5 fails to install on Mac systems updated to the public release of macOS Mojave this week. It also appears that the previous 12.6.3 and 12.6.4 versions do not function properly on macOS Mojave.

It’s unclear if Apple does not plan on supporting the special edition of iTunes on macOS Mojave, or simply hasn’t updated it yet. In the meantime, Apple Configurator can be used to mass-deploy apps on iOS devices from a Mac.

Related Roundup: macOS MojaveTag: iTunes
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Google Maps Makes it Easier to Decide on a Restaurant With New Group Planning Feature

Google today announced a new group planning feature for Google Maps on iOS and Android, which aims to make it easier for a group of friends to decide on a place to eat.

To use the feature, open Google Maps and tap “Restaurants” on the Explore tab. Then long press on any location to add it to a shortlist, shown in a small floating bubble on the lower right side of the screen. Once you add a few places you can share the shortlist with friends through any messaging app, like iMessages, which will then let them browse the list and link them back to Google Maps.

Friends can then vote in Google Maps on their favorite restaurant in the shortlist, and every member in the group can add and delete places. Voting results are showed in Google Maps, and if a group member doesn’t have the app they can also view it on the web.

This may sound familiar: you and your friends are trying to pick a place for dinner, but no one wants to make the decision and you don’t know where to go. How do you decide on a place that your BBQ aficionado bestie, quinoa-loving sister, and wannabe foodie friend can all enjoy without scrolling through a ton of links in group text messages?

Starting today, you can use Google Maps to easily plan where to go as a group

At Google I/O in May, Google outlined numerous features coming to Google Maps throughout the year, including AR Street View, a “For You” Tab, and this week’s group planning feature. Recently, Google Maps on iOS also updated with an events section and elevation data, and introduced CarPlay support in iOS 12.

Group planning will start rolling out on iOS and Android this week.

Tags: Google, Google Maps
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