Moment Launches MFi-Approved Battery Photo Case for iPhone X and iPhone XS
Smartphone lens maker Moment has begun shipping the first MFi-approved Battery Photo Case compatible with iPhone X and the new iPhone XS.
The battery case first drew interest earlier this year as a Kickstarter campaign highlighting several notable features, some of which are clearly aimed at photographers.
The case has a 3,100mAh built-in battery for charging your iPhone on the go, and it’s wireless-charging compatible, so it can be placed on any Qi-compatible charging pad.
The case also features an integrated Lightning port to charge an iPhone X/XS, rather than the typical micro-USB found on charging accessories, while a wrist/neck strap can be easily attached for safety.
In addition, there’s a two-stage shutter button on the case for taking pictures, so pressing the button halfway focuses the lens and a full press takes the picture.
The Battery Case is compatible with the Moment lens lineup, which includes telephoto, wide, super fish, macro, and a soon-to-be-released Anamorphic lens.
The case costs $99 and can be ordered today on the Moment website, which will offer upgraded versions for iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR come November.
Tags: MFi Program, photography
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iPhone XR Could Account for Over Half of New iPhone Sales in Second Half of 2018
Global shipments of Apple’s new iPhone lineup should exceed 85 million units in the second half of the year, according to research conducted by DigiTimes, with the more budget-friendly iPhone XR expected to account for over half of all sales.
Shipments of the LCD-based 6.1-inch iPhone XR are expected to account for over 50 percent of combined shipments of the new three models being released, although the availability of the iPhone XR will come on October 26 compared to September 21 for iPhone Xs and Xs Max.
Total iPhone shipments – including older-generation models – are expected to top 127 million units in the second half of 2018, representing “modest growth” for the tech giant’s mobile business.
Meanwhile, Apple’s total smartphone revenue is likely to reach nearly $100 billion in the second half of the year, which is a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The estimates for the new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are said to be based on supply chain information, combined with Apple’s annual sales and the average selling prices over previous years.
Apple’s lower-spec iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge “Liquid Retina” LCD display with wide color and True Tone support, and the same all-screen design as the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but with an aluminum frame instead of stainless steel.
It comes in White, Black, Blue, Coral, Yellow, and (PRODUCT)Red colors, and will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models. Pre-orders for Apple’s new smartphones begin on Friday, September 14, ahead of an official launch a week later on Friday, September 21 in over 30 countries and territories.
Related Roundups: iPhone XR, iPhone XSTag: digitimes.com
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Reddit and Wikipedia criticize EU’s controversial copyright law
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of an amended version of the Copyright Directive that was originally rejected by Members of the European Parliament this summer. After Articles 11 and 13 — the link tax and piracy filter requirements– were revised, the lawmakers passed the copyright law 438 to 226 on September 12. The passage of the law generated harsh criticism from Reddit and the Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of Wikipedia.
“Today’s vote dealt a significant blow to the open internet, and to smaller companies like Reddit,” a Reddit representative told The Verge. “It is disappointing to see the Parliament disregard the concerns of those constituents and experts who know the internet best– including its very architects. We’re evaluating what this means for Reddit, and we will continue to keep our community informed.”
The law was designed to give publishers a way to monetize when companies link to their content. It also requires platforms like YouTube to implement filters to prevent users from sharing unlicensed materials. Critics have argued in the past that monitoring the internet would create an undue burden for smaller platforms, and that filtering could lead to censorship. In passing the legislation, parliament essentially is reversing an earlier ruling by the EU court in Luxembourg. In that decision, the court argued that sites should not be compelled to install filters to check for privacy.
In its initial opposition of the proposed legislation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation penned an open letter arguing that “Article 13 takes an unprecedented step toward the transformation of the internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users.” Essentially, even content like GIFs and memes are at stake.
The revised articles included exemptions for Wikipedia and Github, and the link tax would not be exercised for sharing of hyperlinks. This amendment would preserve the 2016 EU court ruling stating that simply linking to copyrighted material does not constitute infringement. Yet, despite being excluded from the law, Wikimedia remains steadfast in its opposition.
“Today, the European Parliament voted to adopt new rules that entrench outdated copyright policies and impose even greater barriers to access to knowledge online,” the foundation said in a statement to The Verge. “Despite an outpouring of support from European citizens, including the Wikimedia community of volunteers, Parliament passed amendments that would require pre-filtering of uploads to internet platforms and failed to institute freedom of panorama protections across the European Union. We are disappointed by this outcome and the missed opportunity to modernize copyright for the digital age. Wikimedia remains firmly committed and will continue to advocate for an open, balanced vision for copyright which enables everyone to learn and create online.”
Google has been more restrained in its reaction, noting that it is committed to working with legislatures to give people “access to quality news and creative content online.” Twitter and Microsoft did not provide comment. The legislation will face a final vote in January 2019, The Verge said, and if it passes, individual EU member states will have to interpret how to enforce the directive.
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Google is done with its Inbox email app and will shut it down in March 2019
Launching as an invite-only app in 2014, Google’s Inbox set out to create a more efficient email experience for users.
Four years and multiple updates later, the web company announced this week it’s going to retire Inbox in March 2019 and instead concentrate on improving Gmail.
Product manager Matthew Izatt said in a blog post the Inbox app had been “a great place to experiment with new ideas like snoozing emails to later, as well as try the latest AI-powered experiences like smart reply, nudges, and high-priority notifications to help you stay productive.” Indeed, many of the app’s more popular features have ended up in Gmail.
But Izatt said the company had recently decided to take “a more focused approach” with its email-based efforts to help it bring “the best email experience” to all of its users.
A major Gmail redesign arrived in April this year — its biggest overhaul in seven years — bringing with it some popular Inbox features to Google’s core web-based email service, which launched back in 2004.
Izatt said that with Inbox it had “learned a lot about how to make email better.”
Using Gmail
Google has created a transition guide for any Inbox users concerned about switching from the soon-to-be-retired app to Gmail, though it should only be a case of familiarizing yourself with the Gmail interface, if you haven’t checked in for a while.
“All your conversations are already waiting for you in Gmail,” Izatt said, reminding everyone that Inbox and Gmail work with the same email address and share all the same data.
When Inbox launched in October 2014, Google CEO Sundar Pichai — then senior president for Android, Chrome, and apps — said the software had been “years in the making,” adding that it was aimed at those for whom “dealing with email has become a daily chore that distracts from what we really need to do, rather than helping us get those things done.”
For Google developers, Inbox was a neat way to test new features to improve Gmail, but it seems the usefulness of the app has run its course for the company as it pools resources and throws its weight behind improving its better known email service instead.
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Apple Shares ‘Shot on iPhone XS’ Video Demoing Slo-mo, 4K, and Time-Lapse Modes
Apple has shared a video on its YouTube channel showcasing the video recording capabilities of the new flagship iPhone XS, which debuted on Wednesday at Apple’s Gather Round event held at Apple Park.
The content provides a “first-look” at video shot on the new 5.8-inch device, which Apple claims has the “highest quality video shot on any smartphone”, and looks at how water, metals, and other substances were used to create the impressive clips.
Over 1 minute and 44 seconds, viewers get a sample of what the smartphone’s 4K, Slo-mo, and Time-lapse modes can capture in close-quarters, interspersed with short clips of how the experimental conditions were set up.
For example, one low-light experiment in 4K (at 60fps) mixes ink and clay over several glass panes to create a stunning interstellar-like scene complete with planets, satellites and nebulae looming in the background.
Apple says the XS family features larger pixels and a faster sensor than previous iPhones, enabling improved low-light performance and video stabilization, while four built-in mics allow video to be recorded with stereo sound.
The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, and in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The iPhone XS starts at $999 in 64GB, while the iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 in 64GB.
Pre-orders for the smartphones begin on Friday, September 14, ahead of launch on Friday, September 21 in more than 30 countries and territories.
Related Roundups: iPhone XR, iPhone XS
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Apple Watch Series 4 hands-on review
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Apple Watch Series 4
Last year’s Apple Watch Series 3 cemented its place as the best smartwatch you can buy. This year, Apple has gone a step further to make the Apple Watch Series 4 the only wearable you need. The improvements range from a larger screen to two times better performance over the Series 3, but the spotlight falls on the electrocardiogram (ECG) app, which has been certified by the Food & Drug Administration, making the Apple Watch Series 4 the first over-the-counter ECG alternative for consumers. It’s an impressive feat, and it shows just how much of a lead Apple has over the competition.
We managed to spend some time with the new watch at Apple’s event in Cupertino. The ECG app won’t be available until later this year, but that still left us plenty to explore.
Bigger screen, sleek design
Like before, the Apple Watch Series 4 comes in 40mm and a 44mm size options. What’s new here is the screen real estate — you get more screen, without having to deal with a significantly bigger watch body.
Slimmer bezels allow a 30 percent larger screen, which means you can see more content than ever before. Will this affect battery life? Apple claims new low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display technology should improve power efficiency, so we’ll just have to wait and see. The screen looks excellent, as usual, though we’ll need to use it outdoors to see if it’s easy to see in bright sunlight.
We liked the Vapor watch face, which showed off neat, dynamic animations on the watch as it lit up.
The Series 4 watch looks a little curvier than previous Apple Watch devices, but it’s just as elegant and sleek. We tried on the stainless steel 44mm watch, which felt lightweight and supremely comfortable. The leather magnetic strap wrapped around our wrist without much fuss, and the lug design meant there were no gaps between the watch and our wrist.
All this being said, we would have been thrilled to see what Apple would do with a circular watch, but it looks like that may never happen.
Accompanying the larger screen are several new watch faces, and some look better than others. The Infograph watch face, for example, looks a bit too cluttered for our tastes, but it does provide a ton of information at a glance if that’s what you want. It has an air-quality index, ultraviolet index, weather, and access to breathing exercises, heart rate, activity, music, and workout. The complications can be customized to your liking.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Other new watch faces have pretty animations that shift to the rhythm of breathing exercises — handy if you constantly find yourself stressed out.
We much preferred the Vapor watch face, which showed off neat, dynamic animations on the watch as it lit up. We do think Apple missed an opportunity here to launch a store for third-party watch faces, but baby steps were made. The Infograph Modular watch face lets you add in a slice of data from any other Apple apps or third-party apps — if developers add support. Baby steps.
Major breakthroughs
One of our favorite features on the Series 4 is the haptic feedback implemented in the Digital Crown. As you rotate the button, you can feel vibrations for every selection you move past. It’s a small but wonderful touch that makes interacting with the watch a little more fun.
The Series 4 Apple Watch can also alert you when it detects a low heart rate or an irregular heartbeat.
The crown is also what you will use for the electrocardiogram app when it’s available later this year — just tap your finger on it, and the electrical heart sensor will do the rest. You’ll be able to download a PDF to share with your doctor.
While we can’t comment on how well it works, the ECG has the potential to make a significant impact in the health community.
Many people wear the Apple Watch all day, but may not do the same with traditional ECG monitors. While the results likely won’t be as accurate as what you may find in the doctor’s office, the ability to take measurements quickly at any moment will be a major boon.
The Series 4 Apple Watch can also alert you when it detects a low heart rate, and recognize an irregular heart rate. If you have any heart-related issues, these features make the Apple Watch the watch you want to have on your wrist at all times.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Going a step further, the watch can also detect when you fall, and send out an alert to your emergency contacts if it doesn’t detect movement after a minute. Sure, Life Alert exists, but a stylish watch is a lot more enticing than a clunky pendant.
Better performance, louder speaker
The Apple Watch Series 4 is powered by Apple’s new S4 chip, which the company claims delivers two times faster performance. We never ran into a problem with performance on the Series 3, but we’ll happily take any improvements. Moving around the watchOS operating system is fluid and smooth, and we didn’t see any issues here.
Apple has also shifted the placement of the microphone to reduce echo during calls, and the speaker is purportedly 50 percent louder. We weren’t able to tell in the loud environment we were in, but if true that should make using the new Walkie-Talkie feature in watchOS 5 easier. Speaking of watchOS 5, you can check out all the new features available in our handy guide.
Apple Watch Series 4 Compared To
Garmin Fenix 5X Plus
Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30
Alpina AlpinerX
Fossil Q Venture
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Emporio Armani Connected touchscreen…
Fitbit Ionic
Apple Watch Series 3
Diesel On Full Guard Smartwatch
Huawei Fit
Garmin Vivoactive HR
Apple Watch Series 2
Asus ZenWatch 2
Asus ZenWatch
Garmin fenix 2
We’re not expecting much of a difference with battery life of the Series 4, so expect more than a day, perhaps two, based on our experience with the Series 3.
Pricing and availability
The Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $400 for the Wi-Fi and GPS model, and $500 for the GPS and cellular model. Prices also vary depending on whether you want the aluminum case or the stainless steel. There are a ton of options to choose from, so it’s easy to find something you’ll like. The two size options are also great for people who want a smaller or larger watch. Pre-orders start September 14, with sales starting September 21.
There’s a lot of technology fitted into the relatively small case of the Series 4 Apple Watch. It’s impressive, but we haven’t really been able to test many of these features, so we’re not ready to recommend it quite yet. Still, considering the FDA certification and the host of new heart-tracking features, this is certainly a smartwatch worth considering for everyone.
Need a new iPhone battery? You’d better hurry as prices are going up
Apple announced a bunch of new iPhones on Wednesday, but if you’re sticking with your current iPhone for now, there’s a chance you may be considering a new battery for the device.
And with news this week that replacement fees are set to rise at the start of 2019, you’ll want to sort it out sooner rather than later.
Apple cut the cost of battery replacements for out-of-warranty iPhones in January after it got into hot water over some less-than-transparent behavior that involved slowing down older iPhones to prevent unexpected crashes. But these lower prices will be ditched at the end of this year.
From January 1, 2019, a battery replacement for the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone X will cost $69. For all other eligible iPhones — that includes the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later — the fee will rise from the current $29 to $49. Before Apple’s battery fiasco kicked off at the end of 2017, a new iPhone battery cost $79.
If the iPhone is in warranty or part of AppleCare+, the battery can be replaced free of charge. If you’re not sure if you have AppleCare+ coverage, enter your iPhone serial number on this Apple webpage to find out.
Replacements can be carried out at an Apple Store or at one of its authorized service locations, or can be mailed to one of its repair centers. Full details are available here.
So how do you know if your iPhone needs a new battery? Well, in March 2018, Apple included a new Battery Health tool with iOS 11.3, which, as the name of the feature cleverly suggests, tells you all about the state of your phone’s power source. Battery Health also lets you disable Apple’s controversial performance management system, though if you do so, your phone may sometimes shutdown unexpectedly, depending on the condition of the battery. You can find out how to use Battery Health here.
In short, Apple recommends replacing an iPhone battery once its capacity falls below 80 percent.
Battery mess
Apple admitted last year that it deliberately slowed down some iPhones to stabilize performance as the battery ages.
The disclosure upset a lot of iPhone owners who were annoyed that Apple hadn’t been upfront about its actions when it began the practice via a software update it put out in 2016.
Some also suspected it was a deliberate move by the tech giant to frustrate owners with slowed-down phones as a way of encouraging them to upgrade to a newer iPhone, a strategy known as planned obsolescence.
The Cupertino, California-based company has always insisted its actions were supposed to benefit the user by reducing instances of sudden shutdowns caused by aging batteries. But the backlash prompted Apple to slash the cost of battery replacements for the whole of 2018.
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iPhone XR hands-on review
Research Center:
Apple iPhone XR
Apple unveiled three iPhones last year, and it looks like we can continue to expect a set of three for the foreseeable future. In 2017, the most expensive iPhone was the odd one out. This year, it’s the cheapest — the iPhone XR (that’s pronounced ten-R). It shares similar qualities as the new iPhone Xs and Xs Max, but there’s a reason why it’s $250 less expensive than the entry-level Xs.
Design: An iPhone 8 merged with an iPhone X
Apple tends to offer more color options for its cheaper devices, and that hasn’t changed with the iPhone XR. It’s one of the most noticeable traits of the phone, as it comes in Product (Red), white, coral, black, blue, and a mesmerizing yellow (our favorite of the lot). In comparison, the Xs and Xs Max only come in three colors that are more elegant than flashy.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
From the back, the iPhone XR looks like an iPhone 8. That’s because of its next distinguishing characteristic, a single-lens camera that’s slightly raised. We’ll get to the camera later, but don’t underestimate it just because it has one lens. It shares many of the same features as the Xs and Xs Max. The aluminum frame around the edges feels high-end, and the glass — which is Apple’s “most durable” — is capable of wireless charging.
From the back, the iPhone XR looks like an iPhone 8.
You can say goodbye to Touch ID. Gone are the chunky bezels that surround the screen, as well as the home button. The iPhone XR’s design is a lot like the iPhone X, but a few differences are noticeable. The edges around the screen — the bezels — are thicker, which gives the iPhone XR a cheaper vibe. Still, the bezels are much thinner than the iPhone 8. The 6.1-inch screen puts the XR squarely between the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs and the 6.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus. It’s comfortable to hold, and not cumbersome at all.
The screen technology quite impressive, and perhaps the biggest internal difference between the XR and other iPhones. This is an LCD screen, which Apple has named Liquid Retina HD display. That’s a 1,792 x 828 resolution (326 pixels per inch), which doesn’t sound high, but content on the screen managed to look quite sharp. It’s a wide color display with support for True Tone, which means the screen’s color will adapt to the ambient lighting surrounding you. We watched a few scenes from Ready Player One, and colors in the film were well saturated with surprisingly deep black levels. It’s excellent.
Apple iPhone XR Compared To
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Apple iPhone SE
iPhone 6S Plus
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Apple iPhone 6
Apple iPhone 5C
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 4S
Apple iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB
Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB
Apple iPhone (4GB)
Apple iPhone (8GB)
The iPhone XR isn’t the flagship, but we think most people will be satisfied with it. The phone is even rated for IP67 water resistance, so it can stay submerged up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. That’s as good as the iPhone Xs or Xs Max, but most people just need water resistance to hold up in rain or survive an accidental drop in a puddle.
Stunning performance, iOS 12, and battery life
Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor powers all the new iPhones, including the iPhone XR. It boasts a “next-generation Neural Engine,” which now has 8 cores, and overall the chip can process 5 trillion operations per second. It’s impressive, and it means the iPhone XR can handle anything you’d throw at it.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
We played Elder Scrolls: Blades, a new game from Bethesda due to release later this year, and were blown away by the detailed graphics. It’s among the most attractive mobile games we’ve ever seen, and it looked incredibly smooth in motion. Walking around and moving the camera was fluid, with zero stutter or lag. We also tried an ARKit 2.0 game, and it managed to seamlessly layer detailed graphics over the real world. Granted, all of this was done in a controlled demo, so we’ll need to do further testing to see just how far the A12 Bionic processor can take us.
We played Elder Scrolls: Blades […] and were blown away by the detailed graphics.
With the removal of the home button, you now need to use gestures first introduced with the iPhone X to navigate the operating system. It’s one of the best gesture systems we’ve used on a smartphone, and we didn’t run into any performance problems moving around the OS, or with opening and switching between apps. The iPhone XR runs iOS 12, which drops September 17, and you can read our guide on everything that’s new with the latest version.
Battery-wise, Apple claims the iPhone XR can last up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus, which means you can expect about a full day of use. We’ll need to use the phone for a few days to see more precise measurements, and to see if Apple’s claims ring true.
A strong camera
The iPhone XR has the same 12-megapixel camera as the Xs, with a f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The camera includes an all new sensor over last year’s models, which should deliver stronger photos. But there are two features we’re particularly excited about: Portrait Mode and Smart HDR.
That’s right — despite only having one lens, Apple has introduced Portrait Mode into the iPhone XR, just like Google managed with the Pixel 2. The results probably won’t live up to the dual-camera system on the Xs and Xs Max, but the brief shots we snapped looked great. It managed to accurately identify the edges around a person’s face and the blur effect was strong. You can also access the Portrait Lighting features Apple introduced with the iPhone X last year.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Portrait Mode also has a new feature: You can now change the depth of field after you snap a photo. It’s a feature we’ve seen on some Android phones for quite some time, but it’s good to see it included even on Apple’s more reasonably priced phone.
The camera didn’t have any shutter lag, and the photos we took in the event space looked great.
Smart HDR is a completely new feature that captures a lot of photos at the same time. With the help of the A12 Bionic processor, the camera chooses the best of each to create one photo with excellent dynamic range. That means you won’t need to worry about photos being too overexposed or underexposed in dynamic lighting conditions. However, we haven’t been able to test this yet. Apple also said you can record stereo sound with the camera, and there’s extended dynamic range, but these were also outside what we could test during our hands-on.
The front-facing, 7-megapixel camera (with f/2.2 aperture) snapped a few nice selfies in our testing — including Portrait Mode selfies, thanks to the TrueDepth camera on the front. Expect to be able to create Animojis and Memojis with iOS 12 on this device, as well
The camera didn’t have any shutter lag, and the photos we took in the event space looked great. This is an area we’ll be testing much more rigorously when we get our hands on the iPhone XR. As with its design and performance, the camera is likely more than adequate for most people.
Price and availability
The iPhone XR starts at $750 and comes with either 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB storage options. It will be available for pre-order starting October 19 and arrives on October 26.
Though more affordable than its peers, the iPhone XR is still an expensive phone. We’d like to see Apple offer an even more affordable entry. Still, the iPhone XR looks like a great option for people who want most of what flagship iPhones offer, without paying $1,000 (or more).
iPhone XS Max hands-on review
Research Center:
Apple iPhone XS Max
One of the most frequent criticisms we’ve heard about the iPhone X is that its 5.8-inch screen simply isn’t big enough. Last year, big-screen lovers had to opt for the less fully featured iPhone 8 Plus to get the most real estate. Not anymore. Apple’s new iPhone Xs Max has a much bigger screen than the iPhone X, and all the same top-shelf features. It’s the perfect option for people who want to upgrade from older Plus models.
We do think the name is a bit of an unfortunate mishap. Apple should have stuck to the traditional Plus moniker, as Xs Max (pronounced ten-S Max) sounds like the name of an Android phone from five years ago. Naming issues aside, let’s dive into what it’s like to hold this phone.
Large-screen iPhone X
The iPhone Xs Max is big, beautiful, and bold — especially with the new gold color option (silver and space grey are also available if you want something less flashy). It has a massive 6.5-inch screen, but the body is about the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus. If you’re coming from a Plus device, you should feel right at home. If you’re not, this phone will feel cumbersome. It requires two hands to operate, as we struggled to quickly reach parts of the screen with one.
It looks exactly like last year’s iPhone X, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The back is minimal, with the elegantly placed vertical dual camera. We do wish the camera was flush on the back, but we’ve been wishing for this for quite some time. The glass — which Apple said is its “most durable” — feels nice to the touch, and the metal frame feels high-end. The Xs Max is heavy at 208 grams, but it certainly helps make it feel worth the price tag.
The button and charger placements remain the same — there’s also still no headphone jack — and the notch on the front carries the TrueDepth camera for Face ID. This unlocking method is said to be faster and more secure than ever before thanks to the new processor inside the Xs Max, but we were unable to test it.
The Xs Max’s screen is the star of the show here. It’s a beautiful 6.5-inch Super Retina HD OLED screen, with colors that pop and mesmerizingly deep levels of black. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, so you’re getting accurate color representation, that makes supported content look absolutely stunning. We watched a few scenes from Ready Player One, and it looks realistic, as though we were very much a part of the virtual world.
It’s the perfect option for people who want to upgrade from older Plus models.
The 2,688 x 1,242 resolution means you’re getting the highest resolution iPhone available (458 pixels per inch), and everything on the screen looks incredibly sharp and crisp. There’s also support for True Tone again, which adjusts the screen colors to match the temperature of the light in your surroundings.
It’s a fantastic screen, and the Xs Max’s size makes it the perfect option for consuming media. Apple also improved the water resistance on the device, bumping it up to IP68, which means you can leave it submerged up to two meters for 30 minutes.
Strong performance, iOS 12, and better battery life
Apple’s latest processor is the A12 Bionic, and it’s powering all the new iPhones. It includes a “next-generation Neural Engine,” which now has eight cores, and overall the chip can process 5 trillion operations per second. That essentially means the iPhone Xs Max can handle seriously intense computing tasks, and complete them faster than ever before. It may well be the most powerful smartphone available to date.
We played Elder Scrolls: Blades, a new game from Bethesda arriving later this year, and were blown away by the level of detailed graphics. It’s one of the best-looking mobile games we’ve ever seen, and it’s astoundingly smooth on this phone. Walking around and moving the camera is fluid, with zero stutter or lag. We also tried an ARKit 2.0 game, which managed to seamlessly layer detailed graphics over the real world. Granted, all of this was done in a controlled demo, so we’ll definitely need to do further testing to see just how far the A12 Bionic processor can take us.
iPhone Xs Max Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
With the removal of the home button, you now need to use gestures first introduced with the iPhone X to navigate the operating system. It’s one of the best gesture systems we’ve used on a smartphone, and we didn’t run into any performance problems moving around the OS, or with opening and switching between apps. The iPhone XS Max runs iOS 12, which drops September 17, and you can read our guide on everything that’s new with the latest version.
It looks exactly like last year’s iPhone X, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Battery-wise, Apple claims the iPhone Xs Max can last up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X, which means you can expect about a full day of use. We’ll need to use the phone for a few days to see more precise measurements, and whether Apple’s claims ring true.
Wireless charging is available again, but we’re still bummed to see no fast-charging cable included in the box — you need to buy it separately.
Solid camera improvements
The iPhone Xs Max has two 12-megapixel cameras on the back: a standard f/1.8 lens and a telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture. The second lens is capable of up to 2x optical zoom, and it’s used for Portrait Mode photos. The camera sensor is said to be bigger than last year’s iPhone X, so you should see slight improvements overall.
Two key improvements enhance the camera experience over the iPhone X: Depth Control and Smart HDR. The former allows you to adjust the level of bokeh — or background blur — in Portrait Mode photos. It works really well, and it’s a great option if you want to tweak the photo exactly to your liking. It’s a feature we’ve seen on other Android phones before. You also still get the same Portrait Lighting features from last year, but all of these should work better than ever thanks to the A12 Bionic. In the few tests we did, the camera was capable of identifying the edges around a subject accurately. We’ll need to do more testing to see how it fares.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
We’re more excited to test Smart HDR. Essentially, it captures a lot of photos at the same time, and then with the help of the A12 Bionic processor, the camera chooses the best of each to create one photo with excellent dynamic range. That means you won’t need to worry about photos being overexposed or underexposed in dynamic lighting conditions – it will look just right. The example photos we saw looked absolutely stunning, which is why we can’t wait to take the iPhone Xs Max out for a spin in contrasting lighting.
Apple also said you can record stereo sound with the camera, and there’s extended dynamic range, but we haven’t had a chance to see this in action.
The front-facing, 7-megapixel camera (with f/2.2 aperture) snapped a few nice selfies in our testing — including Portrait Mode selfies, thanks to the TrueDepth camera on the front. Expect to be able to create Animojis and Memojis with iOS 12 on this device as well.
The camera didn’t have any shutter lag, and the photos we took in the event space looked good, but we’ll need more time to fully test the iPhone Xs Max and see its full capabilities.
Apple iPhone XS Max Compared To
Apple iPhone XS
Apple iPhone XR
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Apple iPhone SE
iPhone 6S Plus
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Apple iPhone 6
Apple iPhone 5C
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 4S
Apple iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB
Apple iPhone (4GB)
Price and availability
The iPhone Xs Max starts at $1,100, which is a lot of money. Most people will likely be satisfied with the iPhone XR, the third iPhone announced today that has similar features, except for the OLED screen and second camera on the rear. You should only consider the Max if you want the extra screen real estate, but the slight bump in battery life makes it a good choice too. Pre-orders start September 14, and the phone goes on sale on September 21.
It’s the most expensive smartphone from
Apple
to date, but keep in mind this is very much an “S” model iPhone. The upgrades are modest over last year’s iPhone X, but it certainly is quite a jump if you’re coming from anything older than an iPhone 8. We’ll be testing the new crop of iPhones over the next two weeks, so stay tuned for our final thoughts on whether the Xs Max is a worthwhile upgrade.
iPhone XS hands-on review
Research Center:
Apple iPhone XS
The iPhone Xs is indistinguishable from last year’s iPhone X. As the “S” moniker suggests, it brings modest upgrades, but from what we’ve seen so far, you likely won’t want to upgrade to it over the iPhone X. That doesn’t mean it’s bad — it’s just the least interesting iPhone announced today because it’s so similar to last year’s model. It’s a compelling product for Android owners looking to switch, or for people looking to upgrade anything older than an iPhone 8. Let’s take a closer look.
Same size, same looks
The iPhone Xs has the same exact 5.8-inch screen as last year’s iPhone X, which for reference puts it in between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus. It’s currently the smallest of the new iPhone devices announced today — the iPhone XR has a larger 6.1-inch screen.
iPhone Xs Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Out of all three new phones, including the iPhone Xs Max, we still love the size of the iPhone Xs the most. While some may have pined for a larger screen, we always thought the iPhone X’s screen struck a perfect balance — it wasn’t too big, making it comfortable to hold, and it still provided enough screen real estate to make watching videos enjoyable.
It looks exactly like last year’s iPhone X, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The back is minimal, with an elegantly-placed vertical dual camera.
iPhone Xs Max can handle seriously intense tasks, and complete them faster than ever before.
We do wish the camera was flush on the back, but we’ve been wishing for this for quite some time. The glass — which Apple said is its “most durable” — feels nice to the touch, and the metal frame feels high-end. It now comes in gold, but silver and space grey options are still available. We love the look of the gold, and we think it’s the one to buy this year.
The buttons and Lightning charger remain where they were, there’s still no headphone jack, and the notch on the front carries the TrueDepth camera for Face ID. Apple claims this unlocking method is faster and more secure than ever before thanks to the new processor inside the Xs, but we were unable to test it.
The Super Retina HD OLED screen on the front supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, and it has the same exact 2,436 x 1,125 resolution as last year’s iPhone X (458 pixels per inch). The colors on the screen are realistic and well saturated, but it’s still the black levels that impress. We watched a few scenes from Ready Player One, and it looks realistic, as though we were very much a part of the virtual world. There’s also support for True Tone again, which adjusts the screen colors to match the temperature of the light in your surroundings.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Xs Max is your best bet for a bigger screen, but we’re more than satisfied with this size. It’s easy to use one handed, which wins it points in our book. Apple also improved the water resistance on the device, bumping it up to IP68, which means you can leave it submerged up to two meters for 30 minutes.
Strong performance, iOS 12, and better battery life
Apple’s latest processor is the A12 Bionic, and it’s powering all the new iPhones. It includes a “next-generation Neural Engine,” which now has eight cores, and overall the chip can process 5 trillion operations per second. That essentially means the iPhone Xs Max can handle seriously intense computing tasks, and complete them faster than ever before. It may well be the most powerful smartphone available to date.
We didn’t run into any performance problems moving around the OS.
We played Elder Scrolls: Blades, a new game from Bethesda arriving later this year, and were blown away by the level of detailed graphics. It’s one of the best-looking mobile games we’ve ever seen, and it’s astoundingly smooth on this phone. Walking around and moving the camera is fluid, with zero stutter or lag.
We also tried an ARKit 2.0 game, which managed to seamlessly layer detailed graphics over the real world. Granted, all of this was done in a controlled demo, so we’ll definitely need to do further testing to see just how far the A12 Bionic processor can take us.
With the removal of the home button, you now need to use gestures first introduced with the iPhone X to navigate the operating system. It’s one of the best gesture systems we’ve used on a smartphone, and we didn’t run into any performance problems moving around the OS, or with opening and switching between apps. The iPhone XS Max runs iOS 12, which drops September 17, and you can read our guide on everything that’s new with the latest version.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Battery-wise, Apple claims the iPhone Xs can last up to 30 minutes longer than the iPhone X, which means you can expect about a day of use. That’s a little disappointing, as we’d have like to see a more substantial improvement here, but we’ll need to use the phone for a few days to see more precise measurements, and to see if Apple’s claims ring true.
Wireless charging is available again, but we’re still bummed to see no fast-charging cable included in the box — you need to buy it separately.
Solid camera improvements
The iPhone Xs has two 12-megapixel cameras on the back, a standard f/1.8 lens and a telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture. The second lens is capable of up to 2x optical zoom, and it’s used for Portrait Mode photos. The camera sensor is said to be bigger than last year’s iPhone X, so you should see slight improvements overall.
The Smart HDR example photos we saw looked absolutely stunning.
Two key improvements enhance the camera experience over the iPhone X: Depth Control and Smart HDR. The former allows you to adjust the level of bokeh — or background blur — in Portrait Mode photos. It works really well, and it’s a great option if you want to tweak the photo exactly to your liking. It’s a feature we’ve seen on other Android phones before.
You also still get the same Portrait Lighting features from last year, but they should work better than ever thanks to the A12 Bionic. In the few tests we did, the camera was capable of identifying the edges around a subject accurately. We’ll need to do more testing to see how it fares.
We’re more excited to test Smart HDR. Essentially, it captures a lot of photos at the same time, and then with the help of the A12 Bionic processor, the camera chooses the best of each to create one photo with excellent dynamic range. That means you won’t need to worry about photos being too overexposed or underexposed in dynamic lighting conditions — but just right. The example photos we saw looked absolutely stunning, which is why we can’t wait to take the iPhone Xs out for a spin in contrasting lighting.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Apple also said you can record stereo sound with the camera, and there’s extended dynamic range, but we haven’t had a chance to see this in action.
The front-facing, 7-megapixel camera (with f/2.2 aperture) snapped a few nice selfies in our testing — including Portrait Mode selfies, thanks to the TrueDepth camera on the front. Expect to be able to create Animojis and Memojis with iOS 12 on this device as well.
The camera didn’t have any shutter lag, and the photos we took in the event space looked good, but we’ll need more time to fully test the iPhone Xs and see its full capabilities.
Price and availability
The iPhone Xs starts at $1,000, which is the same price as last year’s iPhone X. It comes with three storage options: 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB.
Most people will likely be satisfied with the iPhone XR, the third iPhone announced today, which has similar features, minus the OLED screen and second camera on the rear. However, considering Apple stopped selling the iPhone SE today, the iPhone Xs is now the smallest iPhone you can buy from the company. That may be reason enough for many people to buy it over the others.
Apple iPhone XS Compared To
Apple iPhone XS Max
Apple iPhone XR
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Apple iPhone SE
iPhone 6S Plus
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Apple iPhone 6
Apple iPhone 5C
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 4S
Apple iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB
Apple iPhone (4GB)
If you want a bigger screen, go for the iPhone Xs Max. Pre-orders start September 14, and the phone goes on sale on September 21.
We can’t reiterate enough how much of a modest upgrade the iPhone Xs is over the iPhone X. We’ll be reviewing the device soon, but from what we’ve seen so far, you do not need to upgrade to the Xs if you have an iPhone X. This is a phone for people upgrading from any iPhone without the modern design aesthetic, and to entice Android owners.
