A newer phone release isn’t always better than its predecessors. This fact is something that long-time smartphone users have learned throughout the years. The same is true with Apple’s flagship: the iPhone. In this guide, we’ll review the iPhone X vs. the iPhone XR to learn the exact differences and know which one is better for you, starting with the design, display, and camera and ending with the price.
Table of contents
Reasons to buy the iPhone X
- OLED screen technology
- Thinner and sleeker design
- Better dual-camera system
- Zoomed-in portrait mode
- Better to use it with one hand
64GB storage
Silver
256GB storage
Space Gray
Reasons to buy the iPhone XR
- Bigger display
- Better CPU
- Better battery life
- More storage options
- A great entry point to the Apple ecosystem
- Compatible with iOS 17
- It’s cheaper
64GB storage
Black
64GB storage
Black
iPhone X vs. iPhone XR: Specs comparison table
iPhone X vs. iPhone XR: Review and differences
Let’s review and have a look at the main differences between the iPhone X and the iPhone XR.
Design
The design of the iPhone X was a breakthrough back in 2017 with the disappearance of the Home button and the introduction of the OLED display technology. It seems times are changing faster than we thought because now we have contradictory opinions about the notch at the top of the screen, which is still present in both the X and the XR.
Both devices have a Corning-made glass front and back glass with IP67 dust and water resistance. Also, the iPhone X stands out with a stainless steel frame, while the XR has an aluminum frame.
In a nutshell, the iPhone X and XR offer a modern and elegant look worthy of the times with an edge-to-edge display, although the latter is a bit bigger and weighs more, making it less comfortable to hold with one hand.
👉 Learn more: Why Is There No iPhone 9 and iPhone 10?
Image credit: Apple
Display
The display is one of the most significant differences between the iPhone X and the iPhone XR. While the XR has a 6.1-inch LCD, the X delivers a 5.8-inch screen with OLED technology for more vibrant colors and more realistic blacks, resulting in a much more enjoyable experience with your phone. Even if the screen of the iPhone X is not as big as the XR’s, this difference widely compensates because of the screen quality.
If we take it from the resolution side, we might see it clearer. The iPhone X has a 2,436 x 1,125 resolution with a 458ppi pixel density, while the iPhone XR has a 1,792 x 828 resolution and 326ppi. Yes, the XR’s screen is not bad, but it is simply not a match for the older release—hence its reduced price.
Performance
The performance of the iPhone XR is superior to the X’s because its A12 Bionic chip is 6.15% faster than the A11. This is on paper because it’s unlikely that everyday users will see any considerable difference at the end of the day. Lastly, both phones come with 3GB RAM.
Image credit: Apple
Camera
The iPhone X stands out again with a dual-camera system:
- Wide-angle lens of 12MP f/1.8
- Telephoto lens of 12MP f/2.4
On the other hand, the most affordable iPhone XR only has one 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle camera with OIS, although working slightly better due to the Neural Engine in the A12 chip. This allows for advanced photography modes that capture highlights and shadows in your photos more effectively, such as Smart HDR, enhanced Portrait mode for selfies, and Depth Control to change the depth of field after you take the picture.
Sometimes, you may face a few issues with its camera including a shaky, blurry, or freezing camera. In such case, you need to take your phone to a repair store to diagnose internal hardware damage.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is present on both phones’ cameras and can capture video in 4K up to 60FPS and 1080p slo-mo at 240FPS.
All in all, the iPhone X is once again king because its second lens beautifully blurs backgrounds when taking a picture, while the iPhone XR can also do it, although more artificially using software. Portraits look better on the iPhone X, and overall photography looks more natural in it.
Watch this iPhone XR vs. iPhone X camera test video to know more:
The winner
The iPhone X is a superior phone to the iPhone XR, but it can also be more expensive—you can only buy them as refurbished models nowadays. The iPhone X is also worth buying in 2023 and perfect for playing the best classic iPhone games!
- If you want a better OLED display and camera (especially for portraits), go for the iPhone X.
- If you want more battery life and better performance, go for the iPhone XR.
You can find both phones on RefurbMe, along with hundreds of refurbished Apple products compared in real time from multiple trusted merchants, all of them with a warranty and working like factory-new devices. Our platform will ensure that you can find the best market price without the hassle of comparing every merchant’s site one by one.
👉 Learn more: 6 Best Places to Buy Refurbished iPhones
Also, don’t hesitate to read the following comparisons to learn a bit more about more recent models or if you should upgrade your current one:
Good luck!
