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The iPhone X marked a new departure in iPhone design from Apple, and the Xs takes you further down the brand’s innovation path.
Read More...Please note: Every care is taken in compiling product details and reviews, but they are provided for broad guidance only. On occasion they may relate to older or more recent models than those offered on Mozillion at any one time.
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Mozillion Apple iPhone XS review
Flagship features
Smaller than an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12
Great camera and screen
Not convinced? Try one of these alternatives to an Apple iPhone XS:
iPhone 11 Pro - newer, with an even better camera
iPhone 12 Pro - the current flagship
Samsung Galaxy S10 - a high-spec Android alternative
The iPhone XS was announced in September 2018, alongside the bigger iPhone XS Max, and the mid-spec iPhone XR. It inherited the new ‘bezel-less’ design from its predecessor, the iPhone X, along with a stunning, energy-saving OLED screen. Less obviously, upgrades to the camera system and software improved low-light performance and portrait shots. And with up to 512GB of storage onboard, the new iPhone XS had room to keep them all.
Like other premium iPhones, the iPhone XS features a surgical-grade stainless steel body, with glass front and back. While it’s strong, and looks gorgeous, it makes for a slightly heavier phone than cheaper Android alternatives. On the flip side, the iPhone XS is very compact, being slightly smaller than even the iPhone 12.
The iPhone XS’s sumptuous 5.8” screen runs almost edge to edge, an iconic look that defines Apple’s bezel-less phones. The iPhone XS offers a similar level of water resistance to the iPhone 11: Apple says it’ll survive 30 minutes at two metres’ depth.
The iPhone XS has a dual-camera setup - newer flagship iPhones have three. There’s also a difference in emphasis compared to the twin cameras on the standard iPhone 11 - while these have wide and ultra-wide angle lenses, the iPhone XS deals with wide and telephoto angles. In practice, that might mean the iPhone XS would struggle to fit in all your friends in a big group photo. On the plus side, it has a huge 10x digital zoom range.
At the front you’ll find a 7MP camera - a step down from the 12MP you’d get on even the basic iPhone 11. At launch, some users found that the iPhone XS seemed to apply a skin-smoothing filter to their shots. In fact, this issue with the Smart HDR feature was fixed with iOS 12.1. Note that some examples of the iPhone XS don’t have Face ID - we list these separately on the marketplace to avoid confusion.
Like other recent iPhones, the iPhone XS’s rear camera can shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. Again, although there’s no ultra-wide lens, there’s a big 6x digital zoom and optical image stabilisation to help make up for it. While the front camera doesn’t support 4K, it can still shoot 1080p video at up to 60fps.
The iPhone XS inherited its gorgeous 5.8” OLED screen from the iPhone X. With 458 pixels per inch and an outright resolution of 2,436x1,125, it’s still among the better screens you’ll find on a phone this size. Importantly, it’s better than the one you’ll find on the ordinary iPhone 11 - worth bearing in mind if you’re weighing one up against a reconditioned iPhone XS.
If the iPhone XS has a weakness, it’s that it’s a couple of generations behind when it comes to sheer firepower. There’s nothing wrong with Apple’s A12 Bionic chip - the iPhone XS deals well with most games and apps - but it can’t match today’s flagship phones. In fact, it’s slower than the A13 processor at the heart of the lowly iPhone SE 2020.
Despite its energy-saving OLED screen, the iPhone XS can’t match newer iPhones when it comes to battery life. Apple said a new iPhone XS could play video continuously for 14 hours - three hours short of today’s flagship, the iPhone 12 Pro. A refurbished iPhone XS should still perform well, but the battery may not last as long as it did when new. Every phone sold through Mozillion must have at least an 80% battery health.
Apple usually offers its flagship phones in fewer colours, and the iPhone XS was no exception: you could get it in silver, gold or Space Grey. The cheapest model had 64GB, but you can also buy a refurbishediPhone XS with 256GB or 512GB. Although Apple stopped supplying chargers in 2020, the iPhone XS did come with EarPods with a Lightning connector.
The iPhone XS supports Qi wireless charging, or you can top it up using a USB to Lightning cable. You’ll get the fastest charge speeds from an optional 20W power adaptor. As with every iPhone, you can find a huge range of cases and other accessories for the iPhone XS.
