Apple Launches iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max

Apple just took the wraps off two of its biggest products of the year: the iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max. These are the company’s premium new iPhones, succeeding last year’s iPhone X. Cupertino is launching a total of three new iPhones this year at the event today, and these are two of the main upgrades of the year. There’s also a 6.1-inch iPhone coming out today, but the iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max are really the main highlights.

Both the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max are incremental upgrades from last year’s iPhone X. Both the devices include Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor that’s expected to run things slightly faster, with 4GB RAM. The new A12 Bionic processor is the industry’s first 7nm processor, including 2 performance cores that are 15% faster while using 40% less power. App launches are up to 30% faster on the iPhone Xs, according to Apple. The upgraded A12 GPU now includes a Neural Engine that’s going to speed up machine learning on the new iPhone Xs, with Apple’s Core ML technology getting up to 9x faster while using much, much less power — at 1/10th of the power, in fact. All these performance upgrades are industry-leading improvements.

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But let’s talk about the new displays: both the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max come with OLED (Super Retina) panels, with the iPhone Xs coming with a 5.8-inch panel (2436×1125 resolution, 2.6 million pixels) and the iPhone Xs Max (2688×1242 resolution, 3.3 million pixels) packs Apple’s biggest ever display panel on a phone: 6.5-inch. That’s exactly why Apple’s increasing the battery size on this year’s iPhone models — with the iPhone Xs offering an additional 30 minutes battery life than the original iPhone X, and the iPhone Xs Max offering an additional 90 minutes in battery life.

As for the camera, Apple has improved the true-tone flash on the device. The wide-angle camera on the back has an improved sensor, plus the usual 12MP telephoto sensor. The company’s including a new 7MP camera on the front which is up to two times faster, according to Apple. The phones now include a new Smart HDR feature that will lead to a general improvement in the details of your photos. But here’s the big new feature: adjustable aperture — with the new iPhone Xs, you can now adjust the aperture (“depth”) on the fly, even after taking the picture. That’s obviously not new on a phone, though it’s certainly a huge upgrade for the iPhone camera.

Since all of the new iPhones are based on the original iPhone X, the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max will come with Apple’s popular Face ID technology for unlocking the device. In fact, Apple says the company has updated Face ID’s performance on the new iPhone Xs with new faster Secure Enclave and algorithms. Apple will also offer the new iPhones with dual SIM support, through an additional eSIM. But in China, Apple will be selling an exclusive edition of the device that comes with two physical dual SIM slots.

This year, Apple’s even upgrading the storage options for the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max. They are now available with up to 512GB of storage, which should be more than enough for most users, though we still don’t have an option to expand the storage. Plus, you are getting improved wireless charging, and Bluetooth 5.0 on the new iPhones.

Apple’s new iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max will be available in silver, space gray, and a new gold color option, with IP68 water resistance. The regular iPhone Xs will start at $999, while the iPhone Xs Max will start at $1099. Ships September 21st, pre-orders open this Friday.

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Conversation 22 comments

  • Hanneman

    12 September, 2018 - 2:23 pm

    <p>The iPhone excess and iPhone excess Max….</p>

    • skborders

      12 September, 2018 - 2:45 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#321534">In reply to Hanneman:</a></em></blockquote><p>Exactly.</p>

    • Jeffsters

      12 September, 2018 - 2:54 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#321534"><em>In reply to Hanneman:</em></a></blockquote><p>It's iPhone Ten S and Ten S Max. </p>

      • starkover

        12 September, 2018 - 3:25 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#321585">In reply to Jeffsters:</a></em></blockquote><p>Guessing he knows that</p>

      • skborders

        12 September, 2018 - 3:36 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#321585"><em>In reply to Jeffsters:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><em>Harder to make fun of 10S and 10S Max. Besides, they are labeled Xs and Xs Max. Xcess and Xcess max fits given the $1k and up price.</em></blockquote>

      • curtisspendlove

        12 September, 2018 - 3:58 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#321585">In reply to Jeffsters:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>It's iPhone Ten S and Ten S Max</em>.</p><p><br></p><p>Of course it is, but essentially no “normal” person says it that way. </p>

  • curtisspendlove

    12 September, 2018 - 2:52 pm

    <p>Ugh. The names. As “the kids” are fond of saying: I just can’t even. </p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    12 September, 2018 - 2:58 pm

    <p>Today the World has witnessed an XS of iNotch announcements.</p><p><br></p><p>Too much for one day – I need a lie-down.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • Otto Gunter

    12 September, 2018 - 3:17 pm

    <p>I'm still waiting for Apple to innovate, not update. OLED screens, face recognition, wireless charging; they've all been done before Apple did them. I might forgive them if the phones had an SD slot, or removable battery. </p><p><br></p><p>Apple used to be known for innovation, now they're known for being over-priced.</p>

    • Necron

      12 September, 2018 - 5:20 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#321637">In reply to Otto_Gunter:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>They basically put kinect sensors in tiny 'notch' – isn't this an innovation? It's not just face recognition – it's reliable authentication system which can't be fooled by photograph. And what about AR story? 7nm chips? Aren't those innovations?</p>

  • nolanm5150

    Premium Member
    12 September, 2018 - 3:19 pm

    <p>Yawn… Where is all the other hardware? </p><p>Type-O above &gt; <em>"</em><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pluis</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, you are getting improved wireless charging,…&nbsp;"</span></p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    12 September, 2018 - 3:34 pm

    <p>Buzzword alert! </p><p><br></p><p><em>The upgraded A12 GPU now includes a Neural Engine that’s going to speed up machine learning on the new iPhone Xs, with Apple’s Core ML&nbsp;technology getting up to 9x faster while using much, much less power — at 1/10th of the power, in fact. All these performance upgrades are industry-leading improvements.</em></p><p><br></p><p>What does this mean? what are you machine learning about me? That was a very long sentence say…. we made it faster. </p><p><br></p><p>These Keynotes are getting pointless. The hole point was to demonstrate products so that the user could see the value. Now they just read slide decks of manicured marketing gobble gook. Because the updates are obvious and incremental. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • F4IL

    12 September, 2018 - 3:36 pm

    <p>Buenas Notches apple.</p>

  • Pedro Vieira

    12 September, 2018 - 5:37 pm

    <p>This company is pretty much in auto-pilot.</p><p>I guess, much like Microsoft, they'll keep being successful until the next paradigm shift in IT happens.</p>

    • Necron

      13 September, 2018 - 1:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#321786">In reply to PeteMiles:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>that could happen. Next big thing can be collecting as much possible personal user data and analysing it to show more targeted ads and to influence minds. It's google's territory and Apple is actually trying to go against this trend.</p>

    • Jeffsters

      14 September, 2018 - 4:06 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#321786">In reply to PeteMiles:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agreed! Apple is doomed!</p>

  • Daishi

    Premium Member
    12 September, 2018 - 5:56 pm

    <p>So when my stupid lease plan runs out and I have to give back my 7 next year I guess I’ll be updating it to an 8 and seeing how long I can keep it alive for, hoping that eventually the industry will comes its sense and start making sensibly sized phones again…</p>

  • gvan

    12 September, 2018 - 6:52 pm

    <p>Someone needs to complain about the lack of a finger print sensor option so I might as well do it!</p>

  • GT Tecolotecreek

    12 September, 2018 - 11:41 pm

    <p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;But here’s the big new feature: adjustable aperture — with the new iPhone Xs, you can now adjust the aperture (“depth”) on the fly, even after taking the picture. That’s obviously not new on a phone, though it’s certainly a huge upgrade for the iPhone camera.</em></p><p>What currently released smartphones allow you to adjust aperture ( and the image depth of field) after the photo is already taken? Some can blur backgrounds but that is not the same as changing aperture. </p>

  • Lewk

    Premium Member
    13 September, 2018 - 2:06 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Both the devices include Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor.. includes a Neural Engine that’s going to speed up machine learning" </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">These are just nonsense words that don't make any sense. Bionic? The phone is a human now with artificial body parts? Who?.. what?.. I'm lost for words.</span></p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    13 September, 2018 - 2:34 am

    <p>The 19th Century welcomes the iPhone camera into its fold.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    20 September, 2018 - 5:05 am

    <p>wow that's revolutionary /s</p>

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