iPhone XS 256GB Prices, Plans, and Specs

iPhone XS 256GB Review

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Since its release in 2018, the iPhone XS has been replaced by newer iPhone models. The iPhone XS no longer receives or supports the latest iOS software updates and was discontinued in 2019.

The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the device's release date, and availability will differ from when we first reviewed it. You can upgrade to a newer iPhone, or you may still be able to find refurbished models of this device through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.

The iPhone X was always going to be a hard act to follow. In the year since Apple radically redesigned the iPhone, notched displays and facial recognition have become a mainstay of our modern smartphone vocabulary. Much like the original 2007 iPhone, the iPhone X was a blueprint that many have tried to replicate.

Despite countless imitations and homages at all price points and sizes, Apple has stuck to its guns with the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. They're refined versions of the phone they succeed, no more, no less. But while the pair are lacking in wow factor, a year of polish mean the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max feel less like a bleeding edge beta and more like the new normal. 

Unfortunately, the new normal is more expensive than ever. 

iPhone XS design and display

It's no surprise the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max aren't that exciting. "S" years have always been about refinement; the iPhone X was a radical redesign, and the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max build on it. The usual hardware and camera improvements are here, but the biggest change is literally that there's also a bigger phone.

Apple's had a whole year to improve on what initially felt like a somewhat alien device. Facial recognition is faster, supports a secondary appearance (or person) and seems to have a lower failure rate. iOS has had a few improvements that make moving over to a home button-less iPhone more natural. And most apps have now been optimised to take advantage of the newish all screen design, even if there are a few stragglers.

Sure, if you're coming from an iPhone 8 or older, there'll still be a bit of a learning curve. It will take some time to get used to lack of a home button, gesture navigation (you swipe up to close an app now, for example), and the repositioned control centre (you'll swipe down from the right of the notch). It's just easier to get the hang of this time around. There's still a few improvements we'd like to see - like the ability to use facial recognition in landscape and the option to customise what is displayed on either side of the notch—but the day one iPhone XS experience is a much smoother affair.

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are also more water-resistant this year, with an IP68 rating. This means they'll survive depths of two metres for up to half an hour, up from one metre last year. Apple says it's tested against salt water, chlorinated water, juice, and more, but you will want to rinse off your iPhone with fresh water before letting it dry. As in past years, it's worth noting that water damage is not covered by your standard iPhone warranty.

Of course, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have all the obligatory yearly upgrades, including an ever-so-slightly nicer OLED display, more RAM, and a faster, more efficient processor.

A more efficient processor means battery life improvements. Both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will last a little longer than last year's iPhone X, and average users will be comfortable getting through the day with a decent buffer left. The pair does, however, pale in comparison to Android flagships such as the Huawei P20 Pro and the OPPO Find X, both of which can almost go two days between charges.

The iPhone processor has actually had some serious changes this year, especially when it comes to its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) dedicated to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Apple says it can now complete 5 trillion operations per second, up from 600 billion. While these might seem like meaninglessly large numbers—and the improvement isn't necessarily something you'll notice day-to-day—the new NPU also improves photo and video performance. 

iPhone XS camera 

There's a lot more to smartphone cameras than the physical camera. All of the best smartphone cameras have great software behind them, and the best of the best are all using artificial intelligence and machine learning to keep improving photo and video quality. 

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max use a combination of new software ("Smart HDR") and the NPU for computational photography. When you hit the shutter button, the new iPhones create a single image from a four-frame buffer with several interframes while using a long exposure for shadow detail. In simpler terms, your photo is really a software-generated image created by merging multiple images. The real-world benefit is that the iPhone XS is way better at taking great photos in adverse lighting.

In direct sunlight, you'll get less blowout and better balance if you've got a harsh backlight. In low light, images are sharper, brighter, and exhibit less noise. The iPhone XS also preserves more detail when it comes to capturing bright objects such as streetlights and digital signage that would blow out on last year's iPhone X.

Portrait mode has been a recurring feature on dual-camera iPhones since it was introduced with the iPhone 7. Using the two camera lenses in tandem, iPhones are able to simulate DSLR-like "bokeh", the tastefully out-of-focus background you get behind your subject you'd typically see on a high-end lens. While portrait mode performance hasn't changed much since last year, you're now able to adjust the amount of blur behind your subject (measured in f-stops, from f/1.4 to f/16, for the camera nerds in the audience). 

The effect is reasonably convincing, and a more intense blur can start to look a touch fake depending on the photo in question. Portrait mode and depth control definitely work best for photos of people, but they can still do an alright job with objects.

One of the biggest camera improvements is the zoom lens. While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are technically using the same physical lens as last year's phone, smarter software has made it a lot more reliable. This is especially noticeable when it comes to lowlight photography, where images are drastically sharper and clearer across the board. Here's a comparison:

Video quality has had a whole host of upgrades, too. The most important thing is stabilization; video is really, really, smooth. Even when you're shooting handheld, camera shake becomes almost unnoticeable—and I have super shaky hands.  

iPhone XS pricing and cost

It's impossible to talk about the new iPhones without discussing the all-time high prices. The 5.8-inch iPhone XS is pricier than last year's iPhone X thanks to our weak dollar, and the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max starts at a whopping $1,799.

Prices increase with storage capacity, with the 512GB models topping out at $2,369, which is far more than I ever thought a company would charge for a phone. Of course, while these prices are genuinely shocking (and easy to make fun of, given the name), no one is forcing you to buy the 512GB model. In fact, you probably shouldn't buy a 512GB iPhone XS or iPhone XS unless you've genuinely exhausted a 256GB iPhone in the past or have more money than sense.

But no matter which iPhone XS model and storage capacity you'd prefer, it's a significant purchase. One that gets harder and harder to reconcile when there are a couple of product decisions designed to get you to spend more.

There's still no headphone jack, and you no longer get a 3.5mm to Lightning adapter in the box. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max both support fast charging, but you don't get a fast charger in the box. A headphone dongle will cost you $15, while you're looking at an extra $104 to give your iPhone the fastest charge possible. 

You could argue that neither are necessary, but nickel-and-diming on accessories that come standard on most other phones comes across as a bit anti-consumer, especially given the starting price for an iPhone XS is already over a thousand dollars.

We'd also love to see Apple include even just a basic case in the box, as has become increasingly common with Android OEMs like Huawei and OPPO. After all, it would be gut-wrenching to break a phone you've spent close $2,000 on, if not more.

Sure, Apple says the front and back glass are the most durable found in a smartphone to date, but glass is still glass, and there's no shortage of YouTube drop test videos that happily prove that point. It's always a shame to cover up sleek industrial design—and add a little extra size and weight to the iPhone XS Max—but it would be a bigger shame to shatter your expensive new iPhone.

Especially because repair costs are equally high. An iPhone XS out-of-warranty screen replacement is $448.95, which rises to $518.95 for the iPhone XS Max. "Other damage" fees come in at $858.95 and $928.95, respectively, so if you're not going to buy a case for your iPhone XS, you really should get AppleCare+.

Who are the iPhone XS & iPhone XS Max for?

Let's be fair, you probably already know if you're the kind of person who wants an iPhone XS. And if you can stomach the cost, you won't be disappointed—the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are a pair of highly polished devices where the only real issue is a battery life that falls short of some of their Android competitors.

It's just that the cost keeps getting harder and harder to stomach.

With prices ranging between $1,629 and $2,369, it's hard to tell where hardware ends and Apple's margin begins. When you consider that a 512GB Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in at $1,799, it's important to ask questions about what exactly it is you're paying for. It can seem like Apple is seeing just how far it can push us.

While iPhone owners tend to be pretty loyal, settling for an iPhone XR, an older model, or maybe even an Android alternative doesn't seem like the worst idea in terms of saving some money. If you opt for a slightly less fancy iPhone XR instead, the only genuine loss is the second rear-facing camera. And the iPhone XR has its own benefits, including a longer battery life. 

But if the price doesn't put you off, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are a great update for anyone on an iPhone 7 or older. Your new device will be a massive upgrade. The pair is, however, too similar to the iPhone X—and even an iPhone 8—to be a meaningful change for anyone on last year's devices. Well, unless you're the kind of person who needs the latest and greatest shiny thing, in which case you've probably already bought your iPhone XS.

iPhone XS & iPhone XS Max camera samples

I don't want an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max, what else can I buy?

iPhone XR

If you want to spend less without compromising too much, the iPhone XR is the way to go. It starts at $1,229, and the only real sacrifice you make is the lack of a second rear-facing camera. Otherwise, you get the same fancy design, the same facial recognition technology, and the best battery life of any 2018 iPhone.

iPhone 7

If you really want to save money, the iPhone 7 is the cheapest iPhone around right now. It’s two years old now, but it's still a great phone, and Apple will keep supporting it with software updates for at least two or three years. Maybe more.