Need a new smartphone – an iPhone specifically?
From the iPhone X down to the latest iPhone 11 series, there are so many options to choose from. And with Apple, nothing is cheap.
So, if you are looking for an iPhone that is affordable but is packed with features, we might have something for you – the iPhone XR.
The iPhone XR has gained its popularity as the most bought iPhone in 2019 despite being a downgrade with Apple’s flagship iPhone XS and XS Max (all are launched the same year).
The questions are after almost two years of its release?
Is it still worth your money? Is it still a great smartphone to have? Is the phone a total downgrade now that the iPhone 11 series has been released?
For sure, those are just a few of the questions that you have in mind.
So, this article is all about iPhone XR unboxing. Let’s go!
Read: 10 Must-Have iPhone XR Accessories in 2020
The iPhone XR Unboxing
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the iPhone XR, let us first see its complete specifications.
| DIMENSION:
150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm |
SOUND:
|
| SCREEN DISPLAY SIZE:
6.1 inches, Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
SENSORS:
Face ID, Accelerometer sensor, Three-axis gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, |
| SCREEN RESOLUTION:
828 x 1792 pixels |
BATTERY:
|
| CHIPSET:
A12 Bionic |
COLORS:
Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, White |
| MEMORY:
64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
DATA CONNECTIVITY:
Wi-Fi, LTE |
MAIN CAMERA:
|
OTHER FEATURES:
Siri, Splash/Water/Dust resistance (rated IP67) |
SELFIE CAMERA:
|
PRICE TAG:
$600
|
Design
If you think that iPhones were a little too conservative, this will just change your mind. Apple has been able to achieve a fun yet elegant with several colors to choose from.
The iPhone XR features a glass black with several color finishes: black, white, yellow, blue, coral, and red. All of these hues have color-matched aluminum bands, which seamlessly blend together with the back color-finish.
And if you look closely, the bezels on the iPhone XR are slightly thicker than on the iPhone XS series. However, this is just a minor thing that typical users sure won’t notice.
Meanwhile, the front features the TrueDepth camera together with the notch, that helps you log in via Face ID.
And ever seen those fun Animoji and Memoji? Well, the TrueDepth camera just captures the fun to make those characters come to life. Additionally, it captures the picture-perfect selfies.
Some folks would argue that OLED screens are much easier to manipulate than LCDs. However, Apple has done an impressive job and delivered a near full-screen design on the LCD-based iPhone XR that curves toward the edges.
How did Apple pull this off?
The combination of precision milling, advanced pixel masking, and subpixel anti-aliasing made it possible.
This means that the edges of the screen that look like bezels are actually part of the display and are just made to look black.
Durability
In terms of durability, the front of the iPhone XR has the same durable glass as the iPhone XS. However, the back may not be as tough as the latter though. We suggest you get your iPhone XR a case.
The iPhone XR is also IP67 water-resistant. This means that it can withstand 1 meter of water for about 30 minutes. In comparison, both the iPhone XS and XS Max are IP68-rated which can reach up to 2 meters of water in about 30 minutes.
Do you have jelly hands?
There are several ways for you to protect your iPhone XR. You can suit it up with a case and an iPhone screen. But there is also one way: AppleCare+ Plan.
Most times, the screen is the first one that breaks because of how it’s made of. If you will have your screen replaced, it will cost you around $199/£197.
However, if you have AppleCare+, it will only cost you $149/£149.
Size
Been waiting for an all-screen iPhone with an affordable price tag? The iPhone XR has got it all for you.
This iPhone boasts a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD screen. It might not have the OLED screen like what the iPhone XS and XS Max have, but regular users won’t notice the difference.
It is slightly a big difference from the 4.7-inch iPhone 8. If you own the older iPhone before upgrading to the iPhone XR, it might take you a while to get used to the bigger screen size, but you will get there.
The iPhone XS and XS Max have 5.8-inch and a 6.5-inch screen display respectively. The iPhone XR just sits in between the two flagship smartphones.
It has a big enough screen display that is good for binging on movies, gaming, or just even scrolling through your social media apps. The size is just enough for a comfortable hold in the hand.
LCD Screen
The iPhone XS series’ OLED screen has a very excellent display. Although the iPhone XR only has LCD for the display, it still didn’t fall short.
The 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD is one of the brighter and more colorful smartphone displays. In addition, the 1792 x 828-pixel carried out an impressive detail.
No 3D Touch
For those who do not know and may have noticed, the iPhone XR does not have a 3D Touch. This is one of the differences it has with the XS series.
Instead, it features the Haptic Touch. iPhone XR can no longer long-press on apps on the home screen to reveal shortcuts.
The Haptic Touch still has almost the same functionality as the 3D Touch.
With Haptic Touch, in order to launch the camera, you will have to long-press with a soft touch. And instead of long-pressing anywhere on the keyboard to control the cursor while you’re typing, you just have to gently long-press on the space bar.
Camera
The iPhone XR only has one camera. However, trust us when we say that it takes as beautiful photos as the XS series.
It has the same stellar wide-angle camera sensor and Smart HDR functionality as its more expensive XS series siblings. These deliver better highlights in the shadows.
And the good news?
You can shoot Portrait mode shots with the rear camera, add in the artistic bokeh effect too.
But here’s a catch:
The back camera can only take Portraits snaps for people only… for now. Pixel 3 does not have the same limitation.
Check out this iPhone XR unboxing review from the folks from Tom’s Guide. They made a comprehensive comparison of the iPhone XR camera with Pixel 3 and the XS series.
The Verdict
The bottom line…
There really are not that many differences with the iPhone XR and its flagship iPhone XS series siblings. So, to get an all-screen iPhone, a little difference with the camera, with almost all the features the same as its pricier siblings at a cheaper rate, that’s a win to me.
Comparing the iPhone XR to the older ones, the former is totally an upgrade without breaking the bank.
And even after almost two years, the iPhone XR can still give other smartphones a run for its money.
Did this article enlighten you in any way? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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