The iPhone XS and iPhone XS are all set to go on sale tomorrow. If you are looking to buy the devices or just have some questions surrounding them like whether they come with Gorilla Glass or not, feature an FM radio or not, in our FAQ.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Frequently Asked Questions
Q) What are the full specifications of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max?
A) The full specs of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max can be found below.
iPhone XS:
- Dimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm
- Weight: 177g
- Display: 5.8-inch OLED Super Retina HD (2436 x 1125) Display, True Tone, 3D Touch, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- RAM: 4GB
- Chipset: A12 Bionic, 50 percent faster GPU, 8-core Neural engine
- Rear camera: 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras, Wide-angle: f/1.8 aperture with 1.4um pixel pitch, Telephoto: f/2.4 aperture, 2x optical zoom, Dual OIS, Smart HDR
- Front camera: 7MP TrueDepth camera
- Battery: 2,675mAh, 30 minutes more than the iPhone X
- IP68 certification
- Sensors: Face ID, 3-axis Gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
- Connectivity: Gigabit LTE, nano-SIM and eSIM slot for dual-SIM, GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac with MIMO, Bluetooth 5, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, Lightning
- Colors: Silver, Gold and Space Gray
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB
iPhone XS Max:
- Dimensions: 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm
- Weight: 208g
- Display: 6.5-inch OLED Super Retina HD Display (2436 x 1125), True Tone, 3D Touch, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- Battery: 3,174mAh, 90 minutes more than the iPhone X
Other specs of the iPhone XS Max remain the same as the iPhone XS.
Q) Which version of Gorilla Glass does Apple use on the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max?
A) Apple says that it is using a more durable glass on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max when compared to the iPhone X. The company sources its strengthened glass from Corning itself, though it does not make use of the Gorilla Glass branding anywhere.
Q) Is the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max durable?
A) Yes, they are. As durability test of the iPhone XS Max shows, the handset does not bend due to its stainless steel chassis.
Q) What kind of SIM card slot does the phone have? Does the iPhone X feature dual-SIM functionality?
A) The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max do feature dual-SIM functionality. However, unlike other phones, the new iPhones only come with one SIM slot. The second SIM slot is replaced by the eSIM, a technology that Apple first debuted with its iPad lineup before expanding it to the Apple Watch last year.
Your operator must already have support for eSIM technology. If not, your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max essentially becomes a single SIM device. Right now, there are only 10 operators across the world to support eSIM.
Q) Is the Super Retina HD on the iPhone XS better than that of the iPhone X?
A) Yes. The iPhone XS’ OLED display is more accurate than that of the iPhone X. It is also capable of reaching higher brightness levels.
Q) Has Apple re-introduced Touch ID on the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max?
A) No, it has not. Both phones continue to rely solely on Face ID.
Q) How has Apple improved the camera on the iPhone XS?
A) Apart from the switch to a bigger sensor with a larger 1.4um pixel pitch, Apple is also debuting Smart HDR with the iPhone XS. The new computational photography approach from the company is similar to what Google already does with the Pixel 2. With Smart HDR, the iPhone XS merges four photos with varying exposure levels into one for improved dynamic range, details, and contrast.
Q) How much RAM do the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come with?
A) Both devices come with 4GB RAM.
Q) How has Apple improved the Portrait mode on iPhone XS??
A) On the iPhone XS, Apple has debuted a new Depth Control feature. As the name suggests, it will allow iPhone XS users to control the intensity depth effect of a Portrait photo after taking a photo.
Q) Has the telephoto sensor improved on the iPhone XS?
A) No. The device continues to come with the same f/2.4 12MP telephoto sensor as seen on the iPhone X.
Q) Is Face ID on the iPhone XS any better than on iPhone X?
A) Yes, it is. Face ID on the iPhone XS is slightly faster — around 0.5 seconds. It is not a huge difference but one that you notice when using both phones side by side.
Q) How big is the battery of the iPhone XS? What about the iPhone XS Max?
A) The iPhone XS comes with a 2,675mAh battery. This is slightly smaller than the 2,716mAh battery found inside the iPhone X. Yet, Apple says the iPhone XS can last 30 minutes longer than the iPhone X.
As for the iPhone XS Max, it comes with a 3,174mAh battery which is good enough to last for 90 additional minutes when compared to the iPhone X.
Q) Will iPhone X cases fit the iPhone XS?
A) Yes and no. The iPhone XS has the same dimensions as the iPhone X which means most cases for the latter will fit the former. However, the camera hump on the iPhone XS is bigger by a millimeter which means cases with tight tolerances might not fit.
Q) Has the process to unlock the iPhone XS changed? Or is the same as the iPhone X?
A) It is the same. This means as soon as you lift your iPhone XS, its display will light up. To unlock the device, you need to look at your handset for Face ID to detect you and unlock your iPhone. You can then finally go to the home screen by simply swiping up from the bottom.
Q) What colors is the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max going to be available in?
A) iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will be available in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray colors.
Q) Has Apple improved the IP certification of the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max?
A) Yes, it has. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max feature IP68 certification and are certified water-resistant in up to 2m depth for 30 minutes.
Q) If my iPhone XS ends up getting damaged by water, will it still be covered under warranty?
A) Despite the improved water-resistance though, Apple’s standard warranty still does not cover the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max against any kind of liquid damage.
Q) Is there FM radio on the iPhone XS?
A) No, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max do not feature FM radio.
Q) Do the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come with an IR blaster?
A) No, they don’t.
Q) Has Apple improved wireless charging on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max?
A) Yes. Thanks to a bigger charging coil, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are more forgiving of where they are placed on a wireless charger. They now also charge up to 30 minutes faster wirelessly.
Q) Can one use third-party Qi wireless chargers with the iPhone XS?
A) Yes. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max feature Qi wireless charging which makes them compatible with any third-party Qi wireless charger.
Q) Does the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max support Gigabit LTE?
A) Yes, they do. The new iPhones feature a faster LTE modem with Gigabit LTE support. This will allow the devices to offer faster mobile data speeds when compared to previous iPhones.
Q) Do the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max support Reliance Jio network in India, including voice calling?
A) Yes, the iPhone X is fully compatible with Reliance Jio network, including support for its VoLTE network.
Q) Is there fast charging support on the iPhone XS?
A) Yes, the iPhone XS has fast charging support. It is capable of charging from 0-50 percent in just 30 minutes. However, Apple continues to bundle a 5W power adapter with the devices which means users will have to invest in a third-party charger on their own.
Q) What storage variant is Apple offering the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in?
A) The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are available in three different storage tiers: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
Q) What contents do you get inside the retail box of the iPhone X?
A) You get the phone, charger, SIM ejector tool, EarPods with Lightning port, and some regulatory papers. Apple has stopped bundling its Lightning-to 3.5mm adapter with the new iPhones.
Q) When do the iPhone XS and iPhone XS go on sale?
A) The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max went up for pre-order in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and other key markets on September 14. They will hit the retail stores on September 21.
Q) What are the prices for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in the U.S.?
A) The base variant of the iPhone XS with 64GB starts from $999, while the iPhone XS Max with 64GB variant is priced at $1,099. You can find more information about the pricing of the devices here.
Q) Can one buy a SIM-free or unlocked iPhone XS at launch?
A) Yes, Apple is selling the SIM-free variants of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at launch this time around.
Have any other querries about the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max? Drop a comment and we will answer them for you.
