Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone XS and Apple iPhone 17 - Which is better?

Apple iPhone XS vs Apple iPhone 17

52 out 100
Apple iPhone XS
VS
92 out 100
Apple iPhone 17
Apple iPhone XS
Apple iPhone 17

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone XS Manufactured in September, 2018, with display 5.8 with chipsetApple A12 Bionic, vs Apple iPhone 17, Manufactured in September, 2025 with chipsetApple A19. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone XS
    Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 17
    • Larger display: 6.3in
    • Higher pixel density: 460ppi
    • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
    • Higher battery capacity: 3692mAh vs 2658mAh
    • Newer Bluetooth version: 6.0 vs 5
    • Supports DisplayPort

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 4/64 GB
    - 4/256 GB
    - 4/512 GB    		 - 8/256 GB
    - 8/512 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPhone XS and Apple iPhone 17
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    Camera
    Main & front camera tests
    Performance
    App & system performance
    Games
    3D gaming performance
    Battery
    Battery life, charging speed & type
    Connectivity
    Connectivity features
    NanoReview Score
    Overall score by NanoReview
    Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
    Customize your score
    Function
    Importance (Weight)
    Display:
    Camera:
    Performance:
    Gaming:
    Battery:
    Connectivity:
    Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

    Tests & specs

    Specs & test comparison
    Smartphones:
    Apple iPhone XS
    vs
    Apple iPhone 17

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED OLED
    Size 5.8 in 6.3 in
    Resolution 1125x2436 pixels 1206x2622 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
    Pixel density 458 ppi 460 ppi
    Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate No Yes
    Max brightness 625 nits 3000 nits
    HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes, Dolby Vision
    Touch Sampling Rate 120 Hz n/a
    Screen-to-body ratio 81.1 % 91.1 %
    Features DCI-P3 - DCI-P3
    - Always-On Display
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPhone XS
    635 nits
    Apple iPhone 17
    n/a
    sRGB gamut98.8 %n/a
    PWM (Flicker)240 Hzn/a
    Response time4.4 msn/a
    Contrast∞ Infiniten/a
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone XS]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 143.6 mm (5.65 in) 149.6 mm (5.89 in)
    Width 70.9 mm (2.79 in) 71.5 mm (2.81 in)
    Thickness 7.7 mm (0.3 in) 8 mm (0.31 in)
    Weight 177 g (6.24 oz) 177 g (6.24 oz)
    Water resistance IP68 IP68
    Back panel Glass Glass
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - Silver
    - Gold
    - Gray    		 - White
    - Black
    - Blue
    - Green
    - Purple
    Fingerprint sensor No No
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPhone XS
    81.1 %
    Apple iPhone 17
    91.1 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPhone XS and Apple iPhone 17 In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A12 Bionic Apple A19
    Max Frequency 2490 MHz 4100 MHz
    CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) n/a
    Architecture - 4/1.6 (Tempest)
    - 2/2.49 (Vortex)    		 n/a
    Process TSMC n/a
    Transistor Size 7 nm n/a
    Neural Processor Neural Engine n/a
    Graphics Apple A12 GPU n/a
    GPU Cores 256 n/a
    GPU Frequency 1100 MHz n/a
    FLOPS 576 GFLOPS n/a
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPhone XS
    1307
    Apple iPhone 17
    3720
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPhone XS
    3447
    Apple iPhone 17
    10589
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)13073720
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)344710589
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPhone XS
    733639
    Apple iPhone 17
    2116678
    CPU202576510193
    GPU217548792974
    Memory146853367866
    UX166662445645
    NanoReview Score7336392116678
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPhone XS
    5698
    Apple iPhone 17
    n/a
    Max Surface Temp.44.8 °Cn/a
    Stability63 %n/a
    Graphics Test34 fpsn/a
    Graphics Score5698n/a
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone XS]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 4 GB 8 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5X
    Memory Frequency 2133 MHz n/a
    Channels 2 4
    Storage
    Storage Capacity- 64 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB    		256 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iOS 12 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) iOS 26
    OS Size 11.8 GB n/a

    Battery

    Volume 2658 mAh 3692 mAh
    Max Charging Power 15 W 30 W
    Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging Yes Qi (10 W) Yes (25 W)
    Reverse Charging No Yes
    Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 30 min)
    Full Charge Time 2:40 h n/a
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPhone XS
    16:06
    Apple iPhone 17
    n/a
    Web Browsing05:44 hn/a
    Video Playback09:44 hn/a
    Games03:54 hn/a
    Standby Mode84 hn/a

    Main camera

    Matrix 12 MP 48 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 8064x6048 pixels
    Zoom Optical, 2x Digital
    Flash Quad LED Dual LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No No
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
    Wide-angle lens n/a 120 °
    Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP    		 Standard: 48 MP
    Ultra-wide: 48 MP
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix12 MP48 MP
    Aperturef/1.8f/1.6
    Focal length26 mm26 mm
    SensorApple iSight Xn/a
    Sensor size1/2.551/1.56
    Pixel size1.4 μm1 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Telephoto
    Matrix12 MPn/a
    Aperturef/2.4n/a
    Focal length52 mmn/a
    Sensor size1/3.4n/a
    Pixel size1 μmn/a
    StabilizationOpticaln/a
    Ultra-wide lens
    Matrixn/a48 MP
    Aperturen/af/2.2
    Focal lengthn/a13 mm
    Sensor sizen/a1/2.55
    Pixel sizen/a0.7 μm
    Stabilizationn/aDigital

    Front camera

    Matrix 7 MP 18 MP
    Photo resolution 3088x2316 pixels n/a
    Aperture f/2.2 f/1.9
    Focal length 32 mm 23 mm
    Sensor CMOS n/a
    Pixel size 1.12 μm 1.12 μm
    Autofocus Phase autofocus Phase autofocus
    Stabilization Digital Optical
    Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
    TOF 3D sensor No Yes

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display    		 - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display
    Bluetooth version 5 6.0
    Bluetooth features SPP, PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HID, HFP, HDP, GAP, GAVDP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP LE
    USB type No USB Type-C
    USB version 2 2
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG
    DisplayPort n/a Yes
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    - QZSS
    - NAVIC
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*1n/a
    SIM TypeNanoeSIM
    SIM Moden/aDual SIM Standby
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900n/a
    3G BandsHSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
    LTE Bands*LTE (B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2600)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66/B71)
    LTE category16n/a
    5G SupportNoYes

    Sound

    Speakers Stereo n/a
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPhone XS
    87.3 dB
    Apple iPhone 17
    n/a

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced September, 2018 yr September, 2025 yr
    Release Date September, 2018 yr September, 2025 yr
    Launch Price ($) 1000 n/a
    MSRP ($) n/a 799
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor
    Charger Included n/a No
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone 17 the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

    Which smartphone would you pick?
    0 (0%)
    3 (100%)
    Total Votes: 3

    User comments

    Share your opinion or ask questions below