Apple iPhone XS vs Apple iPhone XS Max

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

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone XS
  • Higher pixel density: 458ppi
  • Lighter design: 177g vs 208g
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone XS Max
  • Larger display: 6.5in
  • Higher battery capacity: 3174mAh vs 2658mAh

Versions

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

Review

Key Specs Apple iPhone XS and Apple iPhone XS Max
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

Display

Display quality comparison
Type OLED OLED
Size 5.8 in 6.5 in
Resolution 1125x2436 pixels 1242x2688 pixels
Aspect ratio 19.5:9 19.4:9
Pixel density 458 ppi 456 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No No
Max brightness 625 nits 625 nits
HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes Dolby Vision
Touch Sampling Rate 120 Hz 120 Hz
Screen-to-body ratio 81.1 % 85.4 %
Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPhone XS
635 nits
Apple iPhone XS Max
657 nits
sRGB gamut98.8 %98.8 %
PWM (Flicker)240 Hz240 Hz
Response time4.4 ms11.2 ms
Contrast∞ Infinite∞ Infinite

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 143.6 mm (5.65 in) 157.5 mm (6.2 in)
Width 70.9 mm (2.79 in) 77.4 mm (3.05 in)
Thickness 7.7 mm (0.3 in) 7.7 mm (0.3 in)
Weight 177 g (6.24 oz) 208 g (7.34 oz)
Water resistance IP68 IP68
Back panel Glass Glass
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Silver
- Gold
- Gray
- Silver
- Gold
- Gray
Fingerprint sensor No No
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPhone XS
81.1 %
Apple iPhone XS Max
85.4 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPhone XS and Apple iPhone XS Max In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple A12 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic
Max Frequency 2490 MHz 2490 MHz
CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 6 (2 + 4)
Architecture - 4/1.6 (Tempest)
- 2/2.49 (Vortex)
- 4/1.6 (Tempest)
- 2/2.49 (Vortex)
Process TSMC TSMC
Transistor Size 7 nm 7 nm
Neural Processor Neural Engine Neural Engine
Graphics Apple A12 GPU Apple A12 GPU
GPU Cores 256 256
GPU Frequency 1100 MHz 1100 MHz
FLOPS 576 GFLOPS 576 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPhone XS
1307
Apple iPhone XS Max
1310
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPhone XS
3447
Apple iPhone XS Max
3458
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)13071310
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)34473458
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPhone XS
733639
Apple iPhone XS Max
700191
CPU202576198067
GPU217548185355
Memory146853152138
UX166662164631
NanoReview Score733639700191
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple iPhone XS
5698
Apple iPhone XS Max
5703
Max Surface Temp.44.8 °C45.2 °C
Stability63 %66 %
Graphics Test34 fps34 fps
Graphics Score56985703

Memory

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

Software

OS iOS 12 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) iOS 12 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2)
OS Size 11.8 GB 16 GB

Battery

Volume 2658 mAh 3174 mAh
Max Charging Power 15 W 18 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging Yes Qi (10 W) Yes Qi (10 W)
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 30 min)
Full Charge Time 2:40 h 03:29 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple iPhone XS
16:06
Apple iPhone XS Max
17:28
Web Browsing05:44 h06:43 h
Video Playback09:44 h10:28 h
Games03:54 h04:11 h
Standby Mode84 h87 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Zoom Optical, 2x Optical, 2x
Flash Quad LED Quad 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)
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
Telephoto: 12 MP
Standard: 12 MP
Telephoto: 12 MP
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
- Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Focal length26 mm28 mm
SensorApple iSight XApple iSight X
Sensor size1/2.551/2.5
Pixel size1.4 μm1.4 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Telephoto
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/2.4f/2.4
Focal length52 mm52 mm
Sensor size1/3.41/3.4
Pixel size1 μm1 μm
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Main camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Apple iPhone XS
n/a
Apple iPhone XS Max
110
Video quality
Apple iPhone XS
n/a
Apple iPhone XS Max
96
Overall camera score
Apple iPhone XS
n/a
Apple iPhone XS Max
105

Front camera

Matrix 7 MP 7 MP
Photo resolution 3088x2316 pixels 3088x2316 pixels
Aperture f/2.2 f/2.2
Focal length 32 mm 32 mm
Sensor CMOS BSI CMOS
Pixel size 1.12 μm n/a
Autofocus Phase autofocus Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No
Selfie camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Apple iPhone XS
n/a
Apple iPhone XS Max
97
Video quality
Apple iPhone XS
n/a
Apple iPhone XS Max
119

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
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 5
Bluetooth features SPP, PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HID, HFP, HDP, GAP, GAVDP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP SPP, PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HFP, HDP, GAP, GAVDP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type No No
USB version 2 2
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
- Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
- GPS
- GLONASS
- Galileo
NFC* Yes Yes
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*11
SIM TypeNanoNano
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G BandsGSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
3G BandsHSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100HSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100
LTE category1616
5G SupportNoNo

Sound

Speakers Stereo Stereo
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 XS Max
77.2 dB

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced September, 2018 yr September, 2018 yr
Release Date September, 2018 yr September, 2018 yr
Launch Price ($) 1000 1100
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
- Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

Survey

Which smartphone would you pick?
1 (50%)
1 (50%)
Total Votes: 2

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