iPhone X vs XR: Which is the Better iPhone?

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By Okedigba Dorcas

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Do you want to buy an iPhone but do not know which to go for between the iPhone X and XR? Read this iPhone X vs XR comparison, to get all the information that will enable you to make the best decision.

iPhone X vs XR: At First Glance

Apple launched the iPhone X in 2017 as a 10th-year celebration of the first iPhone release. The iPhone X was discontinued in 2018 following the release of the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max.

However, you can still get iPhone X from resellers.

As a 2018 release, the iPhone XR is slightly newer than the iPhone X. However, the iPhone XR has also been discontinued in September 2021.

Once again, like iPhone X, you will still be able to buy iPhone XR from retailers that still have it in stock. When I updated this article in November 2021, the iPhone XR sold for $324.99 on Amazon while the iPhone X sold for $319.99.

This article was updated in 2021, and but truth be told, it’s been a while since both phones were released. Nevertheless, both the iPhone X and XR are still in great demand despite the newer iPhone releases.

Now that you know a bit about these iPhones, let us proceed into making your selection the best decision you’d be glad you made.

iPhone X vs XR: Design, Dimension & Weight

Both the iPhone X and XR are a clear definition of premium design. They look elegant and feel very sleek.

The iPhone X marked a major design change in the iPhone transitioning which has been maintained up till its release. The iPhone X follows a bezel-less screen design which translates to the loss of the home button.

Over the years, users have gotten used to the home button such that the absence of it seemed like a mirage. However, iPhone enthusiasts are quite adaptable and they quickly moved on without it.

For the size, the iPhone X measures 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm. This means that it is compact, fairly easy to use with one hand, and convenient to carry around.

On the other hand, the iPhone XR is larger, it measures 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm. Clearly, this is a large phone and not so comfortable to use one-handedly like its smaller sibling, iPhone X.

When it comes to weight, the iPhone X weighs 174 g while the iPhone XR weighs 194 g. Unfortunately, both phones fall outside the preferred weight of most smartphone users.

Specifically, research shows that users prefer phones that weigh between 140 g to 170 g.

Like I said earlier, the front view of the iPhone X has no prominent bezels, the screen has been stretched all out. The only thing that stops the iPhone X front from having an all-screen front is the presence of a bar-like notch at the top of the screen.

Although the notch unceremoniously obstructs the edge-to-edge screen, it houses quite a number of useful features. These features include an infrared camera, a flood illuminator, a proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

That is not all, there is also a speaker, microphone, front camera, and dot projector. All these are crammed into the notch which Apple named ‘the sensor housing’ and truly, that is exactly what it is.

Similarly, the iPhone XR also employs the same front design pattern including the edge-to-edge display and the sensor housing notch. The only difference between the iPhone X and XR front view is their screen sizes.

Specifically, the iPhone X has a 5.8-inch screen while the iPhone XR has a larger 6.1-inch screen. Flipping the phones over, they both spot a premium glass back.

2017 was a significant design turnaround for the iPhones series, we saw the premiere of the glass rear design with the iPhone 8. It was followed suit by the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X up till the recent versions of the series.

Though the glass is all beautiful and sleek, it means you are more likely to end up with a broken phone if it drops.

Moving on, the backplate of the iPhone X houses a rectangular camera module by the top-left corner. Meanwhile, the top-left corner of the iPhone XR houses a round camera module with an LED flash below it.

Additionally, both the iPhone X and XR have a chrome-like Apple logo positioned on the upper one-third of the backplate. Also, further below the backplate, both the iPhone X and XR have an iPhone insignia.

That brings us to the end of the back view features. Now, let us move on to the edges.

Both the iPhone X and XR have nicely rounded corners. The iPhone X’s edges are built from a surgical-grade stainless steel material with a glossy feel to it.

Meanwhile, the iPhone XR’s edges are built with a 7000 series aluminum which has a matte feel. Aluminum is of lesser quality than stainless steel and it is also lighter.

Apple could have used aluminum in a bid to reduce the weight of the already bulky iPhone XR. It would have been heavier if Apple had used aluminum like its older and smaller sibling, iPhone X.

For both phone models, the top edge is only a metal frame with no other feature. Meanwhile, the bottom houses the speaker grilles, lightning port, and microphone.

From the front view, the left side houses the volume buttons as well as a ring and silent switch. The buttons and switch are located at the top region of the edge where they are easy to reach.

There are also two antenna lines on the left edge. One runs across the top edge while the other runs across the bottom edge.

When it comes to the switch, it is useful for toggling between ring and silent modes. When in silent mode, the switch shows an orange color while sounds and alerts will be muted.

However, your alarm will still sound, and calls from your favorite contacts will ring as well.

For the right edge of both phones, there is a side button. A light press on the button can be used to wake the screen or put it to sleep.

Also, the side button can be used to switch the phone off with a long press.

On the other hand, the right edge houses a SIM card tray that can be ejected with a pin-ejector tool. The difference between the placement of the SIM tray on both models is that it is positioned in the middle of the iPhone X.

Meanwhile, the SIM card tray is positioned closer to the bottom of the iPhone XR. Other than that, every other thing is similar on both phones.

Additionally, the right edge of both the iPhone X and XR has two antenna lines as well. One runs across the top edge while another runs across the bottom edge.

For color options, the iPhone X is available in Space Gray, Black, and Silver color. This gives the lovers of the smaller model a limited color option to choose from.

However, this does not feel like too much of a deal since most people mask the real colors with protective cases.

On the other hand, the iPhone XR has more interesting color options to choose from. Speaking of, you can get iPhone XR in Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, and White.

Hence, users can choose any of these colors that resonate with their personality.

Moving on, both the iPhone X and XR are rated IP67 for dust and water resistance. The IP67 rating implies that both phones can be submerged in 1m of water for as long as 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, iPhone XR further pushes the limit up to 2m of water for up to 30 minutes.

In summary, both the iPhone X and XR are elegant smartphones with premium metallic-glass designs. However, the stainless steel build of the iPhone X is of better quality than the aluminum build of the iPhone XR.

Also, the iPhone XR is larger and heavier. For some people, this could mean that it is more cumbersome to use.

Meanwhile, for others, it might mean a better choice for media content.

Finally, the iPhone XR offers more beautiful color options to choose from, compared to the iPhone X. Considering all these factors, I am compelled to rate both phones at a tie in this design comparison section.

Hence, I will rate both the iPhone X and XR a nine in this iPhone X vs XR design and dimension comparison section.

iPhone X vs XR: Display Features

We have seen how similar the iPhone X and XR are in terms of design. Next up are the display features and this is one of the most prominent differences between the two models.

The display is a very vital feature of a smartphone because it is used for viewing your content. Hence, the quality of the screen is a crucial factor to consider before making your choice.

In this section of the review, I will compare the display features of both the iPhone X and XR. To deliver on this, I’ll consider factors such as screen sizes, display technology, resolutions, etc.

To start with, the iPhone X has a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge display with a top-notch. Meanwhile, the XR has a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge display with a similar top-notch as well.

Sadly, both models fall outside the screen size range preferred by most users.

Research shows that most users prefer screen sizes between 5 to 5.5-inch. However, that does not apply to large screen lovers.

Large screen lovers prefer bigger-sized screens to smaller ones. This set of people will choose the iPhone XR over the iPhone X.

Next is the display technologies. The iPhone X employs a superior Super Retina OLED panel compared to the Liquid Retina IPS LCD of the iPhone XR.

Despite the superior quality of the OLED display, the IPS LCD is lighter in weight. The reason Apple used an IPS LCD for the iPhone XR could have been to reduce the already bulky weight.

For the resolution, the iPhone X employs 1125 x 2436 pixels. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR has a lower resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels.

This implies that videos and graphics will be more detailed and sharp on the iPhone X compared to the iPhone XR.

Additionally, the iPhone X’s display supports HDR videos, true tone adjustment of white balance, and a 3D touch display. Meanwhile, iPhone XR also supports true tone adjustment but instead of 3D touch, it uses haptic touch.

Moving on to the aspect ratio, both the iPhone X and XR uses a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. This implies that both models offer more screen estate than the classical 16:9 aspect ratio.

Also, the iPhone X display has a pixel density of 458 PPI. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR has a lower pixel density of 326 PPI.

The higher the pixel density the better the display quality. Thankfully, both the iPhone X and XR have a pixel density higher than the standard 300 PPI.

However, since the iPhone XR has a lesser pixel density than the X, the contents are not as sharp or vibrant.

Furthermore, the iPhone X has an outstanding contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR has a far lesser contrast ratio of 1,400:1.

What this translates to is that black colors appear as true-deep blacks on the iPhone X. On the other hand, the iPhone XR will produce brighter blacks in a grayish tone.

In terms of screen brightness, Apple has promised both the iPhone X and XR to deliver up to 625 nits of maximum brightness. This implies that the screens are bright enough outdoors and will be legible even in direct sunlight.

However, the reflection of the sun against the screen is still an issue here – the same as every other smartphone.

For color accuracy, the iPhone XR has an impressive average deltaE score of 1.2 (the lower the better). It also registered a good 100% (the higher the better) of the sRGB color gamut.

Whereas, the iPhone XR has just a marginal difference from the iPhone X. It has an average deltaE of 1.3 and registered 99.3% of the sRGB color gamut.

Furthermore, the screen of the iPhone X and XR does an amazing job at resisting fingerprints. Thanks to the oleophobic coating of both phones.

Additionally, both screens are made from super durable and scratch-resistant glasses.

Overall, iPhone X has a smaller screen with better overall quality. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR has a larger screen estate but lower quality.

In summary, Apple is known for making exceptional screens and this is evident from both models. However, the iPhone X scores more points in this section.

Hence, I will rate the iPhone X a nine in this iPhone X vs XR display comparison section. Meanwhile, I rate the iPhone XR a seven.

iPhone X vs XR: Camera Features

Social media has become an important part of our lives, with an increase in the rate at which people share pictures with friends and families. Hence, you want to ensure that your phone’s camera can live up to expectations by readily serving you with social media-worthy pictures.

In this section, I will help you narrow down your choices by rating both phones according to their camera performance. Another noticeable difference between the iPhone X and XR is their camera setup.

Apple equips the iPhone XR with a single rear camera while the iPhone X’s rear has a dual-camera setup.

The iPhone XR’s rear camera is a 12MP wide-angle lens with an aperture size of f/1.8. It also has a pixel size 1.4 micron pixel.

Likewise, the iPhone X also has a 12 MP wide-angle rear camera with an aperture size of f/1.8 as well. Also, it has a pixel size of 1.22 micron pixel.

Meanwhile, the telephoto camera lens of the iPhone X has a 12 MP resolution as well. Additionally, the telephoto camera has an aperture size of f/2.4 and 1.0 micron pixel.

The iPhone X’s dual camera lets you take crisp professional portraits shots. Portraits are pictures where the background is subtly blurred while the subject is more focused.

This photo effect is also known as the ‘bokeh effect’.  

For portrait lighting, both the iPhone X and iPhone XR has six lighting effects. This implies that there are enough studio lighting options to choose from on the iPhone X than XR.

Although the iPhone XR lacks the dual-camera setup, it makes up for the portrait mode in the settings. Impressively, the iPhone XR provides better depth control than the iPhone X.

This implies that you have more control over the blur in your portraits on the iPhone XR than X. You can decide to increase or decrease the background blur even after you have taken the shot.

However, the iPhone XR limits the use of the bokeh effect to portraits of people only. Contrastly, the iPhone X allows you to use the bokeh effect on all subjects.

One advantage of the dual-camera setup of the iPhone X over the single camera of the XR is the optical and digital zooms. The iPhone X has a 10X digital zoom while the iPhone XR is limited to 5X.

Moreover, the iPhone X has a 2X optical zoom while the iPhone XR has none. This means that to take closeups on the iPhone XR you will need to move closer.

Furthermore, both the iPhone X and XR support HDR image processing. This allows you to take multiple pictures at different exposures then combine them into a single crisp shot.

It is worth mentioning that the iPhone X employs an Auto HDR while the iPhone XR uses the newer Smart HDR technique. Smart HDR helps to improve the shadows and highlights in the shots.

For video recording, both cameras on the iPhone X has Optical Image Stabilization which helps to reduce motion jitters in videos. The dual cameras allow you to record 4K resolution video at 60 fps and 1080p slo-mo resolution videos at 240 fps.

Likewise, the single camera of the iPhone XR also has Optical Image Stabilization. Hence, it also allows you to record 4K resolution video at 60 fps and 1080p resolution slo-mo videos at 240 fps.

Overall, the rear cameras of both the iPhone X and XR take decent-looking photos. However, shots taken with the iPhone XR lack the same degree of detail and exposure in low-light conditions compared to the Xs.

For the front cameras, both the iPhone X and XR have 7 MP true depth cameras with an aperture size of f/2.2. Both cameras support portrait selfies while the iPhone XR has advanced bokeh and depth control settings.

Meanwhile, the six portrait lighting effects of the iPhone X and XR rear cameras are still effective for their front cameras.

When it comes to taking night selfies, both the iPhone X and XR do a great job. Both models have a retina flash that is useful for taking clearer images at night

Moreover, the true depth camera of the iPhone X supports Auto HDR while that of the iPhone XR uses Smart HDR.

Generally, the front-facing cameras of both the iPhone X and XR take impressive photos in both day and low light. However, the iPhone X’s performance seems to be slightly better than its counterpart.

Both iPhone X and XR front cameras also support Animoji. These are 3D emojis that are created from your facial expressions, you can send them to friends via iMessage.

For video recording, both the iPhone X and XR front cameras are capable of recording 1080p resolution videos at 30 fps. Meanwhile, the iPhone X can increase the frame rate up to 60 fps.

These cameras also support Auto image stabilization that helps to reduce motion shakes in videos.

The front cameras on both iPhone X and XR also support face ID. The face ID feature allows the true depth camera to map and recognize the face.

It is useful for unlocking the phone, securing applications, and for making online payments via Android Pay.

Overall, both the iPhone X and XR have great cameras in their own right. However, when it comes to the best pick for mobile photography, the iPhone X seems to hold more grounds.

Hence, I will rate the iPhone X a nine in this iPhone X vs XR camera comparison section. On the other hand, I rate the XR an eight.

iPhone X vs XR: Battery Life and Talk Time

Next up in this article is the battery comparison of iPhone X vs XR.

The iPhone X ships with a Li-Ion 2716 mAh non-removable battery. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR also has a Li-Ion battery with a larger capacity of 2942 mAh.

Since both models have a non-removable battery, if there is any technical issue with either your iPhone X or XR, you will need to visit an Apple service center.

Meanwhile, Apple has promised 21 hours of 3G battery talk time on the iPhone X and 25 hours on the iPhone XR. Let us consider the few factors that determine battery consumption.

The first factor we are looking at is the screen size, the bigger the screen the more power it consumes. Theoretically, the iPhone XR will consume more power than the iPhone X because it has a larger screen.

The next factor is the screen technology. OLED screens are known to consume more energy than their IPS LCD counterparts.

Hence, considering this factor, we expect the iPhone X to consume more power than the iPhone XR.

To determine the battery endurance in real-life usage, I will include the performance results from various battery tests performed by Notebookcheck.com.

The first test is a WLAN test that involves opening a new website every 30 seconds. Also, the screen brightness of the test model was set to 150 nits and all wireless modules except WiFi were off.

As a result of the WiFi test, the iPhone X lasted 9 hours 24 minutes. On the other hand, the iPhone XR lasted significantly longer – delivering 15 hours 10 minutes in the same test.

The next test is a video playback test which involves continuously playing a 1080p resolution video. Meanwhile, the screen brightness was also set to 150 nits but all wireless modules including WiFi were turned off.

Consequently, the iPhone X lasted 10 hours 34 minutes. Whereas, the iPhone XR still surpassed it with a battery life of 16 hours 51 minutes.

Finally, while both phones were left on idle, the iPhone X lasted 21 hours 32 minutes. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR lasted an exceptional 49 hours 29 minutes.

When it comes to charging, both iPhone X and XR support 15W fast charging via the USB 2.0 power delivery. Apple claims that the fast charging feature is capable of topping up the battery by 50% in 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, Apple did not pack the iPhone X nor XR with a fast charger. The included chargers take longer to charge the devices.

This is Apple’s strategy of generating sales for its $19 fast charger which you can easily buy from any retailer.

Furthermore, the glass design-build that Apple introduced with the iPhone 8 was majorly due to its wireless charging support. This design has continued with the iPhone X and XR and also the more recent iPhone releases.

Hence, you can charge the iPhone X or XR wirelessly. However, none of the models ships with a wireless charging adapter.

Therefore, you will have to purchase a Qi wireless charger.

Based on the test results, the iPhone XR is clearly the winner in this category. However, the iPhone X’s performance is still decent though it doesn’t meet the requirement that’s expected of a high-end phone.

Therefore, I will rate the iPhone X a seven in this iPhone X vs XR battery life comparison section. Meanwhile, I rate the iPhone XR a nine.

iPhone X vs XR: Storage Options and Performance

For great mobile photography tools like the iPhone X and XR, you need adequate storage space to store these pictures. However, you need to note that the higher the storage space available on a phone, the higher its price.

Hence, you might want to consider a lesser storage option in order to keep costs down.

Both the iPhone X and XR are available in two storage options. The first option of the iPhone X ships with 64 GB while the second ships with 256 GB.

On the other hand, the iPhone XR ships with 64 GB or 128 GB. The lower storage option for both models is 64 GB and if you are not much of a heavy storage user, this should be sufficient.

However, for heavy storage users, you will want to go for the higher-end options considering that iPhone does not give you the option to add any external storage. Hence, you will need to go for the 256 GB model on iPhone X or 128 GB on iPhone XR.

Finally, the iPhone X offers the largest storage space, hence it is the winner of this category.

Therefore, I will rate the iPhone X an eight in this iPhone X vs XR storage comparison. Meanwhile, I rate the iPhone XR a seven.

iPhone X vs XR: Security Features and Sensors

Sensors are tiny chips inbuilt into smartphones to enable them to do some intuitive things. We cannot overemphasize the importance of sensors, it ranges from biometric authentication to motion tracking, power management, and more.

Both the iPhone X and XR are loaded with a rich collection of useful sensors. Speaking of the sensors, there is a face ID, 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, ambient light,  barometer, and proximity.

For security functionalities, both iPhone X and XR support face ID. With the help of the true depth front-facing cameras, the face ID will accurately map and recognize the face.

The face ID is useful for unlocking the phone, making contactless payment via Apple Pay, and gaining access to secure apps.

Another security option available on the iPhone X and XR is the use of a passcode. With passcodes, you can protect your phone from unauthorized access.

Moving on to the accelerometer, it is a motion detection sensor that senses changes in tilt, orientation, and displacement. It works by measuring the acceleration force around three axes.

Whereas, the 3-axis gyroscope measures the speed of rotation of the device along the three axes.

Meanwhile, the accelerometer and gyroscope work together by sensing the screen position of a device. Consequently, they rotate the screen according to the position of the user.

Moving on, the ambient light sensor is a photodetector sensor that is useful in measuring the light intensity around the device. Consequently, it reconfigures the screen brightness accordingly.

When the light sensor dims the screen’s brightness, this has two advantages. Firstly, it saves battery consumption and secondly, it prevents eye strain.

Next is the barometer, which is a sensitive sensor that measures the atmospheric pressure of the phone’s surroundings. It is useful for predicting weather conditions.

Additionally, the barometer can also measure the device’s altitude. Hence, it can provide you with information like the current floor you are on.

Furthermore, the proximity sensor is another important sensor that works for power management. Its function is to detect the proximity of the phone to the face during a call.

Consequently, the proximity sensor turns off the display which is helpful for conserving battery power. In addition to that, switching off the display prevents unwanted screen presses that could be caused by the face.

Finally, since iPhone X and XR have the same essential sensors, I will rate both smartphones a nine out of ten in this iPhone X vs XR sensor comparison section.

Our Rating Summary

Rating AreasiPhone XiPhone XRNotes/Comments
Design99Both phones had a tie in this category, both are built with quality materials. But while the X has a more premium quality to it, the XR offers more color options.
Display97The iPhone X is my top pick for this category. It has a more vibrant and detailed OLED display while the XR sticks with a more modest IPS LCD display.
Camera98Undoubtedly, the dual-rear cameras of the iPhone X are a better performer in this category.
Battery79The iPhone XR is my top pick here. It has a bigger battery with a longer runtime.
Storage87For this round, the iPhone X is my top pick. Although both models offer two storage options, the iPhone X offers the largest – 256 GB.
Security/Sensors99Both models have the same collection of sensors performing similar functions, hence, they are both a tie in this category.
Our Average Rating8.58.2On average, the iPhone X is the better iPhone.

Conclusion

All in all, the iPhone X and XR are both exceptional devices in their own right. Although it’s been a while since they were released, the design used in recent iPhone releases mostly originated with the iPhone X.

Hence, there is no question of them being out of date, they are still very much a good buy. Now, to answer your question – which one should I buy?

Firstly, let us look at this from the price point, the iPhone X currently sells for $319.99 on Amazon. Likewise, the iPhone XR currently sells for $327.95.

Now that you know the price of both options, your decision is totally dependent on your personal preference. You also need to consider the features that are most important to you in a smartphone.

For instance, the iPhone X has a more premium build but fewer colors to choose from, a better display quality, and a better camera. Therefore, choose the iPhone X if the features I listed above are your preference in a smartphone.

Meanwhile, the iPhone XR has enough color options to choose from, longer battery life, a bigger screen, and a faster processor. Likewise, choose the iPhone XR if the features I mentioned above are most important to you.

In conclusion, based on this comprehensive comparison of the iPhone X vs iPhone XR, we recommend the iPhone X.

Otherwise, go for the iPhone XR if you don’t mind its slightly higher current price and if its features suit you better.

I hope you found this iPhone X vs XR comparison helpful.

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About the Author

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Okedigba Dorcas

Okedigba Dorcas is a technical writer at Itechguides.com. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She is a web development enthusiast. When she isn’t writing tech guides, she reads or codes web applications. Dorcas writes laptops, smartphones and desktops reviews for Itechguides.com.

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