Over
the last few months since the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR arrived,
I’ve been cycling through them all. But the phone landscape has been crowded
with much sexier stories recently: 5G is beginning to rear its head, wild new transforming folding phones are
capturing people’s imaginations and there are phones studded with more cameras
than you can keep track of.
the last few months since the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR arrived,
I’ve been cycling through them all. But the phone landscape has been crowded
with much sexier stories recently: 5G is beginning to rear its head, wild new transforming folding phones are
capturing people’s imaginations and there are phones studded with more cameras
than you can keep track of.
The iPhones from late 2018 are not so interesting in comparison.
But that’s also to their credit. After all, when Verizon launched its 5G
network it turned out to be spottier than expected,
Samsung’s Galaxy Fold phone is already breaking, and some of those
camera-studded phones don’t do quite as much as
you think.
But that’s also to their credit. After all, when Verizon launched its 5G
network it turned out to be spottier than expected,
Samsung’s Galaxy Fold phone is already breaking, and some of those
camera-studded phones don’t do quite as much as
you think.
The iPhones, meanwhile,
feel pretty flawless, which is quite un-newsworthy. They’re clearly Apple’s
most polished and perfected products right now.
feel pretty flawless, which is quite un-newsworthy. They’re clearly Apple’s
most polished and perfected products right now.
But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use improvements. The phone
industry is accelerating so fast that Apple’s phones are inevitably going to
change with it. But where they are now is a very solid, stable place — if not
an exciting one.
industry is accelerating so fast that Apple’s phones are inevitably going to
change with it. But where they are now is a very solid, stable place — if not
an exciting one.
Which
iPhone should you have gotten?
Good news: Whatever iPhone you picked last year, if you picked one
that is, you’re just fine. (You’re also fine if you have the iPhone X or iPhone 8 or iPhone 7,
too!) Each model has its advantages and drawbacks. My favorite is still the
iPhone XR. It has the best price-to-value pick, its battery life is great and
its smaller size is ideal for me. And the iPhone XR’s LCD screen, while
technically not as good as the iPhone XS’ OLED, isn’t perceptibly different in
everyday use.
that is, you’re just fine. (You’re also fine if you have the iPhone X or iPhone 8 or iPhone 7,
too!) Each model has its advantages and drawbacks. My favorite is still the
iPhone XR. It has the best price-to-value pick, its battery life is great and
its smaller size is ideal for me. And the iPhone XR’s LCD screen, while
technically not as good as the iPhone XS’ OLED, isn’t perceptibly different in
everyday use.
But I appreciate the added antennas, durability and, in
particular, the dual rear camera of the iPhone XS models. I use the 2x zoom for
on-location shoots and closeup shots of my kids all the time. A dual camera
iPhone XR this year seems like an inevitability, especially if the new premium iPhones
get three rear cameras. The XS and XS Max still feel too expensive (not as
expensive as a folding phone, though).
particular, the dual rear camera of the iPhone XS models. I use the 2x zoom for
on-location shoots and closeup shots of my kids all the time. A dual camera
iPhone XR this year seems like an inevitability, especially if the new premium iPhones
get three rear cameras. The XS and XS Max still feel too expensive (not as
expensive as a folding phone, though).
Camera:
Good, but could definitely be better
The iPhone XS and XR do a great job in everyday use, and their
cameras are really good. Video capture is particularly excellent too. But there
are other phones that can do things the iPhone can’t.
cameras are really good. Video capture is particularly excellent too. But there
are other phones that can do things the iPhone can’t.
The newest Samsung Galaxy S10,
for example, has three rear cameras, offering an ultra wide-angle lens that the
iPhones don’t have. It’s a common trend,
and the more lenses you have, the more framing options you have.
for example, has three rear cameras, offering an ultra wide-angle lens that the
iPhones don’t have. It’s a common trend,
and the more lenses you have, the more framing options you have.
Although some phones edge out the iPhones in
photo quality based on CNET tests, it’s really one specific feature from one specific phone I
envy the most — Night Sight on the Pixel 3. After trying Google’s low-light mode on the Pixel 3, I
immediately loved what it did for my photos. The iPhone can handle well without
flash most of the time, but Night Sight is on a different level. It’s the sort
of feature that either iOS 13 or the next iPhone should have.
photo quality based on CNET tests, it’s really one specific feature from one specific phone I
envy the most — Night Sight on the Pixel 3. After trying Google’s low-light mode on the Pixel 3, I
immediately loved what it did for my photos. The iPhone can handle well without
flash most of the time, but Night Sight is on a different level. It’s the sort
of feature that either iOS 13 or the next iPhone should have.
Face ID
stands alone
There are other phones that have face unlocking, and others have
in-display fingerprint scanners, like the Galaxy S10 and OnePlus 6T.
But Face ID remains the smoothest and best implementation of facial biometrics
I’ve seen. Even though I’m still not wild about how many times I seem to still
need to enter my passcode because my face is at the wrong angle, Face ID in
general works well and works invisibly. It’s even more useful when it reads my
face to pull up my app passwords and help with logins, which is something I’ve
become hooked on.
in-display fingerprint scanners, like the Galaxy S10 and OnePlus 6T.
But Face ID remains the smoothest and best implementation of facial biometrics
I’ve seen. Even though I’m still not wild about how many times I seem to still
need to enter my passcode because my face is at the wrong angle, Face ID in
general works well and works invisibly. It’s even more useful when it reads my
face to pull up my app passwords and help with logins, which is something I’ve
become hooked on.
Let’s
talk AirPower (and charging)
The AirPower wireless charging mat was a looming promise since
2017, and it suggested that charging for the iPhone and its accessories would
be vastly improved. Now that Apple canceled AirPower though, what’s the
alternative?
2017, and it suggested that charging for the iPhone and its accessories would
be vastly improved. Now that Apple canceled AirPower though, what’s the
alternative?
The iPhone still uses Lightning to charge, and a too-slow 5-watt
charger bundled with the phone. The iPhone should have fast charging right out
of the box, but in the meantime you could buy larger chargers and adapters for
USB-C chargers at an extra cost.
charger bundled with the phone. The iPhone should have fast charging right out
of the box, but in the meantime you could buy larger chargers and adapters for
USB-C chargers at an extra cost.
And while wireless Qi charging is nice to have, iPhones still
charge as fast with wireless Qi as other phones do. Moving to USB-C and faster
Qi charging need to happen in 2019.
charge as fast with wireless Qi as other phones do. Moving to USB-C and faster
Qi charging need to happen in 2019.
In addition, it’d be cool if the iPhone could wirelessly charge
other accessories too. This would be cribbed directly from Samsung, whose
Galaxy S10 phones can cleverly charge Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch right throughtheir back. The Apple Watch could use that type of convenience when
traveling and you wouldn’t have to bring an extra charger.
other accessories too. This would be cribbed directly from Samsung, whose
Galaxy S10 phones can cleverly charge Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch right throughtheir back. The Apple Watch could use that type of convenience when
traveling and you wouldn’t have to bring an extra charger.
The
iPhone is a stable buoy in a changing world
The iPhone is still a really great phone, but it continues to feelfamiliar in a world of increasingly changing tech. It’s almost, dare I say, the
comfort choice? It’s the device that connects to all my things, and it powers
the connections to most of the tech I test and wear. It’s a cornerstone device
and it does a good job at being exactly that. It’s the product Apple makes that
feels the most recommendable. And yet, as the shape of phones (figuratively and
literally) begins to transform to farther-off possibilities, the iPhone remains
the familiar, stable — almost boring — device, not the more exciting wild new
one.
comfort choice? It’s the device that connects to all my things, and it powers
the connections to most of the tech I test and wear. It’s a cornerstone device
and it does a good job at being exactly that. It’s the product Apple makes that
feels the most recommendable. And yet, as the shape of phones (figuratively and
literally) begins to transform to farther-off possibilities, the iPhone remains
the familiar, stable — almost boring — device, not the more exciting wild new
one.