This is a weird situation for a review; usually, when looking at an ‘S’ variant of an iPhone we’re asking the question of whether it’s better than the now-cheaper model from the previous year. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2018 using preproduction iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max units and software and accessory Apple USB-C Power Adapters (18W Model A1720, 29W Model A1540, 30W Model A1882, 61W Model A1718, 87W Model A1719). Fast-charge testing conducted with drained iPhone units. Charge time varies with environmental factors; actual results will vary. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access required. Mobile data charges may apply.

Yes, there will be moments when it's cool, but they'll be as rare as deciding to play board games of an evening – so it depends if that’s what you’re into. Apple is proudly talking up its new chipset, and with good reason: it's one of the most powerful on a smartphone, created as it was using a 7nm process.

The iPhone XS Max display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.46 inches diagonally (actual viewable area is less). Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant 3 iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 2 meters up to 30 minutes). Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty. I'm that 5G guy. I've actually been here for every "G." I've reviewed well over a thousand products during 18 years working full-time at PCMag.com, including every generation of the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S. I also write a weekly newsletter, Fully Mobilized, where I obsess about phones and networks. That speed improvement is easy to feel within the phone, as the iPhone XS is one of the snappiest handsets we've ever tapped our way through. The most impressive part of the new processor is the hardest to test. Apple has massively improved the Neural Engine, a part of the chip dedicated to AI and machine learning tasks (basically, matrix math), bumping it from two cores to eight. Standard benchmarks don't tend to test NPUs, so we turned to AIMark, a dedicated benchmark for things like object identification in scenes. The results were stunning: The XS got 3,320, triple the 1,206 score of the Galaxy Note 9. If anyone can figure out what to use the Neural Engine for, it'll really set the XS apart.

The Apple One free trial includes only services that you are not currently using through a free trial or a subscription. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply. One might question whether this much power is really needed – and sure, if you're just browsing the web and sending messages it's utterly wasted.

For the first time in years, there is one iPhone model for North America. That means any iPhone bought will work on any US or Canadian carrier, unlike with previous models, where AT&T and T-Mobile phones often had trouble with Sprint and Verizon. It's worth noting that this is the first iPhone to support T-Mobile's new Band 71, for rural coverage, and the first iPhone to support LAA, for additional speed in dense urban settings on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Apple Retail UK Limited acts as the credit broker and not the lender. Pricing is before the application of a trade-in credit. Monthly pricing requires a 24-month instalment loan with 0% APR from Barclays Partner Finance, which is a trading name of Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, a member of the Barclays Group. Clydesdale Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register number: 311753). Registered in England. Registered No: 2901725. Registered office: 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP. Subject to application and status. Full terms apply. The iPhone XS has a markedly improved dual camera, delivering better photos than the iPhone X in both dark and high-contrast environments. It has a faster processor, faster face ID, adds dual-SIM support. iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone X S, iPhone X S Max, iPhone X R, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are splash, water and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions; iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes); iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 4 metres up to 30 minutes); iPhone X S, iPhone X S Max and iPhone 11 have a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 2 metres up to 30 minutes); and iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone X R, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation) have a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes). Splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions. Resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty.

Like the iPhone 8 and X, but unlike previous iPhones, the XS supports the EVS voice encoding system for higher-quality calls. (For more on that, see our feature here.) If you're upgrading from an iPhone 7 or below, and you primarily call other EVS-capable phones on the same carrier, you'll get very noticeably better sound quality than previously. Apple's new A12 processor is, CPU-wise, the fastest handheld device processor available. It scores about 15 percent better than the A11 did on Geekbench benchmarks, which measure hard-core CPU math. It just crushes the Snapdragon 845 on Geekbench, although on the more realistic Antutu benchmark, which tests UI elements too, it's only about 6 percent faster than the Galaxy Note 9.Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new iPhone XS. With built-in support for vision, hearing, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy, you can fully enjoy the world’s most personal device. Learn more aboutAccessibility Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access required. Cellular data charges may apply. Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new iPhone XS. With built-in support for vision, hearing, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy, you can fully enjoy the world’s most personal device. Learn more about Accessibility That's not to say it isn't impressive, and useful, new hardware in the iPhone XS, but most of the benefits won't be instantly discernible to the average user.

It used to be that I reviewed iPhones in cooperation with Tim Gideon, our audio analyst. The iPhone was a phone, plus a handheld computer, plus an iPod, after all. I don't think that's really the case anymore. The iPhone is now a handheld computer, plus a camera, so I turned it over to our senior camera analyst, Jim Fisher, to test it. Fast-charge capable: Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes 9with 18W adapter or higher (available separately) Battery life claim refers to larger models. All battery claims depend on network configuration and many other factors; actual results will vary. Battery has limited recharge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. See apple.com/uk/batteries and apple.com/uk/iphone/battery.html for more information.The question on everyone's mind is the same as it is with every phone: Is the iPhone XS better in low light? The sensor is, without question. It manages to capture images with crisp detail and little noise through ISO 100. That's not a high number if you're talking about a full-frame camera, but for a phone? It's up there with the best we've tested, negating the one-stop advantage the Galaxy S9+ showed over last year's iPhones in our testing. It adds a 'smart layer' to proceedings, allowing the handset to recognize things on the screen, whether that's appending an Animoji to your head in real time during a FaceTime call, or working out what's needed to improve the quality of a photo as you're taking it. Customise your notifications so you never miss them. Choose a sensory alert, such as vibration or an LED light flash. The iPhone XS display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 5.85 inches diagonally (actual viewable area is less). Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant 3