2023 Author: Gordon Kinson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-06-05 22:44
The widest range of current iPhones deployed on the official page of the Apple Online Store may raise doubts even among people who have been familiar with the technology of the American manufacturer for several years. To understand and choose the "Best iPhone" with an acceptable price tag, you need an integrated approach to the issue. In this article, we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of certain iPhone models and help you make the right choice.
At the time of this writing, there are 8 iPhone models in the official sale: fresh iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, last year's iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (review), previous versions of iPhone 7/7 Plus (review). As for the iPhone X, iPhone 6s / 6s Plus, and iPhone SE, they are officially discontinued. But since these devices are still on sale from official resellers, we will keep them in our review this year.
Note: iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 were not included in the list because they are not officially sold by Apple in Russia (but are sold by some resellers). And now a lot of restored "fivesoks" and "sixes" are sold under the guise of new ones (details here and here). Be careful.
ON THIS TOPIC:
- How not to buy a used iPhone for the price of a refurbished one.
- What are refurbished (ref) iPhones and how they differ from new smartphones.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
The 2015 flagship is still a decent option with a few years to go. And there are not so many innovations in the G7 and G8 to overpay. We have been thinking about this here and here.
The smartphones are equipped with an Apple A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, 12MP main and 5MP front cameras.
All modern chips like 3D Touch (a technology that allows you to determine the force of pressing on the display), the tactile feedback of the Taptic Engine, the second generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor, the call to Siri by voice (when the iPhone is not charging) are present.
The iPhone 6s Plus model from the younger 4.7-inch brother, in addition to the increased diagonal of the display, has a more capacious battery that provides an impressive battery life and the presence of optical image stabilization when shooting through the main camera.
iPhone 6s is available in space gray, silver, gold, and rose gold.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are powerful enough devices that are still relevant today. Currently, there are 32 and 128 GB versions on sale (the 16 GB model was discontinued after the iPhone 7 sales started).
Comparison of technical characteristics of iPhone 6S / 6S Plus, iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone X (click to enlarge)
Prices for iPhone 6s in Russia
You can buy the basic version of the iPhone 6s for 32 GB from retailers in Russia from 29,990 rubles. The option with 128 GB of internal memory will cost 34,990 rubles.
The cost of the iPhone 6s Plus 32 GB is 26,990 rubles.
ON THIS TOPIC:
- 10 reasons to buy an iPhone 6S over an iPhone 8 or iPhone X
- Review of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
- How much does the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE cost in Russia - Apple's current official prices.
iPhone SE
The hereditary successor to the iPhone 5s with pumped-over hardware in the same compact body. Everything is exactly as the fans of Apple technology asked. Before the release of the iPhone 7, this was the most powerful smartphone among the entire line, ahead of even the flagship iPhone 6s at that time, even though they had almost identical hardware.
Victory in the synthetic tests was "pulled out" mainly due to the lower display resolution and, accordingly, lower requirements for the graphics accelerator.
Unlike the iPhone 6s, the first generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor is installed here (slightly slower), there is no 3D Touch, no Taptic Engine tactile feedback. The display on the iPhone SE is less contrasty (800: 1 versus 1400: 1 on the iPhone 6s). The main SE camera is identical to the 6s, but the front one actually loses out - only 1.2 MP, which nowadays looks very archaic. And SE does not have a barometer, but only active fitness lovers can unleash the potential of this element. We wrote about the rest of the small nuances in this material.
iPhone SE is suitable for those who do not like modern "shovels" with a large display diagonal or who want to purchase a relatively modern device, but at a lower price than the iPhone 6s. The gadget will be as relevant as the iPhone 6s for the next 2-3 years. Supports iOS 12. Available in 32GB and 128GB models.
Prices for iPhone SE in Russia
iPhone SE 32 GB - buy for 18,990 rubles.
iPhone SE 128 GB - buy for 23,990 rubles.
ON THIS TOPIC:
- 6 reasons to buy the iPhone SE over the iPhone X and iPhone 8.
- How the iPhone SE differs from the iPhone 5s: a detailed comparison.
- 15 advantages and 5 disadvantages of the iPhone SE
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The flagships of 2016 - iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - are productive, attractive (especially in the new “Black” and “Black Onyx” colors) smartphones with a relatively affordable price.
In addition to new color solutions, the iPhone 7 received a quad-core Apple A10 Fusion processor (two energy-efficient and two efficient ones for performing the most complex tasks), 2 GB of RAM, a touch-sensitive Home button, stereo speakers, a brighter display (extended color gamut), a new 12 MP main camera (ƒ / 1.8 aperture, a six-element lens (6s - 5 lenses)) and a 7 MP front camera, a four-LED flash and an updated cellular module. I would like to note the noticeably improved battery life (it works 2 hours longer than the iPhone 6s). You can read about other minor improvements here.
The only downside is the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack, but it seems that Apple has set a new trend, because rival manufacturers have also started releasing models without it. The popularity of wireless headphones and Lightning accessories has skyrocketed.
The 5.5-inch model has acquired a large number of exclusive chips: a dual main camera (two 12 MP sensors with a wide-angle and telephoto lens) with 2x main and 10x digital zoom and 3 GB of RAM.
Currently, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are sold in two versions with 32 and 128 GB storage.
Comparison of technical characteristics of iPhone 7 from iPhone 8 (Table)
Comparison of technical characteristics of the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus
Prices for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in Russia
iPhone 7 32 GB - buy for 37,990 rubles.
iPhone 7 128 GB - buy for 43 490 rubles.
iPhone 7 Plus 32 GB - buy for 45,990 rubles.
iPhone 7 Plus 128 GB - buy for 50,990 rubles.
ON THIS TOPIC:
- 8 reasons to buy an iPhone 7 over an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XR.
- How the cameras of the iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7 Plus differ.
- Should you buy an iPhone 6s or an iPhone 7?
- Does it make sense to buy a "seven"? Honest post.
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
If we abstract from the new iPhones without the Home button, then both "eights" (overview) look like a logical continuation of the line. Both gadgets are dressed in a new glass case with a metal frame, but at the same time, the front panel is practically indistinguishable from the previous generation, the dimensions and weight of the devices have changed slightly.
Smartphones received a more powerful Apple A11 Bionic chip, M11 Motion co-processor, the first proprietary graphics processor and twice the amount of storage (62 and 256 GB to choose from). The only screen improvement is the introduction of True Tone technology, which adjusts the display glow to the ambient light.
The average user will notice the difference in the operation of the main camera only when using the new Portrait Lighting mode in the iPhone 8 Plus and shooting video in 1080p quality at 240 fps (the iPhone 7/7 Plus shoots 720p at this rate).
It should be noted here that neither the iPhone 8 Plus nor the iPhone X received the "Depth" feature in Portrait mode, which allows you to adjust the level of background blur.
Specialists can also note more even flash firing throughout the frame thanks to Slow Sync technology.
One of the key innovations in the iPhone 8/8 Plus is Qi wireless charging, which Apple has been stubbornly reluctant to implement in previous models, and Quick Charge (fast charging).
The battery capacity has decreased slightly, but the battery life remains the same due to the use of a more energy efficient processor. Of the peripheral modules, Bluetooth 5.0 can also be distinguished, replacing version 4.2.
IPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus colors
Prices for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in Russia
iPhone 8 64 GB - buy for 45,990 rubles.
iPhone 8 256 GB - buy for 56,990 rubles.
iPhone 8 Plus 64 GB - buy for 54,990 rubles.
iPhone 8 Plus 256 GB - buy for 68,990 rubles.
BY THEME: What makes the iPhone XS camera different from the iPhone X: is there a difference?
iPhone X
In 2017, Apple released three smartphones at once, but for those who want to use exclusively "hi-end" devices, the choice has narrowed to one. iPhone X (review) costs an order of magnitude more than its counterparts, but also offers much richer functionality.
Like the iPhone 8/8 Plus, the 2017 flagship has a glass back, but the front of the device has changed dramatically. First of all, the 5.8-inch screen, which occupies almost the entire area of the panel, and the absence of a Home button are striking.
Its functions were taken over by the operating system that supports new control gestures, as well as the Face ID technology of the user's face, replacing the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
At the same time, despite the largest display diagonal in the lineup, the dimensions of the "dozen" are not much larger than the 4.7-inch models.
The iPhone X also benefits from a 2436 x 1125-pixel (458 ppi) Super Retina HD screen, improved camera with OIS technology on both lenses, Portrait modes with Portrait Lighting, and Animoji for the front camera.
Again, with the release of iOS 12 (review), the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus did not receive the Depth function in Portrait mode, which allows you to adjust the background blur level.
BY THEME: Comparison of charging speed of iPhone 7 and fast charging of iPhone 8 and iPhone X (graph + video).
IPhone X colors
IPhone X Specifications
In the fall of 2018, the iPhone X was discontinued, but you can still find it on sale at major resellers.
Prices for iPhone X in Russia
iPhone X 64 GB - buy for 70,990 rubles.
iPhone X 256 GB - buy for 81,990 rubles.
BY THEME: Comparison of iPhone X from iPhone XS: what is the difference and is there any point in overpaying?
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Design and screen
The new flagship uses exactly the same display module as last year's iPhone X - an OLED type matrix, a resolution of 2436 × 1125 pixels (458 ppi), the same contrast ratio (1,000,000: 1), brightness (625 cd / m2) and set of supported technologies (HDR10, Dolby Vision, True Tone, 3D Touch, etc.).
In terms of design, there are only two notable changes, one good and the other, as usual, bad. The appearance of the new gold color of the case, which does not look “in Arabic doraga”, but rather modern and technologically advanced, should be called a good one.
On the negative side, the asymmetry in the lower edge of the iPhone XS / XS Max case, which can drive the perfectionist crazy. To the left of the Lightning connector are 7 speaker holes, while to the right there are 4 holes and a plastic insert ("antenna"). Probably, the designers had to take this step reluctantly and under pressure from engineers who demanded better conditions for signal transmission due to the expansion of the list of supported standards (Gigabit Class LTE with MIMO 4 × 4 and LAA4 technologies).
Another announced change is more durable glass, but a number of tests carried out by various bloggers and reviewers show that there has been no revolution in this direction, and it is just as easy to put a web on the screen or back panel.
Performance
According to this indicator, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max significantly surpasses the iPhone X and it is the performance that determines such a high cost of the novelty. In 2018, Apple managed to significantly outstrip competitors in the nanometer race - while most vendors are struggling to establish a 7nm process technology to create innovative processors, the apple corporation is already equipping the new iPhone XS, XS Max and even the iPhone XR with them.
As a result, the 6-core Apple A12 Bionic clocked at 2.6GHz (its predecessor has 2.1GHz) is about 20% faster than the Apple A11 Bionic, 50% faster with graphics and 40% more efficient at managing battery power. Thanks to this, the iPhone XS lasts half an hour, and the iPhone XS Max lasts an hour and a half longer than the iPhone X.
Naturally, the minor processor modules were also improved - the graphics coprocessor, the M12 Motion motion coprocessor and the Neural Engine neural learning system, which now processes 10 times more tasks (5 trillion) in one second.
In addition, the new Apple smartphones received an additional gigabyte of RAM and now do a much better job when loading a large number of applications into RAM.
Cameras
The camera of the iPhone XS (as well as the iPhone XS Max) has hardly undergone any changes, but Apple programmers have done a good job on it. The only “feelable” innovation is the increased size of the wide-angle lens sensor, which now has a pixel size of 1.4µm (1.0µm for the iPhone X). But from a programmatic point of view, iPhoneography fans have some really interesting opportunities.
First of all, advanced users will notice the improved performance of the iPhone XS camera with objects in the background, especially those in difficult lighting conditions (in the shade or overexposure). Thanks to SmartHDR technology, in the pictures it will be possible to see what the optics of the iPhone X could simply "write off" to the side of darkness or light. Another innovation is the ability to adjust the level of background blur in ready-made portrait photos thanks to the new Depth function.
Face ID
Long-time iPhone users remember how significant the difference in Touch ID fingerprint speed was between the pioneer iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6S. So, in the case of the iPhone XS, the same progress can not be expected, although the technology update was announced at the presentation on September 12, 2018. Practical tests show that the speed of recognizing the user's face has increased slightly compared to the iPhone X.
Water and dust resistant
Apple is one of those companies that reinsures three times before declaring a device to comply with any standards, especially when it comes to safety. For the new iPhone XS, Phil Schiller boldly stated the IP68 standard (in detail) and assured that the smartphone can be submerged in water to a depth of two meters for no more than 30 minutes. In addition, a top manager of the corporation said that during the tests, the gadget was also doused with other liquids. This statement, as expected, caused a response from the community - observers and bloggers began to massively drown the new iPhones in whatever they had to (chlorinated and sea water, beer, juice, etc.), and generally confirmed the assumptions that the new case is protected from moisture and the dirt is much better than the iPhone X.
Battery
The battery capacity of the iPhone XS is lower than last year's model - 2658 mAh versus 2716 mAh, however, as mentioned above, the average battery life of the new flagship is as much as 30 minutes higher due to the use of an innovative processor.
Dual SIM support
Special attention should be paid to the possibility of working with two SIM-cards. All three new 2018 iPhones allow you to use the familiar nanoSIM along with the eSIM. The latter is not supported in Russia, like in most other countries of the world, but some experts predict the launch of the technology by domestic operators in the near future. In addition, specifically for the Chinese market, Apple released a special edition version with a double-sided tray for two physical nanSIM cards, which will certainly be in demand in Russia (it works).
Sound
Another important point is the increase in speaker volume by one and a half times without loss of quality. Moreover, most observers claim that the sound has become not only louder, but also clearer.
Price
With the release of the iPhone XS, Apple discontinued the iPhone X and can now only be purchased from official resellers.
The price of the iPhone XS in Russia is 87,990 rubles for 64 GB, 100,990 rubles for 256 GB and 118,990 rubles for 512 GB.
The price of the iPhone XS Max in Russia is 96,990 rubles for 64 GB, 109,990 rubles for 256 GB and 127,990 rubles for 512 GB.
How the iPhone XS differs from the iPhone XS Max
As stated above, this is the first time Apple has equipped all models with the same performance suite, further blurring the difference between the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. If earlier there were obvious differences between 4.7- and 5.5-inch devices (more RAM, dual camera), now buyers, in fact, have to simply choose between a smartphone with a 5.8-inch screen, dimensions: 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm, weight 177 grams and a smartphone with a 6.5-inch display, dimensions: 157.5 × 77.4 × 7.7 mm, weight 208 grams.
It is noteworthy that even the resolution will not play any role in the choice, because both displays have the same pixel density - 458 pieces per inch. The only difference is the slightly thinner bezels of the iPhone XS Max, where the screen covers 84.4% of the front bezel.
It is also worth mentioning that the iPhone XS Max has a larger (3400 mAh versus 2800 mAh) battery than the iPhone XS, which significantly increases battery life.
And, of course, the price can be a decisive factor in choosing.
BY THEME: Why is it better to buy an iPhone XR than an iPhone XS: 9 reasons.
iPhone XR
Design
Distinguishing the iPhone XR from any other iPhone is quite simple by its main feature - the custom size 157.5 × 77.4 × 7.7 mm, which is larger than the iPhone XS and smaller than the iPhone XS Max.
The diagonal of the screen of the most affordable model of 2018 is 6.1 inches, the weight of the device is 194 grams compared to 177 grams for the iPhone XS (and this despite the fact that the "budget" uses an aluminum frame instead of a steel one).
The front panel of both gadgets is borrowed from the iPhone X, but the back of the iPhone XR differs significantly in a striking feature - a single camera lens. An even more noticeable difference can be created by the body colors, because the iPhone XR is available in yellow, blue, red and other lurid shades that Apple designers have not allowed themselves since the plastic iPhone 5c.
Screen
The screen diagonal of the iPhone XR is larger, but at the same time its resolution is noticeably smaller than that of the flagship - 2436 × 1125 pixels versus 1792 × 828 pixels or 458 ppi versus 326 ppi. At the same time, a more expensive OLED matrix is installed in the iPhone XS (in the iPhone XR, an IPS matrix is familiar from older Apple models). Well, one of the main differences is the lack of 3D Touch support in the budget model.
Camera
As mentioned above, the iPhone XR has an entire lens, and, in fact, this is exactly half of the iPhone XS camera - a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, which, however, can take portrait shots with the possibility of subsequent editing of the background blur level (the new Depth ).
There is no difference with the iPhone XS in the front cameras.
Performance
The most important point for potential iPhone XR buyers. In 2018, Apple released three smartphones for the first time, equipped with the same processors and RAM modules. That is, the budget iPhone XR will receive exactly the same Apple A12 Bionic with an updated M12 coprocessor and an improved Neural Engine, as well as the same 4 GB of RAM as in the older models.
Autonomous work
Having received an innovative energy-efficient processor and having less impressive characteristics (screen resolution, image quality, etc.), the iPhone XR naturally demonstrates the record battery life among all iPhone models, which also increases the attractiveness of the device.
Price
The base cost of the iPhone XR is 64,990 rubles for the version with 64GB of storage, which is 23,000 rubles less than the 64GB iPhone XS, the difference in the 256GB version is also 23,000 rubles, in addition, the iPhone XR is also available in a version 128 GB for 68,990 rubles.
ON THE TOPIC: Why is it better to buy Apple Watch Series 3 instead of Series 4: 5 main reasons.
Summing up
iPhone SE, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are available for people on a budget, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are the best bargains right now. iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and iPhone X, for those who want the ultimate gadget.
See also:
- Which smartphone has the best camera in 2018 - Top 10.
- What are refurbished (ref) iPhones and how they differ from new smartphones.
- How to check if you bought a new iPhone (activated or not)?
