Apple iPhone XR review

23 October 2018
Now updated with full test findings. The iPhone XR is the third iPhone to be launched this year, after the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. While the two iPhone XS models are nearly identical save for the size, the iPhone XR is a significant departure for the iPhone X series and possibly a new chapter going forward.

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  • A
  • Adriano
  • d%v
  • 25 Dec 2018

Anonymous, 24 Dec 2018I really cant understand the reasoning behind recommending ... moreThe XR is recommended for thosed who want to upgrade from older iPhones, the xs is definitely better and 250$ more expensive. It's an upgrade for those who already have the x, so the xr and the xs are both upgrades for different iPhone models users

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • vaS
    • 25 Dec 2018

    Anonymous, 12 Nov 2018Apple copying Android in my opinion because Android were ma... moreThats wrong. Iphone was first to the market, the first Android phone came 15 months later, it was the Htc Dream, better known as T-mobile G1.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • vaS
      • 24 Dec 2018

      I really cant understand the reasoning behind recommending this over Xs, it makes no sense.
      I cant afford the Xr, its not worth it, its like a VW Golf, just because it is available with the same engine as Audi A4 Quattro it isnt an alternative to the A4.
      Xs is great, Xs Max is too, well worth the price. For my pretty friend who wanted a phone for christmas i bought a slightly used iPhone X 256GB, paid less than what it cost for a new Xr 64GB. No doubt, if you cant afford Xs you get a used X, much more phone for the money. Xr is never an option before you can get a cheap used one.

        • i
        • iDroid
        • Dkx
        • 21 Dec 2018

        Anonymous, 14 Nov 2018Stop comparing this phone to 300$ poco thus makes people fe... moreIt's even worse, poco got far better screen n h/w than ifail xr

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • JbI
          • 03 Dec 2018

          Anonymous, 12 Nov 2018Apple copying Android in my opinion because Android were ma... moreI agree with you.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • LEi
            • 23 Nov 2018

            Anonymous, 12 Nov 2018Apple copying Android in my opinion because Android were ma... morephone doesn't come with a DAC, it's always a external one

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • Nju
              • 14 Nov 2018

              Stop comparing this phone to 300$ poco thus makes people feel that xr is so bad

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 3Jn
                • 12 Nov 2018

                Apple copying Android in my opinion because Android were making phones before Apple.

                  • J
                  • JonD
                  • KgV
                  • 12 Nov 2018

                  Hi GSMArena, wondering why no more audio quality test?? I was hoping to know iphone XR’s audio quality. Is the audio quality as good as iphone 4s or iphone 5s?

                    • N
                    • Nro
                    • 3xK
                    • 10 Nov 2018

                    Anonymous, 08 Nov 2018Point is that other flagships with bigger batteries don't l... moreLet me explain
                    Fast CPU doesn't mean it should be fast in real life (iPhone X's&XR has been beaten by 1+6t in real life tests/ check YouTube)
                    Optiomised os : 1)you can't play YouTube videos full screen---you call it optimization?
                    2) Can you change your mobile theme/ at least can you change your icon design?
                    3) no expandable memory/ no support of transferring data from the mobile/ still you need iTunes for that....( You can do it just swap the memory card.)

                      • N
                      • Nro
                      • 3xK
                      • 10 Nov 2018

                      alski10, 08 Nov 2018I think we will agree that video playback and internet brow... moreIs most of the people using for web browsing, and watching. Videos.... Then they should buy only bigger batteries mobiles... There is ton of Android mobiles available with 5000mah.... With more then 100hours battery life by GSM arena..... All the iPhone users are stuck in the os... If they come out and see what they can do really with their mobiles.....I am not a fan of any mobile....I am using galaxy s7 active for all my work... And iPhone 7. Just for calls only... It can't usable for office kind of works...I can't open some very office file, can't print from the mobile...

                        • K
                        • Kandang
                        • Kx9
                        • 09 Nov 2018

                        alski10, 08 Nov 2018I think we will agree that video playback and internet brow... moreWhat ever U said but fact: decent battery life. Don't compare with Android phones that available in many price range and (if not all) fair pricing.

                        Web browsing, camera and social app? This phone is for Grandma lol

                        Just thinking, if next year iPhone have 4000mAh. How long most iPhone user need to charge it to full? 4 to 5 hours lol

                          • K
                          • Kandang
                          • Kx9
                          • 09 Nov 2018

                          Anonymous, 08 Nov 2018Then pls explain why android phones keep putting 2k screens... moreHave you ever heard of VR? Lol

                          Whay don't make a video, blind test and let people choice between 2K display and XR display?

                            • K
                            • Kandang
                            • Kx9
                            • 09 Nov 2018

                            Anonymous, 08 Nov 2018Point is that other flagships with bigger batteries don't l... moreEfficiency is a cost from alot of customization, a lot of things can be done in Android and for saving battery, kick the app out of RAM, done! and what iPhone user usually do? Web browsing and chatting?

                              Kandang, 08 Nov 2018"13h of web browsing and 15h of video playback" For that pu... moreI think we will agree that video playback and internet browsing is closer to what people mostly do on their phone, which is: using web based apps. Although gaming battery life is really decent on this year's iphones.
                              Yes, 95% is a random number but it's just me saying Im pretty sure very few people spend 5-10h talking on their phone each day.
                              So, my point is, if you see a phone with 30h+ 3G talk time, it most likely will have a good GSMA battery score and yet, very few people care about 3G talk time. Conversely for a phone with only 15h 3G talk time -> bad GSMA battery score.
                              Doesnt make much sense to me to rely on this arbitrary number.

                              As for the power, of course it's not necessary most of the time. It's just there for when you need it (ie: gaming, taking pictures and video) and for keeping the phone smooth at all time for the years to come.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • v3F
                                • 08 Nov 2018

                                Kandang, 08 Nov 2018"13h of web browsing and 15h of video playback" For that pu... moreThen pls explain why android phones keep putting 2k screens for? Can’t see any difference and it’s wasting a ton of battery and power to push useless pixels that’s you cannot see.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • MwH
                                  • 08 Nov 2018

                                  Kandang, 08 Nov 2018"13h of web browsing and 15h of video playback" For that pu... morePoint is that other flagships with bigger batteries don't last longer than the iPhone. They have bigger batteries because they have less efficient CPUs, less efficient OS, less optimised apps.

                                  A fuel efficient car doesn't need such a big fuel tank as a less efficient car.

                                    • K
                                    • Kandang
                                    • tDQ
                                    • 08 Nov 2018

                                    alski10, 08 Nov 2018Read the review and look at the actual battery life instead... more"13h of web browsing and 15h of video playback" For that purpose iPhone user need fastest chipset in phone realm? Lol

                                    "That's matters to 95% of people" 95%? where did you get that "some random number"? Lol

                                      radhiv1993, 06 Nov 2018What a review! "Where the display is lacking is in pixel... moreRead the review and look at the actual battery life instead of looking at some random number.
                                      13h of web browsing and 15h of video playback. That's matters to 95% of people. Those who don't spend 10h talking on their phone every day.
                                      How well does the Note 9 do with its 4000mah battery and its amoled display ? 12h36 and 16h45 respectively.

                                      The Xr does have good battery life. Every reviewer says it.

                                        AnonD-632062, 23 Oct 2018Where is the proper review of the iPhone XR with all the la... more I don't care if the review is as long as 'War And Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. However, I recall when "Gsm Arena' would release two phone review editions for flagships and other models: full length, and time saver versions. Good point on your part.

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