iPhone X vs iPhone XR: Which iPhone is Better In 2024?

With the newer Apple iPhones bringing new technology and industry-leading features to the market, one feels so much pressure to pick one of the latest Apple phones.

But what if you are old-school like me and prefer an older iPhone instead?

In this blog, we will dive into the most prominent features of the iPhone X and iPhone XR to see which is better and why. 

After reading this blog, you will be able to make the best decision for you.

Ready to learn more about that?

Let’s dive in.

iPhone X and iPhone XR: Which has a Better Design?

The iPhone is best known for making some trendsetter design changes back in 2017 – a bezel-less display, stretching from corner to corner and making more real estate for displaying pixels. This bezel-less screen became a standard for smartphones that were released later on.

The phone has a 5.8-inch OLED panel that stretches the whole front side of the device. There is a notch at the top centre that houses the selfie camera and sensors. 

In my honest opinion, the reason why users loved the new design so much was its sleek and trendy look that caught everyone’s attention. Plus, the design made more room available for the pixels instead of bezels, making it a great device for enjoying multimedia as well as fast-paced action games. 

The shrunk bezel area means that the phone is more compact and is comfortable to use with one hand although the screen size is not too small.

This design philosophy has inspired many flagship phones that have been released after 2017. And thin bezels continue to receive appreciation from smartphone users. 

The iPhone X still holds a solid foothold because of its groundbreaking new design and incredible, premium phone experience. You can learn more about the amazing features of iPhone XR that make it a brilliant phone in 2024.

Price and availability

The iPhone X price in Australia starts from AU$ 301, while the iPhone XR price starts at AU$ 276. These devices are in excellent condition and are refurbished which makes them look like a new phone. 

If you are in the market looking for a reliable online store for buying new and refurbished Apple iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and other gadgets at the best market prices in Australia, then Skyphonez Australia is your go-to place to shop. 

You will avail of free home delivery across Australia along with the benefit of sourcing your device from a 100% Australian marketplace. You can get the best Google Pixel 7 Price in Australia. This will save you money on flagship features.

Displays: The Story of Every Pixel

The iPhone X (also known as iPhone 10) is acclaimed for ushering in a new era in the design and hardware capabilities.

First of all, the device introduced a bezel-less screen that stretched from one corner to the other with a brilliant 82.9% screen-to-body ratio. 

It offers better pixel density (458 pixels per inch) and better resolution of  

1125 x 2436 pixels while the iPhone XR offers a resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels at a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch.

So, as far as the on-screen resolution and details is concerned, the iPhone X is a clear winner.

The display of the iPhone XR is bigger on paper, 6.1-inch as compared to the 5.8-inch screen of the iPhone X. However, the effective pixel area is almost similar because of the lower pixel-to-body ratio. The two displays offer the same 625 nits of brightness. 

Finally, the iPhone X offers a superior Super Retina OLED technology which offers a more immersive on-screen experience compared to the less-impressive Liquid Retina IPS LCD technology of the iPhone XR.

So, considering the above factors, we can say that the iPhone X offers a much better display than the iPhone XR.

Comparing the Photography Powers

Interestingly enough, the iPhone X takes the lead here as well. The phone features a dual-lens 12 MP camera system that was once again a bold walk away from the older iPhones. 

The iPhone XR only offers a 12 MP wide-angle primary camera and there is no telephoto camera for taking long-distance shots.

The 12 MP telephoto lens of the iPhone 10 offers a 2x optical zoom which means you will be able to capture great-looking shots without losing details. 

It was considered a welcome move for empowering professional photographers to take brilliant-looking photos of near and far away objects.

Another significant feature of the iPhone X’s camera profile is its support for advanced computational photography that includes Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting. These features brilliantly enhance the shots regardless of what you capture with your phone.

These features do a remarkable job of guaging the depth information which is the distance between the object and the lens. This will deliver impressive pro-level pictures thanks to the bokeh effect that blurs the background while focusing on the object itself. 

While the iPhone XR does offer the Portrait mode it only captures people. That means if you are shooting an object it will tell you that it is waiting for someone to come into the frame.

The selfie cameras are identical for the two phones; a 7 MP lens that has the HDR feature and can record 1080p videos. The iPhone XR can shoot videos at 60 frames per second while the iPhone X can record only at 30 frames per second.

Which Performs Better?

While the two devices perform incredibly faster, the iPhone XR takes the edge because of the better and more advanced chipset.

The iPhone 10 is powered by the A11 Bionic processor while the iPhone XR features the Apple A12 Bionic chip. 

Both processors are capable enough to handle everyday tasks as well as deliver smooth performance whether you are video streaming or enjoying gaming adventures with your friends.

The A11 Bionic chipset of the iPhone X features a 64-bit 6-core CPU along with a 3-core GPU for rendering graphics. This CPU-GPU duo delivers a memorable gameplay experience, video editing, and other heavy tasks.

There is also an advanced Neural Engine that uses machine learning for flawless execution of tasks like FaceID and Animojis. 

The iPhone XR features the A12 Bionic processor which promises to deliver better and smoother performance. The device delivers the same level of robust performance as the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. 

You should expect to experience better and smoother everyday performance than many pricier Android phones on the market. The phone does better than the Google Pixel 3 XL and Galaxy S9+ when used to transcode a 4K video to 1080p.

So, in summary, you will get smoother performance with both these devices whether you do everyday tasks, record and edit 1080p videos, or play fast-action graphics-heavy games. The iPhone XR enjoys an edge courtesy of a one-generation modern processor.

How Long the Phones Last?

The iPhone has a smaller 2716 mAh battery while the XR features a 2942 mAh battery. The iPhone X endured for 10 hours and 49 minutes which is not as brilliant as the iPhone XR.

The iPhone XR lasted for 11 hours and 26 minutes with continuous web surfing at 150 nits of brightness. 

So, we have the iPhone XR as the winner in the battery life war. So, if battery life is your top priority then the iPhone XR has a clear edge over the iPhone X.

The better battery performance of the XR model might be attributed to a more efficient processor and less power-intensive LCD display.

Conclusion

The iPhone X turns out to be a better phone with a better display, a telephoto camera, and lower cost than the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR takes the lead in terms of performance with a better processor that can perform tasks faster. With many latest smartphones already on the shelves, one feels intimidated to spend more money on newer, shinier features that they might not need. However, if you want to spend less on great essentials in an iPhone, then the iPhone and iPhone XR are two brilliant options in hand.