IPhone XS

Last updated

iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
IPhone XS.svg
IPhone XS Max.svg
IPhone XS Gold.svg
iPhone XS in Gold
Developer Apple Inc.
Manufacturer
Type Smartphone
Series iPhone
First releasedSeptember 21, 2018 (2018-09-21)
DiscontinuedSeptember 10, 2019 (2019-09-10)
Predecessor iPhone X
Successor iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
Related iPhone XR
Compatible networks GSM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSPA+, LTE, LTE Advanced
Form factor Slate
Dimensions
  • XS: 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm (5.65 × 2.79 × 0.30 in)
  • XS Max: 157.5 × 77.4 × 7.7 mm (6.20 × 3.05 × 0.30 in)
WeightXS: 177 g (6.2 oz)
XS Max: 208 g (7.3 oz)
Operating system Original: iOS 12
Current: iOS 18.7, released September 15, 2025 [2]
System-on-chip Apple A12 Bionic
Memory4  GB LPDDR4X [3]
Storage64, 256 or 512 GB NVMe
BatteryXS:2658 mAh Li-ion
XS Max: 3174 mAh Li-ion
Rear camera12 MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture
4K video recording at 24, 30 or 60 FPS, 1080p at 30 or 60 FPS or 720p at 30 FPS [4]
Front camera 7 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1080p HD video recording
DisplayXS: 5.85 in (149 mm), 2436×1125 px
XS Max: 6.46 in (164 mm), 2688×1242 px
SoundStereo speakers
Connectivity802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Water resistance IP68, up to 2 m (6.6 ft) for 30 minutes
Hearing aid compatibility M3, T4 [5]
Other FaceTime audio- or video-calling, Qi wireless charging, USB-C to Lightning (connector) fast charging
Website iPhone XS – Apple at the Wayback Machine (archived September 9, 2019)
References [6] [7]

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max [a] are smartphones designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. Released as the twelfth-generation flagship models of the iPhone, they succeeded the iPhone X and were unveiled alongside the more affordable iPhone XR on September 12, 2018, during a keynote address by Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. [9] Pre-orders began on September 14, 2018, with general availability starting September 21, 2018. [10] The iPhone XS and XS Max introduced improvements over their predecessor, including enhanced processing power, dual-SIM functionality, improved water resistance, and stereo audio recording for video capture.

Contents

At WWDC 2024, Apple announced that the iPhone XS, alongside the iPhone XR, would support iOS 18, making these devices the oldest iPhones compatible with the latest iOS version at the time. This decision also makes the iPhone XS one of the oldest supported smartphones ever, alongside the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, receiving seven years of major iOS version updates.

Apple positioned the iPhone XS and XS Max as premium devices, targeting consumers seeking cutting-edge performance and advanced features, while simultaneously offering the iPhone XR, a lower-cost alternative, the same Apple A12 Bionic chip, but has a LCD IPS panel display, and with a singular camera.

Along with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone XS and XS Max were discontinued on September 10, 2019, following the announcement of the 13th generation of iPhone; the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Design

The iPhone XS Max (center) is a significantly larger version of the iPhone XS (left), challenging another phablet in terms of length, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (right) IPhone XS & XS Max, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Comparison.png
The iPhone XS Max (center) is a significantly larger version of the iPhone XS (left), challenging another phablet in terms of length, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (right)

The XS, which is visually near-identical to the iPhone X, has a better system-on-a-chip: the A12 Bionic chip built with a 7 nm process. [11] It has a 5.85 inch (149 mm) OLED display (marketed as 5.8 inch) with a resolution of 2436 × 1125 pixels (2.7 megapixels) at 458 ppi, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, and one 7-megapixel front-facing camera.

ColorName
Silver
Space Gray
Gold

Hardware

The iPhone XS Max has the same hardware and cameras, but a larger 6.46 inch (164 mm) OLED display (marketed as 6.5 inch) with a resolution of 2688 × 1242 pixels (3.3 megapixels) at 458 ppi and a larger battery (3,174 mAh). [12] The XS has a smaller battery than the X, dropping to 2,658 mAh from 2,716 mAh. [13] The XS' battery is a new single-cell L-shaped battery, while the iPhone XS Max battery remains two cells like the iPhone X. [14] Apple said that the iPhone XS lasts up to 30 minutes longer than iPhone X, while the iPhone XS Max lasts up to 1.5 hours longer than iPhone X. [15]

Apple said that the devices have faster Face ID technology than the iPhone X. [16] It was also announced in June 2019 at WWDC that Face ID on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and iPhone X would be made up to 30% faster with iOS 13, which was released on September 19, 2019. [17]

The XS and XS Max are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance under IEC standard 60529, with Apple specifying a maximum depth of 2 meters and up to 30 minutes of submersion in water. [18] This is an improvement over the IP67 water resistance of the iPhone 8 and X. [19] Apple has performed tests in various liquids including chlorinated water, salt water, tea, wine, beer and juices. [20]

The XS and XS Max support dual SIMs through a nano-SIM and an eSIM. In mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, however, the XS Max comes with a dual nano-SIM tray (and no eSIM). The XS does not have a dual nano-SIM tray, so the eSIM functionality is enabled for use in Hong Kong and Macau, but not in mainland China. [21] [22] [23]

SoC

XS and XS Max use A12 Bionic SoC, which consists of 6-core CPU (2x Vortex + 4x Tempest), 4-core GPU, and 8-core Neural Engine. [24]

Software

The iPhone XS and XS Max originally shipped with iOS 12, and received iOS 13, iOS 14, iOS 15, iOS 16, iOS 17, and iOS 18. The XS and XS Max, alongside the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, are the longest supported iPhones ever released, each receiving seven major versions of iOS.

Wireless charging

The wireless charging coil material was switched to copper to reduce charging time and power loss. [25] [26]

Rear camera upgrades

The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are the first iPhones able to record stereo audio for videos. [27]

Starting with the iPhone 2018 lineup (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR), these cameras were updated to a 12MP (1/2.55") sensor size with a 1.4 μm pixel size, [28] the same sensor and pixel size as the primary cameras of the Samsung Galaxy S10, [29] Samsung Galaxy S9 [30] Samsung Galaxy S8 [31] Samsung Galaxy S7, [32] Pixel 2, [33] Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, [34] Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, [35] and the Moto X4. [36]

Software

The iPhone XS and XS Max shipped with iOS 12 [6] [7] on launch, and supports all major versions of the operating system up to iOS 18. The iPhone XS and XS Max, alongside the iPhone XR, will not receive iOS 26 due to hardware limitations. [37]

Reception and issues

Reception and connectivity issues

The iPhone XS received generally positive reviews from critics after release. iPhone XS and XS Max users initially had issues with LTE, Wi-Fi reception and Bluetooth connections. Some experts claimed that a faulty antenna was to blame, [38] and in response to many consumer complaints about iPhone XS/XS Max connectivity problems, Apple contacted users for help with their investigation. [39] To resolve some problems with the XS/XS Max, Apple pushed the iOS 12.0.1 update on October 8, 2018, which, along with addressing the Chargegate issue, fixed a connectivity issue where Bluetooth could become temporarily unavailable on the XS/XS Max. [40]

Chargegate

Users reported that the iPhone XS and XS Max would sometimes fail to charge by Lightning cable if it had been off for a while, and would only begin to charge if the screen was turned on. [41] This was caused by a software bug with Apple's "Disable USB accessories when locked" setting, a feature intended to prevent unknown devices from accessing a user's content. The press dubbed the issue "Chargegate". [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [ excessive citations ]This and a Bluetooth connectivity problem were fixed by iOS 12.0.1, released on October 8, 2018. [47]

Camera issues (Beautygate)

Customers also reported seeing unrealistic smoothness on their skin when taking a selfie with an automatic filter, [48] an effect associated with the XS and XS Max's new Smart HDR camera feature. This technology combines multiple photos of varying exposures to increase dynamic range on the iPhones' photos, but can also reduce facial imperfections and highlights in selfies. Some, who speculated this was the result of a hidden "beauty mode" (an actual feature in some smartphones), dubbed the issue "Beautygate". There was a general dispute in the community as to whether the camera actual "intended" to "perfect" faces or if they just appeared that way as result of a better-quality camera. [49]

Apple said that these results were due to the Smart HDR algorithm incorrectly selecting the blurrier long exposure as its base frame instead of the sharpest short exposure. The issue was resolved with the release of iOS 12.1 on October 30, 2018. [50] [51]

The iPhone XS' camera was criticized for not featuring a night mode. [52] [53] [54] iOS 13 did not include night mode which was kept exclusive to the then-new iPhone 11. [55] However, third-party apps brought similar Night Mode to older iPhones. [56]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Roman numeral "X" pronounced as "ten" [8]

References

  1. ↑ Fingas, Roger (August 13, 2018). "Foxconn taking charge of vast majority of iPhone production this fall". AppleInsider . Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ "About the security content of iOS 18.7 and iPadOS 18.7". Apple Inc. September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ Hardy, Ed (September 13, 2018). "Geekbench scores reveal RAM upgrades in new iPhones". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Here's the One iPhone XS Feature That Justifies an Upgrade". September 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ Apple (September 12, 2018). "About Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements for iPhone – Apple Support". Apple Support. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Apple iPhone XS – Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Apple iPhone XS Max – Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  8. ↑ "It's pronounced 'iPhone Ten'". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ Gurman, Mark (September 12, 2018). "Apple unveils big, $1,099 iPhone XS Max and pitches upgraded Apple Watch as health device". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ Hern, Alex (September 12, 2018). "Apple launches iPhone XS, XS Max and XR – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ Kastrenakes, Jacob (September 12, 2018). "New iPhone XS and huge 6.5-inch XS Max announced". The Verge . Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ "iPhone XS, XS Max, XR specs: Battery size, RAM details revealed in new filings". PCMag. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Gordon. "Apple's iPhone XS Has A Nasty Surprise". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  14. ↑ Rossignol, Joe (September 21, 2018). "iFixit: iPhone XS Has 'Notched' Battery and iPhone XS Max Has Apple-Designed Power Management Chip [Updated]". www.macrumors.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  15. ↑ "iPhone XS – Technical Specifications". Apple (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ Miller, Chance (September 12, 2018). "iPhone Xs & iPhone Xs Max feature faster Face ID performance, Apple claims". 9to5Mac . Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  17. ↑ "iOS 13 Preview – Features". Apple. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  18. ↑ "iPhone XS – Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  19. ↑ Crook, Jordan (September 12, 2018). "Apple introduces the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max". TechCrunch . Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  20. ↑ Hall, Zac (September 12, 2018). "iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max announced: 6.5-inch model, new gold finish, much more". 9to5Mac . Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018. iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max are splash- and water-resistant rated IP68 and protect against everyday spills including coffee, tea and soda.
  21. ↑ iPhone XS - 技术规格. Apple (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  22. ↑ "iPhone XS – Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  23. ↑ iPhone XS - 技術規格. Apple (in Chinese (Macau)). Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Apple iPhone XS Max price in Pakistan & Specification". Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  25. ↑ Rossignol, Joe (August 20, 2018). "2018 iPhones May Feature Faster and More Efficient Wireless Charging With Switch to Copper Coil". MacRumors . Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  26. ↑ "iPhone XS improvements to Qi wireless charging limited to efficiency, not voltage increase". AppleInsider . September 18, 2018. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  27. ↑ "GSMArena review of the iPhone XS video camera". Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  28. ↑ "iPhone XS and XS Max Teardown". iFixit. September 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10e Teardown". iFixit. March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Samsung Galaxy S9 Teardown". iFixit. March 9, 2018. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Samsung Galaxy S8 Teardown". iFixit. April 17, 2017. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Samsung Galaxy S7 Teardown". iFixit. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Google Pixel 2 XL Teardown". iFixit. October 19, 2017. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Compare Pixel 3a Tech Specs – Camera, Battery & Size – Google Store". store.google.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Compare Pixel 3 Tech Specs – Camera, Battery & Size – Google Store". store.google.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  36. ↑ "moto x (4th gen.)". Motorola. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  37. ↑ McCann, John (June 9, 2025). "Will my iPhone get iOS 26? Here's every supported model". Digital Trends. Retrieved June 11, 2025. There are a trio of iPhones that do miss out on the iOS 26 update however, after receiving the iOS 18 update last year. iPhone XS[,] iPhone XS Max[,] iPhone XR
  38. ↑ Andrew J Shepherd. "[UPDATED] iPhone XS and XS Max mostly fail to impress in lab-tested RF power output". Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  39. ↑ Clover, Juli (October 3, 2018). "Apple Looking Into LTE Connectivity Issues Affecting Some iPhone XS and XS Max Owners". www.macrumors.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  40. ↑ "About iOS 12 Updates". Apple Support. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Apple silent amid iPhone 'chargegate' complaints". BBC. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Apple silent amid 'chargegate' complaints". BBC News. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ Belam, Martin (October 1, 2018). "iPhone XS and XS Max: 'chargegate' sees some devices fail to charge". the Guardian. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Apple has revealed a fix for its huge charging problem". The Independent. October 4, 2018. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  45. ↑ JAMES HETHERINGTON (October 1, 2018). "Less than two weeks after launch, the iPhone XS and XS Max have a major problem". Newsweek. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  46. ↑ Antonio Villas. "Some iPhone XS owners are reporting that their new iPhones have problems charging". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Apple's iOS 12.0.1 update fixes slow reception, charging issues on iPhone XS". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Some people are saying Apple's new iPhone selfie camera automatically smooths your skin in photos — and they're calling it 'beautygate'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  49. ↑ "iPhone XS beauty-gate". cnet. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  50. ↑ Kelly, Gordon (October 23, 2018). "Apple Quietly Admits To iPhone Selfie Issue". Forbes . Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  51. ↑ Patel, Nilay (October 23, 2018). "Apple iPhone XR review: better than good enough". The Verge . Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018. Apple told me that the forthcoming iOS 12.1 update, currently in public beta, will address the issue of the front camera appearing to smooth out skin by picking a sharper base frame for Smart HDR, but I wasn't able to test it yet.
  52. ↑ Caitlin McGarry (October 17, 2018). "Pixel 3 vs. iPhone XS Camera Face-Off: Why Google Wins". Tom's Guide. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  53. ↑ "iPhone Xs Camera Review for Photography". ERIC KIM. December 2, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  54. ↑ Nistor, Codrut (January 28, 2019). "Night shots battle: The iPhone XS has no chance against the Google Pixel 3". Notebookcheck. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  55. ↑ Zarkov, Georgi (October 3, 2019). "Why aren't older iPhones getting Night Mode?". Phone Arena. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  56. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (August 30, 2019). "Comparative review: Which is the best iPhone camera app for night shots?". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
Preceded by iPhone
12th generation
alongside iPhone XR 		Succeeded by
iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max
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