Are the iPhone XS and XS Max Worth the Price?
2018 seems like it will be known as the year of iterative smartphone upgrades. The Samsung Galaxy line saw minor changes to the new S9, S9+ and Note 9. Leaks from Google seem like the Pixel 3 and 3XL will follow suit.
The Future of iPhones
The tenth-anniversary iPhone X marked a new era for the iPhone and changed the mold for the design of future smartphones. Since the release of the iPhone X, we’ve seen more phones with notches and without home buttons.
The release of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR have given us a great indicator about the future of iPhones. We know Apple doesn’t go backwards on decisions. The headphone jack is never coming back, and it looks like the old home button has been laid to rest too. It also appears that Apple plans to stick with their Lightning connector for the foreseeable future, perhaps until we get introduced to an entirely wireless iPhone.
The Upgraded Camera and Other Specs
The biggest and most talked about updates to the new iPhone is the camera. One of the coolest features on the new models is the ability to adjust the level of background blur on your photos after you’ve taken them. Apple says they studied the bokeh from prime lenses on full-frame DSLRs, but there is still a significant difference in quality. The improvement to the camera is definitely impressive, but Apple still falls short of the best smartphone cameras on the market.
The all-new A12 Bionic processor is the other significant upgrade in this year’s crop of iPhones. Apple is pushing the neural engine capabilities of the chip, improving Face ID, smart camera functions, and opening it up for developers to use. The A12 Bionic will reportedly improve battery life by being more efficient, with the XS Max lasting 90 minutes longer than the iPhone X.
Worth the Upgrade?
Spending $1,000 or more on a phone is certainly a tough pill to swallow. Diehard iPhone fans will have already made the switch to the phone of their choosing. The small upgrades to this year’s iPhone XS and XS Max may not be enough to get Android users to jump ship or to get iPhone X users to upgrade. However, if your iPhone 6 isn’t cutting it anymore, the iPhone XS and XS Max are without a doubt worthy of an upgrade, and if the $1,000 price tag is a little too much, stay tuned for our review of the iPhone XR, and keep your fingers crossed it doesn’t get further delayed.
Drive Safe with ProClip
Whether you use your phone in your car for GPS navigation or the occasional phone call, it is important to stay safe on the road. A custom ProClip mount and holder can keep your hands off your phone and on the wheel, keeping you and your passengers safe. iPhone XS holders are available now, and you can sign up to be notified as soon as holders for the iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR become available.
