The iPhone Xr launched in October 2018 as part of the 12th generation lineup, which also included the iPhone XS and the XS Max. The iPhone Xr was the more affordable model in the lineup, and it was also the last of the three models to come available for purchase. These three models were originally announced on September 12, 2018. The iPhone XS and XS Max came available for purchase on September 21, 2018, and the iPhone Xr arrived on October 26, 2018.
Due to a combination of a strong feature set and a lower price point, the iPhone Xr was the model that was often recommended around the time of the initial launch. Of course, as newer models of the iPhone are released, the older models will get even more affordable — and this is certainly the case with the iPhone Xr.
Keep reading to see how the iPhone Xr stands up against various other models of the iPhone.
iPhone Xr vs 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max arrived a year after the iPhone Xr, which means you will find some expected improvements, such as a newer processor and more RAM. But Apple also tends to pack the Pro and Max models with extra perks, such as an improved camera setup, a better display, or a bigger battery.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR (2688 x 1242) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 3,969 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $1,099 |
This would be the case if you choose to upgrade from an iPhone Xr to an iPhone 11 Pro Max. You would be going from the A12 Bionic to the A13 Bionic and from 3GB of RAM to 4GB of RAM. This means you’ll be getting better performance. You’ll also be getting a bigger phone. The iPhone Xr measures in at 5.94 (H) x 2.98 (W) x 0.33 (D) inches, and the 11 Pro Max measures in at 6.22 (H) x 3.06 (W) x 0.32 (D) inches.
Of course, the larger size of the phone allowed for a bigger display. And, in the case of the 11 Pro Max, that also means a better quality display. The iPhone 11 Pro Max features a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2688 x 1242. It is also HDR and True Tone, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 800 nits max brightness (typical) with a 1200 nits max brightness for HDR.
The other big perk you would get by upgrading to the 11 Pro Max is a better camera, both in terms of the hardware and software features. The 11 Pro Max has a triple 12MP camera with an ultra-wide (f/2.4), wide-angle (f/1.8), and telephoto (f/2.0) lens. The camera feature set included Next-generation Smart HDR for photos, Portrait Mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 10x, and Night Mode.
The current iPhone 11 Pro Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 Pro Max compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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iPhone Xr vs 11 Pro
Upgrading from the iPhone Xr to the iPhone 11 Pro will give many of the same benefits as we saw with going from the Xr to the 11 Pro Max. For example, you would be getting the newer Apple A13 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM, which really just means you can expect better overall performance in your day-to-day usage.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 Pro | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR (2436 x 1125) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Triple 12MP ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 3.046 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $999 |
Going from an iPhone Xr to an iPhone 11 Pro also means a big improvement in terms of the camera. The iPhone Xr has a single 12MP wide-angle (f/1.8) camera and the 11 Pro has a triple 12MP camera array. The 11 Pro camera has an ultra-wide (f/2.4), wide-angle (f/1.8), and telephoto (f/2.0) lens. The 11 Pro also has several key camera-related features such as Night Mode.
Perhaps an equally exciting perk is the size comparison between the iPhone Xr and 11 Pro. The iPhone Xr measures in at 5.94 (H) x 2.98 (W) x 0.33 (D) inches, and the 11 Pro measures in at 5.67 (H) x 2.81 (W) x 0.32 (D) inches. This means that you would be getting a smaller phone.
The display does also shrink a little, going from 6.1 inches on the Xr to 5.8 inches on the 11 Pro. However, while the iPhone 11 Pro display is a bit smaller, it does have a much higher resolution. The Xr display has a 1400:1 contrast ratio, True Tone, and a 625 nits max brightness, while the 11 Pro display is HDR along with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, True Tone, and an 800 nits max brightness (1200 nits for HDR).
The current iPhone 11 Pro pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 Pro compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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iPhone Xr vs 11
An upgrade from the iPhone Xr to the iPhone 11 will give you several key improvements in terms of overall performance and with the camera. While solid overall, it is worth noting that these improvements will not be as big of a leap as compared to going from the Xr to 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP ultra-wide and wide-angle |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 3,110 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $699 |
You would see a performance boost due to the iPhone 11 having more RAM and a newer processor. The iPhone 11 has 4GB of RAM and is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic chip. You would also see an improvement in terms of water resistance and get a bit better battery life due to the bigger 3,110 mAh battery.
A few points, however, will remain the same. The iPhone 11 and iPhone Xr share the same measurements, both in terms of the overall size and the display size. This means measurements of 5.94 (H) x 2.98 (W) x 0.33 (D) inches and a 6.1-inch display.
Lots of people pick an iPhone for the camera, and going from the iPhone Xr to the 11 will mean getting a better camera experience. The iPhone 11 features a dual 12MP setup on the back with an ultra-wide and wide-angle lens. The iPhone Xr had a single 12MP wide-angle lens. The iPhone 11 also added a Night Mode, which greatly improved image quality in terms of low-light and nighttime picture taking.
The current iPhone 11 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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iPhone Xr vs XS Max
The iPhone Xr and the XS Max both launched in 2018, and both were part of the 12th generation lineup. Essentially, this means they both have some similarities, such as being powered by the Apple A12 Bionic chip. The iPhone Xr was often recommended when these phones launched due to the Xr having the lower price point. But as newer models of the iPhone come available — the prices for older models drop.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone XS Max | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A12 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD (2688 x 1242) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 3,174 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $1,099 |
With lower prices, the iPhone XS Max could be a good way to improve your iPhone experience without shelling out the big bucks required for a current-generation model. The iPhone XS Max offers a higher rating for water resistance and has an extra GB of RAM (4GB as opposed to the 3GB in the iPhone Xr).
The bigger and more noticeable improvements deal with the display and the rear-facing camera. As we have come to expect with a Max version iPhone — you’ll be getting a bigger display. The XS Max display is 6.5 inches with a resolution of 2688 x 1242. It is also HDR and has a better contrast ratio, at 1,000,000:1 compared to the 1400:1 on the iPhone Xr.
Lastly, the camera. The Xr has a single 12MP wide-angle lens, while the XS Max has a dual 12MP setup with a wide-angle and telephoto lens.
The current iPhone XS Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS Max compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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iPhone Xr vs XS
Similar to going from the iPhone Xr to the XS Max, going from the Xr to the XS means you see many of the same specs. But despite having some similarities, the XS will provide a better overall user experience. Because both models were released in the same year, both are powered by the same processor, the Apple A12 Bionic chip.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone XS | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A12 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 4GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD (2436 x 1125) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 2,658 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $999 |
The iPhone XS steps up with an extra GB of RAM, a better rating for water-resistance, and an improved camera setup. The iPhone XS features a dual 12MP camera setup on the back with a wide-angle (f/1.8) and telephoto (f/2.4) lens.
The display on the iPhone XS is a little smaller in size, at 5.8 inches compared to the 6.1-inch display on the Xr. But while it is a bit smaller in size, the XS display is a Super Retina HD display with a resolution of 2426 x 1125. The XS display also adds HDR and has a higher contrast ratio, at 1,000,000:1 compared to the 1400:1 on the iPhone Xr.
The current iPhone XS pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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So far, we’ve been talking about the iPhone Xr from the perspective of having an Xr and upgrading to a newer iPhone. Moving forward, we’ll shift and start looking at the iPhone Xr from the perspective of upgrading to the Xr from an older iPhone.
iPhone Xr vs X
The iPhone X is technically an older model when being compared to the iPhone Xr. The iPhone X was released in 2017 and the Xr was released in 2018. At a first glance, the means the iPhone X has an A11 Bionic chip and the Xr has the A12 Bionic chip. Both models also feature the same IP67 rating for water resistance, the same 7MP TrueDepth camera on the front, and a similar-sized battery.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone X | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A11 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD (2436 x 1125) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 2,716 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $999 |
But despite being a year older, the iPhone X does have some advantages over the iPhone Xr. The iPhone X has a slightly smaller display, but the display does have a higher resolution. The iPhone X display is also a Super Retina HD with HDR and a better contrast ratio. The contrast ratio on the iPhone X is 1,000,000:1 and the contrast ratio on the iPhone Xr is 1400:1.
The other advantage is the camera. Both models have a 12MP wide-angle (f/1.8) lens, but the iPhone X adds a 12MP telephoto (f/2.4) camera. Of course, flipping back and giving a camera advantage to the Xr — this model does have some software related improvements such as Smart HDR, which was an improvement over the Auto HDR found on the iPhone X.
The current iPhone X pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone X compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
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iPhone Xr vs 8 Plus
An iPhone 8 Plus is a capable phone, even in 2020. However, with the 8 Plus having been released in 2017 — it is starting to show some age. Not to mention, the iPhone Xr features the gesture-based user interface with Face ID that was introduced with the iPhone X. The iPhone 8 Plus retains the home button with Touch ID.
While the iPhone Xr doesn’t have quite as high display resolution, it is a bit bigger in size. The Xr has a 6.1-inch display as compared to the 5.5-inch display on the 8 Plus. You also get a bit of a boost in terms of the contrast ratio, going from 1300:1 on the 8 Plus to 1400:1 on the Xr.
Otherwise, you’ll notice some similarities in terms of both models having the same rating for water-resistance, the same 7MP TrueDepth camera on the front, and each having 3GB of RAM. But on the flip side, the iPhone Xr does have a newer processor, which means a bump in overall performance. But perhaps the key reasons to upgrade to the iPhone Xr (from the 8 Plus) would be that it is a year newer so it will get iOS updates longer — and that it is using Face ID with the newer gesture-based UI.
The current iPhone 8 Plus pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 8 Plus compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 8 Plus | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A11 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 5.5-inch Retina HD (1920 x 1080) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 2,691 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $799 |
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iPhone Xr vs 8
Unlike the comparison between the iPhone Xr and 8 Plus, you will notice an improvement in several areas when comparing the Xr to the 8. As a starting point, the Xr has the Apple A12 Bionic chip, so it will have a better overall performance. The iPhone Xr also has more RAM and a much bigger battery. Another nice perk with this upgrade path would be the display — and the big jump in size. The iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch display, and the iPhone Xr display is 6.1 inches. You also get a much higher display resolution on the Xr.
The current iPhone 8 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 8 compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 8 | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A11 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 4.7-inch Retina HD (1334 x 750) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | 12MP wide-angle |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 1,821 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $699 |
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iPhone Xr vs 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 Plus was originally released by Apple in 2016, which means it is two-years older than the iPhone Xr. Being four years old doesn’t mean the iPhone 7 Plus is bad, but it does mean it is beginning to show its age. The iPhone 7 Plus and Xr each have 3GB of RAM, but the Xr has the A12 Bionic chip as opposed to the A10 Fusion chip in the 7 Plus. Essentially, this means you would see quite a boost in terms of performance.
Upgrading from an iPhone 7 Plus to iPhone Xr means getting a bigger display. You also move from a home button with Touch ID to the gesture-based user interface with Face ID. And, with the iPhone Xr being two years newer than the 7 Plus, you will be getting regular iOS updates for longer.
The current iPhone 7 Plus pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 7 Plus compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 7 Plus | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A10 Fusion |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 5.5-inch Retina HD (1920 x 1080) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 2,900 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $769 |
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iPhone Xr vs 7
Comparing the iPhone Xr to the iPhone 7, you’ll see dramatic improvements in almost every aspect of the phone. For starters, the Xr has a newer and faster processor and more RAM, and that means you’ll get better performance in day-to-day usage. The iPhone Xr display also jumps in size and quality, going from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches and from a resolution of 1334 x 750 to a resolution of 1792 x 828 with True Tone. The iPhone Xr also has a much larger battery, which should help to cut down on the need to recharge as often during the day.
The current iPhone 7 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 7 compares to the iPhone Xr in our comparison guide.
| iPhone Xr | iPhone 7 | |
| Processor | A12 Bionic | A10 Fusion |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| Display | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828) | 4.7-inch Retina HD (1334 x 750) |
| Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide-angle | 12MP wide-angle |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,942 mAh | 1,960 mAh |
| Original Retail Price | Starting at $749 | Starting at $649 |
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