Apple announced the iPhone XS Max on September 12, 2018. Pre-orders were available a few days later, on September 14, and the iPhone XS Max was available for purchase beginning on September 21, 2018. The iPhone XS Max launched as part of the 12th generation of the iPhone, which also includes the iPhone Xr and the iPhone XS.
The iPhone Xr was a more common purchase at the time of launch, due in part, to the lower price point. But the iPhone XS Max was the preferred option if you were looking for a bigger display, which in this case is 6.46-inches. The larger display also meant the iPhone XS Max was the first “plus” or “max” sized iPhone with the near bezel-less design that was introduced with the iPhone X.
Keep reading to see how the iPhone XS Max stacks up against other models of the iPhone.
Table of contents:
- iPhone XS Max vs 12 Pro Max
- iPhone XS Max vs 12 Pro
- iPhone XS Max vs 12 mini
- iPhone XS Max vs 12
- iPhone XS Max vs SE 2020
- iPhone XS Max vs 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS Max vs 11 Pro
- iPhone XS Max vs 11
- iPhone XS Max vs XS
- iPhone XS Max vs Xr
- iPhone XS Max vs X
- iPhone XS Max vs 8 Plus
- iPhone XS Max vs 8
- iPhone XS Max vs 7 Plus
- iPhone XS Max vs 7
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max
Modern smartphones can easily last several years before they need to be replaced, but lots of people go with a self-imposed two-year upgrade cycle. If you’re among the group that follows a two-year upgrade, the iPhone 12 Pro Max would be a good model to consider as this path means sticking with a max-sized model.
The display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max is of higher quality, however, it is a similar size as compared to the iPhone XS Max. The display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a resolution of 2778 x 1284, whereas the iPhone XS Max has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a resolution of 2688 x 1242.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A14 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 6GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display (2778 x 1284) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Pro 12MP Ultra-wide, Wide, and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 3,687 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $1,099 |
Similarly, the iPhone XS Max has a top-notch rear camera setup, and that tradition continues to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Going with the 12 Pro Max means picking up an ultra-wide camera and a LiDAR scanner with the latter meaning you’ll get faster autofocus in low light situations. The aperture on the camera also improves on the iPhone 12 Max with an f/1.6 on the wide lens and an f/2.2 on the telephoto lens. For comparison, the iPhone XS Max has an f/1.8 on the wide lens and an f/2.4 on the telephoto lens.
Other perks of upgrading to the iPhone 12 Pro Max include the newer Apple A14 Bionic chip, MagSafe wireless charging, 5G connectivity, and a Ceramic Shield front which Apple has said offers 4x better drop performance.
The current iPhone 12 Pro Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 Pro Max compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 12 Pro
Upgrading from the iPhone XS Max to an iPhone 12 Pro would take you away from the max-sized display. However, the iPhone 12 Pro still has a fairly large display, at 6.1-inches compared to the 6.5-inch display on the iPhone XS Max. The resolution and PPI are similar between these two phones with the XS Max offering 2688 x 1242 at 458 and the 12 Pro offering 2532 x 1170 at 460.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 12 Pro | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A14 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 6GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (2532 x 1170) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Pro 12MP Ultra-wide, Wide, and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,815 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Stating at $999 |
What this upgrade path will give you is a smaller phone. The display does decrease in size by 0.4-inches, but the overall dimensions go from 6.2 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) on the XS Max to 5.78 (H) x 2.82 (W) x 0.29 (D) on the 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro is also lighter at 6.66 ounces compared to the 7.34-ounce weight of the XS Max.
Other perks of the iPhone 12 Pro upgrade path include 5G connectivity, the Apple A14 Bionic processor, a Ceramic Shield front to better protect your display, MagSafe wireless charging, and a Pro 12MP rear-camera system that includes an ultra-wide (f/2.4), wide (f/1.6), and telephoto (f/2.0) camera with support for features to include Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and Apple ProRAW.
The current iPhone 12 Pro pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 Pro compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 12 mini
Upgrading from the iPhone XS Max to an iPhone 12 mini would mean a departure from the max-sized phones, but aside from a smaller phone, this would be a significant upgrade in terms of overall performance. As a starting point, the iPhone XS Max to iPhone 12 mini upgrade would result in going from the Apple A12 Bionic to the Apple A14 Bionic, and you would also go from 4G LTE connectivity to 4G LTE and 5G connectivity.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 12 mini | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A14 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display (2340 x 1080) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Ultra-wide and Wide |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,227 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $699 |
The display size shrinks more than an inch and goes from 6.5 on the XS Max to 5.4-inches on the iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone 12 mini display is a Super Retina XDR with a resolution of 2340 x 1080, a PPI of 476, and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. In comparison, the iPhone XS Max has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. The overall size of the phone also shrinks, which some people may consider a big perk. The iPhone XS Max measures in at 6.2 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) and the 12 mini measures in at 5.18 (H) x 2.53 (W) x 0.29 (D).
Other perks of the iPhone 12 mini include a Ceramic Shield front to better protect against drops, MagSafe wireless charging, a 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera, and a dual 12MP rear-camera setup with an f/2.4 ultrawide and an f/1.6 wide-angle. The iPhone 12 mini camera feature set includes Dolby Vision HDR video recording, Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 3 for photos.
The current iPhone 12 mini pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 mini compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 12
Upgrading from the iPhone XS Max to the iPhone 12 would mean going from a max-sized model to a regular-sized model. Essentially, you would be getting a smaller phone, with a smaller display, but overall, the iPhone 12 would be a solid improvement in terms of performance. The iPhone 12 is powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chip with a next-generation Neural Engine. Network connectivity is improved with the addition of 5G on the iPhone 12.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 12 | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A14 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (2532 x 1170) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Ultra-wide and Wide |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,815 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $799 |
The iPhone 12 offers up to 256GB of storage space and has features such as MagSafe wireless charging, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and a 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera with Night mode, and Smart HDR 3. The iPhone 12 rear camera is a dual 12MP setup with an ultra-wide and wide-angle lens and features such as Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Dolby Vision HDR video recording at up to 30 frames per second.
The iPhone 12 is also available in five different colors; blue, green, white, black, and PRODUCT(RED). The iPhone XS Max colors include silver, space gray, and gold.
The current iPhone 12 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone SE 2020
Upgrading from the iPhone XS Max to a second-generation iPhone SE would be considered a year-over-year upgrade. The iPhone SE (2020) is part of Apple’s 13th generation and was first available in April 2020. You will see a bit of a performance boost due to the newer Apple A13 processor in the iPhone SE (2020). However, this upgrade path would likely be preferred by those looking for a smaller phone, or those looking to switch from Face ID to Touch ID.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone SE 2020 | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 4.7-inch Retina HD display (1334 x 750) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Single 12MP Wide camera |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 1,821 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $399 |
In terms of size, the iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch display, and the iPhone SE (2020) has a 4.7-inch display. The smaller display means a smaller phone and a lighter phone. The iPhone XS Max measures in at 6.2 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) and the SE (2020) measures in at 5.45 (H) x 2.65 (W) x 0.29 (D). The iPhone SE (2020) weighs 5.22 ounces as compared to the 7.34-ounce weight of the XS Max.
Other highlight features of the iPhone SE (2020) include up to 256GB of storage space, an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a 7MP FaceTime HD camera on the front with an f/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash, and Auto HDR for photos. The rear camera on the SE (2020) is a single 12MP wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and next-generation Smart HDR for photos.
vThe current iPhone SE 2020 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone SE 2020 compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max was released in 2019 and is part of the 13th generation of iPhones. This would be a year-over-year upgrade if you went from the XS Max to the 11 Pro Max, which means you will see some similarities and some improvements. Of course, given the iPhone 12 lineup is now available, the real benefit from upgrading from the XS Max to an 11 Pro Max would be the price. You can get a really great deal on a newish iPhone 11 Pro Max right now.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display (2688 x 1242) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Triple 12MP Ultra-wide, Wide, and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 3,969 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $1,099 |
The display on the 11 Pro Max has a higher contrast ratio as compared to the XS Max, at 2,000,000:1, but otherwise, the displays both measure 6.5-inches and both have a resolution of 2688 x 1242. Both models also allow for up to 512GB of storage space, both have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and both are nearly the same size. The iPhone XS Max measures 6.2 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) and the iPhone 11 Pro Max measures 6.22 (H) x 3.06 (W) x 0.32 (D).
Improvements on the iPhone 11 Pro Max come with the processor, which goes from the Apple A12 Bionic to the Apple A13 Bionic, and with the front and rear-camera setups. The front camera goes from a 7MP TrueDepth to a 12MP TrueDepth and adds QuickTake video and support for 4k video recording at up to 60 frames per second. The iPhone 11 Pro Max rear camera is a Triple 12MP with ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto cameras. New features for the rear camera include Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Next-generation Smart HDR for photos.
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 XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 11 Pro
Upgrading from the iPhone XS Max to the iPhone 11 Pro would also be a year-over-year upgrade. This means you will see some similar features and some improved features. This would also be a good upgrade path if you were looking for a slightly smaller phone. The iPhone 11 Pro display is 5.8-inches, and the iPhone XS Max display is 6.5-inches. The smaller display allows for a smaller, more pocketable phone.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 11 Pro | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display (2436 x 1125) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Triple 12MP Ultra-wide, Wide, and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 3,046 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $999 |
The iPhone 11 Pro measures 5.67 (H) x 2.81 (W) x 0.32 (D) and the iPhone XS Max measures 6.2 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D). The iPhone 11 Pro is also lighter at 6.63 ounces compared to the 7.34-ounce weight of the XS Max. Both models offer an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and both have 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.
One area that saw improvements and new features are the camera setups, on the front and back. The front-facing camera went from a 7MP TrueDepth on the XS Max to a 12MP TrueDepth on the 11 Pro. The iPhone 11 Pro front camera also added support for 4k video recording at up to 60 frames per second and slo-mo video recording in 1080p at 120 frames per second. The iPhone 11 Pro has a Triple 12MP setup with ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto cameras. The rear-camera also added support for Night mode and Deep Fusion, along with a brighter True Tone flash and Next-generation Smart HDR for photos.
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 XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 11
Going from the iPhone XS Max to the iPhone 11 would bring a performance boost due to the newer Apple processor. The iPhone 11 is powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic, with the iPhone XS Max being powered by the A12 Bionic. But this upgrade path would also have you going from a max-sized phone to a regular-sized phone so the display size does shrink a little.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 11 | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic with Third-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display 1792 x 828) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Ultra-wide and Wide |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 3,110 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $699 |
The iPhone XS Max display is 6.5-inches, and the iPhone 11 display is 6.1-inches. The smaller display allows for a smaller and lighter phone, which some may consider a big perk. But the display on the iPhone 11 also has a lower resolution and contrast ratio, which has it looking a little like a downgrade. The iPhone XS Max has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a resolution of 2688 x 1242. In comparison, the iPhone 11 contrast ratio is 1400:1 and the resolution is 1792 x 828.
You would get an improved camera setup. The front camera goes from a 7MP TrueDepth to a 12MP TrueDepth and adds support for 4k video recording, slo-mo video recording, and QuickTake Video. The rear camera goes from a dual 12MP with wide and telephoto to a dual 12MP with ultra-wide and wide cameras. Some new features for the rear camera include Deep Fusion and Night mode, as well as Next-generation Smart HDR for photos and a brighter True Tone flash.
The current iPhone 11 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
Up until this point, we’ve been looking from the perspective of having an iPhone XS Max and upgrading to a newer model. After this point, we will be looking from the perspective of upgrading to the iPhone XS Max from an older iPhone.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone XS
Moving from an iPhone XS Max to an iPhone XS would be a lateral move. These two phones were released in 2018, and they represent the 12th generation of the iPhone. Because these two phones were released at the same time, you’ll see plenty of similarities in the specs. This would not be a common upgrade path, unless you like the XS Max, but wish it was smaller in size.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone XS | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display (2436 x 1125) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,658 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $999 |
The iPhone XS display is 5.8-inches and the iPhone XS Max display is 6.5-inches. The iPhone XS is also smaller and lighter than the XS Max. The iPhone XS measures 5.65 (H) by 2.79 (W) by 0.30 (D) and weighs 6.24 ounces. The iPhone XS Max measures 6.20 (H) by 3.05 (W) by 0.30 (D) and weighs 7.34 ounces.
Shared specs include each allowing for up to 512GB of storage, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, the Apple A12 Bionic chip, a surgical-grade stainless steel frame with glass front and back, a 7MP TrueDepth front-facing camera, and dual 12MP wide and telephoto cameras on the back.
The current iPhone XS pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone Xr
The iPhone Xr was released at the same time as the iPhone XS Max. However, the iPhone Xr was the budget-priced model for that year, which lead it to be the more popular model for the year. While the iPhone Xr was the more popular model due to price, the iPhone XS Max was the more powerful model due to the specs.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone Xr | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display (1792 x 828) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Single 12MP Wide camera |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,942 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $749 |
Some of the spec related highlights include going from a 6.1-inch (1792 x 828) display to a 6.5-inch (2688 x 1242) display, going from a max of 128GB of storage to a max of 512GB of storage, and an IP67 rating to an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
These two phones each have the same 7MP TrueDepth camera on the front, but the rear-camera setup is improved on the iPhone XS Max. The XS Max has a dual 12MP wide and telephoto camera setup with dual optical image stabilization and the iPhone Xr has a single 12MP wide camera.
Moving from an iPhone Xr to an iPhone XS Max may not be a common upgrade path, but it would be a great way to get a more powerful phone for a really great price.
The current iPhone Xr pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone Xr compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone X
The iPhone X was released in 2017 and is part of the 11th generation iPhone lineup. This means upgrading from an iPhone X to an iPhone XS Max would be considered a year-over-year upgrade. Here at Swappa, we tend to recommend keeping a phone for more than one year, however, going from the X to an XS Max does bring a few perks.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone X | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A11 Bionic with Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display (2436 x 1125) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,716 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $999 |
You would be getting a newer processor, which means some improvements in terms of performance. The iPhone X uses the Apple A11 Bionic chip and the iPhone XS Max uses the Apple A12 Bionic chip. You’ll also get a bigger display, an option for more internal storage, and a better IP rating for water and dust resistance.
The display goes from 5.8-inches on the iPhone X to 6.5-inches on the iPhone XS Max, which also means the XS Max is larger in overall size. Storage on the iPhone X was limited to 64GB or 256GB, and the XS Max has both of those options, along with a 512GB storage capacity. The IP rating goes from 67 to 68, which means going from a max depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes to a max depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes.
The current iPhone X pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone X compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 8 Plus
The iPhone 8 Plus was released in 2017 as part of the 11th generation iPhone lineup. The iPhone XS Max is part of the 13th generation, and when skipping a generation, you can typically expect some improvements. However, in the case of upgrading from an iPhone 8 Plus to an iPhone XS Max, there are big differences due to the more modern design of the XS Max.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 8 Plus | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A11 Bionic with Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.5-inch Retina HD display (1920 x 1080) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,691 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $799 |
The iPhone 8 Plus uses a home button with Touch ID for device security, and the iPhone XS Max uses Face ID. The XS Max does not have a home button for navigation, and instead makes use of the gesture-based interface that was first introduced with the iPhone X. This also means the iPhone XS Max has a larger display with much smaller bezels around the sides.
For reference, the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone XS Max have similar measurements. The 8 Plus is 6.24 (H) x 3.07 (W) x 0.30 (D) and the XS Max is 6.20 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D). And even with the close overall dimensions, the iPhone XS Max display is a full inch larger, at 6.5-inches. The iPhone XS Max has an HDR display that is also of higher quality with a resolution of 2688 x 1242.
Other perks that come with upgrading to an iPhone XS Max include a newer processor, a better IP rating for dust and water resistance, and an option for up to 512GB of storage space. The rear-facing cameras have similar hardware, however, the iPhone XS Max is improved with dual optical image stabilization, advanced bokeh and depth control in Portrait Mode, and Smart HDR for photos.
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 XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 8
Upgrading from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone XS Max will bring several notable improvements. It will also mean moving from an iPhone that is relatively small and easily pocketable to an iPhone with a big display. The iPhone XS Max display measures 6.5-inches, which is nearly two inches larger than the iPhone 8 display. The iPhone XS Max display is also much higher quality, being a Super Retina HD display with a resolution of 2688 x 1242, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and HDR.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 8 | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A11 Bionic with Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 2GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 4.7-inch Retina HD display (1334 x 750) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP TrueDepth |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Single 12MP Wide camera |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 1,821 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $699 |
Of course, the larger display will also mean a larger, and heavier phone. The iPhone XS Max measures 6.20 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D) and weighs 7.34 ounces. In comparison, the iPhone 8 measures 5.45 (H) x 2.65 (W) x 0.29 (D) and weighs 5.22 ounces.
Other perks of following this upgrade path include moving from an Apple A11 Bionic chip to an Apple A12 Bionic chip, from an IP67 rating to an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, better battery life, and an option to have up to 512GB of storage space. The iPhone 8 storage topped out at 128GB.
The other big improvement was in regards to the cameras. The front-facing camera went from a 7MP FaceTime HD camera on the iPhone 8, to a 7MP TrueDepth camera on the iPhone XS Max. The XS Max front camera also brought support for Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and Animoji and Memoji. The rear camera setup went from a single 12MP wide camera to a dual 12MP wide and telephoto setup on the XS Max. As with the front camera setup, the XS Max rear camera also included new features such as dual optical image stabilization, Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and Smart HDR for photos.
The current iPhone 8 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 8 compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 Plus is a very capable phone. However, with it being released in 2016, you may be ready to move on to a newer and more powerful phone. If you opted to upgrade from the iPhone 7 Plus to the iPhone XS Max you can expect to see improvements in almost every aspect of the phone.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 7 Plus | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A10 Fusion |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 5.5-inch Retina HD display (1920 x 1080) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 2,900 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $769 |
You will find a bigger and higher quality display, a more powerful processor, more internal storage, and a better rating for water and dust resistance. You will also get an improved front and rear camera setup. But perhaps the most noticeable feature difference is the device security, which goes from Touch ID with a home button to Face ID with gesture-based navigation.
The iPhone XS Max display is 6.5-inches, which is a full inch larger than the iPhone 7 Plus. And, due to the slimmer bezels around the edges of the iPhone XS Max display, the two phones are nearly identical in size. The iPhone XS Max display is also HDR and True Tone, which are two features that weren’t available on the iPhone 7 Plus.
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 XS Max in our comparison guide.
iPhone XS Max vs iPhone 7
Upgrading from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone XS Max would provide what can be considered a night and day difference. This upgrade path would provide you with a phone that is more powerful, and with a bigger screen, and a better camera. The style of the iPhone also changed, which accounts for a difference in the user experience.
iPhone XS Max | iPhone 7 | |
Processor | Apple A12 Bionic with Next-generation Neural Engine | Apple A10 Fusion |
RAM | 4GB | 2GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display (2688 x 1242) | 4.7-inch Retina HD display (1334 x 750) |
Front Camera | 7MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP Wide and Telephoto | Single 12MP Wide camera |
Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
Battery | 3,174 mAh | 1,960 mAh |
Original Retail Price | Starting at $1,099 | Starting at $649 |
The iPhone 7 used a home button for navigation with Touch ID for device security. The iPhone XS Max uses the gesture-based interface that was first introduced with the iPhone X. This also means the XS Max uses Face ID for security, and due to the lack of a home button, the display is larger and has slimmer bezels around the edges.
As a starting point, the iPhone 7 has a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1334 x 750, and the iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 2688 x 1242. The iPhone XS Max display is also HDR and has support for True Tone, which means it will be a bit easier on the eyes. One potential drawback is the size. If you are happily carrying the iPhone 7 at 5.44 (H) x 2.64 (W) x 0.28 (D), it may take a little time to get used to the iPhone XS Max at 6.20 (H) x 3.05 (W) x 0.30 (D).
Other notable improvements include going from the A10 Fusion chip to the A12 Bionic chip and from 128GB of maxed out storage to 512GB of maxed out storage. The camera is also improved in terms of the hardware and feature setup. The iPhone XS Max front camera is a 7MP TrueDepth with new features such as Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, Animoji, and Memoji. The rear camera is a dual 12MP wide and telephoto array with new features that include Smart HDR for photos, dual optical image stabilization, Portrait Mode, and Portrait Lighting.
The current iPhone 7 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 7 compares to the iPhone XS Max in our comparison guide.
While it isn’t always easy deciding which iPhone to pick as your upgrade — you can take comfort knowing that you will find the best prices in the Swappa marketplace. The Swappa marketplace is also safe, secure, and easy-to-use.
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