When figuring out which iPhone you should buy, most people will compare the newest models or whichever models are still available at the Apple Store. If you’re in desperate need of an upgrade and have been looking for a newer generation iPhone (you know, the ones with the notch), then the iPhone XS and X might be worth checking out.
Both models are relatively affordable options still available on Swappa, making them great picks for anyone on a budget. So how do these two phones compare against one another, and which is a better buy? Let’s find out in our iPhone XS vs X comparison.
iPhone XS vs X spec comparison
Officially released in 2018, the iPhone XS is the newer, revised version of the iPhone X that launched in 2017. Because of this, the phones look identical, with the only real differences coming down to internal hardware. As the newer of the two, the iPhone XS has the obvious edge over the iPhone X, especially when it comes to performance and camera quality. For now, let’s see how the two phones’ specs compare side-by-side.
iPhone XS | iPhone X | |
Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED (2436 x 1125) | 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED (2436 x 1125) |
Front camera | 7MP TrueDepth camera | 7MP TrueDepth camera |
Rear camera(s) | 12MP wide and telephoto cameras | 12MP wide and telephoto cameras |
Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic chip w/ Second-generation Neural Engine | Apple A11 Bionic chip w/ Neural Engine |
RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB |
Battery | 2,658 mAh (14 hours video playback) | 2,716 mAh (13 hours video playback) |
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
Fast Charging | 20W (Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes) | 20W (Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes) |
Size | 5.65 (H) x 2.79 (W) x 0.30 (D) -inches | 5.65 (H) x 2.79 (W) x 0.30 (D) -inches |
Weight | 6.24 ounces | 6.14 ounces |
Water Resistance | IP68 (2 meters, 30 minutes) | IP67 (1 meter, 30 minutes) |
SIM | Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM) | nano-SIM |
As you can see, the iPhone XS features a new processor — the A12 Bionic chip with second-generation Neural Engine — that’s 15% faster and 50% more power efficient than the A11 on the iPhone X. The GPU is 50% faster too, delivering better graphics performance for games or augmented reality.
Although it’s not something Apple generally reveals during their events, the iPhone XS also more RAM — 4GB, up from 3GB on the iPhone X — for better multitasking with fewer app reloads. All of these things are important when it comes to the speed of a phone, and affects more than just opening an app.
For instance, the newer processor also improved the speed of Face ID, reducing the amount of time it takes for your phone to recognize your face and even improves the speed of the camera.
Other small differences that were introduced on the iPhone XS are wider “spatial” stereo sound with support for Dolby Atmos, a new gold finish, Dual-SIM, and a higher capacity 512GB storage option.
iPhone XS vs X Screen
Both the iPhone XS and X feature the same 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED panels. Although they’ve been around since 2017, these are still some of the best displays on the market. Both offer Apple’s True Tone technology, as well as support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and up to 625 nits of brightness. It’s not until the iPhone 11 Pro that we see Apple’s screen technology receive spec bump.
iPhone XS vs X Size
The iPhone XS and X are the exact same size and dimensions, with the only difference being the XS is slightly heavier. Because the two phones are identical, cases made for the iPhone X will also fit on the iPhone XS, and vice versa. This means if you’re looking to upgrade your iPhone X to the XS, you can bring your favorite case with you.
iPhone XS
- 5.65 inches (143.6 mm) x 2.79 inches (70.9 mm) x 0.30 inch (7.7 mm)
- 6.24 ounces (177 grams)
iPhone X
- 5.65 inches (143.6 mm) x 2.79 inches (70.9 mm) x 0.30 inch (7.7 mm)
- 6.14 ounces (174 grams)
Although it’s not the subject of this post, the 2018 model year was the first time Apple introduced the larger “Max” variant, which launched alongside the iPhone XS. So if you’re looking for an even bigger iPhone XS or X, you’ll probably want to take a look at the iPhone XS Max.
iPhone XS vs X Camera
Looking at the cameras on the iPhone XS and X, you’d think the hardware remained unchanged between the two models. And while this is mostly true — both phones feature 12MP primary and telephoto cameras, 7MP TrueDepth front facing cameras — it’s on the software side of things where you’ll find some big changes that affect photo quality.
iPhone XS | iPhone X | |
Camera | 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras | 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras |
Aperture | f/1.8 (wide-angle) and f/2.4 (telephoto) | f/1.8 (wide-angle) and f/2.4 (telephoto) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 10x |
Optical Zoom | 2x | 2x |
LED True Tone Flash | Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync | LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync |
The iPhone X features Apple’s painfully outdated Auto HDR technology, which dates back to the iPhone 4. This essentially takes multiple photos at various exposures, combining them together for a photo with enhanced dynamic range. Unsurprisingly, it’s a bit slower than taking a normal photo, so it’s really only best suited for still, non-moving subjects.
The iPhone XS ups the ante with Smart HDR. This new feature uses software (or what Apple calls “computational photography”) by snapping multiple photos the moment you open the camera, before the shutter button is even pressed. Once the shutter button is pressed, the processor combines all the images and intelligently analyzes them, picking out the best parts to produce a single, superior “smart” photo with enhanced dynamic range. Keep in mind this is done almost instantly the moment the shutter button is pressed, so there’s no waiting around.
The best part about Smart HDR on the iPhone XS is that it also works with Portrait mode (which also offers advanced bokeh and depth controls), panorama photos, burst shots and within individual frames inside Live Photos. When it comes to the camera on the iPhone XS, Smart HDR is really putting in some work and a big reason why photos look dramatically better than they do on the iPhone X.
iPhone XS vs X Video
The iPhone XS and X video recording capabilities may seem evenly matched when you look at resolution and frame rate. Both phones capture 4K video up to 60 fps, slo-mo video at 1080p/240 fps, but the iPhone XS has the edge in a few areas. First, you’ll find extended dynamic range for video (up to 30 fps) on the iPhone XS, as well as stereo audio — both features missing from the iPhone X. While this may sound like small little shortcomings on the iPhone X, it has a big impact on video recording and why anyone who plans on shooting a good amount of video will want to stick with the iPhone XS.
iPhone XS vs X battery life
Battery life is always a tricky metric, mostly because there’s no two people use their phone exactly the same way. Apple tries to standardize this a bit by giving their phones various ratings based on what they’re doing (streaming video for instance).
In the case of the iPhone XS, Apple says you can expect about 1 extra hour of video playback from the phone when compared against the iPhone X. While this may sound like a small number, keep in mind that your individual mileage will vary and when combined with standby mode, or just listening to music, the iPhone XS will last longer between charges than the iPhone X.
iPhone XS | iPhone X | |
Video Playback | Up to 14 hours | Up to 13 hours |
Audio Playback | Up to 60 hours | Up to 60 hours |
Although not directly related to battery life, both phones feature wireless charging using the Qi standard, and are fast-charge capable using a 20W adapter (not included). When fully depleted, fast-charge will deliver 50% battery in only 30 minutes.
iPhone XS vs X — which should you buy?
Ultimately, the deciding factor between the iPhone XS and the iPhone X will most likely come down to their price. The iPhone XS is clearly superior to the iPhone X, with faster performance, better photo quality, and longer battery life. But if there’s a huge difference in price, these (important) upgrades might not be worth it.
The good news is that on Swappa, you can find iPhone XS prices starting at $310, while the iPhone X starts at $290. With a difference of around $40 on average depending on device condition, storage size, and carrier compatibility, the iPhone XS is a much better value than the iPhone X. Of course, it’s possible to find a really great deal on the iPhone X, in which case you may want to make the sacrifice in order to save a few bucks — and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The good news is that no matter which iPhone you decide to buy, you can always rest assured that you’ll find the best iPhone deals when shopping on Swappa. Our marketplace is free from blacklisted phones or junk phones you’ll find using popular yard sale apps, and with 24/7/365 support, help is never more than an email away. So don’t wait. Join the Swappa community today and start saving.
Snag the best deals on used iPhones wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!