It is now time for us to examine the iPhone XR and evaluate its performance in 2024. I am fond of this phone and believe it is still a worthwhile purchase.
However, it is interesting to note that this phone, which was once among the older supported devices on iOS, has now become the oldest supported iPhone on iOS 17. I am genuinely intrigued to witness how this phone will age and speculate that it may even receive IOS 18.
Although I could be mistaken, let us determine if this phone remains valuable in 2024.
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Table of Contents
Apple iPhone XR Battery life
People are usually confused when they get into used iPhone battery backup. The good battery health will be in-between 85-90 percent. You should try to get an iPhone XR with a battery health in a given percentage.
The iPhone XR has a battery of 2942 mAh which is kind of a weird thing in 2023. But it usually depends on battery health and usage. Say, for a normal user, it can last up to 1 day or might have to charge at least 1 time.
For heavy users, it might disappoint you but yeah you have to charge it multiple times. So at last try to get the device in good battery health.
Design and Display
Starting with the exterior of the iPhone XR, the front of the phone maintains a decent and modern appearance. Despite being released in 2018, it doesn’t look outdated or unappealing. The 6.1-inch retina IPS panel on the front is worth noting. Although it had a lower resolution compared to the iPhone 8 Plus at the time, it has aged reasonably well. However, it’s important to mention that it’s not the best display panel available. Apple could have potentially done a better job with it.
Nevertheless, if you can overlook this aspect, the iPhone XR remains a reasonably priced budget phone that I would recommend considering. For most people, though, it might be better to invest in an iPhone 12 or even an iPhone XS, which features an OLED display. The difference between IPS and OLED is significant, especially with the introduction of dark mode in iOS 17.
If you’re content with an IPS display, then go ahead and choose the iPhone XR. It still offers Face ID and a small amount of bezel around the display. Overall, it’s an attractive phone, despite having an IPS panel, a notch, and a lightning port at the bottom. On the back, you’ll find the standard glass back, which adds to its premium feel. The single-camera setup in the top left corner looks and feels decent. Additionally, the iPhone XR supports wireless charging and has IP certification. It continues to maintain a stylish and high-quality appearance.
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iPhone XR Camera Performance
In terms of the camera setup on the rear side of this device, there is a single 12-megapixel wide-angle lens. Surprisingly, the camera is not bad considering its time of release. I conducted numerous battery and camera comparisons when this phone was first launched in 2018, and people are still watching those videos today. It’s amusing to see that people are still considering buying this phone and the camera remains a topic of controversy, just like the display.
I must admit that the camera is not bad, but it does have some limitations. Firstly, it lacks the advantages of having multiple camera lenses, as it only offers a wide-angle lens and not an ultra-wide or telephoto lens. Additionally, it only supports 4K 60fps recording on the rear camera, while the front camera is limited to 1080p at 60fps. Although the front camera’s quality is decent, it lacks features like cinematic mode and other high-quality options. Furthermore, the lens quality is not as impressive as the latest iPhones.
Therefore, if you are fine with using an older device with an older camera and understand its limitations, this phone is still a viable option. However, it’s worth noting that the camera difference between an iPhone 10 and an iPhone 11 is quite significant. The dual camera setup and the ability to record 4K 60fps on the front camera can be a major advantage for those seeking such features. While it may not be a deal-breaker, it is one of the smaller aspects to consider.
Software Support
Another important aspect to consider with these specific devices is their software longevity. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and XS Max are currently the oldest supported iPhones on iOS 17. It’s interesting to note that these phones were not the oldest last year, but now they hold that position. This puts these iPhones in a slightly different situation because recommending a phone that will soon become outdated is not ideal.
However, I believe that this phone is still worth buying, even if it doesn’t receive iOS 18. This is because the majority of people don’t update their iPhones immediately when a new update is released. The average person usually waits a few weeks or even months before installing the next update. So, if iOS 18 is officially released in September, you would still be fine with iOS 17 in December, in my opinion.
Therefore, it’s something to keep in mind. Considering this perspective, buying the latest iPhone for the best software experience is probably better. However, if you choose not to, I still believe that an iPhone like this is excellent in terms of software, given its age.
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Holds Decent Performance
From a performance perspective, this particular device has a different layout compared to others. It is equipped with the Apple A12 Bionic chip and has 3 GB of RAM. In my personal opinion, the performance of this phone is still quite decent considering what you’re getting. While the iPhone XS is better, this phone is not bad in terms of performance. This is one of the more interesting aspects when purchasing a phone like this.
However, it’s worth noting that the iPhone XR comes with an older chipset and less RAM compared to the iPhone 15s. Despite that, it still performs well. When comparing it to other iPhones, I am always surprised by how well this phone handles tasks. It’s quite impressive. Of course, the newer iPhones are much better, but this one is still not bad. When playing basic games or using basic applications, it performs just fine.
However, when it comes to more intensive games like Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, or Genshin Impact on high graphic settings, this phone can handle it to some extent, but it won’t provide the best experience. Additionally, it may experience glitches or overheat more quickly, which is a common issue with older iPhones. As iOS software evolves, older iPhones tend to become more glitchy. That’s just the nature of it as they age.
Conclusion
To summarize my thoughts, I believe that the iPhone XR is a reasonably priced budget phone. While it may not be my top recommendation for a first-time iPhone buyer, it is the most affordable option I would suggest. If you’re looking for a cheap phone, I would say go for it.
You can purchase multiple XR phones without breaking the bank, unlike the expensive iPhone 15 Pro. I would prefer having an iPhone 15 Pro over five iPhone XRs, but considering the price, the XR is still a good choice. However, if possible, I would recommend spending a little more money and purchasing a used iPhone 11, as it would make more sense to me.
