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iPhone XR: the new 'affordable' iPhone cuts corners...and costs

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© Screenshot: nextpit

Apple just presented its new iPhones, including the new iPhone XR, a version of the new iPhone that slims down some specs in order to land it in a friendlier budget range...for an iPhone, that is. What can we expect from this new cheaper iPhone? 


We’ll be continuously updating this article with the latest information.


iPhone XR: the 'affordable' iPhone for the masses?

Apple managed expectations by hyping up the iPhone XS and Max first before emphasizing that they wanted to reach as many people as possible. Introducing the iPhone XR. No steel for this model, but it has aerospace grade aluminum, and a 6.1 LCD display with 828 x 1792 pixel resolution instead of OLED.  Nonetheless, you still get 'the most advanced LCD screen on a smartphone'.

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The iPhone XR's technical details. / © Screenshot: AndroidPIT

 

Apple iPhone XR technical specifications

A wide choice of colors

The 6.1-inch iPhone XR and will be available in white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (PRODUCT)RED.

It's still an iPhone X experience

Apple stressed over and over again that despite having a single camera, the iPhone Xr still has many of the benefits of its more powerful brethren, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. This means Smart HDR images, adjustable depth-of-field and improved bokeh portrait mode. It also carries the same A12 Bionic chip, making it a true member of the iPhone X family. Apple does without technical gimmicks like 3D-Touch, instead the user just presses on the display longer and receives a haptic feedback.

Check out the new iPhones in our event roundup video:

And here's what the iPhone XR looked like in the hands-on area at the Apple event, where Bloomberg's Mark Gurman could take a shot:

Can the iPhone XR be a Pixel-killer? Android Police's David Ruddock is calling it, but we're not quite convinced. Still, we can't wait to compare the iPhone XR against the next generation of Google's finest:

Would you prefer the iPhone XR over the more advanced versions? Jonathan Morrison seems to, but...

...as it happens, $699 is just too good to be true.

The iPhone XR launches on October 26 (pre-orders start October 19) and is priced as follows:

  • iPhone XR with 64GB storage: $749 
  • iPhone XR with 128GB  storage: $799 
  • iPhone XR with 256GB  storage: $899 

Yes, that's the 'cheap' new iPhone. Is the feature set enough to tempt you?

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Nicholas Montegriffo

Nicholas Montegriffo
Editor

A cyberpunk and actual punk, Nicholas is the Androidpit team's hardcore gamer, writing with a focus on future tech, VR/AR, AI & robotics. Out of office, he can be found hanging around in goth clubs, eating too many chillies, or at home telling an unlucky nerd that their 8th level wizard died from a poisoned spike trap.

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5 comments
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  • BruinGuy 20
    BruinGuy Sep 13, 2018 Link to comment

    I only have 3 ABSOLUTE requirements for a phone. 1) Removable SD storage 2) Headphone jack, 3) Samsung Pay. The XR has none of those.


  • 27
    Sorin Sep 13, 2018 Link to comment

    Do I understand that $ 899 or even 749 is "affordable"? Prices are in any case valid on another planet, where money is no longer a problem. Or, if you want, the "affordable $ 899" phone is a pretty good joke ...
    I notice that the current trend is to push prices as much as possible to the $ 1,000 psychological barrier, in the idea that when customers start buying at this price, they will start a new $ 2,000 price hike. And I'm not talking about gold and diamond phones, but serial, regular, series-produced phones.
    I'm extremely curious to see what equipment a phone should have for which the asking price is $ 1,999.99!


  • 15
    Bruce Lee Sep 12, 2018 Link to comment

    I'm sure the iSheeps will get up at 3 am to line up for this phone.


  • Rusty H. 33
    Rusty H. Sep 12, 2018 Link to comment

    Ummm...to ME, affordable would be in the 300-500 MAX range. I guess those that live on the east/west coast where everything is expensive, dropping 700 bucks on a "low spec" apple phone would be ok, but not out here in flyover country.

    Sorin


  • 20
    Reg Joo Sep 12, 2018 Link to comment

    HaHaHa, no.

    Rusty H.

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