The tech world does not stop for a moment; product launches are happening all the time. After a busy October, we now head onto the new launches for November. To kick off this month, the spotlight is focused on the iPhone 10R. This new addition to Apple’s iPhone family already has garnered its share of reputation. However, the question still remains: what exactly makes this phone tick? Is it just another fancy addition to an already prestigious lineup, or does it have its unique features worth exploring? Let’s dig into some of these questions.
The iPhone 10R and 10S may seem very similar at a glance, with the ravishing new design and upgraded parts. However, there are some key differences that successfully make the iPhone 10R stand out. It’s not just the difference in price point that matters with the 10R being $250 cheaper, but also how this price difference translates on the specs sheet. So let’s tackle the distinct features of the iPhone 10R one at a time.
First of all, you’d notice is the iPhone 10R’s size. With a 6.1-inch display, it sits comfortably in between the iPhone 10S and the 10S Max. I never quite shook off the dream of a smaller iPhone version, and while this one isn’t it, it’s not too daunting. The larger display might put off some users due to reachability issues, but it’s manageable for those who love a big-screen experience.
Moving on to the build quality, the iPhone 10R proudly differentiates itself through its materials and design. Forget about stainless steel, the 10R sides are made from anodized aluminium. This allows for colour matching with the phone’s glass rear, which are available in six eye-catching new colours. The red variant has always been a personal favourite of mine, but this time I have to say I’m also quite fond of the blue one.
However, note that the water resistance in the iPhone 10R is downgraded to IP67 from the iPhone 10S’s IP68. Additionally, there are few location adjustments for the antenna bands, and since it lacks a couple of them, the 10R does not support gigabit LTE. It might not affect a huge population but if you are in an area with gigabit LTE support, you might notice the absence.
Now onto the most crucial and arguably the most controversial aspect, the display. Being $250 cheaper than the iPhone 10S, it’s a given that the display had to have some downgrades to achieve this price point. Still, Apple was not planning on disappointing its users with a subpar viewing experience. They introduced the ‘liquid retina display’. Despite the fancy terms, it essentially means an LCD display with curved corners. It does have a slightly thicker bezel and the panel might seem less sharp than the 10S if examined closely. However, the colour, brightness and viewing angles stand out, making the display quality decent for regular use.
In conclusion, the iPhone 10R elegantly manages to hold its ground amidst the high-end smartphone race while keeping a relatively lower price point. It is surely a phone worth considering for your upgrade this year.
The Display: Looking Beyond the Specs
Focusing purely on the specs, it’s easy to criticise the iPhone 10R’s display. With less than 1080p resolution and pixel density of 326 pixels per inch, it’s not the most impressive on paper. However, we must remember, the iPhone 8 — highly praised for its display — shares this same pixel density.
The true value of a display isn’t just in the numbers but in the user experience. The 10R offers a vibrant and accurate screen that is more than capable of impressing its user. Sure, there are losses — no 3D touch and no OLED. This means a reduction in contrast and pitch black isn’t quite as deep with the LCD display. However, Apple’s touch-to-wake feature is still present, softening the blow of this loss.
As someone who doesn’t often use 3D touch, I found the difference to be minimal. A long press can recreate most of the 3D touch functionalities. While ‘peek and pop’ into links and previews is missed, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker. True tone and tap-to-wake, loved by many, still exist. The change that truly stood out to me more was the bezels. Thicker than those on the iPhone 10S, they are noticeable but something one can acclimate to over time.
Hardware: RAM and Battery Life
The 10R offers 1GB less RAM than some of its counterparts. However, with iOS’s fantastic RAM management and fewer pixels to push, I can confidently say, 3GB on the 10R is all you need. Battery life is another area where the 10R excels. Its 2942 milliamp battery in tandem with the efficient A12 Bionic chip gives it longevity, on par and sometimes better than the iPhone 10S Max.
Camera: Single but Mighty
The iPhone 10R sports a single rear camera, identical to the primary camera on the 10S, minus the telephoto lens. The absence of this lens results in a lack of optical zoom and its related portrait modes. However, that doesn’t detract from the overall image quality of this ‘very good iPhone camera’.
Key Features of the iPhone XR
The iPhone XR’s most prominent feature is its digital zoom. Apple uses a worst quality sensor for the telephoto lens that lets in less light. In low-light situations, the iPhone decides that the optical zoom from the darker lens isn’t as good as the primary one, hence, it often opts for digital zoom. The absence of a telephoto lens on the iPhone XR affects fewer zoom scenarios than we think.
On the other hand, the XR’s portrait mode doesn’t utilise both cameras anymore, as the 10s did. Instead, it relies on the primary camera, which offers a wide-angle. This wide-angle coupled with the shallow depth of field creates beautiful portraits that impart a unique character. The updated background blur, thanks to remapping, looks more like a wide-angle optic. Yet, the XR’s lack of depth detection is a limitation — it can capture portrait mode photos of human faces only, making it unable to focus on objects.
Value for Money
The iPhone XR is worth 750 bucks for 64 gigabytes, which is certainly not budget-friendly but cheaper when compared to the iPhone 10s. It offers brilliant camera specifications and an improved display, making it a decent bargain. However, don’t be led to believe that it boasts a superior camera — that’s the weaker point of this model.
If we consider iPhone 8, 7 and other older versions, the iPhone XR represents an upgrade in every respect. Plus, the small price difference between the iPhone 8 and XR makes it an obvious choice. Even without the fancy colour options, the iPhone XR would have made a high-sale drawn by its advanced features.
The Verdict
If you are deliberating between an iPhone XR and the 10s or 10s max, it’s recommended to stay with the latter. However, for those using older models, the iPhone XR is undeniably a significant upgrade and hence, earns a thumbs up!
