Apple is constantly bombarding us with new gadgets every year, making it all that much harder to decide which phone you should get as your next device. Well, if this is a decision you’ve been struggling with, then let us introduce you to the iPhone XR. It’s an affordable phone packed with a range of impeccable features that are sure to meet the needs of all types of smartphone users. While it was released in 2018, the handset is yet to surpass its prime. Here’s everything you need to know about buying the refurbished iPhone XR in 2022.
iPhone XR: Price
With the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 series release, not to forget the iPhone 13, the iPhone XR has since dropped in price. During its launch, the phone went for about AU$1229 for the 64GB model, AU$ for 128GB storage, and AU$1479 for the 256GB variant. It now costs a few hundred dollars less. Apple recently discontinued the iPhone XR line-up. Therefore, you will need to buy the phone from third-party retailers or grab a refurbished one from Phonebot in Australia. You can bag yourself an iPhone XR for about $539 AUD for the 128GB version.
iPhone XR: Design
If you love colourful phones, you will find none better than the iPhone XR. It comes in six different colours: blue, white, black, yellow, coral, and red. The iPhone XR design language is pretty much the same as those of its more premium siblings like the iPhone 11. It features an all-glass back enclosed with an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, which gives it its premium feel. This is a phone that you will want to flaunt around.
iPhone XR: Display
The iPhone XR comes with a generous 6.1-inch LCD Retina Display, perfect for watching videos and movies, playing games, and browsing through social media. Comparatively, the iPhone 11 Pro spots a 5.8-inch display while the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 6-5-inches. The iPhone XR’s 6.1-inch size stands out in this respect as being the better option for one-handed use. The LCD Retina Display may not be as advanced as the Super Retina XDR OLED on the iPhone 12 and 13. But it still offers sharp and satisfying images of up to 625 nits. The True Tone feature gives it an edge, allowing the phone to perform well in a variety of lighting and environments.
iPhone XR: Camera
Unlike the XS models, which come with a dual-cam setup, the iPhone XR spots a single-cam solution. The camera is a wide-angle lens with a 12-megapixel sensor. Given the lack of an ultra-wide-angle lens, you won’t be able to optically zoom and jump to ‘2X.’ The camera is nonetheless decent, and you can expect to take good snaps with it. You still get optical image stabilization, live photos, and wide colour capture for photos. On the front, the iPhone XR comes with a 7-megapixels selfie camera. Likewise, it might not be as impressive as the 12-mp front cameras found on the iPhone 12 and 13, but it will still provide excellent selfie shots. In addition, the cameras are capable of shooting 4K video in 60 fps and slow-motion video. While the cameras on the XR offer less flexibility, they are still great for photography and video recording.
iPhone XR: Performance
Powering the iPhone XR is Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, the same chip as that on the iPhone XS and XS Max. This will allow you to perform even the most demanding tasks, such as playing games and using heavy applications, with ease. When performing regular tasks like browsing and texting, you are guaranteed a smooth and swift experience. Boosting the iPhone XR’s performance is a 3GB RAM, which is fitted across all of its variants. So, despite the compromises, the XR makes in certain areas, power and performance are not one of them.
iPhone XR: Battery
The iPhone XR offers impressive battery life, promising 90-minutes more battery life compared to the iPhone 8 Plus. The battery life can easily last an entire day, with some amount left over under regular use. However, if you are a heavy phone user, you will likely need to charge it at some point. Generally, the battery is reliable. Thanks to its all-glass body, the iPhone XR supports Qi-based wireless charging.
Verdict
There’s no denying that there have been a lot of innovations since the iPhone XR came out in 2018. But that doesn’t make it any less worth it. If we were to be real, most new phones primarily come with nice-to-have features rather than awe-inspiring refinements. That said, if you are looking for a phone that is both powerful and affordable and you don’t care about getting the latest and the brightest, the iPhone XR is the phone for you.
