Apple iPhone XR has a tall 6.1" LCD with a notch, single camera on the back

2021-10-14

The iPhone XR is the last of its kind – it still uses an LCD screen. But it is a tall screen (19.5:9) so you get slightly more surface area than an iPhone 8 Plus, even when you account for the notch.

Apple has a new name for this display - Liquid Retina. Name aside, the pixel density is the same as the iPhone 8 Retina display (326ppi), resolution is 822 x 1,1792px (so below 1080p). This LCD panel did gain the 120Hz touch sensing (not to be confused with a 120Hz refresh rate) and wider color gamut of its AMOLED-based siblings.

There’s another holdout from previous generations – the single camera – making this more of a successor to the iPhone 8. If you were hoping for a more compact model (say, an SE sequel), you’re out of luck. In fact, here's how it compares size-wise with the 8 Plus.

That single camera is essentially the main module of the XS camera. It has the larger 1.4µm pixels and all the advanced shooting techniques (Smart HDR, adjustable bokeh) that the Apple A12 Bionic chipset enables. Yup, this one uses the same chipset as the iPhones that cost $250 more.

Apple did drop the Touch ID fingerprint reader in favor of the Face ID scanner, so its 2018 offerings are consistent on that count. In fact, all three iPhones use the same new True Depth camera for Face ID.

The XR is the more budget-conscious model so its storage tops out at 256GB, though the base is the same – 64GB. There’s 128GB middle step as well.

The iPhone XR evokes memories of the 5c with its boldly-colored exterior. Apple is offering Blue, Yellow, Coral, Black and Product Red.

The 64GB version of the iPhone XR be available for $750/€849/£749. You'll be able to pre-order it on October 19 and units will ship out on October 26.