iPhone Black and White after iOS 16 Update?
Has your iPhone screen display suddenly turned black and white? Many Apple users have complained that instead of showing colors, their iPhone screen is black and white.
Don’t worry. It is a common problem and can be fixed easily. The following article explains the iPhone screen black and white problem in detail and presents three simple ways to fix this issue.
- Part 1: Why Is My iPhone Black and White?
- 1. Common Reasons Behind iPhone Black and White Screen
- 2. Get iPhone Screen from Black and White to Normal
Why Is My iPhone Black and White?
Before finding the solutions to fix the issue, you may also want to know why your iPhone turned black and white.
Common Reasons Behind iPhone Black and White Screen
The primary reason behind the black and white screen on iPhone is that some users accidentally turn on the Grayscale Accessibility setting.
The Grayscale mode from iOS 8 is designed for iPhone users with color blindness problems who cannot visualize different colors in their devices. It makes iPhone 11 black and white so that people having vision difficulties can use iPhone easily.
But if you are getting frustrated because of having the peoblem without Grayscale on, you can fix iPhone stuck in black and white in three simple ways.
Get iPhone Screen from Black and White to Normal
Sometimes, when scrolling through iPhone settings randomly, you may accidentally turn on the Grayscale setting. Here are 3 ways we have summed up to turn off the grayscale mode and restore your iPhone screen colors:
- Go to Settings. General. Accessibility. Turn off Grayscale.
- Go to Settings. General. Accessibility. Display Text Size (Display Accommodations). Color Filters. Toggle the Grayscale switch to Color Tint.
- Go to Settings. Accessibility. Zoom. Zoom Filter. click None.
You may want to know the reason why Grayscale is turned on accidentally. Please open Settings. Accessibility, and scroll down to the bottom, and you will find Accessibility Shortcut.
It allows users to quickly enable and use various accessibility features by triple-clicking the Home button (iPhone 8 and older) or the side button (iPhone X and later).
If the Grayscale option is listed here, turn off the Accessibility shortcut. Then you won’t turn Grayscale on without your knowledge.
How to Fix iPhone Stuck in Black and White
Some Apple lovers have encountered the issue of iPhone stuck in black and white which sounds similar to iPhone black and white. However, they are quite different in most occations.
Why Is My iPhone Stuck in Black and White?
Several reasons as below may cause your iPhone stuck in black and white.
- Low Battery: Some functions will stop working when there is no enough battery on the device.
- iOS update failure: iOS update will fix some system issues, but it may also lead to new problems, such as the iPhone turned black and white.
- Failed Jailbreak: If your device fails to jailbreak, it may be stuck on screen black and white.
- Hardware issue: The problem can be caused by defective color sensors or damaged OLED.
There are a lot of ways that you can try to fix software issues. Here we offer three ways to help you fix iPhone stuck in black and white. Let’s have a look at the difference from a table.
Force Restart iPhone with Black and White Screen
One way to fix the black and white screen iPhone problem is by performing a hard reset. This method is relatively easy and safe as there is no risk of losing your saved data. However, this is less efficient and may not work sometimes.
The method of force restarting an iPhone depends on its generation.
For iPhone 8/X/11/12, you have to press and quickly let go the volume up or down buttons, then press the side or sleep/wake button for 10 seconds until your device gets restarted and displays the Apple logo.
If you have an 7th generation, you can restart it by pressing the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for ten seconds until the device gets restarted and displays the Apple logo.
As for an iPhone 6th generation or earlier, press the Home and Power buttons simultaneously for at least 10 seconds until your device gets restarted successfully and displays the Apple logo.
Fix iPhone Stuck in Black and White Without Data Loss
Probably the safest and the best solution to the iPhone display black and white problem is iMyFone Fixppo, a highly efficient and reliable iOS repair tool. You can bring your iPhone back to normal without losing any data by using this software.
Several features make iMyFone Fixppo superior to other iOS repairing tools.
Here’s how you can use iMyFone Fixppo to fix iPhone stuck on the black and white screen:
Step 1. Download and install iMyFone Fixppo on your computer; launch the program, select Standard Mode, connect the computer to your iPhone, and click Next.
Step 2. Once your iPhone has been detected, the available iOS firmware will display. Download the best matching firmware by choosing your preferred version.
Step 3. Click Start to initiate the repairing process. Your computer screen will display the complete progress of the repairing process. Upon completion, a message of success will display. Click done and close the program.
Erase All Content and Settings
The third and the last recommended method is to erase all content and settings on your iPhone, which would erase all your data and fix iPhone stuck in black. Besides, it might not work sometimes.
Here’s how you can erase all content and settings on your iPhone:
- Go to Settings on your phone and then go to General;
- Scroll down to Reset and tap it;
- Tap on Reset All Settings and confirm with an Erase All Content And Settings.
FAQ: What to Do If iPhone Is Black and White But Not In Grayscale
Sometimes, your iPhone is not in grayscale mode but still displays a black and white screen. This is offen caused by software issue and can be easily solved. Please refer to the part 2 to fix iPhone iPhone black and white mode.
However, if you have tried the 3 ways and your iPhone still display black and white, there is probably a fault in the hardware, such as defective color sensors or damaged OLED. You need to contact Apple support and seek replacement or maintenance of hardware.
You can call respective telephone numbers or head to the local Apple according to your location or country of origin.
Conclusion
Apple users often encounter the problem of black and white iPhone screens. While the issue may raise eyebrows among some people, this is not a big issue for tech-savvy Apple users and can be solved within a few minutes.
I hope that the article has made everything clear about the iPhone screen in black and white. We will be glad if it is helpful to you.
iPhone screen turned black and white? 8 Ways to fix it!
It can be unsettling when your iPhone screen suddenly turns black and white, especially if you rely on it for work or personal use. Although Apple included a color-removal option on the iPhone to assist people who can’t distinguish between colors besides black and white, we can’t rule out software or hardware issues. If color fascinates you, it removes the screen aesthetics.
Want to get your colorful iPhone screen back? We’ve got you covered. This article will serve as a step-by-step guide on what to do when your iPhone screen turns black and white. Let’s get started!
Fixes for when your iPhone screen turns black and white
Whether it’s caused by an accidental setting or hardware/software issues, here are the ways to fix iPhone greyscale issue.
Switch off Greyscale filters
The iPhone screen will turn black and white or greyish if you’ve accidentally activated the Greyscale Filters in the Accessibility setting on your iPhone. This is the commonest cause of this issue on the iPhone.
To check if your iPhone’s Greyscale filter is on and deactivate it:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to Accessibility → Display Text Size → Color Filters.
- Toggle off the Color Filters button.
Note: Optionally, if you want to leave the Color Filters on but want to avoid the Greyscale, select other color filters in the option if you only want a particular color on your iPhone. For instance, you can choose the Blue/Yellow Filter for blue-yellowish color.
Turn off Zoom filter
Besides the display, the iPhone Zoom setting also features a Greyscale. So if you’ve accidentally turned on the Greyfilter in the Zoom Filter settings, your iPhone screen will turn black and white whenever you activate Zoom.
Many people accidentally turn this setting on, often resulting in a chaotic display. If your iPhone screen is zoomed out and greyish, double-tap it with three fingers to restore the screen and make it easily navigable.
This will allow you to access your iPhone’s settings and disable the Zoom Filter and Grayscale mode if enabled. Then do the following:
Check for low battery
When your iPhone battery is low, it may switch to Low Power Mode, which can automatically change the display to black and white to conserve battery life. Connect your iPhone to a power source or disable low-power mode to resolve the issue.
To disable low-power mode on the iPhone:
Restart your iPhone
When you update your iPhone’s software, sometimes, things can go wrong. If there was an error during the update process, it might cause the screen to turn black and white. Besides update failure, some real-time or underlying actions might force your iPhone’s screen into grey mode.
This is usually a temporary issue; you can fix it by restarting your iPhone. If this doesn’t work, move to the following solution.
Update iOS
If updating your outdated iPhone software has recently failed, try restarting the update to see if it fixes the issue. Additionally, if you’ve not tried updating previously and your iPhone’s software is outdated, it may cause the screen to turn black and white. Updating your iPhone’s software to the latest version often fixes the grey screen.
Remove jailbreak from your iPhone and Restore factory settings
Jailbreaking involves installing third-party software that can interfere with your iPhone’s settings, including its display. If you’ve recently attempted to jailbreak your iPhone and it failed, it may cause the screen to turn black and white.
Besides, Apple warns that Jailbreaking your iPhone is against its terms of use and might result in software crashing or freezing. Removing a jailbreak from the iPhone can be a bit technical. But restoring your iPhone to stock using iTunes or recovery mode often works.
Restoring your iPhone to the factory setting also removes other possible underlying causes, as your iPhone returns to the same state it was when you first opened it.
Check for physical damage
Hardware issues, such as a faulty display or damaged screen, could cause your iPhone to display a black-and-white screen. In this case, you may need to take it to a professional repair service. Before that, we recommend checking out Apple’s Service Program for better assistance.
Contact Apple Support
If all solutions fail and you’ve ruled out hardware problems, try contacting Apple Support. They’re in the best position to diagnose possible software issues causing the grey screen problem.
How to prevent iPhone screen from turning black and white
Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Here are some more tips to help you avoid this issue in the future:
- Charge your iPhone regularly: Make sure your iPhone’s battery is always charged to prevent it from switching to low-power mode.
- Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone: While jailbreaking your iPhone may seem like a good idea, it can cause many problems, including a black-and-white screen.
- Keep your iPhone software up to date: As mentioned earlier, outdated software can cause a black-and-white screen. Regular software updates can fix bugs and prevent this issue.
- Use a protective case: Protecting your iPhone with a sturdy case can prevent physical damage that could cause your screen to turn black and white.
Wrapping up…
If your iPhone’s screen has turned black and white, don’t panic. It’s a common issue that can be fixed by following the solutions outlined in this post. Remember to take preventive measures like regularly updating your iPhone’s software and avoiding jailbreaking to prevent this issue from occurring. With these steps, you can ensure your iPhone’s display stays vibrant and colorful.
iPhone X review: Apple’s expensive iPhone X is still a thing of beauty
By Victoria Woollaston Victoria Woollaston Author Victoria has been writing about tech and science since her days at WebUser in 2009. recently she edited the MailOnline’s Science and Tech section, where she broke a story about a caterpillar that looks like Donald Trump, and ran WIRED’s UK website. Her favourite stories are those about batteries, tunnels, language, penguins and maps. If you have a pitch involving all five, you’re onto a winner. Read more September 12, 2017
Yet labeling the iPhone X as little more than a look at what Samsung is doing in the smartphone space is a little unfair. Apple may not have invented the technologies it lays claim to, but it has been instrumental in bringing many to the mainstream.
Of course, Apple hasn’t always been at the forefront of tech – it added NFC long after Android phones and is jumping on the AR bandwagon more than a year since Pokémon GO’s peak – but it has the uncanny knack of waiting until consumers are ready to embrace these changes, rather than getting ahead of them. And this is exactly what it’s done with the iPhone X.
As you’ll read below, the iPhone X is the best iPhone ever made, but there is a catch. We’re reluctant to recommend anyone spend £1,000 on a phone and our list of flaws will reveal why. In a similar vein, Consumer Reports recently published its full breakdown of its iPhone X tests and it’s a mixed bag of results. Firstly, the iPhone X did not beat its p redecessor, the iPhone 8, during the rigorous review process. The iPhone X’s battery life and strength were called into question and its price was a major sticking point for the company.
In the initial drop test, the iPhone X performed “just fine”, and it surived four falls onto a concrete surface from a height of 5 feet. However, using a tumbling machine, which includes a rotating chamber that repeatedly drops a phone from a height of about 2.5 feet, the phone fared less well. After 100 tumbles, the glass on the rear of the phone significantly cracked. The screens stopped working properly after 50 drops.
However, Consumer Reports did praise the iPhone X’s fantastic display (which we’re in agreement with), and its camera is top notch. Despite its criticisms, the iPhone X did make the list of the top 10 smartphones on the market – so it’s not all bad.
iPhone X review: Design
Apple deliberately saved its high-end features for the iPhone X and it’s unlike anything it’s released before.
It has the largest screen of any iPhone, at 5.8in and it stretches from edge to edge like those seen on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. This screen is Apple’s first foray into OLED displays, too, and to fit the larger screen onto the device the home button has been ditched. Instead, there’s a ‘notch’ that houses the phone’s Face ID camera (more on which later). You’d imagine this might make the handset feel large, but by maximising screen size without increasing the size of the handset, the iPhone X feels smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus. In fact, it’s closer in design and feel to the original iPhone than any of its recent predecessors.
The iPhone X is available in white with a chrome silver trim, and black, with a shiny dark grey trim, and is reminiscent of the iPhone 3GS in look if not build quality. This is a bold move away from its range of previous colours. There’s no gold or rose gold option anymore and neither model quite gives the phone the same stand out quality. iPhones are used (and have been sold as) statement handsets and they’re instantly recognisable; with its screen switched off, the the iPhone X looks very much like A N Other Android phone.
Made predominantly from glass reinforced with steel, a design move enforced by the inclusion of Qi wireless charging, the handset has a habit of picking up fingerprints ridiculously easily. This glass panelling doesn’t feel as cold as the metal handsets of yore, though, and there’s something reassuring about how its warmth adds to how attached you feel to it, even after a couple of minutes of use.
Aside from the lack of home button, most other design features remain. The power and volume buttons are where you’d expect, preserving a modicum of familiarity. The iPhone X has IP67 dust and waterproofing and there’s still no 3.5mm headphone jack, sadly. To compensate for the lack of home button, Siri and Apple Pay features have moved to the side button, which also needs to be clicked when installing apps. You also now take a screenshot on the iPhone X by holding the right-hand button and volume up together, which feels very “Androidy”. The camera bump is fitted vertically rather than horizontally on the rear (to make room for the Face ID sensors) and this makes the phone noticeably wobble when placed on a flat surface.
All in all, the handset doesn’t have the pizazz or wow factor I was expecting but its specifications are impressive and they have understated, more subtle power which signifies something a little different for Apple.
iPhone X review: Face ID
The unsightly notch mentioned before, which encroaches from the top edge of the screen, replaces the Touch ID home button and it brings with it a new form of biometric authentication: Face ID.
Powered by Apple’s so-called TrueDepth camera system, this includes a number of sensors designed to recognise a person’s face, including a dot projector, infrared camera and flood illuminator (a fancy name for what is effectively a flash), all of which work together to scan your face when you look at it for the purposes of unlocking the phone and authenticating Apple Pay transactions.
I was cynical at first but Face ID is incredibly slick and swiping up from the bottom of the screen as the phone unlocks soon becomes second nature. Setting up Face ID is far simpler than adding a fingerprint too, you simply roll your face in a circle, and it’s amazing just how smoothly all those sensors work with such little interaction.
Face ID works effortlessly with glasses and without, and even performs in dim or dark conditions. By comparison, Samsung’s iris recognition tech doesn’t work at all if you’re wearing glasses. Although we’ve had more failures with Face ID in the dark than at any other time, we’ve had only a small handful of failures in the two days we’ve been using it.
over, Apple has build in a certain degree of protection against accidental unlocking – a system Apple calls Attention-Aware, which checks that you’re awake and alert before unlocking the phone. Of course, the standout feature of this tech is the ability to create Animojis, which use the Face ID camera to transform your facial expressions into a singing poop or unicorn. Completely pointless but fantastic fun and a sign that Apple doesn’t always take itself too seriously.
One frustration with Face ID is that it’s not as easy to open the device when it’s on a table as it is with Touch ID and using it to pay for stuff via a contactless card readers (on the London Underground, for instance), now involves having to double tap the side button and look at the phone before placing it on the terminal.
There’s another knock-on effect from the loss of the home button, too. One of these is that the Control Centre is now accessed by swiping down from the tiny space to the right of the notch instead of the more straightforward swipe from the bottom of the screen.
I’m also not too keen on the new action for bringing up the iPhone’s notifications – a swipe from the very top of the screen, just below the notch – which, to me, feels fiddly. This, again, feels very Androidy.
Getting to the recent apps view is a little more intuitive. You drag your thumb up from the bottom of the screen and hold it there for a short while. However, it’s no longer possible to simply swipe your apps away; instead you have to press and hold and then click the red ‘delete’ icon. A small yet significant annoyance.
iPhone X review: Camera
Apple has consistently made great cameras. They may not always be the best in the market (the Google Pixel 2 currently takes that crown) but the iPhone X camera, like the iPhone 8 Plus, captures photos reliably and shoots detail-packed, steady 4K video.
On its rear, the iPhone X has two 12MP rear cameras, both equipped with OIS (optical image stabilisation) and phase detect autofocus. One is a wide angle f/1.8 camera, the other a 2x telephoto “zoom”. The latter offers slightly brighter aperture at f/2.4 than the iPhone 8 Plus’ telephoto camera, but otherwise, it’s the same setup.
That means performance across the board is pretty similar with excellent results in both good and bad light. It may not reach Pixel heights but the iPhone X’s camera is right up there with other rivals, namely the Huawei Mate 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
There is one oddity, though, and that is while the brighter aperture of the zoom lens ought to translate into less noisy images in low light, what seems to happen is that, when the light dips, the software simply switches to the wide angle camera and crops the image. That’s disappointing, and it impacts on image quality.
Still, that’s a small complaint, and for the most part the camera works brilliantly. Portrait mode works as nicely as ever and, for the first time, this mode is available using the front-facing 7MP camera; a way to turn your selfies into professional-looking snaps at the touch of a button. It’s not as good as the rear camera at producing flattering photos but it’s certainly a positive addition.
iPhone X review: Display quality and performance
Early third-party benchmark tests of the iPhone X have been unanimously positive. In fact, Displaymate, which runs exhaustive tests on phone displays, says the iPhone X has the best display it has ever tested.
Our own tests Echo Displaymate’s findings. The iPhone X’s 2,046 x 1,125 OLED screen is sharp, it’s incredibly colour accurate and it’s bright, too. In fact, we’d say the OLED screen is near perfect. Plus, there are no problems with viewing angles and odd-looking colours (Google Pixel 2 XL, we’re looking at you).
As for speed and responsiveness, well that’s unimpeachable as well. The iPhone X uses the new Apple A11 Bionic chip to power it along and this, coupled with 3GB of RAM, produces very similar benchmark results to the iPhone 8 Plus. Basically, alongside its more humdrum siblings, the iPhone X is the fastest phone on the market.
important than all-out speed is battery life and although we’ve only had the phone a few days, it is possible to draw some early conclusions on this. The first is that it doesn’t last very long during video playback. In our battery benchmark, which involves playing a video on loop in flight mode until the battery dies, the X lasted a mere 9hrs 22mins, which is a disappointing result, certainly when compared with Android rivals. The iPhone 8 Plus with its larger battery lasted far longer at 13hrs 54mins.
That’s not to say the phone won’t last you a day or even more in real-world use – we’ll add our thoughts on this when we’ve had the chance to use it for longer – but it’s safe to say that it won’t last as long as the iPhone 8 Plus.
iPhone X review: Sound quality
The speakers on the iPhone X continue Apple’s trend of high-quality audio tech in its phones and iPads. They’re louder than previous models and less tinny, meaning music from the phone is more comfortable to listen to without headphones. There’s still no headphone jack, and there’s still no official hi-res support within iTunes though, even if Apple claims it supports FLAC on its website through the My Files app.
Bass on the speakers is detailed and treble is rich and the iPhone X plays song with various instruments and levels better than any other smartphone we’ve used. There have been reports of some users experiencing a crackling and squeaky sound on the iPhone X and Apple is said to be looking into the issues.
iPhone X review: Verdict
The iPhone X doesn’t feel like an iPhone at all, and that’s not a criticism. It feels luxurious, sturdy and expensive – which, at £999, it is – with some subtle Android-style features that close the gap between the two ever so slightly.
I personally love the Samsung S8 Edge but I wouldn’t buy it purely because of the software. I’m an iOS fangirl; I find it easier to use and less cluttered than Android plus, for better or worse, I’m thoroughly entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem. These little changes to the iPhone X introduce the parts of Android I like without removing what I like about iOS reducing the temptation to make the jump.
Some of the physical design changes that move it closer to Samsung, for example, don’t excite me as much. After just two days I was feeling nostalgic for my iPhone 8 Plus with its familiar white front and larger keyboard.
That said, there are enough innovations and differences here to make a buyer seriously consider upgrading from the iPhone 7, or there would be if it weren’t for that sky high price; because it’s the sheer cost of the thing that puts me off.
With starting at £999 for the 64GB version and £1,149 for the top-spec 256GB model this is a phone that’s almost as expensive as a MacBook and that’s a laptop that some people say is overpriced. Samsung’s Galaxy S8, by comparison, is currently half the price, while larger Galaxy Note 8 (which was criticised for its high price when it first launched) costs around £870.
Tim Cook recently said that this high price was justified given just how much tech is inside the device (a claim that doesn’t punch quite as hard when reports suggest the phone itself costs £280 to build. even if that is the highest manufacturing costs of any iPhone) but it’s still hard to stomach. In short, while the performance, display and the camera combine to make this Apple’s best ever phone, it is isn’t significantly better than its rivals to warrant the huge jump in price.
iPhone X review: Key specifications
iPhone X vs XR
The iPhone XR might be the newer phone here but iPhone X owners won’t be upgrading. The original X has a better screen, cameras and a more premium build. If you do switch, it will be namely for the colours the XR offers. You’ll also get a better processor but that shouldn’t matter.
Best Today: Apple iPhone XR
Apple’s iPhone XR, which launched in September 2018, but is still on sale, comes in a range of vibrant colours and boasts most of the same specs as its siblings the iPhone XS and XS Max (both of which have since been discontinued). Despite sharing specs with the XS models the XR had a lower price tag – and since a price drop in October 2020 it’s lower than ever.
In this article we see how it compares to the iPhone that set the new trend in smartphone design, the iPhone X.
The iPhone X launched in 2017. Apple’s not sold it for a few years now, but you may be able to find one on sale – or you may be considering upgrading from that handset and looking for an alternative. In which case read our iPhone buying guide for more advice.
Price Availability
The iPhone XR is available to buy from Apple. There are six colours to choose from: black, white, yellow, blue, coral and red, all of which come in one of two storage capacities.
The price was dropped in September 2019 and in October 2020, so it’s even more of a bargain now.
The iPhone XR should be available on contract from all major providers, and you can check out the current offers by reading our Best iPhone XR deals roundup.
When it was released in September 2017, the iPhone X cost £999/999 for the 64GB model and went up to £1,149/1,149 if you wanted 256GB of storage.
Apple no longer makes or sells the iPhone X, having retired it following the introduction of the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max. You might still be able get the older model, so take a look at our Best iPhone X deals page to see who has it in stock at the moment.
Design Build
The iPhone X marked a departure from the previous generations of Apple design, with the ubiquitous Home button finally disappearing to make way for a front panel almost entirely comprised of a 5.8in OLED display.
The only obstructions are slim bezels and the now infamous notch at the top of the screen that houses the Face ID cameras and sensors. A surgical-grade stainless steel Band adorns the edges of the device, and a glass back means wireless charging is available.
Dual cameras can be found on the rear of the iPhone X, and everything is protected against water and dust by an IP67 rating.
Thanks to the space saved by the removal of the bezels and buttons on the front, the iPhone X manages to house a bigger screen than the iPhone 8 Plus that was released at the same time, all while having a smaller body.
- iPhone X: 143.6mm x 70.9mm x 7.7mm; 174g
- iPhone 8 Plus: 158.4mm x 78.1mm x 7.5 mm; 202g
- iPhone XR: 150.9mm x 75.7mm x 8.3mm; 194g
The iPhone XR adopts many of the ideas premiered on the iPhone X, including the larger edge-to-edge display, Face ID, glass back, and various gesture controls that Apple introduced to compensate for the lack of a Home button.
In some areas though you can see where costs have been cut to bring the newer model down to its £749/749 price point. Instead of an OLED panel, the 6.1in screen is LCD, the chassis is aluminium rather than stainless steel, and a single camera takes the place of the dual lenses found on the iPhone X.
The iPhone XR is also heavier, taller and wider than the iPhone X, making it definitely a two-handed device.
Water- and dust-proofing is the same, with an IP67 rating meaning either can survive being submerged in water to a maximum depth of 1m for up to 30 minutes.
Features Specs
Where the iPhone XR gains from being a year younger than its sibling is in the processor. Apple includes its A12 Bionic chip in the XR, just as it does in the XS and XS Max.
This upgrade from the A11 found in the iPhone X sees small improvements in performance, but larger ones in energy efficiency and integration with the slightly bigger camera sensor.
Display
While Apple has always been exceptional at fine-tuning its LCD screens, the richness of the OLED panel on the iPhone X is noticeably superior to the iPhone XR’s more humble offering.
With its 2,436 x 1,125 resolution, 458ppi pixel density, darker blacks, more vibrant colours and general gorgeousness, the iPhone X just looks and simply is much better than the 1,792 x 828 resolution and 326ppi of the iPhone XR.
That’s not to say that the XR is bad, as it isn’t, and you can happily use it without any complaints or reservations. But put it next to the iPhone X and you might feel the pangs of envy quickly appearing.
Cameras
A complement of two rear cameras are employed on the iPhone X. These are a 12Mp f/1.8 wide-angle lens and a 12Mp f/2.4 telephoto lens, both with OIS. Together they allow 4K video capture at up to 60fps, 1080p slo-mo at 240fps, plus excellent still images.
Apple opted to go with a solitary 12Mp f/1.8 wide-angle camera with OIS on the XR, but this is bolstered by the new processor and sensor.
The Neural Engine in the A12 allows for advanced photography modes such as Smart HDR that improves the capture of highlights and shadows in images, Depth Control that allows you to change the depth of field after you’ve taken a picture, and enhanced Portrait mode for selfies.
Again, there’s the ability to record 4K video at up to 60fps, and 1080p slo-mo at 240fps.
Here’s a breakdown of the main technical specifications for both devices.
Software
iOS 12 is available on either device, and both employ the updated interface that uses gesture controls to accomplish tasks previously handled by the Home button.
Read our How to use iPhone X for a rundown of the gestures you need to know to use an iPhone with no Home button.
Verdict
If you already have an iPhone X, then there is really no benefit in moving to the XR. Aside from the upgraded processor and pretty colours, the earlier model has a superior display, better cameras, and more premium build.
However, if you’re choosing between them (and you can still find an X somewhere) we’d recommend getting the XR at its uch lower price.
