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We’ve been bamboozled!

falconeight#IM

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Not sure if that is a word but oh well. I was at Best Buy messing with the XS, XS max, and XR and I could not tell the difference in the screen. All three were just as nice as the next one. Maybe when I was scrolling at a ridiculous pace I could tell the difference but I never do that. We are way to stuck on specs. Way to go XR you’re a steal and the champ. I wasted way to much money on my XS max.
 

Tartarus

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Not sure if that is a word but oh well. I was at Best Buy messing with the XS, XS max, and XR and I could not tell the difference in the screen. All three were just as nice as the next one. Maybe when I was scrolling at a ridiculous pace I could tell the difference but I never do that. We are way to stuck on specs. Way to go XR you’re a steal and the champ. I wasted way to much money on my XS max.

Did you try looking for differences in the dark or was there fluorescent light ?

OLED screens outperform their LCD counterparts with dark colors.

Checking screens in sunlight and fluorescent light isn’t the best setting to look for differences.
 

falconeight#IM

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Did you try looking for differences in the dark or was there fluorescent light ?

OLED screens outperform their LCD counterparts with dark colors.

Checking screens in sunlight and fluorescent light isn’t the best setting to look for differences.

I tried it all short of being in a tunnel. I’m just saying in normal everyday life the difference isn’t there. In my opinion
 

Tartarus

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I tried it all short of being in a tunnel. I’m just saying in normal everyday life the difference isn’t there. In my opinion

The XR is LCD at 828p and the X/XS/Max are OLED HDR at 1080p. OLED offers deeper colors. Black blacks and white whites. In normal usage you won't see much difference in clarity. Video/photo is where you'll see the biggest differences.
 

falconeight#IM

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The XR is LCD at 828p and the X/XS/Max are OLED HDR at 1080p. OLED offers deeper colors. Black blacks and white whites. In normal usage you won't see much difference in clarity. Video/photo is where you'll see the biggest differences.

I know the tag line but I didn’t see it. They both had great color, dark blacks, white whites, and pixels weren’t noticeable. I always have to have the latest and greatest and I love my max but the difference isn’t there in my opinion. I would say that the aluminum looks cheap just like on the watch.
 

Tpence2177

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Been playing with them all when I’m at Walmart getting groceries a few times now and the screen is perfectly fine for me. Can’t wait till Black Friday to get an Xr on one of the deals so it’s an even better deal!
 

Just_Me_D

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Not sure if that is a word but oh well. I was at Best Buy messing with the XS, XS max, and XR and I could not tell the difference in the screen. All three were just as nice as the next one. Maybe when I was scrolling at a ridiculous pace I could tell the difference but I never do that. We are way to stuck on specs. Way to go XR you’re a steal and the champ. I wasted way to much money on my XS max.

You are correct in saying that people, in general, are way too concerned about specs. We see it all the time when comparing the iPhone to Android. The Well-spec'd Android device barely outperforms the lesser spec'd iPhone or lose to the iPhone altogether. Now in regard to the iPhone XR, I didn't have any doubt about how well the screen would look. If my iPhone X were to crap out on me or become unrepairable, I won't have any problems replacing it with an iPhone XR. The ONLY thing that would prevent me from doing it would be the size of the device.
 
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falconeight#IM

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You are correct in saying that people, in general, are way too concerned about specs. We see it all the time when comparing the iPhone to Android. The Well-spec'd Android device barely outperforms the lesser sec'd iPhone or lose to the iPhone altogether. Now in regard to the iPhone XR, I didn't have any doubt about how well the screen would look. If my iPhone X were to crap out on me or become unrepairable, I won't have any problems replacing it with an iPhone XR. The ONLY thing that would prevent me from doing it would be the size of the device.

Why the size? Too big or too small. I chose the max specifically for the size.
 

Just_Me_D

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Why the size? Too big or too small. I chose the max specifically for the size.

Too big for my preferences. I've had the iPhone 6 Plus, 6S Plus and 7 Plus, but opted for the iPhone 8 last year and was content with its size. In fact, I actually had the iPhone 7 before switching it out for the 7 Plus. When I bought the iPhone X, I felt that its size was a large as I wanted to go.
 

falconeight#IM

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Too big for my preferences. I've had the iPhone 6 Plus, 6S Plus and 7 Plus, but opted for the iPhone 8 last year and was content with its size. In fact, I actually had the iPhone 7 before switching it out for the 7 Plus. When I bought the iPhone X, I felt that its size was a large as I wanted to go.

I loved the size of my x except when browsing the web in landscape. When I searched the entire page was covered by the keyboard. Other than that it was really nice.
 

phlamethrowre

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Not sure if that is a word but oh well. I was at Best Buy messing with the XS, XS max, and XR and I could not tell the difference in the screen. All three were just as nice as the next one. Maybe when I was scrolling at a ridiculous pace I could tell the difference but I never do that. We are way to stuck on specs. Way to go XR you’re a steal and the champ. I wasted way to much money on my XS max.

I don’t feel bamboozled at all. I chose the XS Max because I wanted more RAM, the better camera, more PPI, Gigabit LTE, Stainless Steel frame, better back glass and biggest screen available. I knew exactly why I was paying more.
 

metllicamilitia

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I know the tag line but I didn’t see it. They both had great color, dark blacks, white whites, and pixels weren’t noticeable. I always have to have the latest and greatest and I love my max but the difference isn’t there in my opinion. I would say that the aluminum looks cheap just like on the watch.
The difference is that whites are whiter on OLED, the black are blacker because there is no light on those pixels, and the OLED plays 1080p HDR. As stated the biggest area of difference you will see it in is photo and video. That's saying the LED of the XR is bad, not at all. It's just an objective fact that the OLED is better in terms of clarity and whites and blacks. Many people won't care about it, and many don't need the extra benefits of the XS/XS Max and that's fine.
 

falconeight#IM

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The difference is that whites are whiter on OLED, the black are blacker because there is no light on those pixels, and the OLED plays 1080p HDR. As stated the biggest area of difference you will see it in is photo and video. That's saying the LED of the XR is bad, not at all. It's just an objective fact that the OLED is better in terms of clarity and whites and blacks. Many people won't care about it, and many don't need the extra benefits of the XS/XS Max and that's fine.
I didn't see it
 

Spencerdl

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This was bought to my attention by another iMore member and I will be going to a store to see for myself soon enough. I do know my Max screen looks a lot better than my 7 Plus screen and with the LCD vs OLED screen there is a definite difference. The OLED screen on my Max gives a "BAM" in your face type of reaction vs the LCD on my 7 Plus.
 

Ledsteplin

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I tried it all short of being in a tunnel. I’m just saying in normal everyday life the difference isn’t there. In my opinion

You're absolutely right. While there may be a difference seen in certain light situations, the XR screen stacks up well against its Oled sisters. I will likely get the XS Max for the screen size, but if the XR came with a 6.5" screen, that's what I'd get.
 

Ledsteplin

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How do you know this?

Based on what tech writers say and from user reviews like the OPs' here. Here's what I get from most writers who have compared the XR screen with the XS and XS Max:
You are not going to notice any huge difference between the resolutions of Apple’s best-of-class “Liquid Retina” LCD and best-of-class “Super Retina” OLED screens. The iPhone XR’s pixels are too small to be seen individually by the unaided human eye, and though the XS models technically have more pixels, the distinction is arguably meaningless.
There are small differences in brightness and contrast between the OLED and LCD screens, though they will not practically matter for most people. Viewed straight on, the XR’s screen looks just a hint brighter at its peak than the XS and XS Max, but the difference disappears when the screen’s viewed off-angle.
The OLED screens’ blacks are a bit darker than the XR’s, but not in a way that will be noticed by 97 percent of users. Color rendition is for the most part identical, though the XR’s screen appears to have somewhat more saturated reds and yellows.
 

Spencerdl

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Based on what tech writers say and from user reviews like the OPs' here. Here's what I get from most writers who have compared the XR screen with the XS and XS Max:
You are not going to notice any huge difference between the resolutions of Apple’s best-of-class “Liquid Retina” LCD and best-of-class “Super Retina” OLED screens. The iPhone XR’s pixels are too small to be seen individually by the unaided human eye, and though the XS models technically have more pixels, the distinction is arguably meaningless.
There are small differences in brightness and contrast between the OLED and LCD screens, though they will not practically matter for most people. Viewed straight on, the XR’s screen looks just a hint brighter at its peak than the XS and XS Max, but the difference disappears when the screen’s viewed off-angle.
The OLED screens’ blacks are a bit darker than the XR’s, but not in a way that will be noticed by 97 percent of users. Color rendition is for the most part identical, though the XR’s screen appears to have somewhat more saturated reds and yellows.

So your going on what others have said and/or written. I just came from Verizon and there is definitely a difference. I saw this with my own eyes. I would say it's a kind of "BAM" in your face type of experience. I compared it with my MAX and the display model as well as a customer who was actually returning their Xr for a MAX. I would suggest going to a store and see for yourself.
 

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