The New iPhone Models are Here, and They Have Major Improvements for Photography

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Yesterday, Apple released three new iPhone models - updates to the iPhone X in the form of the Xs and Xs Max and a new budget version in the form of the Xr.

All three phones feature a host of upgrades over current iPhone models, including some interesting improvements that make them even more powerful as cameras.

Here's a rundown of the major specs of each model.

iPhone Xs and Xs Max Specs

I have an iPhone X, so I was particularly excited to see how Apple upgraded their flagship phone, especially in the photography department.

It appears as though they haven't disappointed...

Both the Xs and Xs Max have Super Retina displays. The iPhone Xs sports a 5.8-inch screen with 2,436 x 1,125 resolution at 458 ppi. The iPhone Xs Max, meanwhile, has a 6.5-inch screen with 2,668 x 1,242 resolution at 458 ppi, giving the Xs Max's screen the highest pixel density of any iPhone up to this point.

Apple also claims that these new screens have a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio that enables them to show 60 percent more dynamic range when you take HDR photos. Not bad!

iPhone users will also no doubt appreciate the custom OLED design with support for HDR10 and Dolby vision, the iOS-based color management system for improved color accuracy, and Apple's new Image Signal Processor for improved camera performance. 

Apple has added new components to the camera system that includes a Neural Engine for improved real-time learning and advanced depth segmentation for dynamic depth of field.

The Smart HDR feature gives you better representation of highlights and shadows and also allows you to adjust the depth of field in the Photos App.

Meanwhile, the advanced bokeh feature is reported to give you the ability to add bokeh in Portrait mode and the panorama setting now offers up to 63-megapixel images.

As far as the camera goes, the 12-megapixel dual-camera system offers 2x optical zoom as well as dual optical image stabilization. There's improved low-light performance, 4K video recording at 24, 30, and 60 fps, and larger photo sites (1.4 microns) as well.

Oh, and both phones are splash and water resistant up to two meters for 30 minutes!

 

Also under the hood are improved computer systems, including an A12 Bionic chip with upgraded core performance, a Neural Engine that allows for real-time machine learning, and a quad-core GPU that's up to 50 percent faster than what's found on previous models.

There's a better battery too, which Apple says will give you 30 more minutes of usage on the Xs and a whopping hour-and-a-half more usage on the Xs Max.

Apple has also upgraded the glass on the front and back of the phones for better durability, resistance to scratches, and improved wireless charging performance.

Pricing is about what you'd expect, too. The iPhone Xs is $999 and the iPhone Xs Max is $1,099.

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iPhone Xr Specs

Apple's new budget phone - the Xr - comes in with a price tag of $749.

And while it's positioned as a budget option, the Xr shares a number of the same specifications as its big brothers.

For example, the Xr has the same 12-megapixel camera with advanced depth of field and advanced bokeh controls. It also has the same A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine.

The Xr is capable of creating the same 63-megapixel panoramas as the Xs and Xs Max, and offers the same 4K video recording capabilities as well. The Xr is also splash and water resistant, though up to one meter for 30 minutes instead of the two meters offered by the Xs and Xs Max.

 

Naturally, the Xr is a smaller phone with a lesser screen.

The 6.1-inch LCD Retina display offers a respectable 1,400:1 contrast ratio and 1,792 x 828 pixel resolution at 326 ppi.

Storage options are varied - from 64GB to 256GB - though the 512GB option found on the Xs models is not offered on the Xr.

But the improvements to the battery life have made their way onto this phone as well, with Apple reporting better battery performance by one-and-a-half hours over the iPhone 8 Plus.

So, it seems as though Apple is continuing their march to build the "perfect" phone for photographers.

I can attest that my iPhone X has been a fantastic camera, and I appreciate all its features for making photography an easier and more productive process.

Though I haven't gotten my hands on one of these new bad boys, I imagine that there will be plenty of photographers snatching them up and testing them out in the weeks to come.

Stay tuned for more updates on how the new iPhones perform under pressure!

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Via Fstoppers