Since their release in 2018 and 2019, the iPhone XS and iPhone 11 Pro have been replaced by newer iPhone models, and Apple has stopped manufacturing both devices. Although several years old, the iPhone 11 will continue to support the latest iOS software updates. The iPhone XS is now considered obsolete and does not support the latest versions of iOS.
The information below reflects the data and pricing at the time of the devices' releases, and availability will differ from when we first reviewed them. You can upgrade to a newer iPhone, or you may still be able to find refurbished models of these devices through retailers such as Amazon or eBay.
Apple has finally unveiled their new iPhones: the fancy-yet-relatively-affordable iPhone 11, and the more tricked-out—and expensive—iPhone 11 Pro/11 Pro Max. The iPhone XS, meanwhile, has been completely scrubbed from Apple's website in the wake of disappointing sales.
This means that the XS is set to become more affordable via third-party retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Should you reach for last year's best technology at an affordable price or pay top dollar for the very latest in the iPhone 11 Pro? This comparison should help you decide.
iPhone 11 Pro vs. iPhone XS: Specs
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Cameras
Apple iPhones typically boast some of the best cameras on the market, and 2018's iPhone XS is no exception. It features two rear-facing cameras, one for wide-angle shots and a second telephoto lens for capturing faraway images. It also has a 12MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The iPhone 11 Pro, meanwhile, sports not two but three rear-facing cameras:
- Wide
- Ultra-wide
- Telephoto
Coupled with Night mode, Smart HDR, and the new QuickTake video feature, it's an instant industry leader.
Quick Take: Cameras
The iPhone 11 Pro features three rear-facing cameras, to the iPhone XS's two. The iPhone 11 Pro also has Night Mode, which the iPhone XS does not.
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Battery
Last year's line of iPhones made some impressive battery life strides, and this year's crop of devices ups the ante even more.
TheiPhone XS features a 2,658 mAh battery, and the XS Max a 3,174 mAh battery. Compare that to a 3,190 mAh in the iPhone 11 Pro, and a massive 3,500 mAh battery in the iPhone 11 Pro Max. That's a pretty big jump for both devices, and they're also backed by more efficient processors (Apple's new A13 chip). This translates to (according to Apple) an impressive four-hour increase in battery life from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11 Pro, and a five-hour increase from the XS Max to the 11 Pro Max.
Quick Take: Battery Life
The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max both sport bigger batteries, and four and five more hours of life, respectively, over the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Display
It's not easy keeping up with the Samsungs of the world in the display department, but Apple appears to have achieved something special with the iPhone 11 Pro. Without getting too deeply into the weeds, the device's screen is both brighter and sharper than the iPhone XS's, something the Verge is calling Apple's "first real HDR display" (HDR stands for hyper-dynamic-range imaging). It features a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
The iPhone XS's display is certainly no slouch either, and is also classified as HDR by Apple (granted its contrast ratio is half that of the 11 Pro's at 1,000,000:1). It's safe to say you won't be disappointed by the XS's screen quality, but if you do a lot of video streaming on your phone, you'll definitely appreciate what the 11 Pro gives you.
Quick Take: Displays
The iPhone 11 Pro boasts perhaps the nicest display you can find in a smartphone, something the Verge calls Apple's "first real HDR display."
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Other Stuff
Build
Just as last year's iPhone XS featured a stainless steel build, this year's iPhone 11 Pro sports "surgical grade" stainless steel with a textured matte finish. The iPhone 11 Pro also features "the toughest glass in a smartphone" (Apple's words, not ours).
Processor
The iPhone 11 Pro is powered by the new A13 Bionic chip, which Apple is calling "the fastest chip ever in a smartphone." How much faster is it than the A12 found in the iPhone XS? Hard to say, but nobody complained about the speeds that phone offered.
Water Resistance
The iPhone 11 Pro is good for up to 4 meters for 30 minutes, while the iPhone XS is good for 2 meters for 30 minutes. Either one should sufficiently protect you against errant splashes or a drop in the sink.
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Original Cost
Apple received a great deal of backlash when they broke the $1,000 barrier with the iPhone X and the subsequent year's iPhone XS Max. However, nobody seems to be batting an eye about the pricing of this year's iPhone 11 Pro ($999 starting price) and 11 Pro Max ($1,099 starting price); it seems the general public has accepted the idea that the little computers in their pockets might cost as much as, well, real computers.
The release of the new crop of iPhones will further lower the price of last year's iPhone XS and XS Max. As mentioned, Apple has stopped producing the devices after mediocre sales—the XR has sold far better and will continue to be manufactured—so you'll have to buy it from cell phone carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, etc.) or retailers like Best Buy and Target who will be looking to clear some shelf space for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro.
Quick Take: Cost
The new iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone XS is going for $100 less (as of September 2019) from Best Buy. That price will continue to drop as retailers look to unload the now discontinued XS and stock up on the 11 Pro.
iPhone 11 Pro Vs. iPhone XS: Which to Buy
Apple's newest flagship phone is the first with "Pro" in its name, and the company has done a pretty convincing job of designing a device that's actually deserving of this moniker. It outdoes last year's XS in all of the areas that count: camera, battery, display, and processor.
However, let's be honest: the XS remains a pretty great phone, all the more so now that it's gotten more affordable. Which one's for you? That comes down to what's important to you in a phone, and how much you're willing to pay.
- Decreasing price for last year's very best smartphone features
- Great camera
- Fast processor
- All-day battery
- Best-in-class camera with key software upgrades
- Gorgeous display
- Powerful battery
- Sky-high price
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer
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