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Apple shares iPhone XR reviews ahead of Friday launch

As it did with the iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4 in September, Apple on Tuesday collected a sampling of favorable iPhone XR reviews in a press release crafted to generate interest in the handset ahead of its launch this week.

Apple in its announcement presents 13 glowing snippets from iPhone XR reviews conducted by a handful of tech websites, blogs and mainstream media outlets, each of which received early access to the device.

Overall consensus is largely positive, with many outlets praising the phone's price-performance ratio. Of note, reviewers gushed over iPhone XR's high quality camera — the same wide-angle shooter found in iPhone XS and XS Max — with advanced photo software, long-lasting battery, large 6.1-inch LCD screen and A12 Bionic processor.

A sampling of Apple's hand-picked reviews:

Mashable

"The iPhone XR is the Goldilocks of iPhones with a big screen, fantastic cameras, and future-proof power."

TechCrunch

"Even though the [iPhone] XR is Apple's mid-range iPhone, the feel is very much that of a piece of nicely crafted jewelry. It's weighty, with a gorgeous 7-layer color process laminating the back of the rear glass, giving it a depth and sparkle that's just unmatched in consumer electronics."

PC Mag (India)

"You're getting a truly superb phone which does everything with a considerable degree of expertness. Pound for pound, this makes it the best mainstream flagship phone in the market."

Tom's Guide

"iPhone XR delivers fast performance, great cameras and longer battery life than other flagship phones, all in a colorful and affordable package."

Best Products

"We found the iPhone XR to be quite excellent, as well as all the smartphone most consumers will ever need. It has more processing power than any competitor, exceptional battery life, and a fantastic camera."

Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller amplified the release by sharing a few select quotes on Twitter.

Embargoed iPhone XR reviews went live earlier today. While not as sparkling as Apple suggests from its cherry-picked roster, reviews are have been generally positive with few caveats. Early testers touted Apple's ability to balance performance with relative affordability, especially in while marketing a pair of flagship smartphones in iPhone XS and XS Max.

Apple put iPhone XR up for preorder last Friday and sold out of launch day supplies late Monday.



6 Comments

christopher126 16 Years · 4366 comments

I've always leaned towards, for lack of a better expression, the 'consumer' versions of Apple products as opposed to the 'Pro' devices.

I.e., MacBook vs. MBPro, iPad Mini vs. iPadPro, SE vs. iPhone X, the less expensive version of the AppleTV, an iMac vs. whatever their tower version is, and the least expensive AppleWatch.

I've been relatively successful selling most of the devices, old iPads, iPods, iPhones, etc., etc. Or given them to my niece. I don't have any old devices laying around. 

I only rent or buy Movies, TV shows, or music thru Apple iTunes. A little more expensive but I just can bring myself to give money to Google, FaceBook or Amazon.

I only buy Apple software. I'd rather do without than to buy an Adobe or MS product. No offense.

The iPhone-R will most likely be my next purchase....Pink or blue or maybe white. :)

Best.

beowulfschmidt 12 Years · 2361 comments

I have to say that I'm somewhat confused by the restriction on "portrait" shots not being permitted with no faces in the frame?  Why on earth would Apple care how I orient my camera to take shots?

hawaiianshirtguy 7 Years · 50 comments

I have to say that I'm somewhat confused by the restriction on "portrait" shots not being permitted with no faces in the frame?  Why on earth would Apple care how I orient my camera to take shots?

If I had to guess, it would be that the portrait-mode software is optimized for roundish, face-colored foreground subjects (ie: it uses those properties to know what to focus on). It probably doesn't work as well if the foreground subject is a bright flower or a shiny car. 

crosslad 11 Years · 527 comments

The XR will replace my SE unless they bring out a phone the size of the SE with the full screen display. 

beowulfschmidt 12 Years · 2361 comments

I have to say that I'm somewhat confused by the restriction on "portrait" shots not being permitted with no faces in the frame?  Why on earth would Apple care how I orient my camera to take shots?
If I had to guess, it would be that the portrait-mode software is optimized for roundish, face-colored foreground subjects (ie: it uses those properties to know what to focus on). It probably doesn't work as well if the foreground subject is a bright flower or a shiny car. 

Well then, why not just fall back to the way it was before when no faces are found?  I mean, I can take portrait oriented pictures on my 7 just fine with no faces.  If the difference between my 7 and the XR is "no software" versus "software", then it should fall back to "no software."