One week from today, Apple is expected to unveil the highly anticipated iPhone XS – the next-generation iPhone X. Here we have everything you need to know about Apple’s upcoming device including iPhone XS release date, price, leaks and the first official photo of this upcoming smartphone ahead of the September 12 event.
If the leaked product marketing image (posted below) is anything to go by, the iPhone X successor will come in two different sizes: 5.8-inch iPhone XS and a 6.5-inch iPhone XS Plus. Here is the allegedly leaked press image for the next-generation iPhone X devices:
iPhone XS Plus (bottom), iPhone XS (top), both devices are shown in gold color option (image source: 9to5mac)
This major iPhone XS leak comes just before Apple is expected to hold a major media event at the Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday, September 12. We will cover the event in greater details here.
Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models in 2018 including an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus, and a cheaper 6.1-inch iPhone (9?) with LCD display. Both the XS models will have LED displays just like the iPhone X. The LCD variant may simply be called ‘iPhone’.
iPhone XS Release Date
- Wednesday, September 12 – iPhone XS unveiling event date
- Friday, September 14 – Pre-orders for iPhone XS goes live (estimated)
- Friday, September 21 or 28 – iPhone XS release date (likely)
- October: LCD iPhone (rumored)
Apple is all set to announce iPhone XS at its special “Get Around” event on September 12, 2018. The company will be live streaming the event. We will get our first glance at next-generation iPhone models at Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. iPhone X was launched in the same theater on the same date last year.
The announcement and launch of both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus will likely happen within the month of September and we have some details to share with you – finally.
We already know that the new iPhone XS will be unveiled on September 12th. Apple typically launches its new iPhone devices on a Friday that falls one or two weeks away from the day company’s CEO unveils the devices. The launch event date means that the iPhone XS released ate is likely be Friday, September 21, or Friday, September 28th. If the company does not encounter any supply chain issues, we are betting on September 21, as the release date of iPhone XS.
iPhone X was released on November 3, 2017, which is going to cause a problem for those who plan on upgrading on a year-long plan. However, the company and its carrier partner may come up with a solution to this issue on September 12. After all what company in the world would turn down the money that people want to spend to buy their latest device.
There have been rumors that not all the 2018 iPhone models will ship in September – the cheaper 6.1-inch iPhone models may slip to October.
iPhone XS Price
- iPhone XS Price: $999 (estimated)
- iPhone XS Plus Price: $1199 (estimated)
- LCD iPhone: $699 (estimated)
Apple is expected to launch iPhone XS in two different screen sizes: iPhone XS with 5.8-inch display (just like the iPhone X) and an iPhone XS Plus with 6.5-inch display. Other than the iPhone XS, the company is also rumored to launch a 61.-inch LCD variant dubbed as ‘iPhone.’
The company may price the iPhone XS at $999, inheriting the price tag of 64GB iPhone X. While the larger iPhone XS Plus will definitely be more expensive. Since Samsung’s latest Note 9 goes all the way up to $1250 for the 512GB variant, Apple may see this and think ‘why not?’ So, we expect the company to offer the XS Plus with a price tag starting from $1199. The cheaper LCD variant is said to carry a price tag closer to that of the iPhone 8, which launched at $699.
iPhone XS Design and Size
- iPhone XS may come with the same width and height as the iPhone X
- iPhone XS Plus may match the size of iPhone 8 Plus
- Both iPhone XS may be slightly thicker than the current iPhone X due to the bigger camera sensor.
We are going to see those times again when we used to use iPhones with our two hands. The company is going to launch a monstrous 6.5-inch iPhone XS Plus. However, with the shaved away bezel from the top and bottom and removal of the Home button, the company has reduced the size of the iPhone X and it will make the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Plus closer to the size of iPhone 8/7 Plus.
Image Credit: Forbes / Ghostek
The rumored specs for the iPhone XS Plus points to a device that’s either matching or a bit smaller than the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus. One of the allegedly leaked schematics suggests the iPhone XS Plus with 157.2 x 77.1mm dimensions. Another rumor puts iPhone XS Plus at 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.7mm and claims it to be only .2mm thicker than the iPhone 8 Plus. The same rumor claims the smaller iPhone XS to have the same size as the iPhone X, but slightly thicker than it. This is thought to be due to the bigger camera sensor on the back, so we can expect camera improvements.
iPhone XS specs
Keep reading for a detailed rundown of expected specs of iPhone XS smartphones.
Image Credit: KGI Research/MacRumors
iPhone XS Camera
- A 12MP dual camera on the back
- The TrueDepth camera on the front
- Improved camera software
The iPhone XS models are expected to get huge camera improvements, but we don’t know much about it. Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that both the XS and XS Plus models will get dual camera lens setup, while the cheaper LCD iPhone model will get the single-lens camera on its rear.
One of the dual lenses will be telephoto while the other one a normal lens. Both will support optical image stabilization and are expected to be 12MP (no change here.) Apple’s arch-rivals including Samsung and Google has made use of machine learning to improve the photography on their devices, and have surpassed Apple’s iPhone X in many tests, especially in low-light conditions. So we can expect software is the area where we are going to see camera related improvements in iPhone XS and the XS Plus.
Since iPhone XS lineup won’t have a Touch ID so, the new iPhones are definitely going to sport a TrueDepth camera on its front. We may see more new features making use of TrueDepth sensing tech in the front-facing selfie camera.
Chipset
- All-new A12 chipset
The first and the natural upgrade that we will see in upcoming iPhone models will be the A12 chip. All three last year’s iPhone models featured A11 Bionic chip.
RAM
- 4GB RAM in iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus
- 3GB RAM in LCD iPhone
An alleged benchmark of an unreleased iPhone model suggests 4GB of RAM and a 2.49GHz hexacore chipset inside an unnamed iPhone model. While Apple does not detail the RAM inside devices, but we could see an upgrade here from a 3GB module in iPhone X to 4GB in the iPhone XS models. Apple is also known for leaving on model behind, the LCD variant may get 3GB RAM. We will know for sure once the devices are out and someone tears them apart.
Internal Storage
- iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB
- LCD iPhone: 64GB, 256GB
iPhone XS lineup is also expected to get 512GB storage variant alongside the existing 64Gb and 256GB options. However, the cheaper 6.1-inch iPhone may not get the 512GB option.
Other Hardware
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the upcoming iPhone models might support faster mobile data speeds, 4GB of RAM, and come with a dual-SIM card slot. The dual SIM slot reference has been found inside the code of iOS 12 software update. If true, iPhone XS is going to be the first iPhone lineup to feature a dual SIM slot. Kuo also claims that Apple will be sourcing modems exclusively from Intel for 2018 iPhones, rather than splitting the order between Qualcomm and Intel.
iPhone XS with iOS 12
- iPhone XS will run iOS 12 out of the box
- iOS 12 is expected to be released on September 18
- iPhone XS Plus may get some exclusive features in iOS 12
On September 12, Apple is not only going to unveil iPhone XS, the company will also announce the release date of iOS 12. There is one thing we know for sure, both the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus will run iOS 12 out of the box.
While Apple unveiled iOS 12 at WWDC 2018 and we know almost everything about this upcoming major software update, but Apple is known for keeping some surprises (AniMoji was a secret feature until the launch of iPhone X.) This year we can see such surprises for the larger 6.5-inch iPhone XS Plus which will be a tablet-like powerful device.
iPhone XS battery
- iPhone XS: 10% increase
- iPhone XS: 25% increase (3,300 or 3,400mAh)
- A fast charger will be included in the box
Both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus are expected to have a larger battery life, especially the larger model. Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPhone XS Plus will get a battery with 25% more capacity than the iPhone X.
25% increase in the battery will put the iPhone XS Plus battery capacity at 3,300 or 3,400 mAh, a sizeable boost over the iPhone X which carries a 2,716mAh battery. The smaller 5.8-inch iPhone XS is expected to see a 10% increase in battery capacity.
One iPhone XS leak suggests that Apple will include a fast charger int he box. For iPhone X, it is a separate purchase. another report suggests that you won’t be able to buy the fast charger separately, so if you want Apple’s new fast charger, you will have to buy the new iPhone to get it.
iPhone XS Color
- iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus: gold, white, and black
- LCD iPhone: white, black, red, blue and orange
The leaked press image of the iPhone XS shows two iPhones in Gold color. We’re expecting the new iPhone models to come in three different colors: gold, white, and black. Apple launched the iPhone X in black and white color options. We have also seen iPhone X in the gold color in leaks but the company is said to have canceled its release at some point prior to iPhone X public launch.
Image credit: MacRumors
Other than the gold color option and a bigger iPhone, won’t be much to differentiate the 2018 iPhones from the iPhone X. The iPhone XS models are expected to have the same stainless steel bezel, while the cheaper 6.1-inch LCD variant will have the aluminum frame just like the iPhone 8. The 6.1-inch LCD variant is expected to come in five color options: white, black, red, blue and orange.