Compare these iPhone XS vs. iPhone X photos

Think there's no difference between the cameras on the iPhone XS and iPhone X? See for yourself.

Lexy Savvides

Sept. 25, 2018 4:00 a.m. PT

1 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

iPhone XS portrait mode

One of the new features on the iPhone XS is depth control. It simulates the effect of stopping down a lens to control depth of field like you would on a dSLR. I adjusted this shot to simulate f/1.8.

Read the article

2 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Lots of colors

Here's a photo taken on the iPhone XS under harsh indoor lighting. With Smart HDR on, it makes the light look more even on the subjects.

Read the article

3 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

iPhone X regular HDR

This is the same photo taken with the regular HDR mode active on last year's iPhone X. As you can see, there are a lot more bright highlight areas, like on the lollipop in the center and on the faces, that distract from the image.

Read the article

4 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Depth control

Here's a shot edited with a simulated aperture of f/1.4 using depth control on the iPhone XS.

Read the article

5 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Natural portraits (iPhone XS)

Here's a portrait photo taken on the XS with no adjustments to the depth of field. See which one you prefer between this and the next slide.

Read the article

6 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Natural portraits (iPhone X)

I prefer the more muted, smooth spread of highlight and shadow detail on the previous photo. But some people I showed this to preferred the greater contrast on this image.

Read the article

7 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Portrait mode (iPhone XS)

Another comparison between portrait modes on the XS and X (see next slide).

Read the article

8 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Portrait mode (iPhone X)

Same scene, different phone.

Read the article

9 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Outdoors (iPhone XS)

For landscapes, you won't notice a huge difference between the XS and X, but I did find that the colors are a little less intense and saturated on the iPhone XS.

Read the article

10 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Outdoors (iPhone X)

You might prefer the deeper blues and more saturated red channel of the iPhone X.

Read the article

11 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Portrait mode (iPhone XS)

Another portrait from the XS.

Read the article

12 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Portrait mode (iPhone X)

The same shot on the X.

Read the article

13 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Smart HDR (iPhone XS)

Taken with the telephoto (2x) lens, see the detail retained in the lights in the background compared to the next shot.

Read the article

14 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Regular HDR (iPhone X)

The lights are blown out and look glowing compared to the same shot on the XS.

Read the article

15 of 35

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Low light (iPhone XS)

Time to get into low light. Here, the detail is retained around the lights, although there's not as much difference between this shot and the next one to my eyes.

Read the article