Apple iPhone XS Specifications & Review (2026)
Current Status: Discontinued (originally launched at $999)
64GB variant · Original US unlocked launch price · Launched September 2018
Apple iPhone XS features a stunning 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display, dual 12MP cameras with Smart HDR and extended dynamic range, 4GB RAM, a stainless steel frame with glass back, Qi wireless charging, and the powerful A12 Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine and TrueDepth camera system.
Launch
| Announced | September 12, 2018 |
| Released | September 21, 2018 |
| Discontinued | September 10, 2019 |
Display
| Screen Size | 5.8 inches |
| Resolution | 1125 x 2436 pixels (Super Retina HD) |
| Pixel Density | ~458 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz (standard) |
| Display Type | Super Retina HD OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 3D Touch |
| Brightness | 625 nits (typical), 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio |
| Features | True Tone, Wide color gamut (P3), 3D Touch |
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, Oleophobic coating |
Performance
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x Vortex high-performance + 4x Tempest high-efficiency) |
| GPU | Apple-designed 4-core GPU (up to 50% faster than A11) |
| Neural Engine | Yes (8-core Neural Engine — up to 5 trillion operations per second) |
| RAM | 4 GB (LPDDR4X) — commonly reported |
| Cooling | Passive cooling (no active fan) |
| Operating System | Launched with iOS 12; supports iOS 18.x. Future major-version support is not guaranteed. |
| Machine Learning / AI | A12 Bionic Neural Engine, Core ML, Siri; Apple Intelligence: Not supported |
| Graphics Support | Metal 2, ARKit 2 |
Gaming Performance — Community/Third-Party Reports
| PUBG Mobile / BGMI | Up to ~50–60 FPS depending on settings/game version; HDR+High may have variations; performance depends on device temperature & game updates |
| Free Fire | Up to around 60 FPS on supported settings; actual performance varies by game version and device condition |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | Very High graphics + Max FPS — typically 60 FPS; performance varies with game updates |
| Genshin Impact | Low-Medium settings recommended; 30 FPS typical with occasional drops; High settings may cause frame drops in combat |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Generally 50–60 FPS at High graphics settings |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Generally smooth performance on this older title; actual frame rate depends on game version and device condition |
| Black Desert Mobile | Performance varies; Medium settings recommended for smoother play; High settings may experience frame drops |
| Overall Gaming Performance | Good for competitive games (Free Fire, COD Mobile) at high settings. Heavy open-world titles (Genshin Impact, Black Desert) may require lower settings for stable performance. A12 Bionic + 4-core GPU provide capable gaming performance, but results depend on software version, temperature, game updates, and background processes. |
Gaming performance figures are community/third-party reports and may vary based on software version, device temperature, game updates, and background processes. These are estimates, not guaranteed performance specifications.
Benchmark — Third-Party Results (Approximate)
| AnTuTu v10 | ~550,000 |
| AnTuTu CPU | ~165,000 |
| AnTuTu GPU | ~115,000 |
| AnTuTu Memory | ~108,000 |
| AnTuTu UX | ~162,000 |
AnTuTu v10 scores are approximate and may vary depending on software version, device condition, and testing conditions. These are third-party measurements, not official Apple specifications.
Rear Camera
| Main Camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), OIS, Focus Pixels |
| Ultra Wide | No |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 2x optical zoom, OIS |
| Long Zoom | Up to 10x digital zoom |
| Stabilization | Dual Optical Image Stabilization (both lenses) |
| Camera Features | Smart HDR, Portrait Mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting (with 5 effects), Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Wide color capture, Live Photos, Auto HDR, Panorama (up to 63MP) |
Front Camera
| Camera | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) with TrueDepth camera |
| Aperture | f/2.2 |
| Focus | Fixed focus |
| Features | Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, Smart HDR, Retina Flash, Wide color capture, Animoji & Memoji, Face Tracking |
Video Recording
| Rear Video | 4K UHD @ 24/30/60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120/240fps (with dual OIS and extended dynamic range) |
| ProRes | Not Supported |
| ProRes RAW | Not Supported |
| Slow Motion | 1080p @ 120fps / 240fps |
| Front Video | 1080p @ 30fps (with digital stabilization) |
| Audio | Stereo audio recording |
Battery
| Battery Type | Li-Ion, built-in (non-removable) |
| Battery Capacity | 2658 mAh (commonly reported; not officially specified by Apple) |
| Video Playback | Up to 14 hours (Apple official) |
Charging
| Wired Charging | Fast charging (up to 50% in 30 minutes with 18W adapter or higher) |
| Fast Charging | Yes (USB Power Delivery) |
| MagSafe | No |
| Qi Wireless Charging | Yes (Qi standard, up to 7.5W) |
| Port | Lightning |
Connectivity
| 5G | No |
| 4G | Yes, Gigabit-class LTE (Cat16, up to 1 Gbps) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, MIMO, Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 with LE |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay & reader mode) |
| UWB | No |
| FM Radio | No |
USB & Display Output
| Connector | Lightning |
| USB Speed | USB 2.0 |
| Display Output | Up to 1080p via Lightning Digital AV Adapter (third-party accessory required) |
| External Display | Supported via compatible Lightning adapters |
SIM & Network
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (regional availability varies) |
| eSIM | Yes (eSIM supported on compatible regional models) |
| China Mainland Variant | Model A2100 supports Dual Nano-SIM (no eSIM) |
| Network | GSM/CDMA, 3G HSPA+, 4G LTE-A, Gigabit-class LTE |
Navigation & Location
| GPS | Yes, Assisted GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS |
| Compass | Yes, digital compass |
Sensors
| Face ID | Yes (TrueDepth camera system) |
| LiDAR | No |
| Motion | Three-axis Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Barometer |
| Other Sensors | Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass |
Audio & Multimedia
| Speakers | Stereo speakers (wider stereo sound, improved bass) |
| Spatial Audio | No (but supports Dolby Atmos playback via iOS 13+) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (playback support added in iOS 13) |
| 3.5mm Headphone Jack | No |
| Audio Formats | AAC-LC, HE-AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) |
Software Features
| Browser | Safari |
| Maps | Apple Maps |
| Document Viewer | Yes |
| Photo Viewer | Yes, Live Photos, True Tone, Wide color capture |
| Predictive Text Input | Yes, QuickType |
| Siri Voice Assistant | Yes, always-on "Hey Siri" |
| Apple Pay | Yes (via Face ID) |
| Animoji & Memoji | Yes (with TrueDepth camera, improved tracking) |
Build & Protection
| Frame | Stainless steel frame |
| Front Protection | Durable glass panel |
| Back Protection | All-glass back design |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (dust resistant, water resistant up to 2 meters for 30 minutes) |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm |
| Weight | 177 grams |
Colors
| Available Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
Storage & Price
| Card Slot | No (fixed internal storage only) |
| 64GB | Discontinued (originally $999) |
| 256GB | Discontinued (originally $1,149) |
| 512GB | Discontinued (originally $1,349) |
Misc
| Model Number | A1920 / A2097 / A2098 / A2099 / A2100 (iPhone11,2) |
Overall: The iPhone XS remains a capable older iPhone thanks to its A12 Bionic chip, OLED display, dual-camera system, Face ID and premium glass-and-stainless-steel design. It supports iOS 18, but it does not support Apple Intelligence. Its lack of 5G, Lightning connector, aging battery in used units and older camera hardware are the main limitations today. For a used device, actual battery health and physical condition are more important than the original specifications.
iPhone XS in 2026: Is It Still Worth Buying?
| Performance | A12 Bionic still handles daily tasks and casual gaming well. Heavy multitasking or demanding games may show age. |
| Display & Build | OLED display remains excellent; premium stainless steel/glass design still feels high-end. |
| Camera | Smart HDR and dual-camera system are capable for photography; newer models have better low-light and zoom capabilities. |
| Battery | Battery health varies significantly between used units; check Maximum Capacity before buying. |
| 5G | No 5G — may be a drawback for future network upgrades. |
| Apple Intelligence | Not supported — no access to Apple's latest AI features. |
| Connectivity | Lightning port (USB 2.0) limits modern data transfer speeds. |
| iOS Support | Supports iOS 18.x; future major-version support is uncertain. |
| Used Market Value | Availability and pricing vary by region and device condition; check battery health, screen condition, and physical wear before buying. |
Price Detector: this page automatically shows pricing in your local currency (USD base) based on your visitor location. Where a price was never officially disclosed, it is marked Discontinued rather than estimated.
Core specifications are based primarily on Apple's official technical specifications; benchmark figures and other third-party measurements (battery mAh, AnTuTu scores, etc.) are identified separately where applicable. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.