iPhone XR Overview: Is It Still Worth Buying in 2022?
With Apple releasing at least one new iPhone every year, people get confused about buying older models like the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR – released in 2018 – offers some of the best features found in more recent iPhones. So, what’s the catch? The price. Yes, you get everything you love about the latest models at a pocket-friendly price with an iPhone XR.
These features include but are not limited to all-screen display, Face ID, and emojis. Who wouldn’t want these premium features at a budget-friendly price point?
If you are wondering whether buying an unlocked iPhone XR is worthwhile in 2022 or not, you have come to the right place.
In this article, we have shared a few reasons why an iPhone XR is still worth it in 2022. So, let’s dig in.
Large and Vibrant 6.1-inch Display
When it comes to an iPhone – the bigger, the better! But bigger screens also come with bigger bucks.
Luckily, you can hit the sweet spot of a 6.1-inch large display with an iPhone XR. This display size is larger than several models like the iPhone 12 pro max unlocked. Although still smaller than the Max models, it provides enough screen space for surfing, playing video games, reading, and watching videos.
Moreover, it also packs several handy display features like True Tone. This feature filters out blue light and offers better nighttime viewing.
Most people cannot even tell the difference between the display quality of an iPhone XR and more premium models.
Face ID, Animoji, and Memoji
An iPhone XR is probably the cheapest way to get access to premium features like Face ID, Animoji, and Memoji.
Face ID or a face unlock feature is like Touch ID’s more advanced cousin. Although any absolute convenience of Face ID over Touch ID is still under debate, it can be considered a more secure way to unlock your iPhone.
Besides the Face ID, you also get the True Depth camera that allows you to access the fun features like the new Animoji and Memoji features. These AR masks use facial mapping to copy your facial expressions, and you can use them to interact with friends via iMessage or FaceTime.
Speedy and Efficient A12 Bionic Chip
The A12 Bionic chip was released in 2018, and now Apple has upgraded to the A15 Bionic chip. However, despite being an older version of the Bionic chip, A12 still performs great.
The A12 chip provides almost desktop-like CPU performance. It means an iPhone doesn’t lag or become slow while running mobile applications.
The A12 chip is 50% more energy-efficient and 15% faster than the older A11 of the iPhone 8 Plus. So, with an iPhone XR, you get an iPhone that is light on power usage and opens apps faster. Moreover, you don’t experience any lag while playing games.
Long Battery Life and Fast Charging
An unlocked iPhone XR offers a longer battery life and quick charging compared to several other models. According to Apple, an iPhone XR provides about 16 hours of continuous video playback. It means you will get much better battery life in terms of regular usage.
Although an iPhone XR offers the best battery life, the fast charging quality has got you covered if you still manage to exhaust it. Apple sells the iPhone XR adapter of 20W separately that can help you to charge your iPhone to a solid 50% within 30 minutes.
Wireless Charging
If you are not a fan of wires and cords, you will love the iPhone charger because it is wireless. You can easily charge it without physically connecting a lightning cable to the iPhone.
Since wireless charging is becoming common, you get more wireless charging ports in public places. So, if you have an iPhone that uses a wireless charger, it gets easier to charge it outside without carrying a charger.
Although wireless charging is convenient, it is not as quick as wired charging. So, don’t ditch your wired chargers and use them for nighttime charging to fully juice up your device.
High-Quality Photo and Video Cameras
The iPhone features a 12MP primary camera that excels at daylight photography. It uses Apple’s Smart HDR technology instead of the Auto HDR one found in previous models. As a result, we are free from the long capture time and get brightly lit photos with a superior dynamic range.
Besides photos, the iPhone XR also offers an improved video quality of 4K 60fps with stereo audio. It makes this iPhone a tough competitor for even the most premium models.
IP67 Water Resistance
The iPhone XR prevents accidents and water damage with its IP67 water resistance quality. Although the IP67 is slightly lower than the range offered on recent devices, it is still sufficient to prevent severe damage.
Typically, your iPhone XR can survive for 30 minutes in about 1 meter of water. So, you are safe if your iPhone XR accidentally falls into the pool or the bathtub.
Apple Support
You still get Apple’s support for an iPhone XR with new features and emojis. Besides these features, Apple also allows it to update its iOS to the latest versions. So, at the time of its release, the iPhone XR used to run on iOS 12, but it has been updated to the most recent iOS version, i.e., 15.3.1.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, it all boils down to one question: is an unlocked iPhone XR still worth buying in 2022?
The answer is yes.
If you want to enjoy the authentic iOS experience without breaking the bank, this is the phone you must get. It allows you to enjoy the most advanced features of Apple iPhones without paying the price equivalent to the more recent models. So, if you are looking for a budget-friendly and feature-packed option, an iPhone X may be the right choice for you.
