iPhone XR, XS, XS Max: Meet Apple's three new iPhones

Finally, we meet the new iPhones

The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, Apple's new iPhones for 2018, are officially here. While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have virtually the same guts, just in two different sizes, the iPhone XR introduces a profound shift in Apple's strategy by folding its "bargain" phone into the premium iPhone mix.

The next edition of the iPhone is here. Dubbed the iPhone XS (pronounced Ten-S), the new phone has major changes inside, including a faster processor and more storage.

XS, XS Max
Inset: XS, XS Max

Apple is also launching the iPhone XS Max, which features a huge 6.5-inch screen.

Both phones have dazzling displays and improved stereo sound thanks to beefed up speakers.

CEO Tim Cook said the phones are "by far the most advanced" phones ever created.

The also have a better battery. Apple says the iPhone XS battery will last 30 minutes longer than the X. The battery for the XS Max will last up to an hour and a half longer.

Apple's surprise announcement:

New iPhone XR. It's 6.1-inches with a bright LCD screen and comes in a variety of colors including, white, black, blue, coral and red. It's missing a home button, and instead will be activated by swiping.

A first look at the Apple XR.Apple
Inset: A first look at the Apple XR.Apple

The new phone also has a 12 megapixel wide-angle camera....

It's available in a multitude of colors - a far cry from the white and black options we're used to seeing.Apple
Inset: It's available in a multitude of colors - a far cry from the white and black options we're used to seeing.Apple

Apple is betting big on the iPhone X. And we mean big.

The company announced on Wednesday its largest smartphone ever: the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max. The Max has a larger display than the usual Plus size phones but a similar body.

Apple also showed off a 5.8-inch iPhone XS and the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max.

The cameras on the phones are, as usual, "better than ever before," said Apple exec Phil Schiller, who has uttered the same words at previous events. The new 12 megapixel cameras have bigger sensors and an improved HDR mode.

iPhone XR, XS, XS Max: Meet Apple's three new iPhones
It also surprised with a third smartphone, the iPhone XR. The 6.1-inch features a bright LCD screen and comes in a variety of colors, including white, black, blue, coral and red. It's missing a home button and is activated by swiping.

The device only has one camera - a 12 pixel wide-angle camera - but Apple added a similar portrait feature found in its dual camera devices, which blurs the background. The device kills the 3D touch feature but added some haptic feedback, so the screen vibrates a bit in response to touch.

In the meantime, preorders for the iPhone XS and XS Max begin this Friday, Sept. 14, with phones going on sale next Friday, Sept. 21. The iPhone XR preorders begin Oct. 19 and go on sale Oct. 26.

iPhone XR, XS, XS Max US pricing

64GB 128GB 256GB 512GB
iPhone XR $749 TBA TBA N/A
iPhone XS $999 N/A $1,149 $1,349
iPhone XS Max $1,099 N/A $1,249 $1,449
New iPhone XR, XS, XS Max starting prices

iPhone R iPhone XS iPhone XS Max
US $749 (64GB) $999 (64GB) $1,099 (64GB)
UK £749 (64GB) £999 (64GB) £1,049 (64GB)
Australia AU$1,229 (64GB) AU$1,629 (64GB) AU$1,799 (64GB)

This is the first iPhone that's more than $1,000

Prices for the new iPhone range from $749 to $1,099. (Apple's iPhone X was $999)

On the bright side, an iPhone 7 is now $449, and an 8 is now $599.

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