The iPhone XR in 2022: Is it still worth it?
It has been four years since Apple released the iPhone XR. Back then in 2018, it was introduced as one of the more affordable iPhones in the market. To this day, you can still find the iPhone XR at an affordable price in Malaysia. That certainly resonated with the masses as it eventually went on to become the best selling smartphone in 2019. It was reported that Apple shipped an estimated 46.3 million units globally that year.
The iPhone XR isn’t just an inexpensive choice. The durability of the iPhone XR exceeds many of its rivals from the year it was released, as well as models from subsequent years.
Now in the year 2022, has the iPhone XR finally reached it’s expiration point? Perhaps. But let’s look at the reasons why you should still keep the iPhone XR on your radar.
Decent Display and Features
The 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display on the iPhone XR isn’t a million miles off. The True Tone technology – which can be found even in the latest iPhone models – still renders accurately, giving you exceptional screen colours.
Where appearance is concerned, the bezel on the iPhone XR is visibly thicker, which does eat a little into the immersive experience since it only presents a 79% screen-to-body ratio. Whether or not this is a hindrance is largely dependent on the user as many will find the thick bezel forgivable at that price point.
The Face ID – which thankfully made the cut for the iPhone XR – is a convenient feature to have as well. Other than that, the iPhone XR is IP67 water and dust resistant, so you won’t have to worry about splashes.
Sufficient Camera Performance
We’ll tell you right off the bat that the camera on the iPhone XR won’t be a photographer’s best friend. It is definitely adequate for casual snaps, but it simply doesn’t stand among the line-up of great iPhone cameras.
Here’s also where we remind you that the iPhone XR wasn’t meant to compete with the higher-end iPhones! Remember: the price point of an iPhone XR is designed to be affordable. In Malaysia, you can get the iPhone XR for as low as RM2,101!
Despite that, the iPhone XR does have Smart HDR technology that offers high dynamic range for daytime photos. The camera functions decently in low-light too, and Portrait Mode works well for Insta-worthy photos.
Reliable A12 Bionic Chip and Long-lasting Battery
The A12 Bionic chip fitted in the iPhone XR shouldn’t be classified as ‘old-school’ just yet. It’s been four years since it’s release, but the A12 Bionic still pushes the iPhone XR’s high-performance. This means smooth running apps and minimal lag.
Comparing to the A11 Bionic chip, the A12 Bionic is 15% faster and uses up to 50% less power thanks to its four high-efficiency cores. This means that even with a 2942mAh battery, your iPhone XR will hold itself well throughout the day. This will vary according to usage of course, but the 16 hours of video playback and 25 hours of talk time surely provides some confidence.
When you do need to charge, the 20W fast charging adapter will charge 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless charging is an option, though it will be considerably slower.
Should you get the iPhone XR in 2022?
Phones are personal to an individual, and what feels right will differ to users. Comparatively, the newer iPhones like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 undoubtedly leads the race. However, if you don’t fancy reaching to the depths of your wallet for the newer models, the iPhone XR should definitely be shortlisted.
Hop on to PriceShop and find the cheapest iPhone XR prices in Malaysia!
