Want a new iPhone but don't like the prices? You'll want the new iPhone XR instead

With an LCD screen and aluminium back, the iPhone XR is a cheaper alternative to the XS range 
The new iPhone XR in blue
Apple
Amelia Heathman26 October 2018

Apple’s other iPhone, the iPhone XR, is finally available to buy from today.

The new phone was released alongside the new iPhone XS range at the company’s annual September extravaganza.

But whilst the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have been available to buy for a while, Apple fans have had to wait around seven weeks to get their hands on the iPhone XR.

Here’s what you need to know about the other iPhone.

iPhone XR: like the XS, but cheaper

If you’re looking for a new iPhone but don’t feel like you can’t justify spending a minimum of £999, then the iPhone XR is for you.

The phone has the same all-screen design as the XS, but with a 6.1-inch LCD screen, instead of an OLED one. This means it’s not as bright and clear as the iPhone XS OLED Super Retina display, but Apple has given it its own Liquid Retina one so it’s still pretty good.

Even though the phone is technically smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus, the screen size is bigger, so it will look great when you're scrolling through photos or watching films and Netflix.

Other design differences include a total of six different colours: black, white, blue, orange, red and yellow, similar to the old iPhone 5C range. As well, the back of the device is aluminium, not glass, which makes it cheaper and lighter than the XS.

The new phone comes in five colours: black, white, blue, red, yellow and orange
Apple

Inside, the phone is powered by the same A12 Bionic Chip as the XS range. It also has a True Depth camera system on the front and FaceID so you can use your face to unlock your phone, store passwords, and pay for things using Apple Pay.

Camera-wise, the iPhone XR has only one 12-megapixel lens, compared to the XS’s two. However, it has had some software upgrades so it can deliver things like Portrait mode from the single lens. Apple is following the steps of Google here, ensuring that you can still do great things with only one camera lens.

The device is also water resistant, with a rating of IP67, so it is protected against everyday spills.

It will be a decent phone, with the same inside power as the iPhone XS range and great features like secure FaceID, but the price has been kept down thanks to an aluminium back instead of glass and the LCD screen.

So far, the reviews are already saying that this is the best iPhone Apple has made, incorporating the best features of the XS range but at a lower price tag.

How to buy the new iPhone XR

You can buy new iPhone XR from Apple online and in store and your shiny new phone will arrive as soon as possible.

Prices start from £749 for the 64GB version and will go up for the 256GB and 512GB variants.

In the UK, O2 is offering the new iPhone XR on its custom plans, where customers get to choose how much they want to pay up front for the phone and how to spread the cost of the device up to 36 months.

Sky Mobile is offering the new phone from just £34 a month as well as a bonus offer of 20GB Piggybank data, which you can use anytime during your contract with the company.

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