The iPhone XR was first revealed to the world by Apple in 2018.
At the time, it was rolled out as a relatively lower-cost device and sold alongside pricier iPhone models.
For many people who have now owned this phone for around four years, the question that’s inevitably coming to mind is:
“Just how long will the iPhone XR last?”
While you may have heard that the iPhone XR was discontinued in 2021, it’s still a sufficiently modern handset.
Jam-packed with before-its-time features like wireless and fast charging, a sturdy frame, Liquid Retina display and IP67 rating to boot, the iPhone XR should still survive for a few more years to come.
In terms of official support, Apple will still be providing software updates for the foreseeable future and until further notice.
Therefore, while its specs and hardware are inevitably being outpaced by newer models with each passing year, the iPhone XR can still more than hold its own when it comes to daily use.
In this article, we’ll be detailing a few of those main standout features that have allowed the iPhone XR to thrive to this day!
The iPhone XR: A Deconstruction
Like many of its siblings from the same era, the iPhone XR is constructed with a 7000 Series aerospace-grade aluminum frame and has a premium glass enclosure to boot.
This essentially made it just as durable as more expensive models such as the iPhone XS Max and XS.
The XR comes in six eye-catching colors: Blue, black, coral, red, yellow, and white.
Two months after putting the iPhone XR onto the market, Apple also launched compatible clear iPhone cases so that owners could show off the beautiful and bright colors of their devices.
A Plethora Of Innovative Features, Inside And Out
The XR is capable of Qi-based wireless charging, and has also been rated IP67 in terms of water resistance- meaning that the phone is able to withstand occasional splashes and spills.
Under laboratory conditions, the phone can survive being under one meter (3.3 feet) of water for 30 minutes.
However, Apple had also warned that the efficiency of this system will likely decrease as the phone undergoes regular wear and tear, so care still needs to be taken when around the wet stuff.
Compared to previous iPhones like the iPhone 8 Plus, the XR comes with a larger display despite having a smaller body.
The phone has a Liquid Retina display on a 6.1 inch LCD screen. It spans edge-to-edge and has minimal top and bottom bezels; instead, the XR can only be controlled with the swipe-based navigation system due to the absence of a Home button.
The phone also supports True Tone, which matches the white balance with the room lighting, and has enviable accuracy of color.
Although there is no 3D Touch, the phone has a Haptic Touch feature as an alternative.
A 7-nanometer A12 Bionic chip includes two performance cores that are 15 percent faster compared to the A11.
There is an 8-core neural engine that is capable of completing 5 trillion operations per second, and which uses AR and machine learning.
Lights, Camera, And Action
When it comes to logging in with your beautiful face, the iPhone XR uses the same TrueDepth camera system as the iPhone XS (which Apple claims allows for faster facial recognition).
The Bionic Processor is undoubtedly one of its best features; Face ID will adjust to some minor facial changes with time.
So, even if you grow out a beard or wear your hair longer, you’ll have no difficulty unlocking the phone!
The phone also provides a decent AR experience with the front camera, and a more immersive experience when playing games.
Although there is only a single-lens rear camera in the device, it has been made as efficient and powerful as possible.
The camera contains an f/1.8 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 32 percent larger sensor. These specifications enable more detailed pictures to be taken in low light and optical zoom stabilization.
With improved True Tone Flash, it comes with almost twice the number of focus pixels.
Apple also included the Portrait Mode in the iPhone XR, a feature that was primarily reserved for dual-lens cameras prior to this.
Portrait Mode allows the user to take DSLR-quality, stunning portraits with background blur, bringing the subject into focus.
It also has more advanced bokeh for better blur, and there is adequate Depth Control with which the depth in the photo can be adjusted after the photo has been taken.
The XR also features Smart HDR, which highlights quite a few aspects of the photo even when the lighting is not very bright. As a result, you can take rich, colorful photographs even in low light.
With the 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera and boasting high-end features such as the Portrait Mode, Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting, the XR allows users to take the best photos and selfies ever!
Also Good To Know
The XR can boast of having the most extended battery life of any iPhone when it was first revealed.
Although newer models of iPhones now have even longer power durations, it was a pretty impressive battery at the time of its introduction.
The XR can stretch out to 25 hours of talk-time (which is about an hour and 30 mins more than the previous generation iPhone 8), along with about 15 hours of internet use.
The phone also supports dual SIM and has memory capacities of 64 GB and 128 GB.
How Long Is The iPhone XR Supposed To Last?
Apple announced in mid-2021 that vibrations from vehicles such as motorcycles could cause some harm to the iPhone cameras.
By November of the same year, Apple started giving out the XR as temporary replacement devices to those who had to repair their own iPhones and needed more extensive repairs.
This worked well for those who couldn’t afford to be away from their phones for an extended period due to work reasons.
Talks of the iPhone XR being pulled from the market soon started doing the rounds, and in late 2021, the phone was discontinued by Apple.
Soon, it was replaced by modern high-end models like the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 range of models.
Is it Worth Buying an iPhone XR in 2022?
Since the iPhone XR was discontinued, buying this device in 2022 would be solely at your discretion.
First of all, it might be challenging to even locate this particular model!
You might be able to get your hands on it from Apple Stores or retailers if they have some stock left, but it is highly unlikely at this point.
Secondly- yes, the phone had some great features packed into its slim frame, and it was great value for money.
However at the same time, many of the parts are now becoming slightly redundant, and you might have difficulty working with the phone in the case it malfunctions.
All in all, it may be a good idea to check out other options like the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13.
Even if you’re adamant about going ahead and grabbing an XR, you can rest assured that you’ll get great usage out of the device- it’s still an iPhone, after all!
Summary
Apple discontinued the iPhone XR in 2021, despite great reviews.
Since its launch in 2018, it has been one of the best iPhones for those who want a premium phone on a slight budget.
The phone was priced at around $500 only and came jam-packed with some great features, including a high definition LCD screen, premium camera, and 64 GB or 128 GB of storage space (among other things).
The iPhone XR’s battery life is also capable of providing its owner with 25 hours of talk-time and 15 hours of internet usage.
The phone also looks just as good as any other Apple iPhone, with a glass-cased frame and edge-to-edge screen that has very little bezel above or below.
Buying the iPhone XR in 2022 is entirely at your own discretion, as it may now be more and more challenging to locate the parts if your phone ever malfunctions and has to be repaired.
However, it definitely still has its place as one of the best low-cost iPhones to have come out of the plentiful orchards of Apple Inc!