The iPhone XS and XS Max are here
and they’re going for the gold.
While some of you may be tempted to pronounce
it “ex-S,” think of it like a game of tennis,
because you may have just met your match.
First, let’s talk about the elephant in
the room: the price.
The new iPhones are just as expensive as the
now discontinued iPhone X,
starting at $999 for a 64GB XS
and $1,099 for a 64GB XS Max.
But if you want the best iPhones — the ones
with the most complete iPhone experience with
zero trade-offs — the iPhone XS and XS Max
are the the ones to get.
The overall design of these phones is quite
X-traordinary.
Just like the iPhone X, they have a glass
and stainless steel design, an edge-to-edge
OLED screen, Face ID, wireless charging, water
and dust resistance, and a notch.
The iPhone XS is physically the same as the iPhone X, but the iPhone XS Max is a different beast altogether.
If you’re used to carrying any Plus-sized iPhone, 
the iPhone XS Max will be an easy adjustment.
Another change that might pass right over
most people is dual-SIM support.
This will be helpful for people who frequently
switch between carriers and plans.
I also couldn’t be more impressed with what
Apple’s done to improve the cameras.
I tested out the Smart HDR technology and
found better details in both the highlights and shadows.
Low-light photography has also 
been significantly improved.
Areas that would normally be blown out are
more defined and exposed more accurately.
And of course, the Depth Control on 
Portrait mode is pretty awesome.
It lets you adjust the blurriness of the background
of the photo after it’s taken.
It’s very much like the Live Focus 
on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9,
but now it’s a nifty trick that
you can enjoy on the XS and XS Max.
The XS and XS Max come with iOS 12 and it’s
packed with lots of fun and useful features
like Memoji and group notifications.
But I want to call attention to some iOS 12
features that are exclusive to the iPhone XS Max.
With its larger screen, Apple’s added a
couple of landscape views for some apps.
For example, in the Weather app,
you can see more forecasts.
In Apple Maps, you can see a 
bit more street information.
And even websites like National Geographic
show more content with columns.
The Super Retina display is also terrific.
You get deep blacks, wider and more vibrant
dynamic range, and increased brightness.
All kinds of content, like games, look more
stunning on the iPhone XS Max’s larger display,
and they sound just a bit louder and clearer
thanks to the wider stereo speakers.
You won’t find a headphone jack on these phones.
AirPods and wireless headphones are the future.
Here’s the bottom line: The design, A12
Bionic chip, improved cameras, and OLED displays
make these the best iPhones ever.
If you’ve got an iPhone X and don’t care
about a larger screen or better camera performance,
you’ll survive just fine for another year
or two, especially with iOS 12.
If the prices are still a turn-off, consider
holding off until the iPhone XR launches in late October.
But for now, if you’re looking for the 
greatest iPhones money can buy,
the iPhone XS and XS Max are real winners.
