The Three 2018 iPhones, and How to Tell Them From the iPhone X
Apple introduced the XS, XS Max, and XR together on September 12, 2018. The XS and XS Max went on sale September 21; the XR followed October 26. All three use the A12 Bionic chip, Face ID, and a notch, but split into two tiers: the XS and XS Max use a stainless steel frame with an OLED display, while the XR uses an aluminum frame with an LCD display and one rear camera instead of two.
A frequent mix-up is grouping these with the iPhone X. The X predates them: it launched in November 2017 on the older A11 Bionic chip and was discontinued the same day the XS and XS Max went on sale in 2018.
How to Tell Them Apart by Model Number
Color and screen size alone won’t reliably separate a US XS Max from an XR in a case. Settings, then General, then About, then Model Number gives a precise answer:
- iPhone XS: A1920 (US), A2097, A2098 (Japan)
- iPhone XS Max: A1921, A2101, A2102 (Japan)
- iPhone XR: A1984 (US), A2105
Is the iPhone X the same as the 2018 iPhones?
No. The iPhone X launched in November 2017 on the A11 Bionic chip and was discontinued the day the XS and XS Max went on sale. The XS, XS Max, and XR that followed in 2018 all use the newer A12 Bionic.
Display, Camera, and Other Specs
| Spec | iPhone XS | iPhone XS Max | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.8″ OLED, 2436×1125 (458 ppi) | 6.5″ OLED, 2688×1242 (458 ppi) | 6.1″ LCD, 1792×828 (326 ppi) |
| Rear camera | Dual 12MP, wide + telephoto | Dual 12MP, wide + telephoto | Single 12MP, wide only |
| Water resistance | IP68, 2m for 30 min | IP68, 2m for 30 min | IP67, 1m for 30 min |
| Frame / back | Stainless steel, glass | Stainless steel, glass | Aluminum, glass |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 3GB |
| Max storage | 512GB | 512GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 177g | 208g | 194g |
Specs per Swappa’s iPhone XR product guide and its XR-versus-XS-Max comparison.
The XS and XS Max share identical camera and water-resistance hardware, so screen size and weight are the only real differences between them. The XR gives up the telephoto lens, one step of water-resistance rating, and 1GB of RAM to undercut the XS by about $250 at launch.
Design and Durability
Both design tiers age differently. The XS and XS Max’s stainless steel edges resist scratches better than the XR’s aluminum, but the glass backs on all three are equally fragile, and a cracked rear panel means a full housing replacement on any of them, since the back glass is fused to the frame instead of sold as a separate part.
Battery Capacity and Repairability
iFixit’s teardown measured the XS at 2,658 mAh (10.13 Wh) using a single-cell battery, and the XS Max at 3,174 to 3,179 mAh (12.08 Wh) using a two-cell design. The XR’s capacity isn’t stated as a bare number in iFixit’s XR teardown, but comparing it against the following year’s iPhone 11, whose 3,110 mAh battery iFixit measured at about 7% larger than the XR’s, puts the XR at roughly 2,940 mAh. All three earned the same 6-out-of-10 iFixit repairability score: the display can be replaced without removing the Face ID hardware, but proprietary Pentalobe and tri-point screws slow independent repair.
The iPhone XS Max was notable at launch for being Apple’s first iPhone priced above $1,000 across every storage tier, starting at $1,099 for 64GB at its September 21, 2018 release.
Software Support in 2026: What Losing New iOS Versions Means
None of the three 2018 iPhones can install iOS 26 or later, because Apple set an A13 Bionic chip as the floor when iOS 26 shipped on September 15, 2025.
| Model | Announced / Released | Discontinued | Final major iOS | Apple’s current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS | Sep 12 / Sep 21, 2018 | Sep 10, 2019 | iOS 18 | Vintage since June 2025 |
| iPhone XS Max | Sep 12 / Sep 21, 2018 | Sep 10, 2019 | iOS 18 | Vintage since November 2024 |
| iPhone XR | Sep 12 / Oct 26, 2018 | Sep 14, 2021 | iOS 18 | Not yet vintage |
Apple’s own hardware-service policy adds a layer beyond software: a model is marked vintage once it has been out of production for more than five years, and obsolete, meaning Apple stops servicing it at all, after seven years. The XS Max hit vintage status in November 2024 and becomes obsolete in 2026; the XS followed in June 2025 and is due to become obsolete in 2027. The XR, discontinued more recently, isn’t vintage yet.
Can I still get security updates on an iPhone XR in 2026?
Yes. Apple confirmed the XR keeps receiving iOS 18 security patches even though it can’t move to iOS 26 or later, so it isn’t unpatched, just feature-frozen.
Battery Life: Original Claims vs. Today
Apple’s stated spec is that an iPhone battery is rated to hold 80% of its original capacity for up to 500 full charge cycles, and AppleCare+ will replace a battery for free once it drops below that line. That 80% figure is a formal replacement-eligibility threshold, not a comfort threshold: plenty of owners notice meaningfully shorter runtime well before their battery officially qualifies for a free swap.
Why did the iPhone XR outlast the XS Max on battery originally, despite a smaller cell?
The XR’s LCD panel draws less power at typical brightness than the XS Max’s larger OLED panel, so Apple’s original video-playback estimate for the XR edged out the XS Max even with a battery capacity roughly 240 mAh smaller.
What to Check Before Buying One Used
| Check | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Battery health percentage | Determines real runtime today, not the 2018 spec sheet | Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health & Charging |
| Genuine-parts warning | A previously replaced screen or battery can trigger a persistent warning banner | Settings, then General, then About; look for an “Important Battery Message” or “Important Display Message” |
| Activation Lock status | A phone still linked to a previous owner’s Apple ID can become permanently unusable | Ask the seller to disable Find My iPhone before the sale completes |
| Back glass condition | A cracked rear panel means a full housing swap, not a simple part replacement | Inspect all four edges and corners under bright light |
- Trusting the original battery-life hours. They describe a new battery under lab conditions, not a 7-plus-year-old one.
- Assuming Apple will repair it the same way it repairs a current iPhone. Once a model is classified obsolete, Apple stops servicing it directly.
- Confusing an iPhone X for a “2018 model.” It’s a separate, earlier generation on an older chip.
What They Cost Right Now
| Model | Swappa starting price, June 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XR | $99 | Average sale price by storage, per Swappa’s XR guide: $103 (64GB), $129 (128GB), $164 (256GB) |
| iPhone XS | $103 | |
| iPhone XS Max | $109 |
An XR that launched at $749 for 64GB in October 2018 now starts at $99, about 13% of its original price after seven-plus years and two full iOS end-of-support cycles.
Which One Makes Sense to Buy, If Any
- Battery health checks out above roughly 85% and the budget is tight: the XR is the cheapest working option of the three.
- Screen size and camera quality matter more than repair longevity: the XS Max, budgeted with a likely battery replacement given its vintage status.
- Ongoing feature updates or Apple Intelligence matter: none of these three qualify; the floor for iOS 26 eligibility is the iPhone 11.
When It Makes More Sense to Buy a Newer iPhone Instead
If continued major-version updates matter, the iPhone 11 is the actual floor, since it remains on iOS 26’s supported list while all three 2018 models are not.
Is a used iPhone XS Max worth buying in 2026?
Only as a secondary or backup device at current prices around $109 and up. Its vintage status already limits official Apple repair options, and app compatibility is likely to keep narrowing as developers raise their minimum iOS requirements.