Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone X Can you tell the difference between the screens of X, XS and 11 Pro?

Q

qqurioustiger8945

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 9, 2017
115
2
I want to upgrade to a more recent iPhone and I'm thinking the iPhone X (or XS or 11 Pro). (non-Max models)

I don't care about anything else other than the screen.

When you look at these 3 phones' front, can you tell the difference?
Is there a differenence in how thick the front bezel is?

Preferably I'd like to buy the iPhone X due to its lower price, if there's no actual difference.

Let me know, thanks. : )
 
I for one can’t see the difference between an 11 Pro Max and XS Max
 
I’m sure they have made improvements or calibration adjustments over the years since the X was released. Whether they are noticeable to the user is a different story
 
There is NO visual difference. Well except for the much warmer calibration of the 11pro screen.
 
Nope, didn’t see any difference between my XS Max, a 11 Pro Max and the X we have here at home. All of them have that sweet 458PPI, so you really have to look hard to see the difference honestly.
 
Yes, but only in the blacks/contrast. LCD blacks are so bright and washed out compared to OLED.

The iPhone 11 does have a slightly larger bezel than the other screens if I recall correctly, but it’s really not noticeable unless you’re comparing them or used to the smaller bezel. You will forget about it on a day-to-day basis.
 
I have both currently and there is a very big difference if you start moving off-axis (viewing from an angle). The color rendition of the XS Max degrades very rapidly compared to the Pro Max. Viewed directly, I don't see much of a difference.
 
xxray said:
Yes, but only in the blacks/contrast. LCD blacks are so bright and washed out compared to OLED.

The iPhone 11 does have a slightly larger bezel than the other screens if I recall correctly, but it’s really not noticeable unless you’re comparing them or used to the smaller bezel. You will forget about it on a day-to-day basis.
Click to expand...
He’s not talking about the 11, he’s comparing all the oled panels X, XS and 11Pro
 
  • Like
Reactions: The.Glorious.Son, Skika, qqurioustiger8945 and 1 other person
BugeyeSTI said:
He’s not talking about the 11, he’s comparing all the oled panels X, XS and 11Pro
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I'm definitely not talking about the 11 non-Pro (or the Xr). These phones are like toys compared to X, XS and 11 Pro.
[automerge]1575597927[/automerge]
Sorig said:
The XS is slimmer and has thinner bezels than the 11 Pro.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-does-the-11-pro-have-thicker-bezels-this-year.2201006/
Click to expand...

You know I did feel that the 11 Pro was this way, but I thought maybe it was just me.

I feel like screen wise:
X ~ XS >= 11 Pro
 
Last edited:
Nightrhyme said:
There is NO visual difference. Well except for the much warmer calibration of the 11pro screen.
Click to expand...
Are the warmer screens on the pro max intentional or is that only a few have warmer screens where as the majority have a cooler screen?
[automerge]1575598863[/automerge]
Skika said:
11 Pro has better brightness.
Click to expand...
I find that the pro is only brighter with auto brightness turned off
 
Only way to tell the difference is when you pull the brightness up all the way. Higher NITS will have higher brightness capabilities.

X = 726 NITS 401 PPI
XS = (725 NITS ?) 458 PPI
11 Pro = 800 NITS 458 PPI

It would impossible for the eye to tell by noticing any difference in pixels per inch.
 
m0sher said:
Only way to tell the difference is when you pull the brightness up all the way. Higher NITS will have higher brightness capabilities.

X = 726 NITS 401 PPI
XS = (725 NITS ?) 458 PPI
11 Pro = 800 NITS 458 PPI

It would impossible for the eye to tell by noticing any difference in pixels per inch.
Click to expand...
iPhone X has 458 PPI also...
https://bgr.com/2017/09/12/iphone-x-vs-iphone-8-vs-iphone-8-plus-specs/
https://www.paintcodeapp.com/news/ultimate-guide-to-iphone-resolutions
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlyingDutch
honestly, the only major difference that I noticed was with HDR content. side by side, the 11 Pro was brighter at the highlights and had more “pop” compared to the X.

also, out of the box, the 11 Pro was a bit warmer (on the home screen, blank page in safari, etc.).

other than that, everything else seemed to be the same in a normal indoor environment.
 
fitgirl said:
Are the warmer screens on the pro max intentional or is that only a few have warmer screens where as the majority have a cooler screen?
[automerge]1575598863[/automerge]

I find that the pro is only brighter with auto brightness turned off
Click to expand...

i have No idea if it’s intentional. I can only say that I have never seen a pro with cool blue toned screen. All have been consistently warm calibrated. And I have seen a lot.
 
I jumped from the X to the 11 pro max, to be honest I cant see a difference in day to day use, only when watching movies in HDR, boy this thing get bright!
 
On my limited sample (one of each), the color temp is not noticeably different viewed straight on. As you move off center, the XS display rapidly goes blue/cooler, making the 11PM look warmer. (For clarity, both are Max displays.)

Edit - the post below makes a very good point as well.
 
Last edited:
The big difference is when you are out in the sunlight. I could see my screen without squinting my eyes on the 11 pro max. The xs max I had never got that bright
 
  • Like
Reactions: newellj
For the most part, no

the 11 Pro is supposed to have the better contrast ratio and direct sunlight viewing but honestly, it’s 99% marketing. True black is true black and the iPhone X display was already so well calibrated already for colours that its overall negligible

the real differences are in the specs, with the only real “upgrade” being the 11 Pro over the X in my mind, with the battery life and camera being pretty solid upgrades.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wide opeN
jdocdp said:
I want to upgrade to a more recent iPhone and I'm thinking the iPhone X (or XS or 11 Pro). (non-Max models)

I don't care about anything else other than the screen.

When you look at these 3 phones' front, can you tell the difference?
Is there a differenence in how thick the front bezel is?

Preferably I'd like to buy the iPhone X due to its lower price, if there's no actual difference.

Let me know, thanks. : )
Click to expand...
Don’t even think about the X : it started aging (or it will in a short time).

If you consider just the display, I can‘t really see any difference from my former Xs and the current 11 Pro.
[automerge]1576262555[/automerge]
m0sher said:
Only way to tell the difference is when you pull the brightness up all the way. Higher NITS will have higher brightness capabilities.

X = 726 NITS 401 PPI
XS = (725 NITS ?) 458 PPI
11 Pro = 800 NITS 458 PPI

It would impossible for the eye to tell by noticing any difference in pixels per inch.
Click to expand...
Resolution (thus PPI) on the X are absolutely the same.
[automerge]1576262777[/automerge]
Sorig said:
The XS is slimmer and has thinner bezels than the 11 Pro.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-does-the-11-pro-have-thicker-bezels-this-year.2201006/
Click to expand...
Bezels ? That thread spoke about a 0.7% increase, and without any real data to backup the claim 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Skika and Wide opeN
To me the difference is slight. If I put them together in a row I can see some difference but, once I separate them I can’t see that difference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wide opeN
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back