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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. : )
 

JCCL

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2010
2,037
4,625
I for one can’t see the difference between an 11 Pro Max and XS Max
 

BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
7,217
9,068
Arizona/Illinois
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
 

Nightrhyme

macrumors member
Dec 3, 2019
48
18
There is NO visual difference. Well except for the much warmer calibration of the 11pro screen.
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,881
4,694
Johannesburg, South Africa
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.
 

xxray

macrumors 68040
Jul 27, 2013
3,115
9,412
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.
 

newellj

macrumors G3
Oct 15, 2014
8,153
3,046
East of Eden
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.
 

BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
7,217
9,068
Arizona/Illinois
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.
He’s not talking about the 11, he’s comparing all the oled panels X, XS and 11Pro
 

qqurioustiger8945

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 9, 2017
115
2
He’s not talking about the 11, he’s comparing all the oled panels X, XS and 11Pro

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]

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
 
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fitgirl

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2013
710
140
There is NO visual difference. Well except for the much warmer calibration of the 11pro screen.
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]
11 Pro has better brightness.
I find that the pro is only brighter with auto brightness turned off
 

m0sher

macrumors 6502a
Mar 4, 2018
815
783
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.
 

BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
7,217
9,068
Arizona/Illinois
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.
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
 
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danniexi

macrumors 6502
Jan 7, 2012
389
324
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.
 

Nightrhyme

macrumors member
Dec 3, 2019
48
18
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

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.
 

nalk7

macrumors regular
Jul 11, 2008
211
21
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!
 

newellj

macrumors G3
Oct 15, 2014
8,153
3,046
East of Eden
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.
 
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rdillon2008

macrumors 6502
Aug 23, 2018
315
154
Bahamas
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
 
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nordique

macrumors 68000
Oct 12, 2014
1,996
1,607
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.
 
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FlyingDutch

macrumors 65816
Aug 21, 2019
1,319
1,207
Eindhoven (NL)
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. : )
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]
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.
Resolution (thus PPI) on the X are absolutely the same.
[automerge]1576262777[/automerge]
Bezels ? That thread spoke about a 0.7% increase, and without any real data to backup the claim 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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Otflyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2017
1,474
999
SF Bay Area
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.
 
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