This is a fascinating and informative thread, one I wished I would have consulted before ordering a gold XS Max, which I returned after a week because of issues w/tolerating the OLED screen. This is a long post and I hope it will help other people.
I have upgraded my iPhone every year since its inception. I get caught up in the hype surrounding each year's Sept. event and listen to a lot of podcasts by well-known bloggers such as John Gruber. Prior to ordering the XS Max, I had an 8 Plus. I love the Plus-sized phones and have had both the 6 and 7 Plus. When the X came out last year, I passed. I wanted a plus-sized phone. However, I did look at the X at the Apple Store and I was uncomfortable looking at the display. Nonetheless I went ahead ordering the XS Max at 12:00 a.m. PST from T-Mobile.
When the phone came I was extremely excited. I kept the phone for a week. Initially, I was focused on figuring out how I would adjust to the lack of a home button and the extra dexterity needed to use the app switcher. I was able to adjust to this, although switching apps clearly takes milliseconds longer which add up. The next issue was whether to use a case. Since the 6, I have used Apple's silicone case. However, the XS Max is a bit more tactile and the gold is gorgeous. It was scary carrying the phone around w/out a case, so I purchased Apple Care Plus for $199.00. In fact, the phone was dropped once when I knocked it off my bed. Luckily is hit a wood floor as wasn't damaged. I decided to go w/the black case.
I have always had very high sensitivity to light and to certain types of displays. Before switching to the Mac platform (iMac w/Retina display in 2015 that I have no issues w/), I was using the Samsung 305T 30" TFT Active Matrix based on S-PVA, non S-IPS panel technology. My eyes could not tolerate any of the PC-based high-end IPS monitors from Dell and other companies due the perception of seeing speckles on the white background. 95% of high-end (non-TN) monitors used this technology.
Once I started using the XS Max as a content consumption device, i.e. surfing the web, reading emails etc. I noticed how uncomfortable I was and how my preoccupation w/the screen dynamics was interfering with my ability to absorb what I was reading. The XS Max uses an OLED screen and an emissive technology vs. a backlight used on Apple's excellent LCD screens. My perception of the screen was of a flat piece of paper w/no depth that was lit up. I found it overwhelming. The size of the screen exacerbated the effect. Although the form factor (physical size) of the XS Max is the same as 8 plus, there is a lot more information on the screen. I did not get any headaches, but I could never get comfortable with the display.
For some comparison on size, etc. see https://newatlas.com/apple-comparison-2018-iphone-x-xr-xs-xsmax-8-7-plus/56362/
Clearly, the text on the XS Max is incredibly clear, the keyboard is superior to the 8 plus, and its noticeably snappier. But I also found the black bar at the bottom of the screen on the XS Max which is the virtual equivalent of a home button to be distracting especially when it covered up text and was omnipresent when watching TIVO-ed shows in landscape mode. Tried as I did, changing brightness and other settings, I could never get comfortable with the screen. I did not change the white point setting, which I might try at the store, but based on this thread, that really doesn't solve the problem.
So yesterday, I contacted Apple and cancelled the Apple Care which you can do for 30 days. I then arranged a return w/T-Mobile. Some thoughts about considering the XR when it ships to replace my 8 Plus: To me, given my use of the phone, the XR would be a downgrade from the 8 Plus. First, the 8 Plus has a resolution of 1920x1080 "1080P" - it is perfect for watching videos. This works out to about 2M pixels. The XR has a sub 1080p resolution and 1.4M pixels. That means it will display 40% less viewable information than the 8 Plus, even less if you subtract the horizontal area bordering the notch. The 8 Plus has a PPI of 401 vs 326 on the XR. Sure, you can argue that the 326 is still retina and 720p which is what the XR would be rounded down to on YouTube videos is indistinguishable from 1080p. Fair points, but still a difference, subtle but perceptible. The two features I use extensively on the 8 Plus, optical zoom (2X on the camera) and yes Force Touch (to log in to my corporate VPN which sends me a text message to authenticate) are missing on the XR. I will look at the XR, but probably will pass.
Like the "key-traveless" keyboard on the MacBook Pros post June 2015, which provide almost no tactile feedback compared to previous keyboards, there is never going to be an upgrade path for me on Mac notebooks. I'm afraid the same may be true of iPhones. I will probably be using my 8 plus 3 years from now.
I have upgraded my iPhone every year since its inception. I get caught up in the hype surrounding each year's Sept. event and listen to a lot of podcasts by well-known bloggers such as John Gruber. Prior to ordering the XS Max, I had an 8 Plus. I love the Plus-sized phones and have had both the 6 and 7 Plus. When the X came out last year, I passed. I wanted a plus-sized phone. However, I did look at the X at the Apple Store and I was uncomfortable looking at the display. Nonetheless I went ahead ordering the XS Max at 12:00 a.m. PST from T-Mobile.
When the phone came I was extremely excited. I kept the phone for a week. Initially, I was focused on figuring out how I would adjust to the lack of a home button and the extra dexterity needed to use the app switcher. I was able to adjust to this, although switching apps clearly takes milliseconds longer which add up. The next issue was whether to use a case. Since the 6, I have used Apple's silicone case. However, the XS Max is a bit more tactile and the gold is gorgeous. It was scary carrying the phone around w/out a case, so I purchased Apple Care Plus for $199.00. In fact, the phone was dropped once when I knocked it off my bed. Luckily is hit a wood floor as wasn't damaged. I decided to go w/the black case.
I have always had very high sensitivity to light and to certain types of displays. Before switching to the Mac platform (iMac w/Retina display in 2015 that I have no issues w/), I was using the Samsung 305T 30" TFT Active Matrix based on S-PVA, non S-IPS panel technology. My eyes could not tolerate any of the PC-based high-end IPS monitors from Dell and other companies due the perception of seeing speckles on the white background. 95% of high-end (non-TN) monitors used this technology.
Once I started using the XS Max as a content consumption device, i.e. surfing the web, reading emails etc. I noticed how uncomfortable I was and how my preoccupation w/the screen dynamics was interfering with my ability to absorb what I was reading. The XS Max uses an OLED screen and an emissive technology vs. a backlight used on Apple's excellent LCD screens. My perception of the screen was of a flat piece of paper w/no depth that was lit up. I found it overwhelming. The size of the screen exacerbated the effect. Although the form factor (physical size) of the XS Max is the same as 8 plus, there is a lot more information on the screen. I did not get any headaches, but I could never get comfortable with the display.
For some comparison on size, etc. see https://newatlas.com/apple-comparison-2018-iphone-x-xr-xs-xsmax-8-7-plus/56362/
Clearly, the text on the XS Max is incredibly clear, the keyboard is superior to the 8 plus, and its noticeably snappier. But I also found the black bar at the bottom of the screen on the XS Max which is the virtual equivalent of a home button to be distracting especially when it covered up text and was omnipresent when watching TIVO-ed shows in landscape mode. Tried as I did, changing brightness and other settings, I could never get comfortable with the screen. I did not change the white point setting, which I might try at the store, but based on this thread, that really doesn't solve the problem.
So yesterday, I contacted Apple and cancelled the Apple Care which you can do for 30 days. I then arranged a return w/T-Mobile. Some thoughts about considering the XR when it ships to replace my 8 Plus: To me, given my use of the phone, the XR would be a downgrade from the 8 Plus. First, the 8 Plus has a resolution of 1920x1080 "1080P" - it is perfect for watching videos. This works out to about 2M pixels. The XR has a sub 1080p resolution and 1.4M pixels. That means it will display 40% less viewable information than the 8 Plus, even less if you subtract the horizontal area bordering the notch. The 8 Plus has a PPI of 401 vs 326 on the XR. Sure, you can argue that the 326 is still retina and 720p which is what the XR would be rounded down to on YouTube videos is indistinguishable from 1080p. Fair points, but still a difference, subtle but perceptible. The two features I use extensively on the 8 Plus, optical zoom (2X on the camera) and yes Force Touch (to log in to my corporate VPN which sends me a text message to authenticate) are missing on the XR. I will look at the XR, but probably will pass.
Like the "key-traveless" keyboard on the MacBook Pros post June 2015, which provide almost no tactile feedback compared to previous keyboards, there is never going to be an upgrade path for me on Mac notebooks. I'm afraid the same may be true of iPhones. I will probably be using my 8 plus 3 years from now.
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