iPhone X Why are the XS and XR a different size?

[BumpMan]

Seems odd that they are slightly different screen sizes. I can only imagine that some added space helped to include some components that were slightly larger and less expensive to help keep the price down?

But its such a little difference...?

.3" doesn't seem like its necessary as a size differentiator, as in the ability to have some sort of middle size?

I dont really get it. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts.

 

[serialiphoneuser]

for price markup

 

[BumpMan]

for price markup

But then that would suggest the bigger phone (XR) would be more expensive not less expensive.

 

[JPack]

XR was intended to compete in the Chinese market.

In that market, 6.1" is the standard display on mainstream phones.

 

[KrisLord]

Apple screens are always some clever multiple of the original iPhones when considered in pixels, this ensures that buttons and text are the right size to be read or touched.

iOS treats the X and XS as an iPhone sized device and the XR and XS Max as a plus sized device, showing extra info in various places like safari.

If the XR were a bit smaller, it would mean buttons would be smaller than the ideal size for phone running in this plus sized mode.

(This is all a bit simplified!)

 

[apolloa]

Seems odd that they are slightly different screen sizes. I can only imagine that some added space helped to include some components that were slightly larger and less expensive to help keep the price down?

But its such a little difference...?

.3" doesn't seem like its necessary as a size differentiator, as in the ability to have some sort of middle size?

I dont really get it. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts.

Well it’s brand new screen tech, I believe the first device tonmarkwr with this new LCD tech so maybe they made it in a screen size that worked?
Also it’ll help to meld the notch even more into the background.

 

[Steve121178]

Xr is the cheap consumer mass-market model with things missing & the lower quality LCD screen. Xs is the premium OLED model packing all current tech & features.

 

[Jimmy James]

Apple don’t make the components. The screen they wanted was probably already available in this size.

 

[kevink2]

Maybe this way Apple can get us away of just thinking cheap is smaller. Like the SE before was. And also so they didn't have to come with 2 "inexpensive" models, a normal and a plus version.
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Apple don’t make the components. The screen they wanted was probably already available in this size.

Apparently there is something unique with it to allow it to be used in a phone with a small bezel. The screen is reputed to be the reason it wasn't ready to ship the same time as the Xs.

 

[jabingla2810]

Maths.

It’s to do with pixel density and object sizes on the screen.

Apppl didn’t think ‘let’s make the screen this size’

It’s the screen size it needs to be if they are using the same 326ppi screen they have always used while keeping tap targets the correct size. Objects use the 2X scaling while on the XS Max uses 3X.