For right now I am holding off to see what the pixel 3 is like, first the first time ever I need to care about the camera so I might move to the Xs but that’s a decision to make later
Not until my 6s completely dies. Hoping to get another 2 years out of it before getting a new one.
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I’m on my second year of my iPhone 8. Even if I wasn’t… WOW! The prices! They really insane even for Apple standards.
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My iPhone 6 with a new battery is fine, but I was with that guy saying ‘no way’ just before Phil announced depth of field adjustment.
Luckily it’s not available day 1 in Thailand, so I have time to think objectively.
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In 2015 you’d have paid paid $850 for what was then the most expensive ‘standard’ sized iPhone you could get - an unlocked 128Gb iPhone 6S. Right now a 128Gb iPhone XR, with dramatically better specs and camera, and nearly 50% bigger screen, sells in multiple colors for $799.
The popularity of the $999 iPhone X simply showed Apple that there were people willing to pay more for their premium phones. People don’t have to buy them but the value proposition is there if you look at the improved specs people care about (eg camera). The cheapest phone Apple now sells is the iPhone 7, for $499. Respectable option.
The role of a phone has also expanded to “my primary compute device” for a lot of people (a reason for bigger and bigger screens) - those people are actually getting a really good deal if they can replace a tablet, laptop, and phone with a single device, even if that single device doubles in price. And if Apple is no longer selling them the tablet or laptop component, they for sure want to make money on the phone side.
To me the puzzling element is what they hope to sell in India, a market they’ve had trouble cracking, and which has a smaller middle class than China. A lot of people thought an SE2 or XR would be a lower-cost phone to help sell to emerging markets. Instead Apple seems to be focusing right now on increasing margins with higher-quality phones stuffed with the latest, fastest, multicore processors and co-processors.
The iOS ecosystem is deservedly ‘sticky’ yet it’s still surprising to me they’re conceding so much of the low to mid range market to Android right now.
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Like I said over in another thread, if you look a top-of-the-line iPhone XS Max, it’s screen is about the same resolution as a 13" MacBook Pro, it has as much storage as a mid-range MacBook Pro, and if last years’ benchmarks are anything to go by, it’s processor will probably be competitive with at least the entry-level MacBook Pro (if not the mid-level model). Considering what you get, it shouldn’t really be surprising that it costs as much as a MacBook Pro ($1449).
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Thought about the ULTIMATE AWESOME XTREME OMGOMGOMG edition but decided I want a smaller phone, not a bigger one. I currently have an iPhone 7 Plus, and I’m going to go with the XS, or whatever they’re calling the smaller of the two high-end phones. Which, at 5.8 inches screen size, is still plenty big.
Apropos: Anybody remember the show “Mad About You?” Went off the air in 1999. The final episode took the characters into the future, several years at a time, and you see their mobile phones getting smaller and smaller. So that didn’t happen.
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As much as I would like to get the “Double McLargeHuge” (XS-Max) with all the trimmings, with specs so closely matched on all the devices, my instinct is to say I will stick with a more affordable Xr.
I admire Apple’s ability to create defined tiers for their products (Xs and Xs-Max are definitely “Pro” versions of iPhone) but I don’t really have much personal use for a pro iPhone. Especially since so much of my notification interactions happen on my Apple Watch.
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I am a member of the ‘Nope’ group.
I was on the Plus train until the 7 Plus. The phone did not feel too big. When the iPhone X was released, I instantly loved the design and its features. The one thing I was hesitant about was the smaller form factor. Then again, the iPhone X had a display size comparable to an iPhone 7 Plus. So, I gave the iPhone X a try. After several days I realized that the iPhone 7 Plus had been too big for me although I would not have admitted that back then when I was still using the 7 Plus. Yes, it did fit in my pockets. But man, the smaller iPhone X with a display almost as big as the iPhone 7 Plus’ display has been such a relief in my pocket and in my hands!
To upgrade from the X to an Xs does not make any sense for me personally. And to go for the bigger one… Well, to some degree I would like to because a bigger display is always nice, but then again: for me, it is just too big.
And there is one more thing: Having paid more than 1,300 Euro for the iPhone X, I am not ready to pay the same amount again. Or even more…
So, no iPhone for me this year.
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Power and Battery (https://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/compare/#footnote-11)
iPhone 
iPhone XR
Lasts up to 30 minutes longer than iPhone X Lasts up to 1.5 hours longer than iPhone 8 Plus
Talk time (wireless): Up to 20 hours Up to 25 hours
Internet use: Up to 12 hours Internet use: Up to 15 hours
Video playback (wireless): Up to 14 hours Video playback (wireless): Up to 16 hours
Audio playback (wireless): Up to 60 hours Audio playback (wireless): Up to 65 hours
5.8”Super Retina HD display 6.1”Liquid Retina HD display
I’m on the iPhone upgrade program so moving from X ( £56.45pm ) to XR ( £41.45pm ) is a saving of £180 a year.
So I get the same camera lens, same processor, BIGGER screen (LCD looks as good to OLED to my old eyes) and loose telephoto and 1m depth in water.
The final benefit - that blue colour!
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I am happy with my X. I have tried to stay in major update cycle and skip the “s” years.
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Xs is really a funny name for an XL phone.
Can someone explain the benefit of an Oled display over Lcd?
That question is so 2017, lol.
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Thanks. You’re right, I could have googled that myself …
It’s funny, but I kept the opposite schedule lol, I liked getting the S year iPhones. That way the new model had a year of working the bugs out and the S model was sort of like the finished product.
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I got 6s and will be getting used iphonex. New ones are good but in order to afford you have to Rob a bank😁
i used to upgrade every years but I was no on the Face-iD train so I have 7s Plus
guess i have no choice now so I"m going 10X-Max I want the larger screen size and I guess ill just adopt as I did the no headphone jack 
I am definitely buying the Xs. This will be an upgrade from the 7plus. My main reason for the splurge is the dual sim. I am crossing my fingers that one of my carriers will support the e-sim. I did see that Telcel here in Mexico will be selling the Xs so I am hopeful.
My second reason for the change is that the 7 plus is just too big. I welcome a phone that is a little bit smaller. I have often heard on the MPU podcasts about how the iPhone X just worked well due to the form factor. I even made a paper template to compare to my 7 plus. I’m stoked.
The bonus for me is that I have a buyer for my other phone once I upgrade.
As far as the watch goes, it is a no brainer for me as I will be upgrading from a series 0. I really want the stainless (what I have now) but will probably settle for the aluminum series 4.
I’m in the nope group. I really like iOS on my ipad, but prefer Android on my phone. If you like automation, nothing beats Tasker on Android.
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Nope. Happy with my iPhone 8. Not all that interested in face ID and that notch, it still bothers me.