Apple iPhone Xs Max Unboxing and First Impressions


The 2018 iPhone is here and we got our hands on the bigger beast the iPhone Xs Max for an unboxing. Apple has managed to cram in much more into a device which has the same footprint of last years’s iPhone 8 Plus.  Until recently India launch of iPhones was plagued with delays but this time, the new iPhones are already up for pre-order here and will be available across the country from today, September 28 at 6PM.

Box Contents

  • iPhone Xs Max smartphone in Silver color
  • Lightning Earpods
  • Wall Charger
  • SIM Ejector tool
  • Lightning cable

First Impressions 

Although the new iPhones might look similar on the outside, a lot has changed under the hood. The A12 Bionic 7nm chip powering the new iPhones is one of the best in the business. The 6.5- inch (2688 x 1245 pixels) OLED Super Retina HDR display is a treat to the eyes on the iPhone Xs Max. Everything including FaceID seems a lot faster. Cameras have been improved and we shall compare it with the Google Pixel 2 shortly.

It features the similar 12-megapixel primary rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, and a 12-megapixel secondary telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture, both with OIS. What’s new is the Smart HDR feature that makes use of A12 chip’s AI features to provide better images.

The 7-megapixel front camera has f/2.2 aperture, and the IR camera has been improved with better Dot projector said Apple at the launch event.

It still has the glass back , under which there is a huge 3174mAh battery with support for Qi wireless charging. It has water and dust resistant body with IP68 rating for upto 2 metres depth for 30 mins.

Worth the Switch ?

If you are using an iPhone X , there is little reason to upgrade to the iPhone Xs but the Xs Max is a great upgrade if you are looking for a larger screen and more battery life. If you are still stuck on the iPhone 7, 7 Plus or an earlier device, you can surely upgrade to the latest gen iPhones. We are  looking forward to the upcoming iOS software update which will unlock the interesting Dual SIM feature on the iPhone Xs.

iPhone Xs, Xs Max or wait for the Xr

In case you are in the market for the new iPhone, the Xs Max seems the best phone you can get unless you are one of those people who dislike large phones. The iPhone Xr will be available later but will also be priced in the iPhone 8 Plus territory.  Now is in fact a great time to buy an iPhone X or iPhone 8/8 Plus for a discounted price if you don’t really care about the latest iPhone. I have noticed that iOS 12 does speed up things even on older iPhones.

iPhone Xs India Prices are sky high , Buy it from abroad ?

Thanks to heavy import duties and a very high dollar, the iPhones are priced crazily in India this time round. iPhones do come with Global Warranty  in India but do pay attention to the 4G band support in case you plan to get one from outside.


Author: Varun Krish

Varun Krish is a Mobile Technology Enthusiast and has been blogging about mobile phones since 2005. His current phones include the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Google Pixel 6. You can follow him on Twitter @varunkrish and on Google+ You can also mail Varun Krish