I've renamed this thread as there were a few floating around discussing the same things.

The cheaper XR is probably the best deal, as it is around the same price as last years iphone 8. But no 3D touch, which is a big omission IMO. You have to go to the XS to now get 3D touch. I use that all the time for switching between apps etc. Don't know how they will get all the same features working without 3D touch. Also only a relatively low res LCD screen. But my big issue is that almost everything was leaked including the photos and product names prior to the launch, so no real surprises at all. The next ipads have also been leaked, eg small bezels and rounded corners.

IMO these phones are so powerful now, but ios really holds them back. It is not as though the processors were slow. Even the 6s is quite a fast processor on ios 11/12. Also you can't hook it up to a computer display, to use it as a computer to take full use of that power. They are still pretty dumb devices

NikT:

 

FYI - there have been some serious changes to 4G bands in Apple's lineup this year. The iPhone Xs/Xs Max models sold in the US, China, and Hong Kong do not support 4G band 28. Folks looking to import and save a few bucks should be aware of this.

 

 

 

http://apple.com/iphone/lte

 

Presumably because Australia was not explicitly mentioned in this comment, If I was to purchase one of these in Australia it would be the same model and work the same as one purchased here? My 4 year old 6 plus is getting a bit tired so am eyeing up the Xs Max in 256GB config

Wyvern:

 

Assuming that Spark or Vodafone make Apple Watch LTE version possible in the next few years (big assumption maybe?), would it be possible to buy an LTE version from Australia and use it now in NZ (without any LTE functionality of course) then once it becomes available here, would the Aust purchased watch work with Spark/ Vodafone LTE?

 

I did this for the series 3...purchased an LTE version from Aussie in the hope that Vodafone or Spark would start supporting eSIM (AU frequencies are the same as NZ so I assume it would work here). The watch works fine without it though.

Amazing how much effort Apple has gone to in marketing images to show black on the screen around the top areas of the phone so that the notch is not visible.

Ok thanks myopinion - yeah Could well be that I buy the LTE from Aus and find the next version out well before Spark or Voda offer that service. 

Argh, these SKU's annoy me, they push users like me from the 64gb model into the 256gb model. 

the 128gb is such a sweetspot for so many people

apocalypso:

 

NikT:

 

FYI - there have been some serious changes to 4G bands in Apple's lineup this year. The iPhone Xs/Xs Max models sold in the US, China, and Hong Kong do not support 4G band 28. Folks looking to import and save a few bucks should be aware of this.

 

 

 

http://apple.com/iphone/lte

 

 

 

 

Presumably because Australia was not explicitly mentioned in this comment, If I was to purchase one of these in Australia it would be the same model and work the same as one purchased here? My 4 year old 6 plus is getting a bit tired so am eyeing up the Xs Max in 256GB config

 

Yes, the AU and NZ model is the same. 

Savings are minimal though, so not really worth it.

I'm tempted by the XS Max. I had 6 Plus, 6S Plus and 7 Plus in the past before going to the X so I'm OK with carrying a larger phone. The standard XS is no real difference from my X for my usage so no need to upgrade unless its for that massive screen.

100% will be upgrading to the new watch though, extra screen realistate looks very nice and I liked what they showed with all the fitness related complications so I can just access all my fitness related stuff that way without going into the dock.

I see a few ppl on Twitter were asking Spark and 2D about e-sim support, both saying no support at the moment. Not sure about Vodafone however.

DjShadow:

 

I see a few ppl on Twitter were asking Spark and 2D about e-sim support, both saying no support at the moment. Not sure about Vodafone however.

 

It's been about a year since the Watch 3 supported LTE and both Spark and Vodafone keep saying no plans to support it. 

ajobbins:

 

Amazing how much effort Apple has gone to in marketing images to show black on the screen around the top areas of the phone so that the notch is not visible.

 

I think the more interesting thing is the XR photos, which almost go out the way to highlight the notch. Even though from the front, both will have almost identical notches and look almost identical. It is almost creating a point of difference, when there isn't much in it. The difference is the screen technologies where the true black on the OLED will make the notch less noticeable. Maybe that is what they are trying to highlight?Whereas the same wallpaper on the XR, the light will bleed through the black and the notch will be more noticeable.

The XR does remind me a lot of the iphone 5C, which was essentially a cheaper made 5. The main difference this time is the XR does have the fastest processor, where the 5C had the previous year processor. It looks like they have phased out the iphone 10, where they normally drop the price on teh older models. They did this exact move when the 5C came out, and phased out the iphone 5, so it wasn't an option to compare the new model against. But even the 5C was quite successful in terms of sales. The XR does have a better build quality, but still comes across to me as a bit of a cost cutting phone. But I still do like the XR as an option, not that I would ever pay $1.5k for a phone. But it is only $200 more than the new iphone 8 price, and appears  vastly better with a faster chip and a probably a years extra support, apart from no 3D touch. 

The longer I have to think about the price the more I find myself shying away, but more so the wife will go postal at those prices.

I think its easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission, roll on 14/9/18 7.01pm

Dial111:

 

The longer I have to think about the price the more I find myself shying away, but more so the wife will go postal at those prices.

 

I think its easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission, roll on 14/9/18 7.01pm

 

Agree the prices for the premium models are ridiculous. I'm lucky that work buys these things.

mattwnz:

 

But I still do like the XR as an option, not that I would ever pay $1.5k for a phone. But it is only $200 more than the new iphone 8 price, and appears  vastly better with a faster chip and a probably a years extra support, apart from no 3D touch. 

 

the Xr is $300 more than an 8, ($1399 vs 1099) , its $100 more than the 8+ ($1299)

Although the Apple reality distortion effect is in full swing with the media (especially in this part of the world) and they are happily talking about  "the cheaper iphone" when it is a product that starts at $1400 :)