The Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone XS, XS Max and XR discussion and owners thread

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › The Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone XS, XS Max and XR discussion and owners thread

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166 posts

Master Geek

#2090307 13-Sep-2018 18:51

JEDENZED: Can anyone clarify the ECG functionality of the series 4 watch? In The keynote, they seemed to infer that it would be available first in the US and then in other markets. Will it be a software patch? Will it be available on both the gps and the LTE models?

My understanding is that it is coming in the way of an 'ECG app', and rollout in each region is subject to regulatory approval. This is why the USA gets it once the FDA approves it. I guess we will get it whenever the AU/NZ version of the FDA approves it - I'm not too concerned because it looks like you might be able to just turn your watches region to US to get the app once it's out over there first - we will see!

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2090308 13-Sep-2018 18:54

mattwnz:

sdav:

I have dipped in and out of the news today and I have to say the Xr looks like the option to me. Price-wise it is placed at about the point of most top-end phones so hardly the cheap option! The Xs' blow that away but don't exactly offer $500 more (price diff between the Xr and Xs entry models) so I personally think they examples of money being thrown away.

The main things I see myself losing out on if I was to get an Xr is 3D Touch and screen resolution. My current phone doesn't have 3D Touch but my work phone does and I never use it. Screen resolution is not a thing I care about much TBH and won't be worse than my current phone, would be nice but not a must have.

If you look at some of the demo models of reviewers, the XR / LCD model does appear to have noticeably thicker bezels. It also looks like quite a thick phone as well. It does look quite meaty.

I have no doubt it's thicker and the bezels larger but my phones all end up in cases so it generally ruins any slim look! I just don't think the pros between the phones are worth the $500 difference. Not even sure I want to upgrade this year... might just get a battery replacement.

Dynamike

167 posts

Master Geek

#2090321 13-Sep-2018 20:20

JEDENZED: Can anyone clarify the ECG functionality of the series 4 watch? In The keynote, they seemed to infer that it would be available first in the US and then in other markets. Will it be a software patch? Will it be available on both the gps and the LTE models?

I was comparing the Apple Watch 4 features between the US and NZ Apple Stores.

The US Apple store says:

Electrical heart sensor
(ECG app)
ECG app coming later this year

https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/

Where as the NZ Apple Store just says:

Electrical heart sensor

https://www.apple.com/nz/watch/compare/

So the difference appears to only be an app.

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

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#2090330 13-Sep-2018 20:41

Out of interest, those of you who want Watch with LTE, what would you be willing to pay the carrier for this feature? Here in the UK I think it's a £5 add-on.

dejadeadnz

2394 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2090331 13-Sep-2018 20:44

What a gigantic yawnfest this announcement was. We are no Apple fanbois/gals but do like the products. Yet there just wasn't a remotely compelling reason to care about any of the new products, let alone wanting to buy them. The Iphone X was truly amazing and revolutionary -- the XS was a non-event. Apple's obsession with hyping up every single camera "upgrade" is just laughable. Cellphone cameras mostly are what they are: in the "right" condition (i.e. good light and for mostly on-screen consumption), set against their accessibility especially, they perform amazingly especially in the hands of people who understand a thing or two about photography. But it's been that way for years. No matter how much Tim Cook or Phil Schiller hyperventilate, however, the little extra features here and there just don't make that much of a difference in the real world.

antoniosk

2358 posts

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#2090332 13-Sep-2018 20:44

Appreciate that it’s only been a day, but I hope the carriers in NZ will adjust the base pricing of their offers now. an iPhone 8+ is now $1599 at retail, yet the @vodafone and @2degrees website still use $1749 as the base price....

________

Antoniosk

JPNZ

1547 posts

Uber Geek

#2090346 13-Sep-2018 21:46

I'm getting an XR... Deal done

When you look at it your getting the majority of features for a LOT less. The biggest thing I want is battery life and the XR is the best Apple has ever made. It smashes the XS and XSM

Talk Time = 25 Hours

Internet Browsing = 15 Hours

Video playback = 16 Hours

XS Max

Talk Time = 25 Hours

Internet Browsing = 13 Hours

Video playback = 15 Hours

Talk Time = 20 Hours

Internet Browsing = 12 Hours

Video playback = 14 Hours

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

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cooljoo

89 posts

Master Geek

#2090347 13-Sep-2018 22:08

XR is definitely best bang for buck iPhone. More power, better battery, better camera & way cheaper compared to the X.
Jealous that my X won't get the Portrait editing via software update. Guess it needs the A12 chip to work.

Shapenz

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2090407 13-Sep-2018 23:41

I'm eagerly waiting the camera reviews to see how much improved it is... I have been pining to get back to iPhone after having gone iPhone 7 Plus - Google Pixel 2 XL - but the camera on the X was just so average compared to the Pixel.

Also holy moly phones are getting expensive.

matisyahu

1623 posts

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#2090411 14-Sep-2018 03:00

Paparangi:

Such a shame that NZ carriers still haven't got their act together and started to support the eSim required for cellular - I was really hoping that would be a feature of todays keynote. Tempted to wait until the next time I'm in Aussie and get a cellular model there, but no guarantees that it'd even ever work here.

It is a shame but I'm not surprised - it is 2018 and carriers still haven't deployed VoLTE yet even though there is much talk about moving over to a new unified IP based telephone system (as noted by an announcement by Spark not too long ago). It appears that unless someone or something given NZ carriers a boot up the backside, they tend to drag their feet for as long as they can get away with (kinda like banks in NZ; it's been over 3 years and one still cannot change ones PIN online even though it is possible with ANZ, ASB and I'm sure others).

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

Brunzy

2016 posts

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#2090413 14-Sep-2018 03:58

I’m in the US atm, if I come across an Apple store I’ll go in and have a squizz.
Does anyone know will they be on display on the 14th?

dafman

3928 posts

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#2090434 14-Sep-2018 08:13

And for $1,400 the XR doesn't even offer HD resolution? Seriously, how miserable is that.

amiga500

1484 posts

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#2090438 14-Sep-2018 08:24

The instagram guys who vlog their breakfast food will be happy - now they can blur the glass of orange juice with emphasis on the sausage and tomato! Seriously, this is what the new feature will be used for!

I read a lot of grumpy comments on other sites about the scrapping of the Iphone SE. This will push the people who like smaller phones to nice mid range Androids I guess.

Dial111

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2090457 14-Sep-2018 09:08

After a night to let it sink in I think common sense has kicked it and I wont be upgrading at all.

I think Apple has priced me out considering there is nothing new that warrants the dollar difference from my 7 plus to the XS Max

Going off the recent trend I think Apple products will continue to rise in price until the market says otherwise which means this could well be my last iPhone. Unfortunate as I prefer iOS over Android.

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2090466 14-Sep-2018 09:28

dafman:

And for $1,400 the XR doesn't even offer HD resolution? Seriously, how miserable is that.

326ppi on a screen that size is fine (in my opinion), it's the same as iPhone 6/6S/7/8. The vast majority of people couldn't tell any difference when comparing to the 458ppi of the XS.

The problem isn't the specs, but the pricing across the board.

They did the X as a super premium 10th anniversary device with ridiculously high pricing to reflect its "status". If consumers decided the price was too high Apple would have likely rolled all the changes into their "mainstream" devices and returned to a more realistic price this year. However, the market showed that people were all too willing to pay the higher price to get the "premium" X over the "mainstream" 8.

So now they have made the XS models and kept the high pricing they found consumers were willing to pay. But they've had a full year to get production costs down, so while it could be argued that the high price of the X was due to R&D and new production techniques, carrying that price over to the XS is just pure profiteering.

The consumer is now in a lose-lose situation. Even if sales of the XR are high and XS low, Apple stills wins because it tells them they can charge $1400 for an entry level phone.

The only way pricing will get down to a reasonable level is if the XS, XS Max, and XR are all poor sellers.

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