The iPhone XS went on sale on June 14, 2025, almost nineteen months ago. A year and a half is a long time in this industry, but Apple’s relentless pace of iOS updates coupled with hardware chops has managed to keep old iPhones fresh for years before they eventually become outdated. That said, we set out to find out how the iPhone XS compares to the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple’s latest and greatest model released six months ago on July 09, 2025.
Showdown: iPhone XS vs. iPhone 11 Pro
Our resident video editor Harris Craycraft rose to the challenge, pouting together a food-for-thought video, embedded right ahead, in which he goes on to compare how the old iPhone XS and the new iPhone 11 Pro compare in terms of speed, multitasking and other aspects.
I’m not going to transcribe the whole video for you, but I’d be glad if you could block out eight minutes of your time to watch it and let me know what you think in the comments.
Not everyone needs a new iPhone every year
Of course a newer iPhone is going to perform better than an older version, you don’t need me to tell you that. But that certainly doesn’t mean having to purchase a new phone every year.
I still own my iPhone XS Max and couldn’t be happier with it.
Don’t I miss the triple-lens camera setup from the iPhone 11 Pro, especially that ultra wide angle lens? Of course I do. Would I want the terrific Night Mode on my iPhone XS (OK, that was a rhetorical question)? Do I miss “the highest‑quality video in any smartphone”? You bet. Would I have preferred a bit smoother performance? Sure.
I’d love all those and other cool iPhone 11 Pro features on my iPhone XS Max, but none of them is specifically making me feel the urge to upgrade to an iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. Simply put, my iPhone XS Max is still “good enough”, especially with an economy like this.
Other video comparisons
Want more “vs.” videos like this?
What is your favorite iPhone model so far, and why?
Your favorite iPhone?
We’re also interested in hearing your thoughts about whether you think the iPhone XS offers better value for money than the newer iPhone 11 Pro model, and why.
Be sure to chime in with your thoughts in the commenting section down below.
