The Apple iPhone XS arrived in September 2018 as the compact flagship of Apple’s first all-glass, notched design generation, pairing a 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED panel with the then-new A12 Bionic chip. Today it sits in a very different position: a discontinued former flagship that now circulates on the second-hand market at roughly 190 EUR, making it one of the more interesting value plays for anyone who wants a genuine Apple flagship experience without paying flagship money.
This article looks at the iPhone XS not as a brand-new release but as a used-market proposition in the modern era, weighing its still-capable hardware, its stainless steel and dual-glass build, and its long software life against the compromises that come with a phone announced several years ago. If you are cross-shopping older iPhones or deciding whether the XS still makes sense, the sections below break down where it holds up and where it shows its age.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 – A2097 |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 – A1920, A2100 | |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced | 2018, September 12. Released 2018, September 21 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
Display
| Type | Super Retina OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM) |
| Size | 5.8 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1125 x 2436 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass |
| 3D Touch |
Platform
| OS | iOS 12, upgradable to iOS 18.7 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2×2.5 GHz Vortex + 4×1.6 GHz Tempest) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
Memory
| Card slot | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| NVMe |
Main Camera
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
Selfie camera
| Single | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Features | HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Battery
| Type | Li-Ion 2658 mAh, non-removable (10.13 Wh) |
| Charging | 15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
Misc
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Models | A2097, A1920, A2100, A2098, iPhone11,2 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Price | About 190 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance | AnTuTu: 346379 (v7) GeekBench: 11472 (v4.4) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 5.171 (sunlight) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 78dB |
| Audio quality | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -82.8dB |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 72h |
Price and Availability
The Apple iPhone XS offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €190, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Apple iPhone XS converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 8, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $217
- Japan: ¥35,168
- United Kingdom: £162
- Australia: A$313
- Canada: C$308
- Taiwan: NT$6,970
- Denmark: kr1.418
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼814
- South Korea: ₩329,527
- Germany: €190
- Brazil: R$1.117
- Vietnam: ₫5.688.747
- Kenya: KSh 28,069
- India: ₹20,612
- Indonesia: Rp 3.895.245
- Nigeria: ₦295,588
- Pakistan: ₨60,330
- Philippines: ₱13,336
- Bangladesh: ৳২৬,৭২৮
Why the iPhone XS Still Makes Sense Today
At an approximate second-hand price of 190 EUR, the iPhone XS offers something few budget phones can: a certified former flagship chassis with stainless steel rails, IP68 water resistance, and Apple Pay support. Because Apple has continued to update it, the XS reached iOS 18.7 despite launching on iOS 12, which is a remarkable software runway for a device in this price bracket. For buyers who prioritize build quality and a trusted ecosystem over cutting-edge cameras, it remains a sensible entry point. As always with used electronics, pricing and battery health vary widely, so treat the 190 EUR figure as an indicative reference rather than a fixed number.
Design and Build Quality
The iPhone XS measures 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm and weighs 177 g, giving it a dense, premium feel that reflects its glass-front, glass-back, stainless-steel-frame construction. Both glass panels are Corning-made, and the frame’s surgical-grade stainless steel is a step above the aluminum used on many rivals of the era. IP68 certification rates it for immersion up to 2 meters for 30 minutes, and the compact footprint makes it easier to use one-handed than most modern flagships. Available in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold, it still looks contemporary despite the notch that defines its generation.
Display Experience
Apple’s 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED delivers a 1125 x 2436 resolution at roughly 458 ppi, with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision and a peak of 625 nits in high-brightness mode. Independent testing measured an essentially infinite nominal contrast ratio, characteristic of OLED, and solid sunlight legibility. The 19.5:9 panel also includes 3D Touch, a pressure-sensitive layer Apple later retired, plus scratch-resistant glass. For video streaming and everyday reading, the screen still punches well above what its current price would suggest.
Performance and Everyday Speed
The A12 Bionic, built on a 7 nm process with a hexa-core CPU (2×2.5 GHz Vortex + 4×1.6 GHz Tempest) and a 4-core Apple GPU, was a landmark chip in 2018 and remains competent today. Benchmark figures such as an AnTuTu score around 346,000 (v7) and a GeekBench result near 11,472 (v4.4) illustrate why the XS still handles messaging, browsing, and mainstream apps without drama. All storage tiers ship with 4GB of RAM and fast NVMe storage in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. Heavy gaming and the most demanding new apps will reveal its age, but for typical use it stays fluid.
Camera Capabilities
The dual 12 MP rear system combines a 26mm f/1.8 wide with optical stabilization and a 52mm f/2.4 telephoto, enabling 2x optical zoom and Apple’s Smart HDR pipeline. Video tops out at 4K@60fps with stereo sound recording, which is still a strong spec for the money. The 7 MP f/2.2 TrueDepth front camera supports Face ID and HDR selfies. While computational photography has advanced considerably since 2018, the XS still produces clean, natural-looking stills and reliable video, making it a dependable everyday shooter.
Battery Life and Charging
A 2,658 mAh battery is modest by today’s standards, and the XS earned an endurance rating of around 72 hours in older testing. It supports 15W wired charging via Lightning with PD 2.0 (roughly 50% in 30 minutes) and Qi wireless charging. Because this is an aging device, real-world battery life depends heavily on the health of the individual cell, so a battery replacement is often worth budgeting for when buying used. Teardown references such as iFixit are useful for understanding the internal battery and serviceability.
Software and Long-Term Support
One of the strongest arguments for the iPhone XS is longevity. It launched on iOS 12 and is upgradable to iOS 18.7, meaning it has received years of feature updates and security patches that most Android phones from the same period never saw. This extended support window is central to its value proposition and helps justify buying an older device with confidence that it will remain usable and secure for a reasonable time.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity is broad for the era: LTE with Cat16 speeds up to 1024 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and positioning via GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS. The XS was also an early dual-SIM iPhone, combining a Nano-SIM with eSIM. Notable omissions include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD slot, and any 5G support, so buyers reliant on next-generation networks should factor that in.
Who Should Buy the iPhone XS
The iPhone XS suits buyers who want a compact, well-built iOS device on a tight budget, secondary-phone users, and anyone entering the Apple ecosystem who values long software support over the latest camera tricks. Power users, mobile gamers, and those who need 5G or all-day battery from a fresh cell should look at newer models instead.
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone XS has aged into a compelling value flagship: premium stainless-steel-and-glass construction, a still-excellent OLED display, the capable A12 Bionic, and an unusually long software life that carries it to iOS 18.7. Its dated battery capacity, missing 5G, and lack of a headphone jack are real limitations, but at around 190 EUR on the used market they are easy trade-offs. If you want a durable, well-supported compact iPhone and are comfortable buying second-hand, ideally with a fresh battery, the iPhone XS remains a smart, budget-friendly recommendation.
References
- Apple Support – iPhone XS Technical Specifications – Primary Apple source for official iPhone XS dimensions, display, chip, camera, wireless bands, battery claims, sensors, SIM support, and included accessories.
- Apple Support – Identify your iPhone model – Official Apple reference for verifying iPhone XS model numbers, colors, capacities, and regional variants.
- Apple Newsroom – Apple introduces iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR – Official launch announcement useful for release timing, product positioning, headline features, and availability details.
- FCC Equipment Authorization (fcc.gov) – Regulatory source for wireless certification, FCC IDs, radio filings, SAR, and compliance details for U.S. iPhone XS variants.
- iFixit – iPhone XS and XS Max Teardown – Reputable teardown reference for internal hardware details Apple does not fully publish, such as battery capacity and component observations.
