Physically, its body is almost exactly the same as my iPhone X, at least as far as dimensions. The biggest difference comes from the matte finish backing, which in my opinion definitely has a beautiful, premium look and feel to it. It feels like Apple is doing their damndest to try and tempt me to not use a protective case and instead opt for Apple Care+ to guard my investment. But I digress…
It otherwise feels exactly the same as the X, in its height, width, and thickness (take a look at all of its available colors in the gallery below). Obviously, the tri-camera raised hump on the back is the major difference, and a quick test of the camera revealed that it is indeed capable of some fancy new tricks when compared to my two-year-old model.
The telephoto and wide-angle options are conveniently just a tap away from the camera screen, as is another very welcome new feature: holding down the shutter button to transition straight into a video without having to swipe right to get to it.
Personally, I’m still pretty happy with (and still paying for) my iPhone X and will probably wait at least one more year before upgrading. However, the Pro’s and Pro Max’s upgraded cameras — including a front-facing camera that can do slow-motion selfies — might be enough to tempt some folks.
Later, I’ll be taking a closer look at Apple Arcade, which will launch with over 100 games on September 19 at a price of $4.99 per month for a family subscription. Stay tuned for that coverage soon on IGN.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.