What is it like to use a 2018 phone in the middle of 2023? Has the aesthetic section worn out? How do the operating system and applications work? And how long does the battery last? We answer all these questions, and more, in this review of the iPhone XR, after five years of daily use. Well, this phone has been (and is) my only personal device. So in this post I am going to tell you, from my point of view, how an iPhone looks (and lives) that next 2024 will be six years old.
Let’s start with the aesthetic section
The iPhone XR, if it can be defined in one word, is resistance. Throughout these five years he has suffered all kinds of falls, both on the ground and in the water. And the truth is that, as far as the outer body of the phone is concerned, it is still intact (practically). The scratches on the sides, from constant use, are present.
But the fact of using it with a case and tempered glass from day one has saved me a lot of trouble (and a lot of money when it comes to replacing components). Both the camera, buttons, screen and rear glass They still do not go through the workshop, five years later.
The battery life
This section, sadly, does not have as much good news as the previous one. Although it is not a catastrophe, battery health is at 80%. And although this device has a battery capable of enduring many hours of use, constant charging and discharging, added to intensive use (I also use it for work) mean that you already have to charge it at least twice a day.
But the latter happens in the last year of use. Although the charge has been degrading, it has not been until recently that the phone has to spend several hours plugged in throughout the day. Therefore, a battery replacement will be strictly necessary in a few months.
iOS and apps
The operating system I have installed on the XR is iOS 16.2. I haven’t gotten to iOS 16.5 yet, and best of all, it’s going to have iOS 17. I started with iOS 12, and when it ends its lifecycle (most likely this coming year), will have had 5 years of official support by Apple.
Although the whole (system + applications) still works well, I have detected that it gets stuck when I want to share screen by FaceTime and, simultaneously, I have it connected by Bluetooth to a headset and I am opening many applications.
the not so good
It’s not all lights on a 5 year old phone. The hardware section where, personally, I have been able to detect more failures, is in the speakers and the microphone. Whether from falls or dust accumulation, the volume is no longer heard the same as before.
Similarly, there are times when I have to get very close to the microphone to be heard properly. However, this last point does not occur on all occasions.
A 2018 phone in 2023
Although it continues to work very well in many sections, the wear and tear of the years is noticeable, especially in the speakers and the battery. Fortunately, until now, in the software section I still have access (and will continue, at least next year) to the latest news that Apple presents.
For now, the iPhone XR delivers on all its promises, despite its two biggest flaws. So my personal goal is to continue to keep the device for as long as possible. If not as the primary iPhone, then as a secondary phone.
