At first glance, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS still look like sensible buys in 2026 because their prices have fallen sharply. The real issue is not raw speed, but how much longer their software support can realistically hold up.
Both phones are still capable of handling daily tasks well, especially for users who mainly rely on popular apps, social media, streaming, and light gaming. That makes them appealing in the used-phone market, where Apple’s A12 Bionic chip is still doing enough work to remain practical.
Two old iPhones, two different priorities
The iPhone XR, released in 2018, comes with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display, 3 GB of RAM, a single 12 MP rear camera, and storage options up to 256 GB. Its used price now sits around Rp2 million to Rp2.5 million.
The iPhone XS also launched in the same period, but it offers a 5.8-inch OLED display with sharper contrast, 4 GB of RAM, and a dual 12 MP camera system with 2x optical zoom. Its battery is smaller, and its used price is around Rp2.5 million.
| Model | Display | Camera | Used Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone XR | 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD | Single 12 MP | Rp2 million-Rp2.5 million |
| iPhone XS | 5.8-inch OLED | Dual 12 MP, 2x optical zoom | Around Rp2.5 million |
Where the XS pulls ahead
In everyday use, both models are still enough for WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and popular games such as Mobile Legends. For people entering the Apple ecosystem for the first time or looking for a backup phone, their basic performance remains reasonable.
The iPhone XR tends to produce natural and stable photos for social media content. The iPhone XS has the edge in Portrait Mode, where its dual-camera setup delivers more accurate background blur.
Both phones still support 4K video recording at 30 fps. That keeps them relevant for users who care more about standard video quality than newer camera features.
Software support is the real limit
The biggest drawback is not the processor, but the software lifespan. Both devices only support up to iOS 18 and are not compatible with iOS 26, which arrived in 2026.
That means neither phone is getting new features anymore. Over the next one to two years, more apps may also start requiring a newer iOS version to run properly.
Historically, Apple devices that lose iOS support often see resale values fall by 30% to 40%. For that reason, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS are still usable in 2026, but they are best suited to buyers who understand the software trade-off and do not need the latest features.
