iPhone 7 vs iPhone XR
A single brand, two separate lines: Apple covers this space with both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone XR. By our tally, the iPhone XR leads 2 of 4 areas. The battery & charging section is where it pulls furthest ahead of the iPhone 7.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Memory & Storage iPhone XR wins
- Camera Tie
- Battery & Charging iPhone XR wins
- Price iPhone 7 wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.0
- Camera0.0
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The iPhone XR has 3 h more rated video playback
Put simply, the iPhone XR is far ahead here: 16 h compared with 13 h. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint.
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The iPhone 7 has a 1.98 oz lighter build
The iPhone 7’s 4.87 oz leaves the iPhone XR’s 6.84 oz well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
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The iPhone XR has 64 GB of base storage instead of 32 GB
Not a close call. The iPhone XR lists 64 GB and the iPhone 7 lists 32 GB. That’s a substantial gap. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
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The iPhone 7 has a 0.05 in slimmer body
Among all the differences on this page, 0.28 in against 0.33 in is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the iPhone 7. It’s a difference you mostly notice in the hand and in tight pockets.
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The iPhone XR has a 1.4-inch larger screen
At 6.1 in against 4.7 in, the iPhone XR is the larger of the two on screen size. Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Design & Size
- iPhone 7 5.44 in × 2.64 in × 0.28 in
- iPhone XR 5.94 in × 2.98 in × 0.33 in
Size is a trade-off, not a score: the iPhone XR is larger, the iPhone 7 more compact. If lightness matters, note the 1.98 oz gap in favor of the iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 is 0.05 in thinner than the iPhone XR.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.44 in | 5.94 in |
| Width | 2.64 in | 2.98 in |
| Thickness | 0.28 in (winner) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 4.87 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 6.84 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
Too close to call
The iPhone 7 and the iPhone XR match each other closely in this area. So display is a non-factor here; move on to the areas where they actually differ.
Screen size
iPhone 7: 4.7 in iPhone XR: 6.1 in A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Performance
The performance entries below are descriptive rather than numeric. Read them side by side to see where the iPhone 7 and the iPhone XR part ways.
Memory & Storage
iPhone XR leads
The memory & storage comparison is one-sided. The iPhone XR leads where it counts. The iPhone XR scores with 64 GB of base storage instead of 32 GB. The iPhone XR starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos. In short, the iPhone XR is the better-equipped phone for memory & storage.
Base storage
iPhone 7: 32 GB iPhone XR: 64 GB If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
Camera
Too close to call
On paper, the camera comparison ends all square. On camera alone, you can’t go far wrong with either.
Battery & Charging
iPhone XR leads
When it comes to battery & charging, the iPhone XR is comfortably ahead. The iPhone XR takes this one with 3 h more rated video playback. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size. The battery & charging verdict goes to the iPhone XR.
Rated video playback
iPhone 7: 13 h iPhone XR: 16 h More rated playback suggests the iPhone XR lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
Software & Updates
This area doesn’t reduce to a single number. The table shows the software & updates details for both, so you can judge what matters to you.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 4.7 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | LCD (Retina HD) | LCD (Liquid Retina HD) |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 1792 x 828 |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Always-on display | No | No |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A10 Fusion | A12 Bionic |
| CPU cores | N/A (not specified) | 6 |
| Process node | N/A (not specified) | 7 nm |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 32 GB Least base storage | 64 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 1 |
| Front camera | 7 MP | 7 MP |
| Max video | 4K30 | 4K60 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 13 h | 16 h (winner) |
| Wireless charging | N/A (not specified) | 8 W |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 10 | iOS 12 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.44 in | 5.94 in |
| Width | 2.64 in | 2.98 in |
| Thickness | 0.28 in (winner) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 4.87 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 6.84 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 7 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $649 (winner) | $749 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The launch price difference is small: $100, favoring the iPhone 7. What does the iPhone XR’s extra $100 actually get you? Mainly 3 h more rated video playback and 64 GB of base storage instead of 32 GB.
These are US launch prices, recorded October 2018; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 7 if…
- you want the lighter phone (4.87 oz vs 6.84 oz)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.28 in vs 0.33 in)
- you want more value for your money ($100 less at launch)
Choose the iPhone XR if…
- you stream a lot of video on the go (16 h vs 13 h rated playback)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (64 GB vs 32 GB)
- you plan to keep it for a long time and want to start from the newer generation
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 7 or the iPhone XR?
For most people, the iPhone XR is the stronger choice, unless what you want most is a 1.98 oz lighter build.
Is the iPhone XR worth it over the iPhone 7?
The iPhone XR makes a solid case for upgrading, with 3 h more rated video playback and 64 GB of base storage instead of 32 GB over the iPhone 7.
Which has better battery life, the iPhone 7 or the iPhone XR?
Going by the official figures, the iPhone XR leads: 16 h versus 13 h for rated video playback. Screen use, settings and efficiency will shape your own results.
Which is larger, the iPhone 7 or the iPhone XR?
Going by the official dimensions, the iPhone XR is the larger one: 5.94 × 2.98 × 0.33 in against the iPhone 7’s 5.44 × 2.64 × 0.28 in.
Which is faster, the iPhone 7 or the iPhone XR?
The iPhone 7 is powered by A10 Fusion and the iPhone XR by A12 Bionic. Check independent benchmarks for how they compare in the apps you use.
Is the iPhone 7 cheaper than the iPhone XR?
The iPhone 7 is the cheaper option, launching at $100 less than the iPhone XR (launch prices as of October 2018).
Executive Summary
When I compare the iPhone 7 and the iPhone XR, I try to ignore the names and look only at what changes. Honestly, 3 h more rated video playback on the iPhone XR does a lot of the persuading for me. On top of that, the iPhone XR adds 64 GB of base storage instead of 32 GB. The iPhone 7 does have a strong card to play: a 1.98 oz lighter build.
Think about your week. Heavy on portability? The iPhone 7. More about memory & storage? The iPhone XR.
My pick: the iPhone XR gets my vote, but the iPhone 7 is the right call if you’d trade the rest for a 1.98 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.