At a time when phones are becoming more and more expensive, Apple's decision to embrace the new "X" family is important because it cements a new strategy for Apple, one that will continue to set the pace for phonemakers as we move toward 2019.
These new iPhones for 2018 will need to impress buyers if Apple has any desire to nudge Chinese brand Huawei -- which outsold iPhones last quarter -- and regain its seat as the world's second-largest phonemaker, after No. 1 Samsung.
Keep reading for all the new iPhone specs. In the meantime, preorders for the iPhone XS and XS Max begin this Friday, Sept. 14, with the phones going on sale next Friday, Sept. 21. The iPhone XR preorders begin Oct. 19 and it goes on sale Oct. 26.
iPhone XS Cases
iPhone XS and XS Max quick specs
Two sizes: 5.8-inch (458 ppi) and 6.5-inch (458 ppi), with OLED HDR screen (Super Retina displays)
Colors: Gold, silver and space gray finishes
Dual camera: 12-megapixel wide and telephoto lenses
Front-facing cameras: 7-megapixel camera will bring depth to portrait mode photos
A12 Bionic chip: 7-nanometer processor promises to launch apps 30 percent faster than 2017 iPhones
Storage options: 64GB, 128GB, 512GB
IP68 water-resistance rating (2 meters depth; up to 30 minutes in water)
Battery life: iPhone XS should last 30 minutes longer than iPhone X; iPhone XS Max claims 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X
Dual-SIM card support through eSIM technology
Face ID promises to work faster at unlocking the phones
3D Touch pressure-sensitivite screen
Stereo sound with a wider stereo field than 2017 iPhones
iOS 12 software
Pricing: Starts at $999 (£999, AU$1,629) for 64GB iPhone XS