The iPhone Xs is indistinguishable from last year's iPhone X. As the "S" moniker suggests, it brings modest upgrades, but from what we've seen so far, you likely won't want to upgrade to it over the iPhone X.

Gorgeous OLED screen; 5.8-inch screen size is perfect; Strong performance; IP68 water resistance; Solid camera improvements

No fast charging cable included; Expensive

iPhone ‘S' release years have always had an air of controversy to them. They're viewed by most as a stop-gap measure until the next true upgrade, despite sometimes selling better than numbered releases.

Display is stunning; Processor bump is substantial; Still a sleek-looking smartphone

Design is similar to last year's iPhone X; Expensive; especially in Canada; iPhone XR might be the better option for most people

When Tim Cook revealed the iPhone X in 2017 , the Apple CEO announced that this was the new direction for iPhone, the foundation of the next 10 years. Fulfilling that promise, Apple's new iPhones build on what the iPhone X started.

Faster processor; New camera features; Tougher glass build

Design hasn't changed; Not a necessary upgrade for iPhone X users; No fast charger in the box

If you didn't like the iPhone X and its notched face, there's very little about iPhone XS that'll change your mind. If you were interested in iPhone X but weren't ready to take the risk - or front the cost - on the first iteration, then the second generation has a lot to offer.

This is the iPhone XS – pronounced ‘10-S', not ‘excess' as you might think. It looks identical to last year's iPhone X , and you might think that not a lot has changed – but it's inside where the differences lie.

Smart HDR helps the camera; More powerful again; Fast operation in the hand

Battery life not world-beating; Design not altered in a year; Still very expensive

The iPhone XS is a good phone, but I'm not awarding it our Editors' Choice. As I said at the beginning of this review, I think that with the 8, the XR, and the XS Max in Apple's lineup, the XS is in a less appealing place than some of the others.

Excellent camera; Powerful processor; Fast networking; First mainstream dual-SIM phone in the US

Expensive for the size and feature set

Apple has stuck with its "S" nomenclature even after its anniversary iPhone and has consequently followed the iPhone X with the iPhone XS. As with previous "S" models, the iPhone XS is more a technical refinement of its predecessor than a fundamental departure.

bright and color-true OLED display; broad mobile network frequency coverage; impressive main camera; excellent craftsmanship; eSIM support (per update; dust and liquid-resistant

non-expandable memory; no headphone jack; restricted NFC; only 12 months warranty; mediocre telephoto lens

Apple's new iPhone XS is a modest step up from last year's iPhone X, but remains a major technological leap forward for anyone who hasn't yet made the jump to the edge-to-edge design with Face ID.

Apple's latest iPhones are now available . Or, at least two of them are. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are here, but we're still waiting on the iPhone XR , a lower-priced version coming later in October. That's right: Apple's split the iPhone X lineup this year into three offerings .

The iPhone XS has a markedly improved dual camera, delivering better photos than the iPhone X in both dark and high-contrast environments; It has a faster processor, faster face ID, adds dual SIM support and it's now available in gold and 512GB versions

Its battery life is the shortest of the three new iPhones and only incrementally better than last year's; Despite its still-rich price tag, key extras such as increased storage, USB-C fast chargers and headphone dongles will have you spending even more

The iPhone XS is the logical successor to last year's iPhone X. The X ushered in the new era that the iPhones embarked on. It was all about building on the blend of some tried and tested blueprint, some modern touches and a whole lot of personality.