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iPhone XS 128GB — A12 · iOS · 128GB
Apple

iPhone XS 128GB

A12 · iOS · 128GB

77
/ 100
From $999
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) wins by 19
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · European
Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · European

96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone XS 128GB lands at 77 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) ahead by 19 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick iPhone XS 128GB if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware

Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on camera (95 vs 76).

Battery life

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on battery (90 vs 71).

Performance

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on cpu (96 vs 77).

Display

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on display (93 vs 74).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

iPhone XS 128GB 77
vs
96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Score breakdown

iPhone XS 128GB
77
cpu 77
gpu 75
camera 76
battery 71
display 74
design 77
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)
96
cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96

Specs side-by-side

iPhone XS 128GB versus iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone XS 128GB iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)
Chipset
A12
A18 Pro
Storage
128GB
128GB
OS
iOS 12
iOS 18
Release year
2018
2024

iPhone XS 128GB

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

FAQ: iPhone XS 128GB vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Which is better, iPhone XS 128GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 19. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone XS 128GB worth the price? +

At $999, iPhone XS 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 77 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone XS 128GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for photography, iPhone XS 128GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — leads on camera (95 vs 76). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone XS 128GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — leads on battery (90 vs 71). Screen-on time and charging.