The Apple iPhone XS Max is a discontinued 2018 flagship that now sits in the used-phone value tier at around 210 EUR. It still offers premium materials, a large OLED panel, and a telephoto camera setup that many budget phones skip.
This article uses a legacy-flagship angle, focusing on real-world value today instead of repeating the full specifications table.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology: | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 2G bands: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands: | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands: | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 – A2101 |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 – A1921, A2104 | |
| Speed: | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced: | 2018, September 12. Released 2018, September 21 |
| Status: | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions: | 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight: | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Build: | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame |
| SIM: | Nano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
Display
| Type: | Super Retina OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM) |
| Size: | 6.5 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution: | 1242 x 2688 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Protection: | Scratch-resistant glass |
| 3D Touch |
Platform
| OS: | iOS 12, upgradable to iOS 18.6 |
| Chipset: | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| CPU: | Hexa-core (2×2.5 GHz Vortex + 4×1.6 GHz Tempest) |
| GPU: | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
Memory
| Card slot: | No |
| Internal: | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| NVMe |
Main Camera
| Dual: | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features: | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Video: | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
Selfie camera
| Single: | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Features: | HDR |
| Video: | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
Sound
| Loudspeaker: | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack: | No |
Comms
| WLAN: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth: | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning: | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| NFC: | Yes |
| Radio: | No |
| USB: | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors: | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Battery
| Type: | Li-Ion 3174 mAh, non-removable (12.08 Wh) |
| Charging: | 15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
Misc
| Colors: | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Models: | A1921, A2101, A2102, A2104, iPhone11,6 |
| SAR: | 1.16 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU: | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Price: | About 210 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance: | AnTuTu: 353210 (v7) GeekBench: 11432 (v4.4) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display: | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.516 (sunlight) |
| Camera: | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker: | Voice 70dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 84dB |
| Audio quality: | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -82.8dB |
| Battery (old): | Endurance rating 79h |
Price and Availability
The Apple iPhone XS Max offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €210, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Apple iPhone XS Max converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of March 20, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $242
- Japan: ¥38,368
- United Kingdom: £181
- Australia: A$344
- Canada: C$333
- Taiwan: NT$7,728
- Denmark: kr1.567
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼909
- South Korea: ₩362,274
- Germany: €210
- Brazil: R$1.272
- Vietnam: ₫6.282.907
- Kenya: KSh 31,315
- India: ₹22,516
- Indonesia: Rp 4.106.487
- Nigeria: ₦327,437
- Pakistan: ₨67,852
- Philippines: ₱14,532
- Bangladesh: ৳২৯,৭৮২
Value for Money in 2026
At about 210 EUR, the iPhone XS Max targets buyers who want an affordable iPhone with premium hardware feel. Its biggest value points are the OLED screen, stainless-steel build, and telephoto camera, while the main tradeoff is older-generation connectivity and battery aging risk.
Design and Build Quality
The glass-and-stainless-steel body still feels high-end, and IP68 protection adds durability confidence for daily use. At 208 g it is not light, but it feels solid and flagship-grade compared with many plastic mid-range options.
Display Experience
The 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED panel remains a strong reason to buy this model, with sharp resolution, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support. Brightness is decent for outdoor use, though newer devices can look punchier under harsh sunlight.
Performance for Everyday Use
The A12 Bionic is old but still reliable for messaging, social media, streaming, and most everyday apps. Benchmark results from its test cycle show strong historical performance, but the 4GB RAM limit can show up with heavier multitasking and newer demanding games.
Camera Strengths and Tradeoffs
The dual 12MP system is still practical: stabilized wide and telephoto lenses, 2x optical zoom, and solid 4K up to 60fps with stereo sound recording. It holds up well in good light, but it lacks modern extras like an ultrawide camera and newer computational photography gains.
Battery and Charging Reality Check
The 3174 mAh battery and older endurance profile are acceptable for moderate users, and you still get PD charging plus Qi wireless charging. On a used unit, battery health is critical, because condition varies more than the original spec suggests.
Software and Update Position
It launched with iOS 12 and is upgradable to iOS 18.6, which keeps app compatibility strong right now. The practical concern is remaining update runway: buyers should expect a shorter future support window than newer iPhone generations.
Connectivity and Daily Features
Connectivity is comprehensive for 4G use, with broad LTE band support, eSIM capability, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and reliable multi-system positioning. You still need to accept legacy limits such as no 5G, no headphone jack, and Lightning with USB 2.0 speeds.
Who Should Buy Apple iPhone XS Max?
This phone suits users who want a large-screen iPhone experience on a tighter budget and prioritize display quality, premium build, and a dependable camera. It is less ideal for buyers who need 5G, longer long-term software certainty, or stronger all-day battery confidence.
Conclusion
Apple iPhone XS Max is still a sensible used-market pick around 210 EUR if you want a premium-feeling big iPhone and can secure a unit with healthy battery condition; otherwise, a newer 5G iPhone is the safer buy.
