Now that we're just three days away from the launch of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, Apple has given the green light for publications and YouTubers to publish full reviews and unboxing videos of its latest smartphones. In this post, we've rounded up a few unboxing videos that were shared early this morning, most of which focus on the all-new gold color of the iPhone XS and XS Max.

If you've ever owned an iPhone, it appears that the contents of the box for the iPhone XS and XS Max won't be too surprising. The box art showcases the edge-to-edge OLED display of each device and simply says "iPhone" on the sides. If you buy the gold color, the iPhone and Apple logos are also subtly tinted with gold coloring.

iphonexsdesign 1
Inside the box for both the iPhone XS and XS Max you'll find paperwork, Apple stickers, the iPhone itself, the EarPods (with no Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle), an AC adapter, and a Lightning cable.

YouTuber Jonathan Morrison notes that one difference is that in the box for the iPhone XS the AC adapter sits above the EarPods, but for the iPhone XS Max Apple has swapped this positioning. Morrison also gave a quick impression of the faster Face ID in iPhone XS, stating that while it won't make an iPhone X feel slow in comparison it is noticeably zippy and worked perfectly even in low light.


Marques Brownlee unboxed the 512GB iPhone XS Max and iPhone XS in Gold, sharing a quick glimpse at three live wallpapers that are exclusive to the new iPhones. The wallpapers are all a play on the planetoid imagery seen since the first iPhone XS leak, with different colors including a green and purple planet, all subtly hiding the iPhone XS' notch.


iJustine compared the various gold colors that Apple has introduced over the years, showcasing the noticable difference between the yellow tones of the gold on the iPhone 6s and the darker gold on the iPhone XS. The iPhone 8's gold is closer to that of the iPhone XS, but appears to be slightly lighter. iJustine also showed off a few of Apple's leather cases, including Saddle Brown and Cape Cod Blue.


For full impressions on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, you can check out a few reviews which we've rounded up right here. The overall consensus appears to be that the iPhone XS is a worthy upgrade for users on older model iPhones, but numerous publications mention that waiting for the cheaper iPhone XR to launch in October might make more sense for many customers.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

NetMage Avatar
95 months ago
How many times must it be mentioned - the wallpapers are soap bubble images. Apple even released a behind the scenes video showing how they were taken.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5105973 Avatar
95 months ago
Oh good, iJustine has a new video up. It’s one of those horrible grey mornings where my coffee has failed me. If iJustine’s inexhaustible enthusiasm can’t wake me up, nothing can.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
95 months ago
Spoiler: It is the exact same as last year's X unboxing but gold.
Wrong. No lightning-jack adapter.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5105973 Avatar
95 months ago
Okay this is freaky. I made the post about iJustine’s video. Went to my YouTube app to watch it and as I was watching it the heavy cloud cover over my house parted and some sun is finally peeking through. :eek: Behold the power of perky! Thank you iJustine. I have enough energy and enthusiasm to fold the laundry now and wait patiently for my Maximum Excess phone.

Edit: whoa, apparently my husband had already folded the laundry last night when I was babying a pinched nerve! :eek::DGreat man! Great Day.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iTom17 Avatar
95 months ago
The phones are the same, period. The only reasonable upgrade would be going from 5S to X. Everything in between is just pure bollocks.. are you now saying that it’s worth upgrading from the X? For what? For a split second difference in Face ID unlocking? And trust me, that’s just the brain justifying the fact that you’ve just spent 1000$. I’m an Apple fan but that’s just idiotic.
I stand with GrumpyMom. You may find it impossible to justify upgrading to an iPhone Xs (and considering its ridiculous price I can totally understand that), but to ignore the actual changes that the new device brings is just not fair.

The problem is that people tend to consider the features that Apple mentioned during their keynote, or whatever reviewers name. And generally there's plenty of other features that don't get any mention. When you take those features into account, you'll see that the complete set of new things is definitely more than you'd think.

It's still the most marginal 's' upgrade ever, that I cannot refuse to acknowledge. But I can see people upgrading to the iPhone Xs. Even if they're coming from an iPhone X, be it for the bigger screen if the iPhone Xs Max.

And by the way, I agree with GrumpyMom on iJustine as well: she may be a bit too enthusiastic when it comes to Apple products, but damn do I love that enthusiasm of hers. I do follow many other YouTubers obviously (like Marques Brownlee, Jonathan Morrison, Austin Evans and SuperSaf) and look very much forward to their extensive reviews.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Superhappytree Avatar
95 months ago
Spoiler: It is the exact same as last year's X unboxing but gold.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...