iPhone XS and XR Slow Motion: 240 fps or More?

No. The iPhone XS and iPhone XR do not record slow-motion video only at 240 frames per second: both offer a choice of 120 fps or 240 fps at 1080p HD. Choose 240 fps for more dramatic slow motion, or 120 fps for a less extreme effect and potentially more usable footage in dimmer conditions.

Slow-motion recording options

Apple’s technical specifications list the same slow-motion recording modes for iPhone XS and iPhone XR: 1080p HD at 120 fps or 240 fps. The “fps” figure means frames per second. A higher capture rate records more frames during each second of real-world action, which can then be played back at a standard video rate to create a slower-looking clip.

• 1080p at 120 fps: records twice as many frames as 60 fps video and is commonly used for a moderate slow-motion effect.
• 1080p at 240 fps: records twice as many frames as 120 fps, allowing a more pronounced slowdown when played at a standard rate.

These are alternative recording settings, not two rates that the phone combines in one clip. The camera records at the selected slow-motion rate for the shot.

How playback turns high frame rates into slow motion

A frame rate describes capture, not necessarily the speed at which the finished video is displayed. If footage recorded at 120 fps is played at 30 fps, each second of action takes four seconds to play. At 240 fps played at 30 fps, it takes eight seconds. This is why 240 fps can make a brief movement look especially slow.

The exact result depends on playback frame rate and how the clip is edited or exported. A video app may preserve a slow-motion segment, change its timing, or export at a different frame rate. Therefore, “240 fps” does not mean the finished clip must always play back at one fixed speed on every device or in every editing app.

For example, a one-second burst of action recorded at 240 fps contains 240 captured frames. Displaying those frames at 30 fps stretches that action to eight seconds. The same one-second event captured at 120 fps becomes four seconds at 30 fps.

How to select 120 or 240 fps

On these iPhones, set the slow-motion quality in the camera settings before recording. Menu wording can vary slightly with iOS version, but the usual route is:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll to and tap Camera.
3. Tap Record Slo-mo.
4. Choose either 1080p HD at 120 fps or 1080p HD at 240 fps.
5. Open the Camera app, choose Slo-mo, frame the action, and tap the record button.

If the exact settings labels differ, look under Camera’s recording-format options; do not assume that a regular Video-mode frame-rate setting automatically changes Slo-mo. The control for ordinary video recording is separate from the slow-motion choice.

Which frame rate should you choose?

Use 240 fps when the action is fast and the light is strong: a splash, a quick jump, or a ball hitting a surface can benefit from the extra frames and greater slowdown. Use 120 fps when you want a subtler effect, the scene is less bright, or you would rather not slow the movement as dramatically.

High-speed recording can be less forgiving in low light. Each frame has a shorter time to gather light, so footage may look darker or noisier than a normal-speed clip. A brighter, evenly lit setting can help. Keep the phone steady and make sure the subject remains in the frame; slowing footage also makes camera shake and small movements more noticeable.

Consider the final use, too. A short action can become several seconds long at 30 fps playback, which may be useful for analyzing a movement but unnecessarily slow for a social clip. You can usually adjust the slow-motion portion in the Photos app by opening the clip, tapping Edit, and moving the timing controls beneath the video. Available editing controls can vary by iOS version.

Storage, lighting, and common misconceptions

Slow-motion clips can use more storage than an ordinary clip of the same real-world duration because they contain more captured frames. The file size is not determined by fps alone: duration, compression, scene detail, and the way the video is saved all matter. If you plan to record many clips, check available iPhone storage beforehand.

A frequent misconception is that “240 fps” is the only slow-motion mode because it is the highest option shown. It is not: 120 fps is also a supported slow-motion setting on both models. Another source of confusion is resolution. For these XS and XR slow-motion modes, Apple specifies 1080p HD; choosing 240 fps does not mean the camera records slow motion at 4K.

Also distinguish capture rate from playback speed. Seeing a clip play at normal speed in a file browser or after export does not necessarily mean the phone failed to record at the selected rate. The editing or export process may have changed how the slow-motion timing is represented. Check the original clip in Photos and review its slow-motion segment before concluding that the setting did not take effect.

iPhone XS versus iPhone XR

For the specific question of slow-motion frame rates, there is no difference: both models support 1080p recording at 120 or 240 fps. Other camera characteristics and features differ between the phones, but you do not need to choose one over the other to get a higher listed Slo-mo frame rate. Neither model offers a 480 fps or 960 fps recording option as a built-in camera setting.

If a third-party app advertises a different frame rate, check whether it is genuinely capturing that many distinct frames at the stated resolution. Some apps create a slow-looking effect by duplicating or interpolating frames, which is not the same as recording the scene at a higher native capture rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can iPhone XS record at 120 fps?
Yes. The iPhone XS supports Slo-mo recording at 1080p HD at either 120 fps or 240 fps.

Can iPhone XR record at 240 fps?
Yes. The iPhone XR supports 1080p HD slow motion at 240 fps, as well as 120 fps.

Is 240 fps better than 120 fps?
Not in every situation. It creates more pronounced slow motion, but 120 fps may be preferable for dimmer scenes, a milder effect, or a shorter playback duration.

Can the iPhone XS or XR record 4K slow motion?
No. Their listed Slo-mo modes are 1080p HD at 120 or 240 fps. Their ordinary video capabilities should not be confused with the resolution available for slow-motion recording.

Why does my slow-motion clip look normal after sharing?
An app or export process may have changed the clip’s playback timing. Review the original in Photos and check the slow-motion section in its editing controls; if needed, export or share it using an app that preserves the slow-motion effect.

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