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Apple iPhone X review

9.1/10 AVG.
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Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X
...


9.1/10
Informr score
The Apple iPhone X currently has an Informr score of 9.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 96 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Stunning display
  • Blazing performance
  • FaceID security
  • Premium design
  • Excellent camera (even in low-light)

What's bad

  • No microSD support
  • Price
  • Will likely need a case for durability
  • Gestures require a learning period

The iPhone X is touted as Apple’s best phone to date. After a string of minor changes to design and features, it’s also the first major update in both design and features in a few generations. But with all those changes comes learning to use a new set of controls. And there’s the price…

But Apple’s never had problems with selling high-priced flagships. Do reviewers think Apple’s latest release is worth the investment? Let’s see what they have to say!

The iPhone X features a stainless steel chassis with glass front and rear panels. Overall, reviewers loved the slight heft the steel provided in the hand. Most noted that it is easier to grip than previous iPhone models. Many worried about the durability of the glass front and rear for accidental drops.

For daily use, however, USwitch noted, “the glass surface came out scratch-free after spending hours and hours in my pocket, nestling next to keys and coins. We also actively tried to scratch it with a key and weren’t able to make any visible marks.”

It lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack—a move more common with recent flagships. But Apple includes an adapter so you can use your favorite headphones.

Heading around front, you’ll see some of the biggest changes from previous flagships. There’s no home button or fingerprint scanner. There’s also a nearly bezel-less 5.8-inch OLED panel running at 1125-by-2436 pixels. All reviewers praised it for its inky blacks, rich colors and excellent brightness.

Raving about the display, BGR said, “The star of the show, the screen, is perfect in every way. It is a beacon of embarrassment to all other phone manufacturers.” MacWorld echoed this sentiment, saying, “I can say it’s gorgeous, but that feels like an understatement.”

One controversial bit—the notch at the top of the display that houses a range of sensors—concerned reviewers. However, all felt that after a day or two of use, they rarely noticed it.

A lack of home button also means you must learn gestures to perform common operations like close apps, take screenshots and access settings. Fortunately, reviewers found most gesture controls intuitive.

Powering the phone, you’ll find a six-core, 2.4Ghz Apple A11 Bionic processor. Reviewers had zero issues with slow response times, stuttering or heat—even when multitasking. Paired with 3GB of RAM, everyone reported silky smooth performance. TechRadar said, “We’ve seen nothing during our tests to suggest this is anything other than an incredibly powerful phone.”

The iPhone series is known for its cameras and the iPhone X is no exception. The dual-lens 12MP rear camera includes optical image stabilization on both lenses and a slight optical zoom built in. Reviewers found the camera dependable in both fast-action and low-light shots, producing crisp, detailed images with a tap of the screen.

The front-facing 7MP lens packs in a range of sensors Apple calls TrueDepth technology. This allows the camera to scan faces and sense depth for improved selfies and portraits. Overall, reviewers loved the portrait feature but found some of the presets to look a little cheesey.

The phone can also shoot 4K up to 60 FPS, though MacWorld noted if you plan to use that setting often, you’ll want to opt for a model with higher storage as there’s no external storage support.

TrueDepth technology also powers one of the other major differences with the iPhone X—FaceID phone unlocking. While many reviewers worried about how well the system would work, most were pleased. MacWorld said, “When it works, Face ID works really well. At first, I had a tendency to wait for the lock icon on the screen to unlock, but the key is to not wait. You should swipe up to get to the Home screen as you’re looking at the iPhone X. It takes some practice, but before too long, unlocking the phone feels effortless.”

One scenario in which reviewers found FaceID frustrating was while using their phone to check messages at work. Unless your face is in range of the camera, you must pick up your phone to check notifications instead of using a fingerprint sensor like with previous models.

Of course, a phone is useless if you can’t keep it charged. The 2716mAh battery kept most reviewers running for a day—if only just. You’ll still want to charge every night. However both fast charging and wireless charging support means top-offs are always quick and convenient. USwitch noted, “Using the iPhone X as we would on an average day, we got between nine and a half and ten hours out of the battery. That’s pretty standard for a smartphone in 2017.”

Overall, reviewers loved the iPhone X for it features and design. Many even called it one of the best smartphones ever. Yet, all of this comes with a major condition—the price. However, for those with the budget (or those who don’t mind phone financing plans and contracts), reviewers agree it’s a compelling choice.


iOS
Operating system
Operating system
iOS
2.4 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.4 GHz
5.8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.8"
12+ MP, f/1.8
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.8
2716 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

If you’re shopping around for a new iPhone in 2021 and beyond, and you want to save some money, I can wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone X. For me, the iPhone X is the best value iPhone you can currently buy – it’s now A LOT cheaper than it was when it first launched. And you’re still getting A LOT...

- Michael Grothaus, Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

If you’re shopping around for a new iPhone in 2019 and beyond, and you want to save some money, I can wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone X. For me, the iPhone X is the best value iPhone you can currently buy – it’s now A LOT cheaper than it was when it first launched. And you’re still getting A LOT...

- Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile
TechRadar
TechRadar

The iPhone X was a huge gamble from Apple, yet one that really paid off six months into our testing. Losing the home button and altering the design was a dangerous move, but one that was sorely needed after years of similarity and the premium design, extra power, all-screen front mix together to cre...

- Gareth Beavis, TechRadar
Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

With the A11 Bionic chip and Face ID, it has some of the advanced technology money can buy today, backed by top-of-the-line hardware that won’t age anytime soon, and a camera that rivals Google and Samsung’s finest.

- Kunal Dua, Gadgets 360
The Standard
The Standard

This is the best iPhone yet, with show-stopping features, immaculate build quality and gorgeous design. It puts Apple ahead of its rivals, by a distance.

- David Phelan, The Standard


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Apple backs up the iPhone X with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your iPhone X has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Apple support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Apple's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5.8"

The Apple iPhone X's screen size is 5.8 inches with 1125 x 2436 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.4 GHz

There is a Apple A11 Bionic Hexa core 2.4 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the iOS 11 (Update Available: 14) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.8 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 7+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/256 GB

Internal memory is 64/256 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
2716mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2716 mAh battery. Apple's performance ratings are 1260 minutes, 566 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

iPhone X Specs

Overview
Release Date November 3, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System iOS 11 (Update Available: 14)

Compare iOS Smartphones

Processor Apple A11 Bionic Hexa core 2.4 GHz
Internal Storage 64/256 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.09 W/kg
Body: 1.17 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headphones, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev. A, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Lightning
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.8
Zoom
2x optical, 10x digital
Flash
Yes (Quad LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Panorama, Self-timer, Dual camera feature (12 MP 2nd camera), Exposure control, HDR, Burst mode, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
7+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Face detection, Image stabilization, Self-timer, F2.2 aperture, HDR, Burst mode, Exposure control
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology OLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1125 x 2436 pixels
Pixel Density 458 pixels
Size 5.8 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Super Retina display, True Tone display
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2716 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 780 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 566 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 720 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1260 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Space Gray, Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.4 x 7.1 x 0.8 cm (5.7 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 174 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 67
Headset Jack No
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Apple A1865, A1901, iPhone 10, iPhone Ten

Additional Sensors: Face ID, Barometer

Apple iPhone X Manual (HTML)

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