I waited to purchase an iPhone X so that I could get the SIM-free version. Here are some quick first impressions.
Face ID. As reported elsewhere, Face ID seems to work pretty quickly, but it requires a screen swipe to get into the device, which seems like an odd extra step. It failed when I was wearing sunglasses.
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Display. Apple’s first OLED display is beautiful to look at, and less HDR/oversaturated than is the case elsewhere. I really like the curved corners, which fulfill what I assume was Steve Jobs’ dream of making the whole device a rounded rectangle. That said, the bezels are big compared to modern Androids, and, of course, the display doesn’t curve to the edges, as do Samsung’s. The display is also only 5.8 inches, compared to 6-inches elsewhere.
Size. The iPhone X is closer in size to my daughter’s (non-Plus) iPhone 6 S—it’s a bit wider and taller—than it is to my iPhone 7 Plus. The display takes up most of the front of the device, however, so it’s like an iPhone 6/7/8 where almost the whole front is a display. Those looking for a phablet may want to hold out for a rumored bigger X-type device for late 2018.
Form factor/design. Like other modern smartphones, the iPhone X takes the tall, 18:9-ish aspect ratio of the modern smartphone to iOS. And it looks great. The glass back feels and looks elegant, though I’m worried about durability. The vertically-aligned camera lens give it a unique look. But the curved aluminum (or steel, apparently) side material seems fake to me, somehow, and less premium than the rest of the device. I expect it to scratch off and reveal a plastic underneath.
Navigation. Give Apple some credit here: While the removal of the Home/Touch ID button seems odd in the abstract, navigation is nearly intuitive (assuming you’ve ever used a modern smartphone). All of the edge swipes work exactly as expected—up from the bottom to go to Home, down from the top to display Control Center, and so on—and screenshots were easily guessed: Now it’s Power + Volume Up. No problems here.
The notch. I’ve heard from many that the notch kind of disappears with use. I’m not convinced. It’s particularly noticeable in two places, so far: When the screen is white or light-colored and fills the space near the top, and when an app—sadly, far too many—isn’t designed for the new, tall, and notch display, and it appears letter boxed, in this case with empty black spaces at the top and bottom. It’s noticeable and even a distraction at times.
Camera. I arrived home mid-day Saturday from an overnight flight and 19 hours of travel, so I spent more time configuring the phone than testing the camera. But based on a few quick shots taken outside and compared side-by-side with the Pixel 2 XL, the iPhone X camera system looks solid, with slightly more vibrant colors. (The Pixel 2 XL excels at night/low-light shots too.) The new Portrait mode features look interesting, but there are edge issues, of course. Excuse the grizzled look.
My daughter is very grumpy about the iPhone X: It makes her old iPhone look, well, old by comparison. I’m not sure about it yet. I like the look, but don’t believe that Apple can justify the premium pricing. In fact, I kind of wonder why this wasn’t just the non-Plus design for 2017, with a bigger version being sold as the iPhone X Plus. But whatever. It’s an elegant phone, and beautiful and unique in that way that Apple’s best products are.
More soon.
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226137"><em>In reply to jimbosf: "…the sides of the iPhone X are high grade surgical stainless steel. You can rub all you want and…"</em></a></blockquote><p>…and no genie in the form of Steve Jobs will appear, granting you three wishes to improvements to the disastrous iPhone under the stewardship of Tim Cook. Rather, one will simply unleash the devils from within, one of whom has already depleted the pockets of the purchaser by at least a breathtakingly $999.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226191"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></blockquote><p>Clearly you utterly failed to appreciate the humour in my response to jimbosf's "… you can rub all you want…" comment.</p><p><br></p><p>So it's your comment that displays your inability to differentiate between humour and a statement of either fact or opinion. In essence, your comment has spectacularly backfired, possibly indicating it is your goodself that is the target of your very own comment.</p><p><br></p><p>I highly suggest you and your family enjoy a wonderful day out on Broadway this Christmas, to watch the hit musical, Disney's Aladdin. You'll better appreciate my previous comment.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226282"><em>In reply to PincasX: "What’s really funny is in your moment of Microsoft fanboy exuberance … That is </em><strong><em>progress</em></strong><em> for you. "</em></a></blockquote><p>Charging upwards of $999 for a mere phone with a defective design, though surreptitiously manipulated as an aesthetic notch to the mass servitude nature of the iSheeple is <strong><em>progress</em></strong>.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<p><a href="https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/ios/147031/apple-iphone-x-first-impressions#226139" target="_blank"><em>Quote by Paul Thurrott: "My daughter is very grumpy about the iPhone X"</em></a></p><p>Genuinely console your daughter by informing her that there are non-Apple devices in 2018-2019 that shall utterly annihilate any future lack-lustre offerings by Apple, and in particular, when handset manufacturers embark on creating second versions of their flagship devices upon the magnificent Windows on ARM OS, your daughter should be enthused and buoyed by a new chapter being heralded by Microsoft.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/ios/147031/apple-iphone-x-first-impressions#226139" target="_blank"><em>Quote by Paul Thurrott: "Give Apple some credit here…"</em></a></p><p>I give credit to Apple for being able to set a new trend in selling a phone for more than $1000, and still get iSheeple suckered into queuing around the block across Apple stores Worldwide, prior to it going on sale on Friday 2nd November.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226190"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></blockquote><p>And of course those that indulge in courtship with Apple's products are not obsessed ? No of course not, for if tens of millions of people engage in an obsessive manner, it simply becomes the new norm.</p><p><br></p><p>However if a minority of people are steadfast in their similar views, they are dismissed, exactly as your comment has suggested.</p><p><br></p><p>We shall await Microsoft's response with Windows on ARM, to see if those minority, a view to which I subscribe, have truly been vindicated.</p>
Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#226168"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p>"when handset manufacturers embark on creating second versions of their flagship devices upon the magnificent Windows on ARM OS"</p><p><br></p><p>Ha…Haha….Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha….you are killing me….hahahahahah..haha..ha..ohhh my gut hurts from laughing!!!</p><p><br></p><p>That is some fanciful Claim Chowder Mr. Locust. Windows on ARM is going to fail and fail hard, just like it has twice already.</p>
skane2600
<p>Seems to be a well-balanced review. Good work.</p>
wocowboy
Premium Member<p>I don't mind having to swipe away a screen when logging into my iPhone X at all, it is just another factor that prevents others from seeing what is on my home screen or any sensitive information that may be on-screen when logging in. Kudos to Apple for caring about my privacy and security. Having played with a friend's LG V30 I can say at least my swipe-screen does not display ads like that phone does, and that my Home screen doesn't display pop-up Google Play Store ads either like the V30 does. The V30 is a nice phone, with its great audio system, but those ads and the sounds the phone makes every single time one pops up would be EXTREMELY annoying!</p><p><br></p><p>Anyway, back to the iPhone X, I don't find its bezels to be all that huge, don't mind the rounded corners, nor do I think that the .5% of a video that may obscured by the notch has any sort of effect at all on how I watch a movie or video. If a producer puts some extremely important element in that far edge of the screen, they aren't making movies or videos right imho. </p><p><br></p><p>The swipes for navigation are a revelation and I don't miss the Home button at all, I never even think about it. Swiping back and forth across the bottom of the screen to bring up recently used applications is great, and more simple and easy to do than swiping partly up and across the screen to bring up the app switcher. More often I would be switching back and forth between 2 different apps anyway and this is the best way to do that.</p><p><br></p><p>Swiping from the upper right corner to invoke the Control Center is easy and works just fine. </p><p><br></p><p>I find the overall design of the iPhone X to be excellent, unlike the very ugly 2-material glass and metal backs of the Pixels.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#226270"><em>In reply to NT6.1:</em></a></blockquote><p>It seems that they are quite willing to pay that $999 and in fact I believe the 256gig model is more popular so more than $999.</p><p><br></p><p>Apple's only problem is finding ink for their money printers.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<h1>BREAKING NEWS</h1><p>With the iPhone X having conquered the hearts of even more iSheeple this year, Tim Cook <em>et al. </em>have in an exclusive interview to Reuters, given a glimpse into the future with their 2018 successor to the iPhone X ― to the delight of all iSheeple, it shall have not one, but two notches. A design innovation that would ensure Steve Jobs continues to toss and turn in his resting place. No peace even for the deceased.</p>
skane2600
<blockquote><a href="#226339"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p>I'm not an Apple fan but give it a rest. </p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226468"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>I tell you, I having some real fun telling it like it is, replying to these self-deluded sanctimonious iSheeple.</p><p><br></p><p>It is clearly evident that Paul with this article, has brought out all the iSheeple to backslap each other for their iPhone X purchase.</p><p><br></p><p>Never have I seen such a bunch of more crass hubristic individuals as iSheeple. Their comments here are testament to that.</p>
Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#226618"><em>In reply to SteenMachine:</em></a></blockquote><p>Cheers for your appreciation of my comments – I sense no irony in your written word, so I'll thank you for your pleasantries.</p><p><br></p><p>Regarding my parents, they did the run around for me decades ago. Now I'm returning the favour and taking them wherever they wish to visit. </p>