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The iPhone X was unveiled in
September 2017 and released on November 3. And since then, it's remained at the
top of the smartphone hill. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and the Huawei P20 Pro
made some interesting advancements in photography, but nothing else has come
close to matching the iPhone X's revolutionary Face ID unlocking system.
Instead, an increasingly large number of Android phones have taken to
straight-up copying the iPhone X's distinctive notch -- the thing that was
arguably its most controversial and divisive design decision.
So while the iPhone X remains an
excellent, industry-leading smartphone, it's probably not one you should run
out and buy. That's because its successor -- or, possibly, a trio of successors
-- is expected to arrive in September. The 2018 version of iPhone X will
certainly be better and faster, and it may be released alongside larger and
more affordable X-style iPhones, too. And they'll all be running iOS 12 as well.
To be sure, those new 2018 iPhones
will have plenty of high-end competition in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Note
9 (rumored to be coming in August) and the Google Pixel 3 (probably October),
to name just a few. But it all means that anyone in the market for a top of the
line smartphone is better off waiting until at least mid-September to see what
Apple and its competitors have on the drawing board.
I came home late from my first day
of testing the iPhone X. My wife sent me audio clips over iMessage from the
kids after I sent them pictures of myself, now beardless. "O-M-G. I can't
even recognize Daddy!"
I couldn't recognize myself
either. In the mirror, I looked smooth, like another version of me. I felt
vulnerable. I had shaved my beard to test Face ID, Apple's new method for
unlocking your iPhone by simply looking at it. But, what would it be like in
public, on TV, when I hug my kids? At first, big personal changes feel
uncomfortable but appealing. Everything seems different but also potentially
refreshing.
My smooth face was the perfect
metaphor for my experience with the iPhone X, which -- starting at $999, £999
or AU$1,579 -- is Apple's most expensive iPhone ever. The 10-year anniversary
iPhone feels the same, but different. Weird, but good. I've been alternating
between both feelings over the last couple of weeks. And you, future iPhone X
owner, might feel the same. But tough it out -- because after a few days,
you're probably going to like where you end up.
Editors' note, Dec. 22: This
review has been updated with detailed battery testing information. The addition
of the battery rating has slightly adjusted the overall rating from 9.0 to 8.9
(still 4.5 stars). The review also includes November 14 updates that added more
additional information on durability and waterproofing tests, camera testing
and general usage. You can also check out our earlier impressions of the iPhone
X.
After another week of living with
the iPhone X as my main everyday phone, its size and design have won me over in
lots of ways. But the Face ID phone unlock process still feels labor-intensive
compared to Touch ID iPhones. Sometimes it doesn't unlock quickly, and
sometimes it just doesn't work. And, as I expected, the new gestures are taking
a while to gel. Getting to Control Center is now a two-handed operation that's
flat-out annoying. But I'm fine with the flick-up home gesture and have gotten so
used to it that I've started to try it on other iPhones and iPads ($329 at
Walmart), where it doesn't work.
I haven't been so happy with the
size and shape of an iPhone since the iPhone 5. The nearly all-screen feel,
when used properly by optimized apps, is fantastic. It feels new, and some
elements of the interface, like an improved way to swipe and swap apps, are a
big step forward.
But I'd still like the new
gestural language to be smoothed out a bit. Now that the home button is gone,
its core functions have been spread around. The iPhone X feels like an open
door to possibilities that iOS has barely begun to explore.
Get a case. Seriously.
CNET drop-tested the iPhone X, and
it didn't fare well. In fact, it cracked at a single three-foot drop. That's
worse than previous iPhones. Gadget warranty company SquareTrade had a similar
experience in its tests, dubbing the X "most breakable iPhone we've ever
tested."
With the notable exceptions of the
Moto Z2 Force and Droid Turbo 2 -- which, in everyday usage, really do live up
to their "shatterproof" reputation -- the possibility of a broken
screen is an occupational hazard for any phone owner. But the relative
fragility of the iPhone X is made worse by the fact that repair costs for the
device's screen are Apple's highest ever: $279, £286 or AU$419. If you need
something other than the screen fixed -- including the equally breakable glass
back -- that will cost you a whopping $549, £556 or AU$819. Yikes.
It all means that you should
absolutely be using a case (check out our list of best iPhone X cases). You
should also strongly consider investing in an insurance or third-party warranty
plan, such as AppleCare Plus or a wireless carrier policy.
