We just got our hands on the new Apple X, part of Apple’s big announcement the other day at the new spaceship style headquarters in Cupertino. It is a great phone, no doubt about that. But with all of the Pros come some Cons, so let’s break it down.
The device is sleek, slender and almost all glass and stainless steel. The new display is quite impressive and you will notice the difference. It come with a fancy facial recognition feature called FaceID, (which sometimes actually works), and Super Retina Display, whatever that is. Its new cameras are also upgraded and will impress any Apple user. But it starts at $999, which might compel people to wait before they buy one, and it has no Home Button, which will surely annoy some people who will be forced to learn a bunch of new gestures that control how they navigate between apps and functions. And it still has no earbud port, which we continue to find irritating. For the full detailed review, see this one by Cnet.
The Display (Pro)
The Apple X has a 5.8-inch OLED show that extends the distance over the front of the telephone. It’s got a bigger screen than the 5.5-inch Plus iPhones, and the iPhone 8 models, which are also coming out. When you contrast with what Samsung is doing with bended OLED shows on Galaxy gadgets, it’s altogether different: there’s as yet a dark outskirt around the show. The telephone feels little, yet in a different route than, say, the S8. Apple’s calling this a “Super Retina Display” with 1125 x 2436 pixels of determination, making it the most astounding thickness screen on any iPhone. It’s nice to look at, and as sleek and dynamic as you’d anticipate from an OLED screen. It has the greater part of Apple’s mark tech, as well, including 3D Touch and TrueTone programmed adjustment.
FaceID (Pro or Con?)
FaceID works with a TrueDepth front camera to splash 30,000 infrared dots on your face to unlock your phone. Maybe it is just us, but when we tried (and failed) if use my finger print sensor as a security protocol on my old device, it just annoyed me and lead to me switching it off. Yes it is cool (when it works) but when it doesn’t (and trust us, it won’t), it simply becomes a nuisance and adds time to the screen unlock process. Just tap in your code or do your swipe and you’ll be on your way. We like the idea of added security, but this is just another twist on an old idea that people don’t use. Apple says it won’t work if your eyes are not open, which we verified, and says that is does work with glasses and a hat, which we have not verified. The only cool use of this new facial recognition technology is how it can enable animated emojis. But then again, for many of it will only be a matter of time before this just becomes a silly distraction.
No Home Button (Con)
The absence of a home button is a problem for us. It seems like it leads to some new interface designs you’ll need to learn, however. You wake the screen with only a tap or by lifting it up. But the new swiping commands will take a while for Apple users to get used to. The Control Center is where you find an open all of your apps, and how you multitask. You swipe up to go home, and swipe up and hold to enter the application switcher. Control Center is currently a swipe down from the correct best edge, and the notices shade is a swipe down from the upper left. Apple Pay is also different. Instead of pointing your phone at the card reader and using TouchID, you double-click the side button, authenticate with your face, and then point the phone at the reader. It’s a little more work than just grabbing and pointing it to pay, but it’s manageable. All these new commands will definitely take some getting used to, and some will like it and some won’t.
Front and Back Camera (Pro)
The new front and back cameras are advanced improvements over the iPhone 7. A series of upgrades to the experience will entice you. You’ll be able to capture slow-motion film in higher definition or shoot film-style 4K. With the new Portrait Lighting setting, you’ll be able to change the flash on the back of the iPhone to fill a little more naturally, or backlight your subject.
The back-facing camera is also upgraded. Inside are dual 12-megapixel cameras, just like in iPhone 8 Plus, with f/1.8 and f/2.4 apertures. Dual optical image stabilization mitigates shakes in both cameras. You can see a more detailed spec here on the Apple Website.
The Pricetag (Con)
Maybe we are getting old and miserly, but starting at $999 really means it will be $1,200 before we get out of the Apple Store with our new toy. For many of us $1,200 isn’t a lot of money, but to us it is. And we just can’t justify this kind of upgrade for this much money. We think people will balk at this, and apparently so do investors as they sold off Apple shares after the big announcement.
The Wait (Con)
The iPhone X doesn’t show up until November, so you’ve got time to decide if the price tag is worth it. But we see it as just another reason not to run out and buy one: Because you can’t. And, you should wait until the masses have had a chance to use their new iPhones and see if they agree with us.