So, this iPhone X? What do we really make of it?

Published on 14 November 2017

Honestly I didn't have the motivation to write an article about the iPhone X, but there are so many people asking me on Twitter (and elsewhere) whether it's really worth splurging on that I can hardly skip the subject.

Especially since I get the vague feeling that the opinions are often over the top. Either ultra positive (from the people who paid for it out of their own pocket), or frankly killjoy to excess, from the haters.

So I'm going to try to lay out here the "pros" and the "cons", as far as I'm concerned, a humble user for about ten days now.

Let me point out that I bought the white version, 256 GB, along with AppleCare+ in case of breakage.

I'll add that my impressions are those of a habitual iPhone user, but I'll add a little note at the end of the article to speak to Android users.

THE SUPER COOL STUFF.

[](https://i0.wp.com/www.macarel.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iphonex_oui.png)

The screen. Clearly, having an "edge-to-edge" screen is super nice, and this one is really of mind-blowing quality. It's perfectly calibrated OLED (so it doesn't have the garish look of certain Samsung OLED screens for example, even though it's made by Samsung). A chance to set some lovely deep-black wallpapers to great effect.

The footprint, I'll come back to it, but it's small like a classic iPhone 6/7/8. When you used to have a "Plus", that's quite a change. More on that below.

Wireless charging. Yes, it's existed for a long time at some Android manufacturers, and it was really missing on iPhone. Even if the charging is fairly slow, the fact of charging it "more easily" and "all the time" when you set it down means you're never left stranded.

The overall build; you really feel it's the good stuff, solid, hefty, you don't get the impression of holding some plastic thing.

The new gestures. Yes, no more "Home" button = new habits, and honestly it's brilliant, you get used to it in a few hours, to the point where I struggle to go back to my iPad. For example I use multitasking more often than before.

And otherwise, in bulk: the battery life is very good, it's still water-resistant, and iOS is still an ideal operating system. The photos are gorgeous. It's clean.

THE NOT COOL AT ALL STUFF.

[](https://i0.wp.com/www.macarel.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iphonex_non.png)

Right, well, it's too narrow if you're coming from a "Plus" iPhone. Clearly you get a "text" format equivalent to the small iPhones, even if you display it over more height. It's a pain to read. I can't wait for them to release a "Plus" version, because right now I can't see squat (I'm getting old and my eyesight is dropping, it's rough).

Portrait mode on the front camera: it's crap, it only works if all the conditions are ideal, so never. Honestly no point at all.

Face ID, the thing that recognizes your face, well, you either love it or hate it.

Me, I love the concept, but it's too slow, my iPhone really has a hard time with my mug. 2 times out of 5 I have to type my code. I really can't wait for Apple to improve and speed the thing up in the next versions.

As a result, Animojis don't work great with me. Once again I think it really doesn't like my mug.

The price: seriously, it's ridiculous. This iPhone should have cost the same as the current iPhone 8, no more no less. Right now it's clearly too expensive for too little innovation.

FINAL CONCLUSION.

You've got loads of cash and you adore iPhones? Buy it!

You don't have too much cash but you still need a new iPhone, well the iPhone 8 is really great and very good-looking.

You're more Team Android? Well, buy yourself a Samsung S8 or a Note 8, it'll cost you less and you'll have just as nice features!

Photo credit: DR

By Paingout