Introduction
Hey, what’s up guys, MKBHD here, and today we’re diving into the highly anticipated iPhone X. This is the one I advised you to skip the iPhone 8 for, as it represents the future of Apple smartphones.
The iPhone X doesn’t explicitly say “X” anywhere on the front of the box, but it’s widely known as the X. So, here’s your first look at the unboxing experience. Spoiler alert: it’s almost identical to the iPhone 8 and other previous iPhones. Inside the box, are the usual headphones, adapters, and stickers… No surprises here, which is probably a good thing.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, the iPhone X is striking with its shiny, chrome-like reflective surface. I have the silver version, and its sides are particularly shiny. The space gray model is a bit more subdued. A significant new feature during the setup of the iPhone X is the introduction of Face ID, replacing the traditional Touch ID fingerprint setup.
Design and Display
It’s been a few weeks since we first saw this phone at the Apple event, and seeing it again reminds us of all the new features. The most noticeable difference is the display: a 5.8-inch OLED screen that stretches corner-to-corner, fitting into a smaller footprint than the iPhone 8 Plus, which has a smaller screen. Naturally, much of the focus is on this display and the notch at the top. Despite some initial concerns about app compatibility, the display itself is impressive—bright, contrasty, and well-calibrated without being oversaturated.
Navigating the New Interface
Handling the iPhone X has answered some immediate questions. With no home button, you now use a swipe-up gesture to go home. Taking a screenshot is done by pressing the power and volume-up buttons. Turning the phone off requires a long press of the power and volume-up buttons. These are new key combinations to memorize, along with various swiping gestures for multitasking and app switching. The removal of the home button has led to a whole bunch of new gestures to replace it, which are both useful and necessary for an all-screen phone.
New Front-Facing Camera and Face ID
One of the biggest differences between the iPhone 8 and iPhone X is the new front-facing camera suite in the notch, including the IR blaster and depth sensor. This enables new features like Face ID, which was quick and painless to set up. So far, it’s worked well for unlocking my phone, being smart, and not easily spoofed. The phone will only unlock when you look at it, not with a picture, and not when your eyes are closed. This means no one can unlock your phone while you’re asleep.
Face ID vs. Touch ID
I have some further thoughts on Face ID versus Touch ID. I’ll be testing if Face ID can be fooled by identical twins. The new notch also brings a new front-facing camera with selfie portrait mode. However, in my initial tests, the Pixel 2 seemed more confident in producing quality front-facing portrait photos compared to the iPhone X, especially in handling edges and hair.
Animojis and Final Thoughts
The new front-facing camera also introduces Animojis, allowing you to map your facial expressions to a cartoon animal head in iMessage. The physics of these animations are impressively on point.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to test with the iPhone X now that it’s finally in my hands. From battery life to camera quality and app performance, there’s much more to explore. Feel free to leave your thoughts and what you’d like to see in the full review using the comment box. Don’t miss any updates by subscribing to this blog.
