Rapid Review: Apple iPhone X

The Apple iPhone X is the Cupertino powerhouse’s current flagship phone, released in November 2017. We’re still likely half a year away from the next iPhone, but where does the iPhone X land compared to the big releases from Samsung and co? Should you buy it? Let’s take a quick look.

What Is It?

The iPhone X – pronounced “iPhone Ten” – is the OLED-screened, bezel-less, notch-containing phone that rethinks the way an iPhone needs to look. It’s full-body screen does away with a pesky home button and implements a tiny notch at the top that basically just houses your selfie cam. It’s a striking glass and steel design that had people hyping it up as the next big thing – it’s also the first iPhone since the 4 to do things just a little differently.

It’s major point of difference are it’s bespoke features – the Face ID, True Depth and Animoji – that Apple have crafted so users can use their face to unlock their phone and/or send silly animated animal faces to their friends. These features aren’t Must Haves, sure, but after using them, you get a sense for how well they’ve been implemented.

So what’s under the hood?

What’s Good?

When looking at premium smartphones – what do people want? They want a phone that looks great and does the basics well. The iPhone X certainly excels in this department with an OLED screen that is easily Apple’s best yet and a contrast ratio that makes colours pop. You can unlock the phone with your face, a feature that works better on the iPhone than most any other premium smartphone on the market.

People also buy phones for how well they can take photos and the iPhone X has Apple’s best camera tech right now, though it doesn’t do all that much extra to the iPhone 8. The rear cameras are fantastic, 12MP with both wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The front-facing camera is ideal for selfies.

This is a premium smartphone and if you’re invested in Apple – it doesn’t get better than this right now.

What’s Bad?

The price is, without a doubt, a huge factor into whether or not you want an iPhone X. At almost $1600, this is the most expensive phone you’re likely to buy and who knows when the tech will come to Apple’s ‘numbered’ line of iPhones. Could the iPhone ‘9’ also include a top notch and no bezels? I wouldn’t expect so, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The dual rear cameras are very good but they aren’t drastically different to those that come with the iPhone 8 Plus and that’s a slightly cheaper phone. With that in mind, there aren’t too many negatives when you hold the X up to the competitors in this space – you’re paying for design here.

Should You Buy It?

Do you just need to have the best of the best? Are you struck by the iPhone X’s design? Do you have $1600 to spend on a phone that might only last you two years before you upgrade again? The negative column with the X is centred around the price and the fact that the iPhone 8 is a pretty damn good phone, too. If you can look past that fact then yes, you should buy it. Just enjoy eating rice and beans for a few weeks afterward.

You can read the full review at Gizmodo, by clicking the link below.

[referenced url=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/11/i-hate-how-much-i-love-the-iphone-x/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/z6e4yemhp95kblz69dqb.jpg” title=”Apple iPhone X: The Gizmodo Review” excerpt=”I’m a total gadget nerd, and it’s been five years since a new smartphone made me nod to myself with the understanding that, “Yes, I need that thing more than I need air.” But the buzz around the iPhone X has had me a little more hyped than usual.

Not just because the iPhone finally ditched the bezels and got an OLED display — Samsung’s Galaxy S8 lost its bezels in March — but because the iPhone X is the line’s first significant overhaul since the iPhone 4. I should know better than to fall for the hype, but after spending nearly a week with the device, I’ve actually convinced myself that spending $1579 on a phone seems like a good idea. If you hate me for saying that, that’s OK, I hate me too.”]

Rapid Reviews is Lifehacker’s bite-sized buying advice on the latest technology products.