It’s funny how months of leaks exposed nearly every last detail about Apple’s new iPhone X… and yet the company still managed to blow people away when it unveiled the handset during Tuesday’s big event. Yes, we knew exactly what the iPhone X was going to look like, with an impressive all-screen design showcasing a gorgeous OLED display. Yes, we knew it would be made entirely of smooth glass and polished stainless steel. We also knew it would pack a class-leading six-core A11 processor, more storage and RAM than ever before, and exciting new augmented reality features. We knew all that and more. And yet seeing it come together as Apple unveiled the iPhone X on stage in the Steve Jobs Theater at the new Apple campus, it still felt just as impressive as it would have if everything announced on Tuesday had been a surprise.
Apple’s tenth-anniversary iPhone X is far and away the most exciting and stunning iPhone Apple has ever made, and in this post we’ll cover all of the phone’s best features.
Super Retina Display
Apple’s first iPhone with an OLED display is finally here, and the Super Retina Display is a sight to behold. It measures 5.8 inches diagonally, and it features a pixel density of 458 ppi with a 1,000,000:1 color ratio. It’s also a True Tone screen, which means it automatically adjusts its color temperature based on the lighting you’re in at any give time.
No Home Button
We knew this one was coming, of course, and Apple has replaced all of the home button’s functionality with gestures. For example, a swipe up from the bottom brings you to the home screen. Or, you can swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the app switcher. Ditching the home screen allowed Apple to produce a phone with an all-screen front, and it’s a welcome change.
Build
Apple’s iPhone is constructed entirely of sturdy glass and stainless steel. It comes in black and white, and the stainless steel polished to match the color of the phone.
Face ID
Face ID is an enhanced facial recognition feature that utilizes Apple’s new True Depth camera system. It features eight different cameras and sensors that combine to instantly recognize the owner’s face. The new A11 Bionic chip features a built-in neural engine that powers the system. Importantly, the system still works if you’re wearing glasses, if you change your hair, or even if you grow a beard. Low light also isn’t a problem, since there’s an infrared element.
Face ID will work for unlocking, Apple Pay, and with any third-party apps that implement it, just like Touch ID.
Animoji
The iPhone X’s new True Depth camera system also enables a fun new feature called Animoji. There are a dozen different animated emoji to start, and once you send them they mirror your own expressions and movements.
Cameras
The iPhone X includes a new dual-lens camera system on the back of the phone. It has dual optical image stabilization, making it just the second smartphone ever to feature dual OIS. The cameras still have 12-megapixel sensors, but they feature a ton of enhancements to improve color reproduction and reduce noise.
New Portrait Mode
Portrait Mode is also enhanced, with a new portrait lighting feature that lets you add lighting effects to your Portrait Mode shots. But it’s not just the rear cameras that get exciting new features related to depth effects. Around front, the True Depth camera also lets you take selfies in Portrait Mode!
A11 Bionic Chipset
64 bits… 6 cores… new Apple-designed GPU… new ISP… it’s a beast. You can see benchmarks right here. Prepare to fall off your seat.
Battery Life
Despite the smaller housing, Apple has somehow managed to increase battery life by 2 hours! Sadly, that’s compared to the iPhone 7, not the iPhone 7 Plus.
Wireless Charging
Fiiiiiinally. Apple’s new iPhone X supports Qi wireless charging so it works with just about all the equipment that’s already out there. On top of that, however, Apple has a new charging mat that’s capable of charging an iPhone X, an Apple Watch, and AirPods (with an optional new wireless charging case)… all at the same time on one mat!
