Apple iPhone X review: How good is the iPhone X?

Apple shocked the world when it announced the iPhone X. One striking change Apple had made in the iconic design of the iPhone, was to get rid of the home button. This innovation has now become a staple in most later iPhone models. But this great announcement took place back in 2017. So you might be asking, is the iPhone X still a valid choice when looking to buy an Apple smartphone.

We’re going to dig deeper into the iPhone X and see if you should still consider it as your next smartphone. The iPhone X was released around the same time as the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, so we’ll also see how the iPhone X matches up against its contemporaries as well as later iPhones, such as the iPhone XS and iPhone XR that replaced it.

Design

The iPhone X doesn’t try to impress with flashy colours as it is available in only two, yet stylish, colours: silver and space gray. In case you care most about a variety of different colours, you might want to check out the iPhone XR instead. In addition to the two colour options, the iPhone X is available with two options for storage capacity. These are 64 and 

256 GB of memory. In case you require more space for pictures, apps and various files, then the 256 GB version should be quite enough for your needs.

When it comes to the size of the iPhone X, it has a 5.8-inch display that sits nicely just above the 4.7-inches of the iPhone 8 and 5.5-inches of the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display and weight of 174 grams make it just the right size for most people and their needs. Whether you need a phone for playing games, watching videos or just for everyday use, the iPhone X is a great choice for you.

Then the big notable change that the iPhone X introduced: the home button. By getting rid of the home button, Apple was able to create a phone with a screen that covers almost the entire front-side of the device – apart from a tiny notch at the top. The iPhone X also has very small bezels around the screen, in part thanks to the space once occupied by the home button.

Screen

The iPhone X’s new OLED display beats older LCD displays hands down. With a Super Retina HD display, the iPhone X is able to produce a stunningly clear and sharp image with great resolution. The OLED display produces an impressive range of colours, from the darkest blacks to the brightest whites. 

With Apple’s True Tone technology, using your phone outside in bright environments as well as in the dark does not affect the great user experience. Thanks to True Tone, the phone adjusts the excellent OLED screen’s brightness and colours based on the surroundings.

The 5.8-inches of the iPhone X’s Super Retina HD display make it just the right size to use. Combined with the stunning and advanced OLED display, what else do you need?

Camera

Now that the iPhone X is missing its home button, you get to use the phone’s camera to unlock the device. Once you have scanned your face with the camera, the iPhone X is able to recognise you and unlock the phone with Apple’s Face ID. This makes using the iPhone X and other Apple smartphones with Face ID both convenient and secure to use.

The front camera used to identify the user is 7-megapixels, the same as with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus for instance. However, unlike the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, the iPhone X includes Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting effects that allow you to take professional-level photos of people, including yourself. Because of this, the iPhone X is great for selfies as well. Although the 7-megapixel front camera is great, there are other iPhone models with even better 12-megapixel camera, for example the iPhone 11.

Fortunately, the rear camera of iPhone X is 12-megapixels. In fact, with the X there are two cameras on the device’s backside: a Wide and Telephoto cameras. The iPhone X is also capable of shooting high quality videos in 4K with optical image stabilisation as well as slo-mo video. In other words, the iPhone X is a great choice also for those who want to use their smartphone to capture great pictures and video.

Processor and battery

The iPhone X is powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic -chip, much like the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. The processor works well for running games and other demanding applications, while also making normal internet use and browsing social media a smooth experience. Yet, there are Apple iPhones with much more powerful processors, for example the iPhone XR with an A12 Bionic -processor or the iPhone 11, packing an A13 Bionic -chip.

The battery life of iPhone X is also a bit modest when compared to some of the more advanced models. However, the iPhone X will still last up to 60 hours of audio playback as well as 13 hours of video playback with a single charge. Equipped with wireless charging as well, the iPhone X should endure you well throughout the entire day without any issues.

Technical details of iPhone X

Display

5.8” Super Retina OLED display with HDR and True Tone

Rear camera

Dual 12 MP cameras with optical image stabilisation, portrait mode and lighting, and up to 60 fps 4K video

Front camera

7 MP

Face ID

Protect your privacy with facial recognition

Processor

Super powerful and intelligent A11 Bionic chip

SIM card

Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)

Bluetooth

5.0

Connectors

Lightning connector

Network

4G / LTE, Wi-Fi

Battery

Li-ion 2716 mAh battery, wireless charging, compatible with Qi chargers

Water resistance

The original waterproof seal IP67 cannot be guaranteed due to the refurbishing process Read more

Size and weight

143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm / 174 g

SKU

SMAP155MD

Verdict: Is the iPhone XR the right Apple smartphone for you?

The brand new design of the iPhone X without a home button is an excellent choice, even some years after its release. Some other great features of the iPhone X include its 12-megapixel dual camera and Face ID, not to mention the stunning 5.8-inch OLED display.

The iPhone X was known to be quite expensive back when it was released, but now you can get an affordable iPhone X by choosing a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one. When buying from a reliable reseller, you’ll also won’t be making any compromises when it comes to the quality of your new phone.

Pros of the iPhone X

• Dual 12-megapixel rear camera with plenty of features
• Stunning OLED display
• Face ID and a new display without a home button

Cons of the iPhone X

• There are more powerful processors available with newer models.
• The battery life isn’t quite as good as with some more advanced iPhones.

iPhone X vs iPhone 8 and iPhone XS

The iPhone X was released alongside the iPhone 8, which is a good alternative if you want a smaller phone with many of the same features. However, the iPhone 8’s display is not quite as good as that of the iPhone X. In case you are looking for something like the iPhone X but with slight improvements, check out the 12th generation iPhone XS with a more powerful A12 Bionic -processor and extended battery life.

Getting a refurbished Apple iPhone

What do you think? Does the iPhone X sound like a good Apple smartphone for you? If so, check out Swappie’s excellent selection of professionally and reliably refurbished iPhones. 

When getting an iPhone from Swappie, you are sure to get a device that has undergone our rigorous 52-testing procedure, so you can be certain that your new Apple smartphone will be as good as new. We also offer a 12-month warranty as well as a free 14-day right to return.

So check out our selection of refurbished iPhone X smartphones and other refurbished Apple iPhones.