The flagship, analysts and researchers from UBI Research discussed the question of what the next generation Apple device will be like.
The release date of "Iphone 9" is planned, the start of sales in Russia will take place after the presentation at the end of September 2018.
From the review you will learn the expected characteristics of the new iPhone 9, how much the gadget will cost, photos and concept art, and other interesting facts will be presented.
As previously expected, Apple, without breaking tradition, adheres to a one-year update period for its main devices.
What will the new iPhone 9 be like?
We can expect an increased amount of RAM up to 8 gigabytes, a new 8-core A12 processor with support for 64-bit architecture, made using technology similar to that of .
An improved 3D multi-sensory camera with optical stabilization, new biometric capabilities, smart Siri comparable to the virtual intelligence of Hollywood blockbusters and much more.
According to representatives of UBI Research, the future smartphone will be equipped for the first time with a screen made using AMOLED technology with support for 4K UHD resolution.
This step will allow the new iPhone to be fully adapted to virtual reality technology, which has recently become increasingly popular.
To implement this idea, the company's engineers will have to create a pixel density on display panels of 800 ppi. This nuance is important for connecting the future iPhone to a virtual reality helmet, which is also produced by Apple.
Concept art of the new iPhone 9
Since 2017, when the first flagship entered the world market, smartphone screens have been increased to five and a half inches. The pixel resolution has been improved by more than 6 times, to 1920 by 1080 pixels per inch.
But these achievements do not stop the company; the resolution will definitely be 4K in the near future, this will make the iPhone 9 the first smartphone suitable for virtual reality.
Possibility to bend in half
Cupertino residents are always one step ahead, the company is mastering new technologies and markets every day, all this taking into account the mistakes of competitors.
Thus, Samsung previously presented the concept of a folding smartphone, but the first experiment was not entirely successful; the gadget was, on the one hand, similar to a modern but forgotten “clamshell” consisting of two screens.
According to Kolon Industries, the ability to easily bend smartphone screens will appear by 2020, a year after the release of the first bendable iPhone.
VR device compatibility
Back in early 2016, Apple received a patent for the production of its own virtual reality helmets; according to the idea, the gadgets will use the new generation iPhone as the main screen.
This will remind many of the Gear VR virtual reality glasses developed by Samsung, but in a more convenient and compact form.
The technology will allow you to display three-dimensional 3D images on the screen of a mobile device, which will be placed in VR.
The new screen on the iPhone means impeccable image quality and adaptability of the picture, which is close to reality.
Apple virtual reality glasses 5G communication technology
According to forecasts, in 2020 the fifth generation communication technology, the so-called 5G, will be introduced and distributed throughout the world.
There is an assumption that the new Apple phone will be equipped with the ability to support this kind of networks, characterized by ultra-high speeds, enormous throughput and very low latency.
But this news is still an assumption, since according to leading experts, 5G technology will only be released by 2025.
Iphone 9 (iPhone 9) release date, price and specifications
| Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| release date | September 2018. |
| Price | 60 thousand rubles. |
| CPU | A12, 8 cores with support for 64-bit architecture. |
| RAM | 8 gigabytes. |
| Inner memory | 128/256/512 gigabytes. |
| Screen | 6 inches, 4K UHD resolution and 800 ppi pixel density. |
| Camera | 3D multi-sensor camera 16 megapixels, with optical stabilization |
| additional characteristics | Fingerprint, retinal and facial scanners. Compatible with VR virtual reality devices. |
Last year, Apple introduced its branded smartphone iPhone 7, and in September 2017 the 8th and 10th anniversary models of the popular device will be released.
Most likely, the manufacturer aims to annually update the smartphone globally in order to compete with one of the leaders in the mobile device market - Samsung.
Since we are only about one year away from the release of the iPhone 11, it is already quite possible to guess what this device will be like. Various rumors have already begun to leak into the global network. We have collected them all in this article to have an idea about the future smartphone.
release date
Increasing competition in the mobile device market is causing a decrease in the time needed to develop new gadgets. The exact release date of iPhone 11 is still unknown.
Considering that the last few iPhone models have been released in September each year, we can assume that the new iPhone 11 will appear in the first month of autumn 2018.
The presentation of the iPhone 11 will take place in September 2019. Design
There is no word yet on what the design of the new smartphone will be, but it will likely be largely determined by the display used.
iPhone 11 concept photo. Today, consumers value not only the large screen diagonal, but also the compact dimensions of the device body, so the front surface area of the device should be used as efficiently as possible.
Ideally, it should be completely used for the display, but this is impossible to implement, since space is required for the earpiece, front camera and proximity/light sensors.
It is quite possible that the appearance of the case will not be too different from the iPhone 10, for which a significant redesign was made in honor of the tenth anniversary of the branded device. In this case, the screen will become frameless, and the Home button will be removed at the bottom.
It is likely that leaked sketches of the smartphone in the future will confirm or refute these assumptions.
Display
Recently, there have been rumors of collaboration between Apple and Samsung in the field of displays. Presumably, Apple wants to use OLED technology for its future devices. Thus, the iPhone 11 display can be curved.
iPhone 11 concept with curved screen Since the display diagonal of the upcoming iPhone 10 is 5.8 inches, the screen size of the next version of the smartphone may be even larger. There are rumors that Apple will release two variations of the new model with 5.28- and 6.46-inch displays.
Many manufacturers have begun to pay a lot of attention to supporting virtual reality technology in their devices. Even though 4K technology is still not very common among mobile devices, it is likely that the iPhone 11 display will support 4K technology.
Cameras
Apple always strives to improve every detail in new iPhone models, so the camera is unlikely to be an exception. The 10th model was expected to be able to shoot 4K video at a frame rate of 60 fps.
But then experts expressed the opinion that such a possibility would most likely be implemented in subsequent models. Given the rumors about a 4K display, the implementation of a 4K video function for the 11th iPhone model seems quite reasonable.
There have been rumors that the iPhone 10's front camera will also be able to record HD video. The new smartphone will appear very soon, and if this feature is not implemented in it, it can be expected in the iPhone 11.
Taking into account the development trends of flagship devices, the main camera can use two lenses and support face recognition, Live Photo, optical stabilization, 3D-4K and others.
Memory
Since Apple releases its smartphones with different amounts of internal storage ranging from 16 to 128 GB, and the iPhone 10 comes in two variations: with 64 and 256 GB of memory, it is difficult to predict how much ROM capacity should be expected in the 2018 model. But you can be sure that the manufacturer will not add support for microSD cards.
A variation of the 10th smartphone model received 3 GB of RAM. It is quite possible that the amount of RAM in the subsequent model will be further increased to 4 or even 6 GB.
However, as you know, all applications in iOS consume hardware resources, including RAM, as efficiently as possible, so you can hardly expect a significant increase in RAM, since this makes no sense.
CPU
The main supplier of chipsets for Apple devices is TSMC. The iPhone 10 has a six-core Apple A11 Bionic chip, manufactured using 10nm technology and using the ARMv8-A architecture.
A11 processes for Apple iPhone. As you know, this is TSMC's own development, and if it is successful, it is quite possible that the new and improved version will be used in the iPhone 11, the characteristics of which should be improved. Most likely it will be an 8-core Apple A12 processor with 64-bit architecture.
According to the manufacturer, the new chipset received a significant increase in performance and began to consume significantly less energy.
Touch ID technology
Recently, there have been rumors that Apple has decided to get rid of the Home button in favor of a larger screen.
But this key was equipped with a fingerprint scanner, which casts doubt on the use of this technology in future devices. Instead, the plan is to use new facial recognition technology, which may not be reliable enough.
Touch ID in iPhone 11. The iPhone 10 smartphone has become the first device since the 5th model that will not have Touch ID. If facial recognition technology doesn't pay off, it's quite possible that Touch ID will return in the next version of the smartphone.
Compatibility with VR devices
Apple has held a patent for the production of virtual reality headsets since last year, for which future iPhone models will be used.
The image quality will directly depend on the resolution of the smartphone display. Thanks to the new technology, users will be able to enjoy bright, three-dimensional images.
Apple - Rose virtual reality glasses. The virtual reality headset itself will resemble the released Samsung Gear VR. The main differences will be ease of use and more compact size of the device.
Network (5G) and data transmission
As you know, by 2020 it is planned to introduce the new generation 5G communication technology. According to the specification, the new wireless network is characterized by the highest data transfer speed, high throughput and minimal response time. It is expected that Apple specialists will implement support for the new technology in the iPhone 11.
additional characteristics
Since there is currently no confirmed information about the iPhone 11, we can only go by rumors. According to one of them, the smartphone will use a non-standard battery shaped like the letter “L”.
With the growing popularity of electronic assistants, Apple specialists will want to use an improved Siri to successfully compete with Google Assistant and other analogues.
Despite the fact that many Android smartphones have been using wireless charging technology for a long time, Apple specialists can significantly improve it and use it for new smartphones.
This review did not include rumors about a large number of other technologies, since their practical implementation is still far from ideal (for example, about a folding screen). As you know, Apple focuses on the experience of other manufacturers in order to provide its customers only with the best and proven technologies.
Over the ten-year history of the iPhone, Apple has accustomed consumers to the fact that after the announcement of a major version of smartphones, a continuation of the “S” line comes out. Therefore, this year many were waiting for the 7S model. But contrary to established tradition, the Cupertino team immediately showed the iPhone 8. What is the new product and has the device deservedly skipped a whole generation?
The new product was shown on September 12 at the Apple presentation at the Steve Jobs Theater. A few days later, pre-order of the device became available, and on September 22, sales began in some “first wave” countries. Russia entered the second echelon and the smartphone appeared on our shelves a week later: September 29.
Technical characteristics of iPhone 8
The characteristics of the iPhone 8 have improved significantly. It received the Apple A11 Bionic processor. In it, 4 cores are energy efficient, and the other 2 are productive. The new controller allows for a smooth transition between the two when needed. It is important that the engineers managed not to reduce autonomy. By the way, the A11 Bionic chip is designed to work with neural networks. This means the device will perform tasks more intelligently in many use cases.
- Display: 4.7-inch IPS with a resolution of 1334x750, PPI - 326
- Processor: Apple A11 Bionic
- Cameras: 12 MP main, f/1.8; 7 MP front
- Permanent memory: 64 or 256 GB
- RAM: 2 GB
- Battery: 1821 mAh
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
- OS: iOS 11
- Weight: 148 g
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 67.3 x 138.4 x 7.3 mm
Appearance
The new product did not receive anything fundamentally new in its design. It's still the same look and feel of the iPhone 6 from 2014. The layout of the elements is the same: at the front there is a display, a Home button and sensors, and at the back there is a camera and flash. The large frames on the front have also not gone away; after all, the “eight” is not at all similar to the iPhone X.
For lovers of fashionable framelessness, this will be a huge minus. But in terms of practicality, this solution gives the new product a few points of advantage, since in the event of a fall, the risk of the display collapsing is slightly less. The iPhone 8 did not receive an aluminum case; now only the side frame is made of metal, and there are glass panels on the front and back. At the same time, it was possible to maintain protection from water and dust according to the IP67 standard.
This was probably done for the convenient introduction of wireless charging, which also debuted in the new product. But now the smartphone inevitably needs to be hidden in a case, otherwise expensive repairs cannot be avoided. In addition, Apple claims that the glass on the back panel is very durable (and expensive) and should not break. Practice shows that behind these words there is more deceit than real benefit.
Still, the iPhone 7, made of brushed aluminum 7000 series, calmly withstood even serious falls on an uneven surface. And if you don’t take into account the Jet Black version of the smartphone, scratching the device was not so easy. The glass in the iPhone 8 behaves fundamentally differently and is likely to show a large number of traces of use.
Many may also be upset by the lack of a MiniJack for headphones. The included headset is connected via a lightning connector. There are two ways to get out of the situation: use an adapter or Bluetooth headphones.
Display
The display also remains unchanged for the fourth year: the same 4.7-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1334x750. The dot density is 326 PPI. The time-tested screen is still a kind of benchmark in the Apple world. It has excellent viewing angles, natural color reproduction and pleasant contrast. And unlike OLED technology, there is no unpleasant pixel burn-in effect.
But one cannot help but blame Apple for still using a display with such a low resolution. Most competitors have been using Full HD or even QHD matrices for a long time. And these are not just marketing ploys, since the difference between the Retina display in the iPhone 8 and the Full HD matrix in another top-end smartphone is noticeable.
Among the innovations, the TrueTone function is notable. Previously, it was used only in expensive iPad Pro tablets, but now this feature has appeared on the iPhone. The essence of its work is to automatically adjust the white balance depending on the lighting. If we look at typical usage scenarios, TrueTone will make the displays “cooler” in bright daylight and go into warm colors in the room.
This technology should not be confused with another tool - Night Shift. It changes the display temperature based on the time of day rather than the lighting. Although both functions make the screen readability more pleasant and the eyes less tired.
Performance and Memory
Another extremely important feature of the iPhone 8 was the abandonment of PowerVR graphics accelerators. The iPhone 8 has a 3-core processor of its own production. The company claims that the new chip is up to 30% faster than its predecessor.
In fact, the smartphone shows approximately the same results as last year's model. All applications and games work flawlessly: there are no stutters or fps drops. In this regard, the smartphone is ahead of many competitors, and the low screen resolution played an important role in this.
In terms of memory, everything is also excellent. There are 2 permanent storage options to choose from: 64 or 256 GB, no microSD slot. The RAM size is 2 GB. The values are quite acceptable and should be enough for most tasks.
Cameras
The main camera remains largely unchanged. There are the same 12 MP cameras with f/1.8 aperture, but a faster matrix and a new filter have been introduced. The gadget works with HDR enabled by default. This was probably done so that the resulting images, even without processing, would look more saturated. This is exactly how the cameras in Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones work.
Although, unlike its competitors, the gadget from Cupertino produces natural colors and does not bother with over-sharping. During the day, the resulting photos are at an excellent level, at night things are a little worse, but the result is still acceptable. We can confidently note the improvement in the quality of pictures in poor light compared to the iPhone 7. Unfortunately, the new product does not receive support for the “Portrait” mode, which is available in the Plus version.
Among the minor improvements, it is worth noting the improved flash. Now, when shooting in the dark, the diodes adjust the intensity and the background is not darkened, but remains as light as the main subject.
Videography has also received noticeable innovations. iPhone 8 is capable of shooting 4K videos at 24, 30 or 60 fps, and recording at 240 fps has become available in Full HD mode. Stabilization is present, and the device is among the best in video quality.
System
Separately, it is worth considering the operation of the operating system. iOS 11 works well, but there are rare animation jitters or errors with font display. In this regard, the iPhone 8 is not unique; almost all Apple smartphones began to perform worse after updating to version 11 of the system. But new products always receive bug fixes and, probably, the G8 will function more smoothly.
Among the nice things about iOS 11 is the widespread adoption of machine learning. The company talks about the work of neural networks in Siri, the camera and some other elements of the system. Due to the A11 Bionic processor, tailored for such tasks, such functionality will develop more and more over time.
AR
Apple places great emphasis on augmented reality technology. Along with iOS 11, ARKit was introduced, with which developers can create various software in this area. There are already a huge number of games and applications available that use AR. For example, you can now easily measure distance, height, throw a ball into a virtual hoop, or control your army, which will fight right in the room.
The potential of the technology has not yet been revealed, so soon the App Store will be filled with interesting augmented reality content. To prove this conclusion, we note that after the announcement of ARKit, Google began developing its own technology and so far the “good corporation” has not been able to demonstrate interesting results.
Autonomy and battery
iPhone 8 has a 1821 mAh battery. By the standards of devices from the Android world, this is just pennies. But in reality, a smartphone can work all day from morning to evening without any problems. Based on the numbers, the following results are obtained:
- Talk time: 14 hours
- Music listening time: 40 hours
- Surfing the Internet: 12 hours
- Video playback: 13 hours
The measurements were carried out under ideal conditions, so in reality you should expect slightly lower values. In general, the new product works approximately like the iPhone 7.
But the nice thing is that Apple has finally introduced wireless and fast charging into its device. But Cupertino, in their favorite manner, made the functions additional and did not include the required accessories in the delivery package. To use fast charging, you need to buy a MacBook power plug and a Lightning to USB-C cable from the official store. The kit will cost almost 7 thousand rubles.
The same situation applies to wireless technology. Although Apple used the well-known Qi standard, the corresponding docking station must be purchased separately. The average cost of such a device is 2 thousand rubles. In total, to unlock all the functionality of the iPhone 8, you need to spend an additional 9 thousand rubles.
We noted the bad, now about the good. With fast charging, the smartphone can be charged 50% in 30 minutes, and 100% charged in about 75 minutes. Through the Qi standard, everything happens a little slower and as a result, the gadget is fully charged in 3-4 hours. But in this case, it is the elimination of wires that is important, rather than the speed of operation.
iPhone 8 price
In Russia, iPhone 8 is sold at a price of 56,990 rubles for the 64 GB version and 68,990 rubles for the 256 GB model. Prices are high, especially compared to tax-exempt states in the US, where the new product sells for $699 and $849. Therefore, when buying a smartphone abroad, you can save a lot of money.
Hi all! A new iPhone model comes out every year and Apple strictly adheres to this rule. However, “once a year” is too vague a formulation, don’t you think? Therefore, I propose today to find out the exact release date of absolutely all existing iPhone models. To collect, so to speak, all these numbers in one place.
For what? Firstly, it is always interesting to track how much time passes from the moment of presentation to the start of sales in Russia and the world. Secondly, such a cheat sheet can be useful to many (for me, as the author of a blog about Apple, certainly :)). Thirdly, why not? The content, in my opinion, is useful - let it be. Go!
For a clearer understanding, all information is presented in the table. A little explanation:
- Start date of sales in the world - by “world” we mean the countries of the so-called “first wave” (USA, European countries, etc.)
- The start date of sales in Russia is the beginning of sales of certified (PCT) iPhones.
- The iPhone 2G was not “legally” sold in Russia, and the first official iPhone in the Russian Federation was the 3G model (a little more about this).
| Device model | Presentation date | Global sales start date | Sales start date in Russia |
| iPhone 2G | 09.01.2007 | 29.06.2007 | No |
| iPhone 3G | 10.06.2008 | 11.07.2008 | 03.10.2008 |
| iPhone 3GS | 08.06.2009 | 19.06.2009 | 05.03.2010 |
| iPhone 4 | 07.06.2010 | 24.06.2010 | 22.09.2010 |
| iPhone 4S | 04.10.2011 | 14.10.2011 | 16.12.2011 |
| iPhone 5 | 19.09.2012 | 21.09.2012 | 14.12.2012 |
| iPhone 5S, 5C | 10.09.2013 | 20.09.2013 | 25.10.2013 |
| iPhone 6 (Plus) | 09.09.2014 | 19.09.2014 | 26.09.2014 |
| iPhone 6S (Plus) | 09.09.2015 | 25.09.2015 | 09.10.2015 |
| iPhone SE | 21.03.2016 | 31.03.2016 | 05.04.2016 |
| iPhone 7 (Plus) | 07.09.2016 | 16.09.2016 | 23.09.2016 |
| iPhone 8 (Plus) | 12.09.2017 | 22.09.2017 | 29.09.2017 |
| iPhone X | 12.09.2017 | 03.11.2017 | 03.11.2017 |
| iPhone XS (Max) | 12.09.2018 | 21.09.2018 | 28.09.2018 |
| iPhone XR | 12.09.2018 | 26.10.2018 | 26.10.2018 |
| iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max | 10.09.2019 | 20.09.2019 | 20.09.2019 |
As we can see, the increase in Apple’s loyalty to our country is very clearly visible. The timing of the appearance of gadgets in Russia, compared to the global start of sales, decreased every year. And by the time the “six” came out, they reached their apogee. The difference was only a week!
For comparison, the official iPhone 3GS appeared in Russia almost 9 months later! At this time the whole world was already waiting for the “four” :)
And my opinion is that everything was heading towards Russia being included this year in the list of those countries where Apple devices appear first. However, this did not happen and we all know why:
- Dollar instability.
- Great prices.
- Low purchasing activity.
Well, let's wait and see and perhaps, specifically for the iPhone 7 model, a row with two identical numbers in the last two columns will be added to the table at the top :)
Updated! Well, with regards to the iPhone 7, miracles certainly didn’t happen, but Russia still got into the “second wave” of sales. In the Russian Federation, a brand new smartphone from Apple will appear only a week later than in the “first wave” countries. And this is very good! After all, the point is that starting with the iPhone 7S, our country should be among those who will receive it first.
Updated 2! Preliminary data (which are known immediately after the presentation) on the release of iPhone 8 and iPhone X have been added to the table. At the moment, opinions differ only about the G8 - will Russia be among the countries of the “first wave”? Or will iPhone 8 sales in the Russian Federation start a week later than throughout the world? Let's wait for more accurate information... We have waited. Still a week late. But Russia was included in the “first wave” of iPhone X sales - this is very cool!
Updated 3! Data about the release date of the iPhone XS and iPhone XR has been added to the table. As for the most advanced iPhone XS, Russia again fell into the “second wave of sales.” The new product will be delivered to the Russian Federation a week later than to the “first wave” countries. It's okay, we'll get through it somehow :) But sales of the iPhone XR in Russia begin at the same time as the rest of the world - October 26, 2018. Normal!
Updated 4! Added release date information for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Well... we can all be congratulated! Now, in order to be among the very first to buy a new iPhone, a Russian apple lover does not necessarily have to go to another country. Official sales of iPhone 11 in the Russian Federation will start simultaneously with the rest of the world. Hurray, comrades! :)
All about iPhone X - the main smartphone of 2017.
iPhone X is Apple's flagship smartphone, the launch of which was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the original iPhone 2G. iPhone X has a glass body, a virtually frameless Super Retina HD OLED display, a TrueDepth front camera system, an ultra-precise Face ID face scanning function, support for fast and wireless charging, and a dual L-shaped battery. You can buy iPhone X at the price of 64 GB - 55 990 rub., iPhone X 256 GB - RUR 59,990 .
How to call iPhone X correctly
In the Apple fan community, the iPhone X is often called by different names. Very often, a smartphone is called “iPhone X”, reading the “X” symbol as a letter. Many users abroad call the iPhone X in the same way, with one difference that the model is called “iPhone ex”, in their own way of pronouncing the letters.
In the Russian-speaking community, the iPhone X is often referred to as “iPhone ten.” Here the logic is reversed - the symbol “X” is read not as a letter, but as the Roman numeral ten. Several derivatives follow from this name, which are possible due to the great diversity of the Russian language. iPhone X becomes, for example, the “tenth iPhone”, “top ten”, etc. These smartphone names are close to correct.
It is most correct to call the iPhone X as “iPhone ten”. X is the Roman numeral 10, which in English is written as "ten" and pronounced "ten".
Packaging, accessories and first impressions
The excitement of unboxing the iPhone X is off the charts. It's no joke, a smartphone for 63-72 thousand rubles, anyone will get excited. True, the packaging of the iPhone X is somewhat subduing. Before us is the same classic rectangular iPhone box. The front side shows the iPhone X itself with a corporate background, and the inscription “iPhone” on the side. Apple is not used to experimenting with the packaging of its devices, so you shouldn’t be surprised by this state of affairs.
When the cover is removed and the iPhone X comes into your hands for the first time, the smartphone literally makes you admire it. At least because there is no such familiar “Home” button on its front side. The entire front part of the smartphone is filled with a display that, at first impressions, is simply huge. In September we reviewed in detail iPhone 8 And iPhone 8 Plus. Unboxing these smartphones turned out to be quite boring, since even when removing the devices from the box, there was no real surprise. And where did he come from? The Eights look too much like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
The iPhone X is a different story. There is a wow effect. And it’s noteworthy that you don’t even need to pick up a smartphone for it to happen. The almost completely frameless display that greets the new owner speaks for itself.
The configuration of the iPhone X was disappointing, like all the latest iPhones. There's nothing new in it. While the Chinese equip their smartphones with protective films and other nice accessories, Apple remains itself. The iPhone X package comes with the most standard set possible in principle: a 5 W charger, a Lightning-USB cable, EarPods with a Lightning connector (the return of the 3.5 mm jack has not happened and there is no point in waiting for it), a paperclip for removal SIM card tray and documentation.
However, the frankly boring package failed to spoil the impression of the iPhone X. When the smartphone is in your hand for the first time, you immediately understand and feel that the iPhone X is very different from the iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus and all previously released iPhones . But the difference in sensations between the iPhone X and the “eight” is especially noticeable.
It would seem that both the iPhone X and the iPhone 8/8 Plus have a back made of glass, the strongest glass ever used in a mobile device. However, in terms of tactile sensations, which are extremely important when talking about smartphones with the cost of a used foreign car, the iPhone X is very different from previously released models. What's the secret?
The peculiarity of the iPhone X in terms of tactile sensations is that the side edges of the smartphone are made of surgical stainless steel. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have aluminum edges. To hear the difference is insignificant, but in practice these are two completely different things.
The glass back cover of the iPhone X is much more noticeable due to its steel edges. There is a clear feeling of the volume of the iPhone X body. The picture is complemented by reflections from the steel frame on the glass, which are simply not present in the case of the seemingly identical glass iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. When light falls on the back cover of the latter, it simply dissipates. In the case of the iPhone X, the light falls under the protruding steel edges and, when reflected, clearly outlines the appearance of the smartphone. It's really hard to describe, but the effect is colossal.
Design
For the first time in three years, Apple has decided to seriously change the design of its smartphones. iPhone X is radically different from previous models. The back cover of the smartphone is made of reinforced glass, and not aluminum, as before. By switching (or rather, returning) to the use of glass, Apple managed to significantly refresh the appearance of the iPhone X.
True, the glass panels of the iPhone X are not ordinary. They are both made from the strongest glass Apple has ever used in its devices. The color on the panels is applied in a special way in seven layers. This is the only way the company’s engineers were able to achieve the correct shade and the required density. In addition, the final reflective optical slot makes the color of the glass as saturated as possible. Both the front and back glass of the iPhone X are covered with an oleophobic coating. It is problematic to get them dirty, but even in this case, fingerprints and smudges can be removed very easily.
The element between the glasses is no less impressive. The design of the iPhone X case is strengthened by a steel frame made of a special stainless steel alloy. The alloy is distinguished by the highest purity, beauty and strength.
The shape of the iPhone X body has also changed. It has become more elongated, which is due to the smartphone being equipped with a display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. However, the iPhone X remained similar to its predecessors and did not lose the classic and recognizable look for Apple smartphones.
The main changes in the design of the iPhone X are on the front panel. The frames around the smartphone display have almost completely disappeared, not only the side ones, but also the bottom one. Along with the bottom frame, the iPhone X also lacked the traditional physical Home button. The top frame has also changed. On its sides there are original cutouts for the screen.
On the substrate remaining from the upper chamber there is a whole scattering of sensors. It houses: a speaker, a microphone, a 7-megapixel camera, a dot projector, an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, an IR emitter and an IR camera.
The dimensions of the iPhone X are 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm. The iPhone X is slightly larger in size than the iPhone 6/7/8, but smaller than the Plus models. A comparison of the dimensions of the iPhone X with previous models is presented in the table below.
| Dimensions comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone X | iPhone 8 | iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone 7 | iPhone 7 Plus |
| 143.6×70.9×7.7 mm | 138.4×67.3×7.3 mm | 158.4×78.1×7.5 mm | 138.3×67.1×7.1 mm | 158.2×77.9×7.3 mm |
The iPhone X is close to the ideal size when it comes to ease of use. The smartphone doesn't feel bulky like the 5.5-inch iPhone Plus and fits perfectly in the hand.
Case colors
iPhone X is available in two colors: silver and space gray. Note that for the steel frame of the iPhone X in space gray color, Apple used a vacuum deposition process. Thus, it was possible to achieve a perfectly accurate match between the color of the frame and the color of the glass on the back panel.
Display
iPhone X has a huge 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED display. Apple has equipped its smartphone with an OLED display for the first time - before that, all iPhones had LCD displays. The iPhone X's OLED display has many advantages over the LCD displays of previous iPhones. It has better color reproduction, increased contrast and much more saturated colors. In addition, the OLED display consumes less energy, which will have a beneficial effect on the autonomy of the iPhone X.
There are virtually no bezels around the iPhone X display. The side and bottom frames have been reduced to a minimum, and all that remains of the top frame is a base in the center, on which various sensors and the front camera are placed. Apple deliberately did not completely abandon the frames so that there would be no accidental clicks while using the iPhone X.
The iPhone X display supports True Tone color temperature adaptation technology, which first appeared in smartphones. True Tone technology involves the use of four-channel light sensors in the display. They monitor the ambient light conditions and automatically change the color temperature of the iPhone screen. Thanks to True Tone technology, reading from the iPhone X display is comparable to reading a regular paper book.
The OLED technology in the Super Retina HD display has been enhanced. Apple has spent a lot of effort and brought technology to its own highest standards. As a result, iPhone X features an HDR display with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, extreme brightness, color accuracy, and an expanded color gamut.
The resolution of the 5.8-inch iPhone X display is 2436x1125 pixels, with a pixel density of 458.
The iPhone X display extends to the very edges of the smartphone's bezel. Apple went further than its competitors, who presented frameless smartphones earlier, and used a new approach to the location of the controller and tiered placement of chips. This ensured the effect of perfect pixel smoothing in the corners of the display. The edges of the iPhone X screen look smooth and are not distorted at all.
The latest Super Retina HD display uses an advanced color management system that displays both sRGB and P3 content correctly. An iPhone X user will see on the screen of their smartphone exactly the color that was intended by the artist, designer or director.
The iPhone X display has support for high dynamic range (HDR). iPhone X owners will be able to watch TV series, TV programs or films shot in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. In addition, photos in HDR mode on the iPhone X screen will look even more realistic.
Specifications
The iPhone X is powered by a six-core Apple A11 Bionic processor. Four of the A11 Bionic cores are efficient, while the remaining two are efficient. However, if the iPhone X needs more processing power, the CPU starts using all six cores to complete tasks. The A11 Bionic efficiency cores are 75% faster than the Apple A10 Fusion found in iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and the performance cores are 25% faster.
A11 Bionic received a new name for a reason. The thing is that it is not an improved version of the A10X Fusion. This is a completely new processor, which is based on a dual-core neural system that can recognize faces, objects and places. The neural system of the A11 Bionic chip processes machine learning tasks at speeds of up to 600 billion operations per second! The neural system itself is a device that was created specifically for machine learning. It can perform calculations for neural networks incredibly quickly while remaining efficient.
The A11 Bionic's four efficient cores enable iPhone X to handle everyday tasks faster with little energy consumption. When the user loads the smartphone more, the productive cores will come into play with full activity.
The A11 Bionic processor takes AR-enabled apps and games to a whole new level. The iPhone X chip significantly increases their realism and smoothness. And with regular games, the iPhone X will be at its best, again thanks to the A11 Bionic. The A11 Bionic GPU (designed by Apple) is optimized for all modern 3D games, including those created using the next generation of Metal 2 graphics technology.
Synthetic testing confirms that technically the iPhone X is one of the most powerful smartphones. In AnTuTu 6, the iPhone X's performance varied significantly depending on testing. Most often, the iPhone X received an overall result of 206-207 thousand points, but sometimes it earned a much more modest 189-190 thousand points. However, even this result puts the iPhone X in first place in terms of performance according to the AnTuTu rating, but together with the iPhone 8 Plus, which has similar indicators. 
Now, as for how the iPhone X compares with other latest smartphones. In the Geekbench 4 single-core benchmark, the iPhone X demonstrated its incredible superiority over other flagships. The difference is truly amazing. The iPhone X earned 4,245 points, while other smartphones failed to cross the 2,000-point threshold.
In multi-core mode in Geekbench 4, the situation for Android flagships has improved, but only slightly. iPhone X showed an absolutely amazing result, firmly entrenched in first place in terms of performance among all smartphones ever released.
In the BaseMark OS 2.0 benchmark, the iPhone X retained its advantage over its opponents, but the gap was no longer so serious.
The amount of RAM on the iPhone X is 3 GB, the built-in memory is 64 and 256, depending on the model.
Face ID scanner
iPhone X is equipped with an ultra-accurate Face ID facial scanner. Using Face ID, smartphone owners can both unlock the device and verify their identity when making purchases in the App Store, iTunes Store, or regular online stores via Apple Pay.
The Face ID facial scanner is based on the TrueDepth camera system. It includes:
- infrared camera,
- dot projector,
- infrared emitter.
The Dot Projector projects over 30,000 invisible dots onto an iPhone X owner's face to create a map that is unique to them. Such a large number of fixed points allows scanning with maximum accuracy.
The infrared emitter is responsible for ensuring that the Face ID scanner can recognize the owner’s face even in complete darkness. The emitter emits an invisible beam of infrared light, due to which it recognizes the user.
An infrared camera reads the dot structure and creates an image in the infrared spectrum. After that, it sends the image to the Secure Enclave module, which is built into the A11 Bionic processor. Here, in the heart of the iPhone X, a match is made between the face of the owner of the smartphone and the user who is trying to unlock it.
By creating Face ID, Apple provided protection against accidental unlocking of the iPhone X. The scanner technology will remove locks only when the user specifically looks at the smartphone.
Face ID is more than a full-fledged replacement for the Touch ID fingerprint scanner in terms of the main iPhone X security system. Face ID provides protection against fraud using masks or photographs. This means that iPhone X cannot be unlocked by using the owner's photo.
The face card scanned by Face ID is only stored on the device in encrypted form. In addition, it is additionally protected by the Secure Enclave module. The Face ID facial scanner recognizes the owner even if his appearance changes. Face ID uses machine learning technologies from the A11 Bionic processor to remember the user.
Now, regarding personal impressions of using the Face ID function. To begin with, we had to spend some time setting up Face ID. And it was great! For the first time in many years, the new iPhone surprises to such an extent that you have to learn something new. From 2013 with the iPhone 5s until the iPhone 8/8 Plus in 2017, users were only required to enroll their finger in Touch ID. This procedure became very boring and boring. So much so that even the second generation Touch ID, which debuted in the iPhone 6s, did not bring any new sensations.
The iPhone X cannot be reproached in this regard. Not only does the iPhone X have a completely new design and lack the classic Home button, but the smartphone also offers a different method of security and authentication. Let's tell the truth that getting used to it is difficult, but pleasant. You really feel like you are using some truly unique technology. Technology of the future. Moreover, the latter is not an ode to Apple. No other manufacturer has yet demonstrated anything even close to Face ID.
Face ID stability is excellent. The lock from the iPhone is removed without any problems, most often the first time. Of course, the success of the operation depends on the location of the face relative to the front panel of the iPhone X. The recommended distance between the face and the iPhone X for Face ID to work correctly is 25-50 centimeters. If you bring the iPhone X closer or further to your face, problems may arise. Owners of the iPhone X definitely need to know about this, since otherwise the pleasure of using the function will be overshadowed by unsuccessful attempts to unlock it.
One major downside to Face ID is security, which Apple is known to be sensitive to. The downside is that after successfully scanning the face, the iPhone X does not completely remove the lock. In order to get inside the iPhone X, you additionally need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
This feature of the iPhone X and Face ID will definitely not appeal to everyone, because in order to access the smartphone you still have to touch it. Going to the main screen immediately after unlocking would be much more convenient, as it would save users from an unnecessary gesture. On the other hand, such a system would be less secure.
We would like to highlight how Apple implemented Face ID support in iOS. The App Store is incredibly easy to use on iPhone X. In order to download an application from the App Store on all previous iPhones, you must enter a password or place your finger on Touch ID to confirm. With iPhone X, thanks to Face ID, you don't need to do anything at all. You simply click “Download” or “Buy” - the operation is instantly completed. This is not about deteriorating security. Face ID just works. A split second after you press the button, Face ID scans your face and gives the App Store permission to download or purchase the app. It is very comfortable.
There is similar simplicity when launching applications that can be protected using Face ID. When you launch such an application, it seems that there is no special protection on it. However, it only seems so. In fact, Face ID simply understands that it is the owner who launches the application and allows you to enter it without delay.
Touch ID
The iPhone X does not have a fingerprint sensor. The Face ID facial scanner has completely replaced the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
Battery
iPhone X lasts a very long time without recharging:
- Up to 21 hours talk time.
- Up to 12 hours on the Internet.
- Up to 13 hours when watching videos.
- Up to 60 hours of audio playback.
Wireless charger
iPhone X comes with wireless charging support. Contrary to numerous early rumors, wireless charging on Apple's flagship is quite traditional and is performed using a special Qi standard docking station.
The fact that Apple decided to use a generally accepted standard is definitely encouraging. You can charge the iPhone X using any Qi standard docking station, of which there is no shortage, to put it mildly. And new charging stations began to appear with enviable regularity after the release of the iPhone X. Belkin and Mophie, for example, have already created several docking stations specifically for the iPhone X.
Fast charging
The iPhone X also supports fast charging, directly through the Lighting connector, which has Type-C Power Delivery technology. Apple's decision to leave Lighting in service, rather than switch to the rapidly growing popularity of USB-C, will affect the convenience of users switching from older iPhone models to iPhone X. iPhone X charges from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes using a USB-C power adapter.
Water resistance
iPhone X received protection against water and dust according to the IP67 standard. Thus, there was no improvement in comparison with this characteristic for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Software
The iPhone X comes pre-installed with the iOS 12 operating system. All changes in the iOS interface for the iPhone X, of course, are responsible for the elongated screen and the absence of a physical Home button. The iPhone X display has become larger, so there is also more space for content of any type.
The differences in the interface, menus, and appearance of applications on the iPhone X compared to any other iPhone are noticeable throughout the entire system, from the Home screen (note the top and Dock) to Control Center. To be fair, you easily get used to most of the changes, and some you don’t even notice if you don’t think about it.
However, there is one thing that iPhone users, even with little experience, will have to get used to. The button with the image of a globe, responsible for switching layouts, has disappeared from its usual place in the lower left corner. On the iPhone X it is located even lower, at the very bottom of the display. It’s so unremarkable that at first we didn’t even notice it and almost went into the system settings to check if the second layout had been randomly disabled.
Although the button with the globe appeared, it became extremely unusual to press it. And this is no wonder. After many years of mechanically clicking on the globe in one place, starting to click on it in another turned out to be not so easy. At least it has become more difficult to do it quickly. However, the displacement of the globe button has an obvious and big advantage. The standard iOS keyboard in the iPhone X has become perfectly symmetrical, and with the increased size of the keys it is also more convenient to use.
Cameras
The main camera of the iPhone X is dual, including a wide-angle and a telephoto lens. True, it is not at all similar to the iPhone 7 Plus camera of a similar type, including in appearance. The dual camera of the iPhone X is located vertically.
The resolution of each lens is 12 megapixels, the aperture of the wide-angle lens is ƒ/1.8, and the telephoto lens is ƒ/2.4. iPhone X's camera uses dual optical image stabilization to help you take great photos in low-light conditions.
One of the main features of the dual camera, Portrait mode, has been improved in the iPhone X. The details of images with the depth of field effect have become clearer, and the background blur has become more natural. You can also shoot in portrait mode on the iPhone X in low-light conditions, both thanks to improvements to the camera itself and the ability to use the flash.
The iPhone X camera supports Portrait Lighting. The smartphone detects the depth of space and facial contours, allowing you to create photos that simulate professional lighting.
- Daylight - focusing on the subject's face, blurred background.
- Contour light - halftones with dark and light areas.
- Studio light - the subject's face is brightly illuminated, the image is as clear as possible.
- Stage light - the subject's face seems to be illuminated by a spotlight, a rich black background.
- Mono stage light is a similar effect to the previous one, but in black and white.
The image signal processor (ISP) in the iPhone X camera has been improved. He was able to recognize both people and various parameters in the frame, such as movement or lighting brightness. By receiving this information, the processor makes the frame much better even before the actual shooting.
Technologically, the iPhone X camera has been improved wherever possible. The color range has been expanded, autofocus has become faster, advanced pixel processing technologies have been applied, and the quality of images in HDR mode has been improved.
iPhone X features a new True Tone Quad-LED flash with Slow Sync. By combining long shutter speeds and high flash rates, Slow Sync flash allows you to illuminate subjects without darkening the background. And True Tone Quad-LED technology allows you to avoid overexposed areas in photographs due to uniform illumination.
The quality of video shooting on the iPhone X has also been improved. The smartphone camera allows you to shoot in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 frames per second (Slo-mo), as well as in time-lapse mode. In any mode, new video stabilization technology eliminates shake as much as possible.
The front camera has been updated no less globally in the iPhone X. The large-scale changes in the front camera are directly hinted at by its name - TrueDepth, and not FaceTime, as in previous iPhone models. Apple decided to give the front camera of the iPhone X a new name, of course, for a reason.
The TrueDepth camera includes a complex system consisting of an IR camera, an IR emitter, a dot projector and a 7 MP camera itself. Together with the A11 Bionic processor, this system powers four key functions of the iPhone X's front camera.
The first key feature is the Face ID facial scanner discussed earlier. The second is the “Portrait” mode when taking selfies. Only a year ago, Apple made it possible to take photos with the effect of depth of field on the main camera, as now the same opportunity appears on the front camera. Moreover, with the front camera of the iPhone X, portrait mode works much easier than it was before. Focusing on a subject is accomplished with exactly one touch. You don't have to set up specially for shooting. The effect is the same - the subject is in focus, and the background is blurred.
The third key feature is the ability to create portrait lighting, just like the main camera. Apple has conducted extensive research in the field of portrait art and created a function that calculates how light interacts with the facial features of an iPhone X user. Based on the data obtained, amazing lighting effects are created:
- Daylight - the background is blurred, and the focus is clearly on the face.
- Contour light - expressive halftones with light and dark areas are used.
- Studio light - the image is as clear as possible, the user's face is brightly illuminated.
- Stage Lighting - The user's face is illuminated by a spotlight and the background is deep black.
- Stage light - mono - a similar effect to the previous one, but in black and white.
And finally, the fourth unique feature of the TrueDepth front camera is the ability to create Animoji. Animoji are animated emoticons based on the user's face. The TrueDepth camera, together with the A11 Bionic processor, analyzes the facial expressions of more than 50 facial muscles and, based on this, animates one of the 12 animoji. Apple's new emoji can even talk! While recording an Animoji, it is enough to say the desired phrase and the recipient will receive not only a visual, but also a voice message.
