Technology

Is iPhone X Justified?

Last week Apple announced a flurry of revisions and updates to it’s famed iPhone product line. Not only did we get updates to the iPhones 7 and 7 Plus, we got an all new $999 iPhone X (pronounced ten). Not only is the X a beautiful device (overall), it makes compromises left and right due to the choices, made by Apple, while now developers and users must pay the cost (literally) to use this new product.

Design

In an attempt to fully utilize the entire screen, iPhone X has two notches at the top of the screen that wrap around the Depth Sensor array and speaker at the top. Apple makes to attempt to hide this notch and creates two “ears at the top of the device that alters the experience unlike any other iOS device (more on that later). So while the screen at 5.8” is the largest screen ever on an iPhone, it will feel and react more like an elongated iPhone 7 or iPhone 8, not a Plus due to resolution. Let that sink in.

Software

iOS is arguably the easiest and simplest mobile operating system to use and get acquainted with and the iPhone X, albeit polarizing, does not change that fact.

Usability

iPhone X changes the paradigm, completely, in regard to how the screen displays information. So, first off, Springboard, which is Apple’s homescreen “launcher” remains the same — but let’s dive into the specifics of the hardware notch containing the True Depth camera array. This notch throws a wrench into a normally beautiful viewing experience and is considered by my technologists in the industry a design flaw, myself included. The issue this creates is that developers have to take into account this notch for all of their apps. Do they code around it? Or do they black out both “ears” surrounding the notch and just completely disregard that space? (Option number 2 is not recommended by Apple) So, will we enter an era of screen elements potentially ending up is strange positions around this hardware notch? You bet we will.

Additionally, this brings to light Apple’s claim to being edge to edge. Does it really count in this case? I’ll say that it does, but only because I’m trying to be nice. There are other phones on the market that still give us edge to edge but still have a small bezel around the device, look at LG V30. My question here is why couldn’t Apple push the sensors in the array further up, then give us equal parts of minimal bezel at the top and bottom of the screen? THAT would’ve worked…..

Should you buy it?

This is the tricky part, if you are using an iPhone 6 or 6s — go for it, if you can deal with a first generation product (not the first iPhone but the first in a brand new design).  Value or worth is completely subjective to the person that’s willing to swipe their precious card — $1000 is a lot for a smartphone (Apple, Google and Samsung); however, when thinking realistically we use and rely on our smartphone more than any other computer we own.  We want it to always have power, look nice, keep us in contact with friends and family — at the end of the day, the phone just needs to be worth the price tag.

The answer to this question is solely resting upon the shoulders of the buyer.