Customers face six-week wait for in-demand iPhone X
THERE is a six-week waiting list for Apple’s new flagship iPhone, which goes on sale in Ireland this week.
The iPhone X, pronounced ‘iPhone ten’, is in high demand for its larger edge-to-edge 5.8inch screen and its facial recognition technology, despite its €1,179 price.
It is estimated to be holding back sales of Apple’s other new handset, the iPhone 8, with many consumers holding out for Apple’s top device.
The phone is available to buy upfront on Apple’s Irish web store. The device costs €1,179 for the 64GB version or €1,349 for the 256GB version, a new high for a mainstream smartphone.
Irish mobile operators are offering different deals on the 64GB edition of the iPhone X. Virgin Mobile is offering the iPhone X for €499 with a contract for €60 per month over two years.
Eir, formerly known as Meteor, is selling the phone for €649 upfront with a €55-per-month tariff. Vodafone is selling the device for €299 upfront for people willing to pay €80 per month as a tariff.
The country’s largest operator also has a €60-a-month plan with a €599 upfront price. Meanwhile, Three has a €569 upfront price and €60-a-month for two years.
Not all iPhones are experiencing delays in delivery. The iPhone 8, which is less than half the upfront price with similar or lower monthly bill pay tariffs on operators, appears to be in plentiful supply.
But it is the flagship X model that seems to be most in demand. It has a new 5.8-inch Oled screen which Apple calls ‘super retina’. However, because of its edge-to-edge screen design, the new handset is smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus despite having a larger display.
The iPhone X replaces the home button with facial recognition scanners for unlocking the phone and for paying in shops. It measures 30,000 facial points, and can’t be fooled by beards, hats, tans or the natural aging process.
The phone’s facial recognition abilities can also be used for new ‘animoji’, animated emoji that closely mimic a user’s facial expressions and which can be used within iMessage.
The iPhone X also has advanced new cameras.