THE X FACTOR
Review of the iPhone X
Apple has recently impressed its vast fan base with the launch of its iPhone X (pronounced as “ten”). The latest model was announced on September 12, 2017, alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at the Steve Jobs Theatre in the Apple Park campus in California. This next generation smartphone is crafted to appeal to different types of users by providing them with advanced innovation that is every bit relevant today, as it is forecasted to be for the next few years.
FEATURES OF THE X
The iPhone X is devoid of a home button or a biometric fingerprint scanner that unlocks its predecessors. Instead, Apple has developed FaceID, a sophisticated facial recognition function that utilises the front facing “TrueDepth”camera (Apple’s patented front-facing camera system). It scans and analyses every contour of the user’s face with the help of around 30,000 invisible dots to create a precise facial map. All it takes is a steady stare at the screen to unlock the device in a matter of seconds. Further, this feature won’t work unless your eyes are open, which means, you can be assured that no one can sneak up on you to unlock your phone when you’re asleep.
The common question has been, how do you get out of apps and back to the home screen without the home button? It’s as easy as simply swiping up from the bottom of the screen. And if you swipe up and hold, you’ll have an inventory of the recently used apps, as opposed to double tapping the home button.
Going back to Apple’s TrueDepth camera, it is capable of so much more, especially when coupled with the iPhone X’s A11 Bionic Chip, that is an intelligent piece of technology that integrates all components of the phone. This includes its capability of taking stunning selfies with a wide array of settings, filters and light effects. The A11 Bionic Chip has also helped give birth to Apple’s “Animoji” feature that uses the subject’s facial patterns and analyses more than 50 muscle movements to create a live, animated emoji mirroring the subject (shareable via iMessage).
The iPhone X also deploys a larger and faster megapixel (MP) sensor for its front (7MP) and back (12MP) cameras. Taking mobile photography to the next level, Apple has managed to outdo itself with this iteration. With deeper pixels and sharper colour tones, the new telephoto (a specific type of long-focus lens) camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) can produce highly accurate photos to real life irrespective of lighting conditions. What truly sets it apart from previous models and competition is the software’s capability to intelligently analyse the scene for subjects, motion and lighting, and create an optimum setting to capture an image. The Apple-designed image signal processor also provides for advanced pixel processing, wider colour capture, faster autofocus and better HDR — thanks, once again, to the A11 Bionic Chip. For videos, 4K (refers to a superior, horizontal resolution in the order of 4,000 pixels) recording, slow-motion and time-lapse options allow creativity to take form.
Part of the A11 Bionic Chip is a “neural engine”, a kind of artificial intelligence that is highly intuitive. From learning a user’s interactions with the device, formulating better engagement, recognising faces, places and objects, and running augmented reality apps fluidly while optimising usage and functions, to delivering extended battery life, the A11 Chip has capabilities to do it all and then some more, without breaking into a sweat.
Then there’s the absolutely stunning 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED (organic light-emitting diode) Display panel – 1125 pixels by 2436 pixels resolution with 458 pixels per inch. Stretching out across the front, the iPhone X has an 83 per cent screen-to-body-ratio with just a hint of a “forehead” for its TrueDepth camera and a variety of sensors. These include an infrared camera for FaceID scanning and an ambient light sensor married to the display’s “TrueTone” feature that’s designed for comfortable viewing of content, reducing eyestrain.
In terms of design, the iPhone, in general, has managed to stand out in a crowd. Having said that, while the 5.8inch Super Retina display (Apple’s self description) has set itself apart, the X’s brilliant reproduction of content, seamless functionality of gestures and the fluidity of overall engagement, give it a position into the smartphone “Hall of Fame”.
INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS
As far as industry innovations go, features like FaceID (new for Apple) can’t really be considered, as Android devices that came before the X already have the same. Although Apple may have designed it differently, it isn’t new. That being said, the “TrueDepth”camera technology could be touted as a true smartphone innovation simply because of its intense collaboration with the A11 Bionic Chip that’s resulted in features such as Animoji and great image reproduction. The chip itself is a facet of the iPhone X’s specifications that is very deserving of praise.
The chip itself is a facet of the iPhone X’s specifications that is very deserving of praise.
COMPETING WITH PREDECESSORS
Like every iteration of the iPhone, the X by progression is a class apart from its predecessor. Of course, Apple hasn’t merely upgraded the technology, but has also re-envisioned the design. The almost-bezel-less display and primary camera’s repositioning (it’s vertical now) being its highlights, the iPhone X is the next-generation smartphone from the company in all contexts. The new design is a welcome change to the otherwise similar form that Apple has been building up upon over the last ten years.
X FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS
For the frequent traveller, a smartphone like the iPhone X is an option to seriously consider. Aside from its speed of functioning and splendid camera, the larger screen ensures more comfortable interaction and viewing of emails and documents. Add that to the fact that the battery can last up to two hours longer than the iPhone 7 and provides a 50 per cent charge in just 30 minutes; the iPhone X is optimised for consistent use.
Although the iPhone models have been subject to ridicule because of their use of vulnerable “glass”components, the iPhone X’s hardened glass and stainless steel frame should keep it quite safe in case of an occasional drop. That being said, it is glass after all, which doesn’t make it unbreakable altogether.