iPhone X: Revolutionizing Smartphone Design and Features

iPhone X

Basic Overview

The iPhone X (pronounced “iPhone Ten”) is a flagship smartphone designed and marketed by Apple Inc., released on November 3, 2017, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone lineup. It represented a radical departure from Apple’s previous iPhone designs, ditching the iconic home button and Touch ID for a bezel-less Super Retina HD OLED display and facial recognition technology (Face ID). Positioned as Apple’s most advanced smartphone at the time, the iPhone X bridged the gap between the company’s traditional smartphone design and the modern full-screen era, setting new standards for display quality, biometric security, and mobile computing performance.

Key Specifications

Category	Details
Display	5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED displayResolution: 2436 × 1125 pixels (458 ppi)Features: HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, 625 nits max brightness (1000 nits peak for HDR), 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, Wide Color (P3) gamut, edge-to-edge design with “Dynamic Island” predecessor (notch for TrueDepth camera system)Touch Technology: Haptic Touch (replaced 3D Touch in later software updates)
Processor	Apple A11 Bionic chip (6-core 64-bit ARM-based processor)CPU: 2 high-performance Monsoon cores + 4 energy-efficient Mistral coresGPU: Apple-designed 3-core GPU (30% faster than A10 Fusion)Neural Engine: 2-core dedicated AI processor (enabled Face ID, Portrait Mode, and machine learning tasks)
Storage Options	64GB / 256GB (non-expandable; no microSD slot)
Cameras	Rear Dual Camera System– Wide-angle lens: 12MP, f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), 1.22μm pixels, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF)- Telephoto lens: 12MP, f/2.4 aperture, 2× optical zoom, 10× digital zoom- Features: Portrait Mode with Depth Control & Portrait Lighting, 4K video recording at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p HD video at 30/60/120/240 fps, slow-motion video (1080p at 120/240 fps), optical image stabilization for both lensesFront TrueDepth Camera System– 7MP, f/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps- Core Function: Powers Face ID authentication; supports Portrait Mode for selfies and Animoji/Memoji creation
Battery & Charging	Non-removable lithium-ion battery- Capacity: 2716 mAh- Battery Life: Up to 21 hours of talk time, up to 13 hours of internet use, up to 60 hours of audio playback- Charging: Wired charging via Lightning port (18W fast charging support, adapter sold separately), Qi wireless charging (glass back design enabled this feature)
Design & Build	Stainless steel frame with glass front and back panelsDimensions: 143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mmWeight: 174 gramsWater and dust resistance: IP67 rating (up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes)Color Options: Silver, Space Gray
Biometric Authentication	Face ID (3D facial recognition via TrueDepth camera system) – replaces Touch ID; uses infrared dot projection, facial mapping, and machine learning to authenticate users in portrait or landscape mode, even in low light
Operating System	Initially launched with iOS 11; final supported version: iOS 16 (released 2022; no support for iOS 17 and later)
Connectivity	4G LTE Advanced, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (MIMO), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC (for Apple Pay), GPS/GNSS, Lightning port (USB 2.0 speeds)
Other Features	Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm headphone jack, Siri voice assistant, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, barometer, Animoji/Memoji (customizable animated emojis based on facial expressions)

Core Features & Innovations

Super Retina HD OLED Display & Notch DesignThe iPhone X was the first iPhone to adopt an OLED panel, delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios that outperformed the LCD displays of previous models. The edge-to-edge design eliminated the home button, creating more screen real estate, while the “notch” at the top housed the TrueDepth camera system— a design choice that sparked widespread industry adoption in subsequent smartphones.
Face ID Biometric SecurityThe TrueDepth camera system projected 30,000 invisible infrared dots onto the user’s face to create a precise 3D facial map. Face ID offered stronger security than Touch ID (with a 1-in-1,000,000 false match rate vs. 1-in-50,000 for Touch ID) and worked in low-light conditions, with the ability to recognize users even with glasses, hats, or minor facial hair changes. It also enabled hands-free authentication for Apple Pay and app logins.
A11 Bionic Chip & Neural EnginePowering the iPhone X’s performance was the A11 Bionic chip, which included a dedicated 2-core Neural Engine optimized for machine learning tasks. This chip enabled real-time facial mapping for Face ID, intelligent image processing for Portrait Mode, and smooth performance for gaming and multitasking. The A11 also supported ARKit (Apple’s augmented reality platform), allowing developers to create immersive AR apps.
Animoji & MemojiLeveraging the TrueDepth camera’s facial tracking capabilities, the iPhone X introduced Animoji—animated emojis that mimic the user’s facial expressions and head movements. Later software updates added Memoji, customizable avatars that users could personalize with hairstyles, clothing, and accessories, becoming a popular social sharing feature.
Wireless Charging SupportLike the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone X’s glass back enabled Qi-standard wireless charging, allowing users to charge the device on any Qi-certified pad without a Lightning cable. It also supported 18W fast wired charging, though the required adapter was sold separately.

Limitations & Criticisms

High Price PointAt launch, the iPhone X started at $999 for the 64GB model— a significant premium over previous flagship iPhones, making it one of Apple’s most expensive smartphones at the time and limiting its accessibility for budget-conscious consumers.
Notch Design PolarizationThe notch housing the TrueDepth camera system divided user opinions: some viewed it as a necessary trade-off for full-screen design, while others criticized it as an aesthetic flaw that disrupted the display’s uniformity.
Limited Software SupportThe iPhone X received iOS updates for 5 years (from iOS 11 to iOS 16), but it was excluded from iOS 17 (2023) and later versions. This meant it no longer received security patches, bug fixes, or new features after 2022, reducing its long-term usability.
No 3D Touch (Later Removed)While the iPhone X launched with 3D Touch (pressure-sensitive display technology), Apple replaced it with Haptic Touch in subsequent software updates, removing the ability to access pressure-sensitive shortcuts in favor of a tap-and-hold mechanism with haptic feedback.
No 5G ConnectivityAs a 2017 model, the iPhone X only supports 4G LTE networks, making it incompatible with 5G— a key limitation for users in regions with widespread 5G coverage.

Legacy & Market Position

The iPhone X was a transformative product for Apple, redefining the iPhone’s design language for the next decade. Its full-screen OLED display, Face ID, and glass-sandwich design became hallmarks of subsequent flagship iPhones (including the iPhone 11 Pro, 12 Pro, and beyond). Despite its high price, the iPhone X was a commercial success, solidifying Apple’s position in the premium smartphone market and inspiring other manufacturers to adopt bezel-less displays and facial recognition technology. It remains a iconic device in iPhone history, marking the end of the home-button era and the beginning of a new chapter for mobile computing.