The iPhone X fails to impress me in many ways. Although it’s the most impressive device Apple has built, but it does have a number of flaws that are big enough to convince me to stay away from it and get a competing Android handset instead.
For the last 24 hours, plenty of publications have been talking about all the great features of Apple’s new flagship including its large bezel-less display, upgraded processor, and the addition of wireless charging. It’s extremely easy to get caught up in all the excitement, but if you take a step back and have an honest look at the new device, you’ll quickly realize that the iPhone X isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
It definitely has its faults, which we’ll take a closer look at in this post. Here are four reasons why I won’t buy the iPhone X.
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- It doesn’t have the X factor
The iPhone X is packed with the latest technology. It has a dual-camera setup on the back, a bezel-less display, a powerful chipset, and also supports wireless charging. The problem is that these things aren’t really new, as they are already present on a number of Android smartphones.
The truth is that the new iPhone lacks the X factor, which is at least one unique feature that would make it stand out from the crowd. Just look at the Android world: the Galaxy S8 has the curved display, the Note 8 comes equipped with the S Pen, Motorola’s high-end handsets have Moto Mods and the ShatterShield display, and the OnePlus 5 has Dash Charge. These features give the devices a competitive edge over their rivals and can really influence consumers’ purchasing decisions.
Apple's top-tier smartphone lacks an X factor
This is something the iPhone X lacks, as there’s really not one feature that sets it apart from the rest. It kind of seems Apple has stopped innovating and just follows the trends that have already been established on the market. Sure, it can afford to do so thanks to its loyal fan base, but that won’t last forever. To maintain its market position, Apple will have to step up its game and start equipping its devices with something we haven’t seen before.
- It’s way too expensive
Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy Note 8 last month that shocked the public with its high price tag of $929. However, starting at $999, the new iPhone almost makes the Note 8 look like a bargain.
It’s the most expensive iPhone to date and based on what it brings to the table compared to the competition, it’s kind of hard — almost impossible — to justify its high price. To give you a better idea of just how expensive the iPhone X is, let’s compare it with some of the other high-end smartphones.
Related reading: Why your next premium smartphone will be $1,000, and what you’re actually paying for
Compared to the competition, it's hard to justify the iPhone X's $1,000 price tag
The unlocked versions of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus initially retailed for $724.99 and $824.99, while the LG G6 launched with a price tag of $599. Although the exact price of the recently revealed LG V30 hasn’t been confirmed yet, rumors claim that the device will set you back somewhere between $800 and $850. Keep in mind that all of these smartphones feature high-end specs, are water resistant, and sport a near-bezel-less design, just like the iPhone X.
Another thing worth pointing out is that the price of the new iPhone likely won’t drop until its successor is announced. On the other hand, the G6 was revealed in February and currently retails for $450 on Amazon, while you were able to get the Galaxy S8 duo for as low as $575 and $675 during a sale less than three months after their release.
Flagships are expensive, but Apple took things to a whole new level with its new iPhone. The price is way too high in my opinion, especially when considering you can get your hands on a number of Android devices that, in some cases, offer more in terms of specs and features for far less money.
- There’s no fingerprint scanner on board
Apple’s business strategy seems a bit weird. Instead of adding features to its devices, the company is actually removing them. After ditching the headphone jack last year, the tech giant is back with another bold move: the iPhone X doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner.
The security feature that has become standard on most high-end and mid-range smartphones is replaced by Face ID, which is Apple’s new face recognition technology. To unlock the iPhone, you have to lift it up to your face, make sure the camera is pointing at you, then swipe up. Unlocking with a scan of the finger is much quicker and easier.
See also: Was ditching the headphone jack a good idea?
The problem here is that we have seen facial recognition on a few smartphone so far, and it hasn’t proven to be very safe. To give you an example, the technology was tricked by a photo on the Galaxy S8. Apple claims this won’t happen with Face ID and that there’s only a one in a million chance another person would be able to unlock your phone.
Facial recognition also isn’t super reliable, which we were clearly able to see yesterday. During its first demo at Apple’s event, Face ID failed twice in a row.
It really does make me wonder how well the technology will perform if, for example, you’re wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses, have a stylish new beard, or a black eye due to a close encounter with the door. Will Face ID still work as advertised? I have my doubts, but will reserve judgment until I actually try it out for myself.
Apple should at least give its users a chance to choose which safety feature to use by also placing a fingerprint scanner on the back
Even if it works brilliantly, Apple should at least give its users a chance to choose which safety feature to use by also placing a fingerprint scanner on the back. These things aren’t really that expensive! Ultimately, Apple likely didn’t want to “ruin” the back of its phone by including a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, but this comes at the cost of frustrated users wanting an easy way to unlock their iPhones.
Plus, it’s easier to unlock a device with a finger than your face while it’s placed on the table — if it has a front-mounted scanner — as you don’t have to lift it up and stare directly at it.
Fingerprint scanners are awesome, and I see no reason to ditch the technology that works and is easy to use for something that’s might be the total opposite. They are safe enough and I don’t really see myself buying a smartphone — especially an expensive one — that doesn’t have it.
- It doesn’t look sexy
Let’s face it, design is important — no one wants an ugly smartphone. While I wouldn’t call the iPhone X ugly, I also wouldn’t call it good looking. The overall design of the device could be described as bland, it definitely doesn’t stand out from the crowd, and is, to be honest, a bit boring.
The first thing I have a problem with is the notch on the top that houses the camera, the proximity sensor, and so forth. I’d rather see a slightly larger bezel on top like on the Note 8 or V30, as it just looks a lot more stylish in my opinion. Aside from that, there really aren’t a lot of bad things to say about the front of the smartphone. I do like the screen-to-body ratio that makes the large device a lot more compact.
When moving to the back, however, things are a bit different. I know Apple is all about simplicity, so no one really expected the company to come up with a flashy design. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t have played it as safe as it did in this area and could have made the back a lot more attractive. It simply lacks the style and elegance we’re used to seeing on some Android smartphones, partly due to the not-so-sexy protruding dual-camera setup.
Of course, design is subjective, meaning we all have a different opinion on this topic. I’m sure a lot of you love the way the device looks and if that’s the case, don’t let my opinion bother you. As already mentioned, it’s not ugly, but definitely isn’t stunning enough for me to convince me to fork out a grand to get it.