Everything you need to know about the iPhone X in one place (2024)

Editors' note:This post was originally published on Sept. 26, and continues to be updated with Apple news and features.

After spending more than a month with the iPhone X, we're convinced that it represents a bold step into the future. With innovative facial recognition capabilities, a stunning edge-to-edge OLED display and a next-generation user interface, the 10th anniversary iPhone is deserving of the hype -- but it's not for everyone.

And that's OK, because therecurrently aren't enough to go aroundanyway. Most stores remain sold out -- but the delays associated with ordering online have shortened and are now down to about a week in the US. To help you decide whether it's worth the wait (and the money), here are some highlights from our full review:

• Face ID works pretty well, but it's not perfect.
• The edge-to-edgeOLED screenlooks great -- especially in the dark -- but feels different to an 8 Plus.
• The thing is blazing fast, thanks to its next-generationA11 Bionic processor.
• The notch isn't a nuisance, but most apps aren't yet optimized for it.
• Living without the home button takes some adjusting, but the new swipe-based user interface is growing on us.
• Portrait Mode is great; Portrait Lighting isn't fully baked yet. (For more, check out our special feature on the front-facing camera.)
• Battery life is a bit disappointing -- short of what you'll get from the iPhone 8 Plus or comparable Android models, and just barely enough to make it through a full day.
• It's fragile, cracking on the first drop during our durability testing.
• It'sthe most expensive mainstream phone on the market.

Though the first wave of new phones are now with customers, questions remain about availability. We don't know exactly how many have been sold -- though rumor has it that Apple sold 6 million of them over the Black Friday weekend-- or when Apple stores will consistently have stock on hand. This will likely ramp up demand and help make the iPhone X one of the most sought-after holiday gifts of 2017. In contrast, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus-- high-quality but incremental updates to last year's models -- haven't made the same kind of splash.

Now thatwe've had a chance to fully size up the iPhone X, we'll be making some detailed comparisons to rivals such as Samsung'sGalaxy Note 8and Google's newPixel 2andLG V30, all of which have the potential to draw customers in from Apple's orbit. Especially if the iPhone X proves to be too hard to find for too long. In the meantime, here's everything you need to know about the iPhone X.

How do I buy an iPhone X?

Apple is selling the new phone on its website, through the Apple Store appand in its retail stores, though supplies are limited and vary by region, state and country.

• If you're a member of Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program, do this now
• If you don't want to wait, here are a bunch of good alternatives to the iPhone X
• iPhone 8 trade-ins spike ahead of iPhone X

How long will I have to wait for my iPhone X?

If you missed your chance to scoop one up on Nov. 3, you're now looking at about a one week wait if you order online, though your results will vary based on exactly where you live and the amount of local demand. The iPhone X will likely remain in short supplyuntil after the new year with Apple reportedly making fewer than 10,000 per day.

• iPhone X: Apple may only push out half as many as planned
  
• iPhone X production may face further delay, analyst warns
  
• Apple reportedly can't make enough of the iPhone X to go around
• Before your new phone arrives:Your iPhone X upgrade checklist

How much does the iPhone X cost?

Starting at $999, £999 or AU$1,579 for the 64GB model, it's the most expensive iPhone ever. The 256GB iPhone X costs $1,149, £1,149 or AU$1,829. Monthly payment plans from carriers are available. Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program ranges from $49 to $56 per month, which includes AppleCare+ for the 256GB model. It costs from £56 to £64 in the UK and isn't available in Australia.

• iPhone X widens the gap between tech haves and have-nots
• Want to upgrade to new iPhone? Unfreeze your credit
• When it comes to trade-ins, iPhones are a safe bet
• Yes, that free iPhone X offer is too good to be true
  

What are the iPhone X's best new features?

Apple has pulled out all the stops. The iPhone X's most compelling new features and technologies include:

• Face ID: Unlock the phone, access Apple Pay and animate "animojis" with your face. (Here's how Face ID works.)
• The OLED Super Retina display: The biggest screen ever on an iPhone.
• A new chip: Apple's A11 Bionic processor, which also powers the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
• Camera upgrade: The iPhone's most advanced set of camerasfeaturePortrait Lighting, which simulates studio lighting for selfies, Portrait Modewith front and back cameras and Slow Sync Flash.
• Longer battery life than the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7, according to Apple's specs.

Read:The state of the smartphone, iPhone X edition

Should I buy the iPhone 8 or iPhone X?

It depends. If you're ready to plunge into a dramatically different iPhone experience (and pay for the privilege) -- or you insist on having the best cameras that money can buy -- go for it. If you're looking for a more familiar, less expensive phone, you're better off with the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. That noted, you could also buy one of the older models that Apple still sells: the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plusand thenow even cheaper iPhone SE.

• iPhone X vs. 8 Plus vs. 8: Choose the best iPhone for you
• iPhone X vs. iPhone 8: How much better is the camera?
  
• The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus: Worth the upgrade?
  
• 5 drawbacks of the iPhone X that will make you think twice
  
• Forget the experts, here's what real people think
  

What can the iPhone X do that the iPhone 8 can't?

Apple packed the iPhone X with new features and capabilities -- including new camera tricks -- that aren't accessible on an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. Here's a rundown of what only the iPhone X can do:

• Display HDR images on an edge-to-edge OLED display
• Deliver the longest battery life that an iPhone has to offer
• Dual optical image stabilization for both rear cameras
• Face ID(though all iPhones could have it by 2018)
• Portrait Modewith the front camera (in addition to rear cameras, which iPhone 8 Plus offers)
• Portrait Lighting
• Animojis!

Read:How the iPhone X stacks up with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (and iPhone 7 and 7 Plus)

I've got an older iPhone. Should I upgrade?

The iPhone X is one of three new-for-2017 iPhones, and it's not going to be the best choice everyone who wants an iPhone. It's an expensive, top-end pick that aggressively moves design forward but leave behind some familiar, proven technology (i.e. Touch ID) for new features that are ahead of the curve (i.e. Face ID). Unless you're ready to shell out and forge headlong into the future, the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus may be the better choice.

Here's the full rundown of the pros and cons of upgrading to an iPhone 8 from an iPhone 7, 6S, SE or 5S.

• Your iPhone X upgrade checklist
• The best ways to sell or trade in your iPhone
• How to back up your iPhone
• Create an encrypted backup of your iPhone data
• If you're a member of Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program, do this now
  

How does it stack up against the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL?

We've had a chance to spend time with both the iPhone X and the considerably less-expensivePixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. In terms of processor speed, the iPhone X destroyed both in our benchmark tests. Both the PIxels and the iPhone X have excellent cameras that produce fantastic photos; in our head-to-head camera test, we declared the iPhone X best all-rounder while the Pixel 2 XL took the prize for still photos.

But the iPhone X has the better display -- even before considering the issue of burn-in. Some Pixel 2 XL users reported seeing remnants of earlier images persisting on the screen; and we've seenevidence of this on two of the five units we have. Since then, Google issued afollow-up statementdetailinga software fix and extended two-year warranty. And in the meantime, Apple has admitted that burn-in may affect the iPhone Xandupdated its display support pageto make this clear.

• iPhone X vs. Pixel 2: Which camera is better?
• iPhone X, Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 XL: Which should you buy?
• Google Pixel 2: the full review
• Google Pixel 2 XL: the full review
• Pixel 2 XL: What's up with that screen?
• Pixel 2 XL specs vs. iPhone X
  
• Pixel 2's camera is stabilized 3 different ways
  
• The Pixel 2 follows the iPhone's lead, deletes headphone jack

The iPhone X vs. the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8

The iPhone X hasApple playing catch up to some Android features.Samsung's lineup has had narrow bezels, edge-to-edge OLED displays and wireless charging for years. And the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 are considerably less expensive than the pricy iPhone X. We've published some impressions of how the iPhone X stacks up against the best Android phones on the market today.

• iPhone X vs. Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30
• iPhone X, Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 XL: Which should you buy?
• Samsung could profit more from Apple's phone than it does from its own
  
• Did the iPhone X crush the Galaxy Note 8? Nope
  
• Apple's iPhones lack one key feature on premium Android phones
  
• iPhone X gives Android copycats a big, big gift
• 7 ways the iPhone X copies Android phones

Face ID: Everything you need to know

The iPhone X is the first phone with Apple's TrueDepth sensor, which features a front-facing camera, microphone, speaker, ambient light and proximity sensors, a new infrared camera, dot projector and flood illuminator.

• How to set up Face ID
• How Face ID works: Apple TrueDepth
• See Apple's new animojis in action
• Apple iPhone X is all about your face
• Face ID can protect iPhone X from thieves, but not the law
  
• How to disable Face ID on the iPhone X
• That's not all:Three hidden Face ID features
• The 2018 batch of iPhones may all have Face ID

Is Face ID secure and safe?

Apple says the chance of fooling Face ID is literally 1 in a million -- compared with 1 in 50,000 that a random person could fool the fingerprint unlock on an older iPhone. Still, you may want to consider a simple password todefend yourself against both hackers and the authorities.

• Apple publishes extensive guide answering Face ID questions
  
• Apple answers Sen. Al Franken's privacy concerns over Face ID
• Face ID security: Apple takes on lingering questions
• Squeeze the iPhone X to prevent theft
  
• Snowden weighs in on the iPhone X's Face ID
• The iPhone X's hidden security trick
• Weirded out?How to disable Face ID

How big of a deal are the iPhone X's new cameras?

In addition to enabling Face ID, the iPhone X's advanced camera technology features optical image stabilization on the front and back, faster apertures and a host of other features.

• iPhone X selfie camera makes it all about you
  
• Portrait Lighting, which simulates studio lighting for selfies
  
• Portrait Modeavailable with both the front and back cameras
• Slow Sync Flash makes photos taken with a flash look good
• iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 Plus: How much better is the camera?
• Shot on iPhone X (gallery)
• The best camera features on the iPhone X
  
• The iPhone X camera tech may go well beyond phones

How durable is the iPhone X?

Short answer: not very. We broke one of our $1,000 phones on the first drop. Consumer Reports also found the iPhone X to be highly sensitive and, as a result, ranked it lower than not only the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus but also Samsung's Galaxy S8, the S8 Plus and Note 8. Bottom line: Get a case, a screen protector and insurance -- and hold on tight.

• 4 ways to protect your iPhone X
• Apple iPhone X drop test: It cracked on the first drop
• iPhone X edged out by iPhone 8 (and Note 8), says Consumer Reports

What's up with the iPhone X's notch?

Apple's iPhone X has an all-screen OLED display -- but "all-screen" doesn't mean it's exactly bezel-free. The 10th-anniversary iPhone has a narrow bezel framing the screen with rounded edges as well as a notch flanking the earpiece and camera at the top. It's a huge leap forward in terms of screen-to-bezel ratio but not entirely ideal for watching videos.

How big is the iPhone X compared to other iPhones?

It's got much more screen real estate than any existing iPhone, even theiPhone 8 Plus, but it's only slightly larger than the iPhone 7. In fact, it's about as small as a standard, non-Plus iPhone -- but with a *bigger* screen than a Plus. Here, check out this iPhone X size comparison.

Does the iPhone X support wireless charging?

All of the new 2017 iPhones support wireless charging, and Apple recently bumped up the wattage from from 5w to 7.5w, reducing charge times by 50 percent. Of course, some of Samsung's phones, including the Galaxy Note 8, support15-watt fast wireless charging.

It's worth noting that you canjury-rig some older iPhone models to work with a charging pad for somemagnetic-induction goodness. Here's how to do it.

• iPhone X and 8 get faster wireless charging with iOS 11.2
• iPhone X's wireless charging is coming to a Starbucks near you
• iPhone X's wireless charging is a game changer for Android

Does the iPhone X support fast charging?

The iPhone X can charge faster than previous models, sucking in enough power to restore itself to 50 percent battery in about 30 minutes, Apple claims. But taking advantage of this feature will cost you. Apple says that the iPhone X's fast-charging feature supports Apple's29W,61Wand87WUSB-C power adapters -- which are not included with the phone -- and which cost $49 to $79 (or£49to£79, orAU$69toAU$109). And then you must shell out another $25 (£25/AU$35) for theUSB-C to Lightning cable.

Read: iPhone X and 8 will fast-charge with third-party cables (but you'll still need one Apple cord to make it all work)

What should I do with my old iPhone?

• The best ways to sell or trade in your iPhone
• How to recycle your phone for cash
• What to do before selling or donating your phone
  
• Selling your old iPhone? Here's how to avoid scams
  
• How the iPhone X fares in Apple's new environmental report

See also:Four tips for buying a used iPhone

Don't forget: iOS 11 was designed for the iPhone X

iOS 11 has arrived. And it was clearly designed to shine on the iPhone X (and, sure, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus). But it will work on a bunch of older devices, too: If you have aniPhone 5Sor later, a fifth-generationiPadoriPad Mini 2or later or a sixth-generationiPod Touch, you, too, can upgrade.

Some of iOS 11's new features include:

• Apple Pay Cash for peer-to-peer payments
  
• Loads of AR applications
• Editable Live Photos
• New Control Center
• Venmo-style Apple Pay payments
• More configurable storage space
• Distraction-free driving
  
• Improve battery life

Once you've upgraded, here's what you need to know:

• Use these cheat sheets to learn your way around the iPhone X
• iPhone X and 8 get faster wireless charging with iOS 11.2
• Send money using Apple Pay Cash
• Getting started with animoji
  
• Here's what you need to know about animoji
• Be careful: We broke the iPhone X in one drop
• Buy AppleCare+ or a case for your iPhone X -- or else
  
• iPhone X: How to view your battery percentage
• How to take a screenshot on the iPhone X
• The settings you need to change right away
• How to customize Control Center
• 19 hidden features in iOS11

Troubleshooting common iPhone X issues:

• How to force close apps on the iPhone X
  
• Having trouble with Face ID and sunglasses? Try this
• If your iPhone X gets a green line down the screen, do this
  
• What to do if your brand-new iPhone drowns like ours did
• Apple working on fix to iPhone's cold weather retreat
• iPhone X: How to disable auto-brightness

What comes next: how Apple will follow the iPhone X

• Apple may bring back the metal casing for a 2018 iPhone
• Apple just patented a foldable smartphone
• Apple may make its own iPhone power management chips in 2018
• Apple iPhone SE 2 coming by July, report claims
  
• Intel develops communication chips for your next phone