I bought an iPhone X, I regret it today

The smartphone only unlocks to show notifications when the user’s gaze goes to the screen. So you will have to watch the phone for at least a few moments (it is impossible to have your smartphone unlock without your sleep, for example).

Test: iPhone X, an overview of the future well anchored in the present

Carried by a new design and a really incredible screen, the new iPhone is supposed to define the future. Exceptional in more ways than one, he gives brief glimpses and mainly provides past and present expectations.

01net’s opinion.com

• + The new design
• + The incredible OLED screen
• + TrueDepth Camera
• + The A11 bionic chip

• – The price
• – Face ID still has progress to make

Writing note

Note published on 03/11/2017

Technical sheet

System	iOS 11
Processor	Apple A11 Bionic
Size (diagonal)	5.8 “
Screen resolution	458 ppi

See the full file

Apple had not skimped on strong symbols. At the heart of Steve Jobs Theater, nestled on an Apple Park hill, the voice of its co-founder returned from the dead to launch a very special conference, the one that was to celebrate the ten years of the iPhone and the ‘Arrival of a smartphone worthy of the event. Paradoxically, never an Apple Keynote had been so spoiled. We knew everything, even his name, the iPhone X (pronounce ten).

Wearer of a cloud of fantasies and frustrations accumulated in the course of iterations which seemed to manage a market rather than definitively a domination, the iPhone X was presented by Tim Cook as the future of the iPhone and Smartphone. After a few days in his company and a few dozen tests, he marks the location of a treasure ?

An extraordinary screen

When you take the time to contemplate it calmly the first time, you can only be seduced by the new design-always without mini-jack port-and be amazed by the finish of the device. To the point that several curious people passed by the editorial team told us to believe that having in our hands one of these false iPhone pressed in a single block. The glass of the two facades and the steel hanger are intimately linked as merged. We then light the X for the second “waouh” effect.

By presenting the first iPhone, Steve Jobs praised this giant screen, which offered its 3.5 inch to content. Ten years later, Apple hangs the wagons with a competition that has seen its slabs grow well before those of the iPhone, its screen borders for several years also and especially the OLED Replace the LCD. In fact, the iPhone X is just a start -to -end screen.

In a slightly larger housing than that of 4.7 -inch models, the iPhone X offers a edge edge screen, Oled, 5.8 inch. More than that of 5.5 inches, while being much smaller than the iPhone 6/6S/7/8 Plus – from which he finally abandons design. By its dimensions and the size of its screen, the iPhone X therefore exceeds the simple compromise between the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and ensures a very pleasant handling comfort, underlined by the very pleasant steel edges.

Especially since Apple engineers did not just adopt an OLED screen which extends over (almost) the whole front, they brought their know-how there. Thus, the slab, by definition superbly contrasted, is very bright. More than that observed on the Galaxy S8, which remains a reference. HDR10 compatible and Dolby Vision – Perfect for watching movies remastered or HDR photos – the screen is also and even especially P3. This technology introduced on ultrahd iMacs, then on iPad Pro guarantees wide coverage of the color palette and also very high fidelity in the colorimetric restitution. On this point, the iPhone X does better than its two most prominent competitors, the S8 and the OnePlus 5. For more details, you can take a look at the first results of our tests.

A ratio, applications to adapt

By widening the slab in all directions, Apple has been – like many smartphones manufacturers in recent times – far from the ratio 16: 9. It is not embarrassing when we access the native system and applications, they were adapted to use all the space. On the other hand, not optimized applications suffer for some to have to display black or transparent headbands especially when used in landscape mode. This problem should disappear over time and even quickly. At least for applications still maintained. In view of the number of updates adapting applications to the iPhone X screen on November 3, this defect should not last.

A notch, a trace present of the future

Another point that can disturb, the famous notch located at the top of the screen. Some already hate it, however in use, especially in portrait mode, it only has little impact. On each side is distributed the information that is usually found in this place. The time, the quality of reception of the network, the level of load of the battery (but not the exact percentage which is only displayed when we unroll the control center), etc.

It actually happens that it encroaches on a video or a game, but in view of the option offered by the iOS video player – which allows you to limit the display before the notch, we say that this problem should not not last.

Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that this notch is essential to the operation of the iPhone X. This is where the microphone and speaker are placed, all the elements necessary for the TrueDepth-roughly Kinect, Microsoft-camera-which is at the base of the ID (camera and infrared projector, projector bright points, etc.). It is a safe bet that with a lot of time, talented and money engineers, Apple finds a way to make the notch disappear by hiding the components under the slab for example, but for the moment the little one Overview of the future that is Face ID comes at this price.

Face ID, safety without hands ..

Touch ID was a good traveling companion. His second generation had made it very fast and easier to use. But the disappearance of the Home button, which hosted it, pushed Apple to offer another biometric authentication solution: Face Id.

No need to put your fingers on a sensor, just look at your iPhone once the screen is activated and voila. On paper the idea is attractive, in reality, it undoubtedly requires a second generation, too.

The configuration is simple and quick and does not take more than fifteen seconds. Just face the iPhone X and draw a circle twice with its nose while the TrueDepth camera digitizes your face, establishes a 3D model that will be stored, like fingerprints with the Touch ID, in the Processor Enclave Secure Enclave.

It is in use that a few constraints have been noted. The first is that Face ID asks to place yourself in front of the iPhone. By default, and this is an adjustment that it seems good to keep, you really have to look at the screen to unlock it. It is therefore impossible to continue to chat with someone by activating Face ID without breaking the eye contact. The second is the viewing angle necessary for the proper functioning of the camera. If the iPhone is flat on a table, you will have to lean forward. If you hold it in hand, you will have to raise it and guide it to you. Finally, whatever the configuration elements selected, Face ID is much slower than Touch ID. We were talking about it here.

So, yes, we must salute the ease that we have to adopt in front of ID, which is still a success. Especially since Apple believe, its safety is much better than that provided by Touch ID. And in fact, a simple photo is not enough to deceive its vigilance (we have obviously tried), no more than realistic masks (we have to trust Apple here). Nevertheless, one cannot help but say that having the choice would have been good, even if it is clear that half-measures brake in the long term the adoption of a technology.

In any case, during our use, with or without glasses, with or without scarf, we have never been faced with an ID front refusal to identify – and that’s good, otherwise the iPhone X would have been a technological failure. However, there is a condition for this, the TrueDepth camera must be able to see your eyes, your nose and your mouth and is at a certain distance from your face and especially at a angle less than around 70/80 °. This is why a too high-removed-colored cover will block it or why glasses whose glasses filter the infrared will prevent it from doing its job. This is why your iPhone X will not unlock if it is on your desktop and you don’t look at it. On the other hand, and it’s fun, Face ID does work in the dark, if you find your iPhone there. Just like Touch ID ..

Artistic and animated poop selfie

TrueDepth technology, straight from the bidding of Primesense, designer of Microsoft Kinect, also serves two other uses. The first was strongly publicized and flirts with augmented reality. These are Animojis, these emojis in the shape of critters, robots or a funny turmoil which reproduce your facial expressions, including the (exaggerated) movements of your lips and can be sent with a vocal recording of ten seconds maximum in the form of a message. The result is very successful and funny. If it is not a “killer app”, it is almost each time the first function that the curious people who came to see the new smartphone wanted to try. The iPhone X is the only one to be able to produce these small messages but all smartphones users can receive them in the form of a short video in format .mov. The result is less clean because it is strongly compressed, but the effect is there. We are waiting to see what third -party applicants will do this technology to which they can access. The demonstrations of a version of Snapchat that have been made to us are rather encouraging, in this case.

More seriously, the arrival of TrueDepth technology also allows the camera before offering the photographic mode Lighting Portrait. Selfies thus become prettier and artistic. However, this function still in beta is far from perfect, especially since the 7 Mpixel sensor cannot really do wonders.

As on the photo module of the iPhone 8 Plus, this Portrait Lighting mode has different happiness depending on the intensity and the origin of the light and sometimes the hairstyle or the face of the subject of the subject. Thus, an overly informed cheek will too much complicate the task of the iPhone and the application of the effects of strengthening the contours of the face or the studio effect will be missed, completely.

The photo on the back … and augmented reality

The iPhone X inherits the double photographic module of the iPhone 8 Plus and even sees it a bit improving. Thus, the telephoto lens opens more (f/2.4 against f/2.8). No more light means more beautiful images, less digital noise because less climbing in ISO and also less blurred shots. Especially since now the two objectives (the wide angle f/1.8 and the “zoom”) are stabilized optically.

It is at the level of 4K videos that we most easily perceive the effect. We may move a little, jump or run by filming the rendering is much more pleasant and smoked. These are the movements of the subject that we see on the screen and not those of the one who films.

On the photo side, portraits are really the strong point of the iPhone X, despite some small failures sometimes on the application of the background blur. On the screen, the shots are splendid and will certainly have a small success with the family or on the granny calendar. Nevertheless, he seemed to us that he was still missing a little matter sometimes, on the skin or the beard.

For outdoor photos, colors and details are pleasant, even if we find the same trend as on the iPhone 8 Plus to saturate the contours to strengthen the feeling of sharpness and dive. If everything is not perfect, the iPhone X should allow most users to cover their next vacation or daily life … Anyway, we will come back to the photography part of the iPhone X in a dedicated test At the beginning of next week.

The power of the A11 Bionic and more endurance

Last September, when we tested the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, we had found how much the new chip developed entirely by Apple – both for the CPU and GPU part, a first – was powerful. The results obtained via different bench tools placed it far above the competition. It is the same chip, at the same frequency or almost that we find here. With the same performances therefore.

iOS 11 runs as in a dream, fluid, fast and extremely stable. We will just have to adapt to few ergonomic developments caused by the disappearance of the Home button. A dozen new gestures, qualified as intuitives by Apple, which will have to be controlled to close an application, activate the multitasking mode, activate Siri, etc. In fact, they are easy to find and remember, with the exception perhaps of the one that serves to close the applications from the multitasking interface, which is inspired by the principle put in place on the iPad. For the rest, just know that the control center is accessible from the upper right edge of the iPhone, that the notifications are on the left edge, and life can resume its course.

For games or any gourmet 3D applications, the iPhone X is a brute of power, which very largely dominates the Galaxy S8 and the OnePlus 5 (equipped with 8 GB of RAM), released a few months ago, it is TRUE.

In terms of augmented reality, we have not noted any notable differences between the iPhone 8 Plus experience and that offered by the iPhone X. It seemed to us that inside, when the light is low, the iPhone X was doing better and captured the spaces with which interacting more quickly. Nevertheless, we cannot say that the difference is obvious. One thing is certain, the result is more convincing than on the iPhone 8, double optics obliges.

Where the iPhone X is distinguished is at the level of autonomy. Apple promised a two -hour battery gain compared to the iPhone 7. We recorded 2:10 a.m. better … compared to the iPhone 8 Plus. Progress is significant since we had recorded an autonomy of 7:48 am for the iPhone 7. Nevertheless, this great performance (for an iPhone) does not allow it to beat its direct competitors on Android. The Galaxy S8 is thus almost an hour more.

Finally, once its battery is dead, you can opt for the good old Lightning cable or a wireless recharging base qi. But it will then be necessary to be a little more patient, while waiting for the update which will boost the loading by induction.

Technical sheet

System	iOS 11
Processor	Apple A11 Bionic
Size (diagonal)	5.8 “
Screen resolution	458 ppi

See the full file

• + The new design
• + The incredible OLED screen
• + TrueDepth Camera
• + The A11 bionic chip

• – The price
• – Face ID still has progress to make

The verdict of the test

Ultimately, we don’t care if the iPhone X is the future of the smartphone. Future promises will never justify its astronomical price. The present on the other hand, perhaps. What does he give today ? A beautiful renewed and more compact design, to start. An incredible finish to follow. A screen that does better than the best current tiles, to continue. An overpowered chip and nevertheless economical to chain. And a more safe but which turns out to be less practical, so not completely convincing, to finish. This makes it an excellent smartphone of the 2017/2018 season. For the rest, the future will wait.

Note
writing

IPhone 10 reviews

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“” Hypocritus, you always said that you would never have an iPhone as a main smartphone ! “,” You bought an iPhone X ? For what ? “,” Do you still use an iPhone ? You didn’t get tired of it ? »». Here are the kinds of questions that a user keen on Android (or even a google fanboy) as I am asking those who have been convinced by the iPhone X daily. And then I myself let myself be tempted, at the beginning by simple curiosity then finally, at the end of 2018, I am still not disappointed.

Curiosity

Yes, I have an iPhone X. I plead guilty. The reasons that pushed me to buy the latest smartphone from Apple can be summed up in a word: curiosity.

The iPhone X is the first smartphone of the apple brand to have really caught my attention, after years of questionable innovations. When launching this iPhone, Apple had dared to launch a really new product, even taking some risks (such as removing the headphone jack). These risks will not convince all users but can appeal to lovers of technology and new products like me.

Even if I have always been a convinced Android user, I decided to make this (expensive) jump in the future. This is what this smartphone was then represented at the time: a step towards the future, with an Apple that dares for the first time for a long time to get out of its comfort zone. Many other manufacturers have followed the path drawn up by Apple and resume design and some features of the iPhone X. Apple, of course, uses the iPhone X as a new base for its latest iPhone: the XR, XS and XS Max.

Stupefaction

My first impression in this new world still unknown was excellent. Even before lighting the iPhone X, I realized the perfection of the device. The smartphone adapts perfectly to my hand, and its finish and high level.

The screen

When I saw the screen in action, I was surprised again: Apple finally decided to use an OLED panel. The manufacturer catches with panache its delay in the use of this technology. The screen is produced by Samsung, which says a lot about its quality. In addition, Apple has a long history with impeccably calibrated screens, and this OLED is no exception to the rule.

Regarding the notch above the screen (the famous “Notch”), I thought it would be painful for use. But after a few days of use, I was no longer careful, and I even started to find this original screen form interesting. Above all, you have to see the parts of the screen around the notch as additions to the classic rectangular shape to which we are used to. Question of perspective ! For some, I am too optimistic and I try to justify a questionable choice. Everyone is free to think what they want, but that’s not how I see things !

Faceid

One of the most interesting features of the iPhone X, which I really wanted to try, it’s Faceid. The configuration is so fast that it is difficult to believe it. The sensors in the notch of the iPhone X send thousands of infrared rays browse your face, which allows the smartphone to create a 3D model of your face and use it for facial recognition. This unlocking mode is not as fast as a fingerprint reader (like those of Huawei), and it is not as reliable either.

• We tested all types of facial recognition and none were able to beat Apple

I was surprised to see that the FaceID made it possible to unlock the smartphone even in poorly favorable situations (such as when I wear a hat or a scarf, or when the light conditions are bad). The process is always fast. If the iPhone X is able to recognize the user’s face, it will do it within the usual time. Otherwise, he will ask you to enter the PIN code. It is not possible to make a second attempt, unless you unlock the smartphone and block it again. The failure rate of the release is very low, and occurs only in situations where the eyes or the nose are not clearly visible.

The smartphone only unlocks to show notifications when the user’s gaze goes to the screen. So you will have to watch the phone for at least a few moments (it is impossible to have your smartphone unlock without your sleep, for example).

Frustration

Curiosity and excitation are sensations that generally do not accompany us more than a few weeks after the purchase of a new smartphone. After this period, we come up against reality, to daily use, and start to notice the countless problems. The iPhone X has the same faults as all iPhone and, more generally, all devices operating with iOS.

These are small details that harm the global experience, making the use of these beautiful aircraft a ordeal.

Settings

The settings menu is a disaster. It is inconceivable that Apple has still not improved it after all these years. The logic of regrouping of the main parameters escapes me completely. Certain settings (such as iCloud parameter control) can be reached in several ways, and the long list of applications that follow the main parameters is really chaotic.

In addition, the fact that the parameters of certain system applications are not directly accessible from the application itself is really painful. If I am in the camera application and want to decrease the resolution of videos to save space, I have to return to the home screen of the smartphone, open the settings, look for the “camera” entry, for be able to finally access the desired parameter. It is a stupid and unnecessarily long procedure.

Notification bar and others

The notifications menu is a complete disaster, which Apple must imperatively review for the next versions of the iPhone. Notifications of an application are never grouped: if Instagram sends you 50 notifications, you will find 50 entries in the notifications menu. The notifications that you have not seen are marked as “old” and transferred to another list. No button is present to delete all notifications, which must be removed from the list one by a. It’s really frustrating.

In the iOS mail application, you cannot install Gmail in push mode (you need to install the dedicated application for this). The quick launch bar at the bottom of the home screen allows you to put only 4 folders or icons. The information on the battery and the Bluetooth is hidden in the control center (because of the famous Notch) … I could continue this list for a long time ! These are not serious problems, but errors that prove to be heavy on a daily basis.

But then why did I buy it ?

Arrived at this time of the article, you may wonder how I can be as enthusiastic despite the list of faults that I have just mentioned. And the truth is that I don’t know.

Maybe it is having always fluid and reactive applications. Even Google applications are much better on iOS than on Android. Or maybe this is the small size of the smartphone compared to competing models. The gesture navigation system ? The Face ID ? The Raise to Wake ? Yes, all of this is also part ..

Usually, my experiences in the world of iPhone and iOS do not last more than a few weeks because I always end up finding an alternative on Android that brings me back to the Google operating system.

However, the iPhone X has a little I don’t know what manages to charm me. It is very discreet in your pocket compared to all the bulky smartphones that I recently used. The gestures are very pleasant to use, so much that you feel limited when you come back to the navigation keys of Android smartphones. The screen has sufficient resolution (unlike other iPhone) and is based on OLED technology. In terms of autonomy, I have the impression that the battery life has almost doubled compared to my Pixel 2 XL ! In short, at the end of 2018 I do not regret my purchase.

I think you have to ask yourself the right questions: and if the problem was not the fact that I am interested in Apple but rather that Android managed to bother me ? There are a lot to say about Apple and its latest iPhone, but that does not change that there is a problem with Android. Fortunately, new technologies come to spice up the market a little, but it will probably be necessary to really get carried away.

Have you had the opportunity to test the iPhone X ? If so, what do you think ?