Apple has officially launched the most anticipated iPhone X, the company's 10 anniversary smartphone edition. Read more here.
Once again, tons of rumors and leaks in the last weeks were proved to be accurate, especially about the 10th anniversary iPhone that Apple was going to launch last night (Manila time). The unconfirmed reports might not be able to spot the correct device name until the iOS 11 leak that reached online a couple of days go, but everything else is pretty much a spot on plus a couple more that Apple revealed. Meet the iPhone X! It is actually pronounced as "iPhone Ten" and it is just one of the three smartphones that the Cupertino-based company unleashed, there's the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus which are basically incremental upgrades to last year's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
The 10th year iPhone edition
In case you missed it, the iPhone X was launched in celebration of iPhone's 10th anniversary. The very first iPhone device was unleashed in the world in September 2007 by Steve Jobs himself, a truly revolutionary product that changed the way people around the world use hand-held mobile phones. To be honest, the first time I saw one in 2008, it was like a magical experience and that first encounter with iPhone cemented even more my enthusiasm with gadgets.
Apple joins edge-to-edge display race
From the very first time I heard about this device early this year, one of the first things that started rolling the internet was that Apple would finally go full screen with the "iPhone 8" as it was referred to. Then months went by and more and more leaked photos and reports even supported this information, now it is here in all its glory. However, it is not that full screen type of device such as found on the recent Samsung Galaxy flagship devices and LG G6, it sports a "notch" on the top part of the screen where it houses the front camera, Face ID, speaker, and other sensors.
Apple says that iPhone X has a large 5.8-inch screen diagonally with Super Retina Display, the company calls it. That is equivalent to 2436 x 1125 resolution and 458 pixel per inc density. Also, it is an OLED panel, reportedly supplied by Samsung. Expect deep blacks and more vibrant color reproduction on its display panel compared to its counterparts.
The Cupertino company claims that the iPhone X sports "surgical-grade" stainless steel around its sides. Like the front panel, the back of the device is also now made with glass to give way its Qi wireless charging feature.
No more home button and Touch ID
One of the biggest changes in the iPhone X, next to the full edge-to-edge screen, is the elimination of physical home button that usually sits right below the screen display. iPhone X no longer has that, this also means that the Touch ID functionality had to go. That's right, Apple has completely done away with the Fingerprint Scanner. Apple is now introducing the new Face ID technology. As the name suggests, instead of fingerprints, users will now use their own face to unlock the phone and authenticate transactions. Watch the video below to see how thing particular technology works in real life and how Apple achieved this technology with the iPhone X.
Apple iPhone X specs:
- 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED Display
- 2436 x 1125 resolution, 458ppi
- A11 Bionic hexa-core processor
- 64GB or 256GB internal storage options
- 12MP dual rear camera with OIS on both lenses
- LTE Advance
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Water Resistant with IP67 rating
- Space Gray, Silver
- Qi wireless charging
- $999 (64GB)
- $1,149 (256GB)
As for the official pricing, the iPhone X will be retailed for $999 for the 64GB variant while the bigger 256GB version will be for $1,149, that's before tax. In the US, pre-orders will kick off on October 27th with shipping promised to start as early as November 3rd.
Smart Communications Inc has confirmed that they will also offer this device under their postpaid plans, but more details on that will be provided soon, according to the telecom company.
