There is a whole lot of hype around the new iPhone X. CNBC called it “the most impressive iPhone to date.” TechRadar claimed that with this new smartphone, “Apple breathes life into its new 10th anniversary iPhone.” Apple livestreamed the release of their new product yesterday, drawing many viewers (presumably those bored at work). The excitement makes sense. New and shiny things always draw people’s attention, especially in the tech world. The new phone features advancements such as face recognition technology, increased battery life, a better camera, an improved screen, and so on. It’s a cool phone, just as all Apple phones in the past have been. But, is it $1,000-cool? (Keep in mind, you can get an iPhone 7 that basically does everything you need a phone to do for almost half the price) Well, let’s take a look at some of the all-new features of the iPhone X to see if this phone is worth its own price.
Facial Recognition Technology
This is probably one of the most hyped features of the new iPhone. Finally, instead of wasting six seconds typing in your password, or two seconds scanning your finger print, you can now simply open your phone just by looking at it. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, people. But is this really worth paying 1K for when I can spend half of that on a cheaper phone and just type in my password like a normal person?
But maybe your argument is, “It’s more secure! Now a stranger can’t break into my phone.” My answer is twofold. One, make that argument to Arya Stark. Two, the face recognition obviously has a backup passcode. You know, in case the phone doesn’t actually recognize your face, which it was unable to do during the livestream yesterday! Additionally, the phone would need a backup passcode in case someone else needs to use your phone (your child, friend, spouse, grandmother, dog, anybody who may not have your face but has your permission to use your phone). So, if someone really wanted to steal your phone and break into it, I’m sure there is a way past that facial recognition technology (which, again, may or may not even work).
Animoji
Sometimes I miss the simple smiles :). So pure, so innocent. But I’m not completely opposed to emojis. They provide much needed emotion to otherwise vapid texts. Now, Apple has introduced Animojis, which, per the name, are animated emojis. As I understand it, they are emojis that (using that facial recognition tech again) follow and mimic your expressions. It actually sounds pretty cool, something I could get an afternoon of entertainment out of. But, it also sounds like something that I could get from a $5, $10, or even a $20 app. It’s a fun addition to the phone, but I don’t know if it justifies breaking the bank.
No Home Button
I don’t understand why Apple thinks that innovation means getting rid of everything. First it was the audio jack, robbing people of the phrase “Yo, pass me the AUX cord.” Now, we don’t have a home button. And I’m not some home button fanatic, but I’m afraid the added complexity of swiping instead of simply pushing a button may hinder efficiency, if only slightly. Of course, the lack of home button does provide opportunity for a larger screen. But, in my opinion, if you really want a larger screen, go with the iPhone 6s or 7 Plus or just get an iPad if you’re so worried about screen size.
Verdict
I don’t hate Apple products, okay. I, in fact, have an iPhone 6s that has never failed me. And, I don’t necessarily hate the new iPhone. I may think some of the new features are silly, but some are actually pretty cool. The larger, high-res screen is nice, the camera is improved which basically means that the average person never has to own an actual camera, the wireless charging feature adds a layer of convenience, and it’s water resistant. My argument, however, is that these features do not add up to a $1,000 phone, which is the cheaper option, by the way. But, hey, maybe you have money to blow and you’ve always wanted animated emojis, it’s not my place to judge. Or maybe I’m just a peasant who doesn’t understand a high-quality phone when he sees one.
