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Apple Introduced the iPhone X With Face ID Five Years Ago Today

That first batch of them was horrendous: horrible tint shift on the screen (most of them were outrageously pink) and very weak Intel modem. I was lucky enough to have been able to talk an Apple store manager who let me swap it for an unlocked version with Qualcomm a month later. That phone was much better and the screen didn’t exhibit any tint shift issues whatsoever. Many people were in the same boat as well.
 
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phill85 said:
Ahead of its time... one of my favorite iPhones ever! Still remember just having received it, and then taking my first trip to Europe and photographing everything possible with it. Still some of my favorite photos in my camera roll!
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There was something about the rounded edges and curved edges of the iPhone X that was very appealing. I had the iPhone Xs. I now have an iPhone 12 Pro. I'm used to the straight edges but think the curved edges of the iPhone X / Xs design is much more elegant.
 
MrSegundus said:
I miss the rounded edges of the iPhone X. Sigh.
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Rounded edges were one of the reasons I went from the iPhone 6 “back” to the SE1. It felt like holding a piece of soap that would slide out of your hand any moment (and sometimes it did).
 
LoveTo said:
Credit where credit’s due. It was a good futuristic design. As I recall, it had the highest screen to body ratio back then. It paved way for other manufacturers to aggressively go towards hole puch and other designs for main lineups. Apple is lagging behind currently and the dynamic island is a promising feature. Can’t wait to see what the design for 20th anniversary edition would be for next decade.
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I wonder, how is Apple lagging behind? I don't quite see it.

The beneath-screen cameras don't have very high quality. I'd much rather settle for notch or island than a poor quality camera.
 
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I7guy said:
Game changer. Face ID was a pivotal technology and set a high bar for form and function.
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I prefer touch ID, I guess I belong in the minority but resting my finger on the home button to unlock the phone without picking it up was amazing and I miss it. For me touch ID was superior in every way (remember the Covid mask mess?). The optimal configuration would be a combination of both face and touch ID but it's not gonna happen.
 
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My mom, and quite a few friends still use these as their primary phones. They have held up well and still are solid devices. Finally switching to OLED screens was the best feature (IMO) and I also prefer the rounded stainless enclosure as compared to what we have now.
 
My son still uses my old iPhone X to this day. It was the first iPhone since the 4 that I got really excited about owning.
 
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No5tromo said:
I prefer touch ID, I guess I belong in the minority but resting my finger on the home button to unlock the phone without picking it up was amazing and I miss it. For me touch ID was superior in every way (remember the Covid mask mess?). The optimal configuration would be a combination of both face and touch ID but it's not gonna happen.
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I hear you. The gloves worn in the beginning of the pandemic when nobody really knew what was going on didn’t go well with Touch ID for some. There was no perfect solution.
 
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maktaba said:
Touch ID is a hundred times more convenient than Face ID. Ask anyone who uses a iPhone with Face ID, he will tell you the thing he misses the most is Touch ID.
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No it’s not. Working at my desk all I have to do is look at my phone to see a full notification. With Touch ID I would have to touch the screen.
 
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I miss the rounded edges and ergonomic design. I hope the era of brick-like design gets phased out soon.
 
No5tromo said:
I prefer touch ID, I guess I belong in the minority but resting my finger on the home button to unlock the phone without picking it up was amazing and I miss it. For me touch ID was superior in every way (remember the Covid mask mess?). The optimal configuration would be a combination of both face and touch ID but it's not gonna happen.
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We may not be the minority. Remember slide your finger down Touch ID to pull the screen down.
 
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Kuskah said:
The problem it solves - having to consciously tap something during authentication. Here's an example with 1Password - on my MacBook Air, I have to move my finger to the upper right corner to Touch ID unlock the vault. On my iPhone, I just stare at my screen, as I normally do, and the authentication is performed. No extra movement needed.

The notch - you remember all iPhones before that had a forehead and a chin, right?

The pandemic - it's not like in 2017, or in the years prior when it was being developed, anyone knew that everyone is going to have to wear a face mask in 3 years...
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You still have to slide the screen up to unlock it.
 
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maktaba said:
Touch ID is a hundred times more convenient than Face ID. Ask anyone who uses a iPhone with Face ID, he will tell you the thing he misses the most is Touch ID.
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I understand and respect that you prefer TouchID, but don’t speak for everybody else. I used FaceID for the last four years, and except with the masks during the pandemic, I never had issues with it. Would not go back.
 
This was such a great iPhone, still remember getting it delivered on my birthday and having it for the ensuing party, was a lot of interest in it.

Alas, coming from an 8 Max the smaller X size eventually became a hindrance and went to the XS Max when it came out.
 
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