iPhone vs iPhone X: What’s the Difference?

iPhone vs iPhone X: What’s the Difference? 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the coveted iPhone. Many of us were around to see the full development of this marvel of technology and yet the younger generation know of nothing else (yes, Nokia Snake – we still remember you fondly).

The latest in the chain of releases has been the iPhone X – a celebratory edition announced to the masses on 13th September 2017. Before we delve into discussing this new product, let’s remind ourselves of the major design changes in the iPhone models.

We could list hundreds of features that have improved iPhones over the years, but let’s turn our attention to the new releases. The iPhone 8/8 Plus can charge wirelessly (alongside other products simultaneously). The handset also has Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities and ‘fast charge’.

iPhone vs iPhone X

When it comes to the hotly anticipated 10th anniversary edition, Apple have certainly designed for the future. The iPhone X (pronounced ‘ten’) boasts an almost completely undisrupted screen. The most obvious design change is the lack of home button.

The all-screen design means users unlock their phone with their face, which is scanned and mapped by a 3D infrared camera. This is also reported to work in the dark too, but won’t work if your eyes are closed. The technology is making waves, but many are currently on the fence about whether it will succeed or not. A large worry is that Apple have completely forgone their TouchID functionality, so there’s no back-up option as you’d expect.

The screen is also larger than all previous models at 5.8inches, with an OLED display – another first for the iPhone family.

Some features we have already seen in the iPhone 8/8 Plus – all glass front and back with stainless steel frame, wireless charging plates and a dual camera to name a few.

Design Story

It’s worth mentioning that although this technology and industrial design story has been incredible to follow, and it’s easy to see the paths that have taken Apple to where they are today… There is something to be said for UX and many other factors of human behaviour.

The desire for an uninterrupted display has led to the loss of the TouchID feature and the simple Home Button. The desire for an easier and faster way to charge has meant incorporating wireless charging capabilities. These hardware variations are indicative of industrial design. Software changes are interwoven – FaceID, screen quality and augmented reality to name but a few.

Consumer feedback heavily impacts on the design of physical attributes. There seems to be less and less for industrial designers to focus on in the traditional sense (ports, headphone jacks, buttons, etc) but so much else to consider – which brings so much potential for the future. Industrial design in this arena is still about packaging. However, now more than ever it’s about the packaging of desire and expectation.

The Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are available on pre-order from 15/09/17. Release date: 22/09/2017

The Apple iPhone X is available on pre-order from 27/10/17. Release date: 03/11/2017

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