iPhone X - Long Term Review (Updated 2023)

The iPhone X is no longer the newest kid on iPhone’s line-up, but that is not to say that interest in the device has faded in the market. In fact, it has acquired a new lease of life in the refurbished phones market which means that a review of its long-time use is necessary. While it may have been superseded by the iPhone XS, iPhone 11 and now the iPhone 12 range, it remains a great option if you want to buy a premium Apple refurbished iPhone at a bargain, especially now that it is receiving the iOS 15 update. So how has the iPhone X fared ever since it was released? Find out in our round-up of its features below.

iPhone X: Design

If you buy a iPhone X refurbished unlocked today, it wont feel outdated. You will enjoy the same design language as the refurbished iPhone 11 and the latest iPhone 12’s albeit with a few changes in the latter’s design. This was the first iPhone to have a design refresh since the iPhone 6 came out. The larger screen-to-body ratio without the chunky bezels that characterized them has been a welcome design change. Despite the increase in size, the phone is only slightly larger than the iPhone 8, making it a great device to operate one-handed

Apple also introduced the notch which houses the FaceID sensors on the iPhone X. This did away with the TouchID sensor cum home button on previous iPhones in favour of gesture control in many later devices. A controversial decision at the time, especially with competitors like Samsung going for the hole punch front camera design, Apple stuck to its guns. The market has gotten used to it, given the number of companies that have copied a similar design. FaceID works a treat, and Apple has ironed out most of the initial teething issues. As a security system, it is convenient, and you won’t have to worry about wet fingers like iPhones of old. Plus, you can now also use it wearing a mask in response to the prevailing times. It is as futuristic as can be, and the notch is expected to grow even smaller with future iPhone models.

iPhone X: Display

The iPhone X was the first iPhone to have an OLED panel, and despite not increasing the touch sampling rate or refresh rate, the 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED was a welcome update. It supports 3D touch, which allows you to perform different functions depending on the pressure of your touch, HDR10 functionality and Dolby Vision support. This makes it a great phone to consume media, especially video, given the high colour vibrancy, accuracy and deeper blacks of the OLED panel, which prevent colour bleeding. The 5.8-inch OLED is ace, considering the only difference it has with other OLED panels on succeeding phones is the brightness. Despite other Phones like the Galaxy range having used it for a long time, Apple’s execution with features like TrueTone technology that allow it to adjust colour temperature and brightness bases on its environment is worth a thumbs up.

iPhone X: Camera

The iPhone X features a dual 12MP camera setup on the rear comprising a 12MP wide and 12MP telephoto lens. Both of these cameras have optical image stabilization and phase detection autofocus which translates incredible clear shots even when in video mode. While you might be tempted to think this is the same array as the iPhone 8 from which it is based, the aperture size has been changed to f/1.8 and f/2.4, which means more light and more detail in both lenses. It also translates to better low light performance but not to the levels of the second hand iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 ranges. The front 7MP camera can take portrait selfies and shoot 1080P 30fps video using the same AI tech as the rear cameras. While the iPhones XS, XS Max, XR and subsequent designs allow for depth control in portrait, it is not a big miss, and you can still get creative with your iPhone X portrait mode.

iPhone X: Performance

The iPhone X uses the 6-core A11 Bionic chip like the iPhone 8 range, but with a 3-core Apple GPU designed in-house to deliver better graphical performance. It is a robust setup that will ace common daily tasks and any other performance-intensive roles thrown at it. The battery can also last a day’s use with some power left at the end of the day. Its 15W quick charging feature, when plugged in, will get you topped up to 50% in 30 minutes. The only catch is that you have to use a prescribed charger. Given it has a glass back, it will also support Qi wireless charging. Apple also improved the speakers, and you will notice how punchy it is if you are coming from an older iPhone. 

The iPhone X is still impressive, and despite Apple discontinuing it, a deal to snap up one as a refurbished device should not be passed on. It costs a lot less now and would mean great value for money considering the features.