The iPhone is ten years old in 2017 and Apple chose to mark the decade that has passed since its introduction by launching not one, not two, but three spanking new models. The all-new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are a natural update for the range, but it is the iPhone X which is grabbing headlines, with its boundary-pushing hardware and potentially prohibitive price point. Here is a run-down of the key features that are offered by these cutting edge handsets, to get you excited about their impending release.
Wireless charging
While you can still power up the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X using a cable, the addition of wireless charging technology means that Apple has finally jumped on the clutter-free bandwagon. The best part about this is that the handsets all adhere to the universal Qi standard, rather than opting for some proprietary system of Apple’s own choosing.
Mobiles from the likes of Samsung, Nokia, LG and Huawei already have wireless charging onboard, which enables them to be recharged when they are placed within range of a compatible charging pad or surface. Wireless charging stations are popping up all over the place at the moment, from public transport and passenger cars to cafes and offices, so it makes sense for the iPhone range to embrace this technology.
Face ID
One of the headline features exclusive to the iPhone X is Face ID, the replacement for Touch ID. Face ID is used on this model because it does not have a home button with an integrated fingerprint scanner, unlike its stable mates. Face ID uses an infrared camera to capture thousands of points of data, building a unique picture of the user’s face and harnessing this to let them unlock the phone simply by looking at it.
Users will have to have their eyes open for Face ID to work, which is intended to be a security measure. They will also be able to use it to authenticate payments via Apple Pay, as well as taking control of interactive emojis that are sure to make instant messaging even more engaging.
OLED Display
Another iPhone X-exclusive feature is the first appearance of an OLED screen on an Apple smartphone. Measuring 5.8 inches across the diagonal and dominating the entire front surface of the device, save for the speaker and camera array at the top, this screen is an impressive achievement which gives the Samsung Galaxy Edge range a run for its money.
The Super Retina HD resolution of 2436×1125 also makes this screen incredibly detailed, while the depth of colour and the incredible contrast afforded by OLED technology will make the LED-backlit LCD panels of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus look a little washed out and old-fashioned in comparison.
A11 Bionic Chipset
Each new iPhone has been more powerful than its predecessor, and Apple’s latest models certainly live up to expectations in this respect, benefitting from the cutting edge A11 Bionic chipset. With six physical cores and either 2GB or 3GB of RAM, depending on the device in question, this processor combo should blast through any task in no time at all.
Apple has harnessed this power to bring augmented reality features to life on its new iPhone range, while also facilitating improved camera performance and a wealth of other functions which rely upon raw horsepower to work smoothly. With up to 256GB of storage space available, there is plenty of room to download the apps and games which will make full use of this new hardware.