In the all-new Steve Jobs Theatre at the Apple Summit in Sept. 2017, the tech giant announced their new software, iOS11, the new Apple Watch and most notably, the release of not one but two new iPhone models, the 8 and the X.
The iPhone 8 is Apple’s first model that features an all-glass composure. The 8 differs from the 7 in that it is water resistant, can be charged wirelessly, has a 12MP camera and includes the A11 bionic chip. The best part about the iPhone 8 is its powerful front-facing camera, allowing a user to take selfies in HD.
As a proud owner of the iPhone 8, I can say that while the camera is excellent and the wireless charging takes half the time as charging traditionally, I am not that impressed with the phone’s features. While the 8 is a step up from the 6 and the 7, there are not many notable differences.
The iPhone 8 is the last of the iPhone models that resembles the traditional iPhone; featuring a home button and a glass border around the screen.
The iPhone X, on the other hand, looks different than any other iPhone that Apple has ever produced. The X is all screen and does not have a home button. The phone is so intelligent that it responds to a user’s tap, voice or glance.
The iPhone X introduces a new way of unlocking a phone, Face ID. One simply looks at the screen, and the front-facing camera recognizes the user’s face and unlocks. The creation of Face ID makes documents more secure and private. Face ID can also be used with Apple Pay, so users can checkout with just one glance. Like the iPhone 8, the X includes an all-glass back, can be charged wirelessly, is water resistant and includes an A11 bionic chip.
The iPhone X replaces the tap of the home button with a swipe of the fingers. The phone responds to the user’s touch, making navigation through apps simple and natural.
Both the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 have made stellar improvements to their cameras. Both models include a true-depth feature in the front-facing camera, allowing users to take beautiful portraits from the front. In the iPhone X, however, Apple debuts its first dual-camera. The dual-camera includes a wide-angle camera and a telephoto camera. The cameras work in tandem to create beautiful, image stabilized photos.
One of Apple’s smartest camera features, Portrait Mode, includes new and improved settings as well in both of the models. Portrait mode can now be combined with Portrait lighting.
In the iPhone X, the front-facing true-depth camera can now make facial expressions into favorite emojis. Users can record a video message and the camera will project their facial expression and message onto the face of an emoji. Apple calls this “Animoji.”
Apple’s debut of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X shocked the world and all of its competitors. So far, the demand for the iPhone X is still growing and it set to increase by 45 percent by January of 2018.
On retail, one can purchase the iPhone X for $999 and the iPhone 8 for as low as $699.
Julia Stern
Social Media Editor
