10 Things To Know About The iPhone X

The iPhone, Reinvented

Apple's iPhone X is something new for the smartphone world. While the concept of an "all screen" smartphone has begun to catch on among Android device makers, the iPhone X is the first device to embrace the concept on the iOS side. But the display is just one of the many advances that Apple has introduced with the iPhone X, which comes as the 10th anniversary update to the device. In the following slides, the CRN Test Center breaks down 10 key things to know about for the iPhone X on features, specs and price.

Display

The iPhone X features a totally redesigned display from past iPhone models. The display size, technology, resolution and overall design are all new. The 5.8-inch Super Retina Display will use OLED technology for improved colors, contrast and energy efficiency over LCD. Apple is also nearly eliminating the bezels on the top and bottom of the display, so that the device front mostly consists of the screen (save for a cutout for the front-facing camera and other sensors). In addition, the resolution will go up to 2,436 x 1,125 on the iPhone X display.

Body

Along with the display, the iPhone X body is also getting an overhaul from past iPhones. Apple is building the device with a glass-and-steel body rather than the aluminum used in the iPhone 7 and other previous models. The iPhone X will feature a glass backing that will cover a stainless steel band. Along with giving the phone a sleek look, the glass backing is crucial for the wireless charging capabilities of the iPhone X.

Navigation

Because the front of the iPhone X is now mostly reserved for display space, Apple has decided to do away with the Home Button. So in order to access the home screen and switch between apps, the iPhone X is introducing new gestures for users. Swiping up at the bottom of the screen will load the home screen, while swiping up and pausing will open the app switcher.

Authentication

The removal of the Home Button also means the end of Touch ID fingerprint recognition. Instead, the iPhone X has introduced what Apple is calling Face ID -- facial recognition for authentication and unlocking of the phone. The company says it's developed the technology, which it calls the TrueDepth Camera System, so that the iPhone X facial recognition will be consistent and fast, and will work well even in the dark.

Charging

Apple is bringing inductive wireless charging to the iPhone X. Induction uses a charging pad, rather than being able to charge over longer distances. The iPhone X will use the Qi inductive standard from the Wireless Power Consortium, a group that Apple joined this year.

Camera

The iPhone X comes with dual 12-megapixel cameras on the rear-facing side. Both the wide-angle and telephoto cameras will include dual optical image stabilization. The camera is also calibrated for use with augmented reality apps, and includes sensors such as a new gyroscope that will help with AR usage, Apple said.

Processor

Apple said the iPhone X will get a boost in performance thanks to the next-gen A11 Bionic processor. The chip will feature six cores -- two for high performance, offering 25 percent faster processing than the A10 Fusion, and four cores for maximizing power efficiency of certain tasks.

Battery Life & Storage

Battery life for the iPhone X will get an additional two hours of usage on top of the iPhone 7, Apple said. That suggests the iPhone X will get up to 14 hours of LTE usage. For storage, meanwhile, the iPhone X will be available in 64-GB and 256-GB configurations.

Price

The iPhone X is coming with a sizable price increase over other iPhones. The iPhone X will start at $999 for the model with 64 GB of storage.

By comparison, the iPhone 7 has a starting price of $649 and the iPhone 8 starts at $699, while the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 and the iPhone 8 Plus at $799. Samsung's newest phone coming to market is not too far off from the $1,000 mark, however -- the Galaxy Note 8 has a starting price of $930.

Availability

Apple said the iPhone X won't begin pre-orders until Oct. 27. The device will start shipping on Nov. 3. Even at that time, however, availability of the iPhone X may be limited. Component shortages are likely to have a major impact on production of the iPhone X, according to well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. The device "will remain in severe short supply for a while," Kuo wrote in a research note this week.