Apple today shared an iPhone X environmental report, detailing the smartphone's environmental performance as it relates to climate change, energy efficiency, material efficiency, and restricted substances.

iphone x environmental report
The report reveals that the base model iPhone X generates an equivalent of 79 kilograms of carbon dioxide over its life cycle, which is the highest estimated greenhouse gas emissions of any Apple smartphone since the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. 80 percent of the emissions come from production of the device.

iphone x greenhouse gas
A comparison of Apple's estimated greenhouse gas emissions for each iPhone model:

  • iPhone X: 79kg CO2e

  • iPhone 8: 57kg CO2e

  • iPhone 8 Plus: 68kg CO2e

  • iPhone 7: 56kg CO2e

  • iPhone 7 Plus: 67kg CO2e

  • iPhone 6s: 54kg CO2e

  • iPhone 6s Plus: 63kg CO2e

  • iPhone 6: 95kg CO2e

  • iPhone 6 Plus: 110kg CO2e

  • iPhone 5s: 65kg CO2e

Apple said the iPhone X's U.S. retail packaging contains 55 percent recycled content. 100 percent of the fiber in the device's box is sourced either from recycled content, bamboo, waste sugarcane, or responsibly managed forests.

Like other models, the iPhone X has a mercury-free display made with arsenic-free glass, and it's also free of BFR, PVC, and beryllium.

iPhone X received a highest-possible gold rating from EPEAT, a program that ranks mobile phones based on environmental attributes in accordance with UL 110. All models since the iPhone SE have also achieved gold ratings.

Tags: Environment, Environmental Responsibility
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

adamski23 Avatar
adamski23
105 months ago
Embarrassingly, the 6.
I'll never understand this mode of thinking. How is owning an older generation of a smartphone embarrassing? Is the device no longer functional?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutriousmitten Avatar
nutriousmitten
105 months ago
What about MSG? Any gluten? Nut free factory?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
105 months ago
How does this compare to Samsung Note 8 ... or to a car per mile? Context lends importance.
Unfortunately, you'll never be able to get the context you desire. It's an Apple generated report using criteria devised by Apple. Unless the Note 8 or a car is judged using the same criteria, the comparison you want is not feasible. The closest direct comparison based on the same criteria comes from the EPEAT ('https://ww2.epeat.net/publicsearchresults.aspx?stdid=4&return=searchoptions&epeatcountryid=1&ProductType=19') certification process. You can select to compare devices. Both Apple and Samsung's devices rated out as Gold. The numerical value of that Gold ranking ('https://ww2.epeat.net/ProductComparison.aspx?product1=17850&country1=1&pre1=160&product2=17844&country2=1&pre2=160&product3=17838&country3=1&pre3=160&product4=17837&country4=1&pre4=160&product5=17682&country5=1&pre5=160&product6=17683&country6=1&pre6=160') (119 point scale)

* iPhone 8 Plus 99/119
* iPhone 8 98/119
* Galaxy Note 8 95/119
* iPhone X 93/119
* Galaxy S8 92/119
* Galaxy S8+ 92/119

Hope that helps you.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Alexander.Of.Oz Avatar
Alexander.Of.Oz
105 months ago
I'll never understand this mode of thinking. How is owning an older generation of a smartphone embarrassing? Is the device no longer functional?
It's embarrassing that it was so poor in relation to the pollution it created in production.

As that is what this article is about, I thought it would be self-explanatory, but obviously not!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kingpushup Avatar
kingpushup
105 months ago
I do believe that iPhone X is way better for the environment compared to any phone sold in the history of mankind. Because fewer people will buy this, thefore the impact is minimal. Thank you, Apple!
Sarcasm. Funny. iPhone is and has been the sellingest model of mobile phone for many years. So, X could sell ‘fewer’ and still sell more than any Samsung model, for example.

Ok, these are facts rather than your ‘history’ book written exclusively from your ‘belief.’ Again, I would be glad to get more facts of CO2e comparables from inside the mobile phone industry and from outside this industry for context. ty
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maclver Avatar
Maclver
105 months ago
Yet another thing that makes me glad I went with the 8 plus over the X!
What did you upgrade from?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps. More features and changes will follow in future ...
Read Full Article • 109 comments
ios 26 1 liquid glass opaque

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Lets Users Control Liquid Glass Transparency with New Toggle

Monday October 20, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass. The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
Read Full Article • 192 comments
iphone air thickness

Apple Said to Cut iPhone Air Production Amid Underwhelming Sales

Friday October 17, 2025 8:29 am PDT by
Apple plans to cut production of the iPhone Air amid underwhelming sales performance, Japan's Mizuho Securities believes (via The Elec). The Japanese investment banking and securities firm claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are seeing higher sales than their predecessors during the same period last year, while the standard iPhone 17 is a major success, performing...
Read Full Article • 536 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.2 Update for iPhones Coming Soon

Friday October 17, 2025 7:35 am PDT by
Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet. The update will likely be released by the end of next week. Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1,...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
Apple iPad Pro hero M5

New iPad Pro Has Six Key Upgrades Beyond M5 Chip

Saturday October 18, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more. With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU,...
Read Full Article • 95 comments
iPhone Siri Glow

Some Apple Employees Have 'Concerns' About iOS 26.4's Revamped Siri

Sunday October 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings. iOS 26.4 will...
Read Full Article • 345 comments
HomePod mini and Apple TV

Apple's Next Rumored Products: New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and More

Thursday October 16, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year. The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has...
Read Full Article • 92 comments
m4 macbook air blue

M5 MacBook Air Coming Spring 2026 With M5 Mac Studio and Mac Mini in Development

Thursday October 16, 2025 3:57 pm PDT by
Apple plans to launch MacBook Air models equipped with the new M5 chip in spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is also working on M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models that will come early in the year. Neither the MacBook Pro models nor the MacBook Air models are expected to get design changes, with Apple focusing on simple chip upgrades. In the case of the MacBook Pro, a m...
Read Full Article • 116 comments
maxresdefault

Here's How the iOS 26.1 Transparency Toggle Changes Liquid Glass

Monday October 20, 2025 1:55 pm PDT by
With the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple added a toggle that makes Liquid Glass more opaque and reduces transparency. We tested the beta to see where the toggle works and what it looks like. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. If you have the latest iOS 26.1 beta, you can go to Settings > Display and Brightness to get to the new option. Tap on Liquid Glass, then...
Read Full Article • 118 comments