Skip to Content

Got a tip for us?Let us know

a. Send us an email
b. Anonymous form

iPhone X: Hands-On With Apple's New Flagship Device

Wednesday November 1, 2017 10:48 pm PDT by Juli Clover

The iPhone X will be in the hands of customers in less than 48 hours, but ahead of the device's launch, our new videographer, Dan Barbera, was able to spend some time with an iPhone X demo device to get a look at the new smartphone before its public release.

Because this is a demo device that's going to be in retail stores for customers to check out before making a purchase, Face ID was disabled, but Dan was able to check out the design of the iPhone X and give us a good look at the new gestures needed to operate the device.

Watch on YouTube

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

We just wanted to give MacRumors readers a quick close-up of the iPhone X ahead of its launch with this first video, but starting this Friday, we'll be doing a much deeper dive into the iPhone X in a series of videos. We have a lot of content planned, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors.com and subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven't done so already.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:36 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple's long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The smart home hub is said to feature a square 6-inch display, with variants that can be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall. It features a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base. Gurman described the...

• 199 comments

HomePod minis on gradient feature 1 1

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:04 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple plans to introduce a series of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple reportedly plans to debut its long-awaited smart home hub device, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV on the date. The new HomePod mini and Apple TV are set to retain their existing designs, but tout faster chips to support Siri AI. The new HomePod mini will...

• 56 comments

Apple TV Sans Remote Feature

New Apple TV 4K Leaked

Friday September 25, 2026 8:16 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris has uncovered an image file from Apple for an unreleased Apple TV 4K, suggesting that a new model will finally be released soon. The image is specifically for an "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)" model. Apple TV 4K (4th generation) image (on a gradient) The image reveals that the Apple TV will have the same external design as the current model, with all of its...

• 192 comments

Top Rated Comments

116 months ago

@1:05 Pay with Touch ID :eek:

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

116 months ago

I was well aware when I chose to be an early adopter for the 2012 retina MBP and the iPhone 3G, 4 & 6. At that time, I felt it was worth the tradeoff. This time however, I have serious reservations about compromising my entire usage pattern for a value proposition that's frankly not really there. I'm happy with TouchID, full-screen apps, established touch gestures and so forth.

I've also been craving for and ranting about a redesign on the super tired iPhone 6 form factor. I just don't think this is it. Not yet at least. Liking "most of what they've done" doesn't merit a €1300 investment (sans AppleCare) that's only optimised to create animojis.

For me it’s a bit different though, I’m prepared to accept that out of box, it’s going to need work still to make it the device it’s supposed to be. And that many apps are going to need updating, some may never be updated of course. I still have apps that were never updated for the Plus sized phones, or not updated well (hell one of my own apps that I still use has never been updated for the Plus, it’s been discontinued for years, but stilll, never even updated it for myself :D) So I’ve always had to compromise on apps that aren’t full screen, nothing new to me.

And I know I’ll get shot for this one, but horror of horrors, I actually prefer touch gestures to a button now. I doubt I’d have said that 10 years ago :D but I don’t know, I think I’ve evolved a little with the devices. The touch gestures for navigation just feel natural using these screens, I miss some of them when I switch from my iPad to my iPhone. Still hate touch for anything but basic games though but no phone is likely to ever fix that. Certainly not one with a picture of an apple on the back of it anyway ;)

I am entirely certain though that Apple will in a reasonably short period of time, hold up their end and get the refinements to iOS finalised to better suit the X, they have something to prove (or to some, try and prove) so they won’t rest on their laurels.

I’m prepared to accept the relatively minor shortcomings, because I love the iPhone Plus models far too much to even consider using a regular iPhone 8. Never going to happen. But at the same time, having a screen that’s almost the size of the 8 Plus in the smaller form factor will make things much easier on me.
It’s a situation very specific to me, so I don’t expect my reasons to appeal to anyone else (or at least not many.)

But crucially I do still like the hardware in the X, I wouldn’t get it otherwise, even if it does make life easier. And I know I like iOS 11. So there’s little doubt I’ll like the X.

I love Touch ID but I can see potential for Face ID being more useful in my life. Living in a particularly wet part of Scotland and worse still, enjoying going up into the hills and mountains, believe me I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve cursed Touch ID to hell and back because it’s wet. Or when my hands are grubby as often happens and I’m trying to pay for something in the shop, frantically wiping my hands over whatever clothes I’m wearing, much to the wife’s delight :D

I’m not, contrary to popular belief, a fool though. It’s not going to be perfect, nothing is, so I am prepared for certain limitations to annoy and even frustrate me, for a while at least, until software is updated. But that I can cope with.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

116 months ago

OMG!! Less than 24 hours, very hyped

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

116 months ago

Did you watch Nilay use the phone in the supermarket as an instance of it not working? He had the phone held down at his waist/hip line nearly straight down. I literally don’t blame the phone for it not working as I have never witnessed a person using a phone like that before.

Yeah, it was the bit just before the supermarket when he started talking about the bright sunlight for me, I damn near spat my coffee out. And I do NOT like to waste coffee, not even the cheap horrible stuff you get at Starbucks.

Now, ok, fair enough I don't know how tall Nilay is. He may be a person of short stature (is that what we call midgets these days? I lose track of all of that PC arse gravy, it's forever changing :p) for all I know. But were talking about a device designed to operate within 10 - 20 inches, so probably 15 being the sweet spot.

I'm 6 foot 3" and on me, where he's holding it is a lot more than 20 inches from my eyes. In direct sunlight, with a quick glance, while strutting down the street.

Really Mr Patel? That's your testing methodology for something? Put it just enough outside of it's defined operational parameters so that it fails but doesn't look too obvious. Yeah, that gives me complete faith in your impartiality, not to mention your usefulness as a product tester and opinion giver.
And before anyone makes a crack and we all know you will, I've been professionally testing pre-release products for over 20 years. It takes a little bit more, let's say for simpleness, actions grounded in reality than that particular "test" to cut it.

I mean for God's sake, I'm not expecting it to be perfect, I'm not even expecting it to be quicker or always as convenient as Touch ID. But give me a break.

**Edit**

I've just realised I've not taken my morphine this morning, oops. That, the fact I’ve not slept for three days and a distinct lack of coffee in this damn house may be making me ever so slightly grumpier than usual. Just a tad, a wee bit, minuscule even :D

Oh, and obviously if Nilay does happen to be 4 foot 2", then I take back everything I just said.

[doublepost=1509617902][/doublepost]

All these "hands-on" reviews over the last few days and not one comment about call quality; it's a phone after all....

Wow, people still do that with them? Weird :p

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

116 months ago

It's a supercool device only at first glance. Then the issues take hold. Face ID will certainly take a learning curve, and it doesn't work all that flawlessly (according to the Verge's early review it's a hit or miss in broad daylight).

The Verge is no longer a reliable source. They’ve embarked in an all-out anti-Apple crusade, while everything Google does is golden.

The final turning point has been the Apple Watch LTE review, completely built on a single connectivity bug. Once the bug got solved, the review remained largely the same, including the 5 score. At this point it’s clear they have an agenda.

As far as the iPhone X is concerned: no other reviewer found problems in full daylight. And someone took the device for a full vacation at Disneyland.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

116 months ago

It's a supercool device only at first glance. Then the issues take hold. Face ID will certainly take a learning curve, and it doesn't work all that flawlessly (according to the Verge's early review it's a hit or miss in broad daylight).

UX-wise, it seems the only states optimised for this new display shape are the home and lock screen. Every other app and media, native included, is letterboxed to a fault. Sorry but not sorry Apple, that's just bad experience and a dealbreaker to me.

And yet several other reviewers didn’t seem to have anywhere near the same trouble with Face ID Nilay did. Tom’s Guide for instance said it got tripped up in an elevator once for some reason but they had no issues with it in bright sunlight/darkness/in a bar/at home.

There’s a lot of mixed opinions, which to be fair is exactly what I expected there to be.
The UI does need some improvement, but that’ll come. Remember how awful apps were when we moved to the 4.7 and 5.5 inch screens. It takes time for everyone, usually including Apple to catch up.

That aside I’m still looking forward to the X, I’ve been one of those waiting on a major redesign for years and I like most of what they’ve done.

Really need to stop watching these previews though, I’m over excited as it is :D One more sleep to go.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

Latest Stories

Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage

PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today

Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far

Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode

Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features

Apple Event on October 13?

Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?

iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features

DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App

Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models

Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod

Apple Working to Expand HomeKit

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards

OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse

AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough

iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping

You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12

Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today

Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware

Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls

Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features

Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year

Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models

Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac

Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway

AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?

Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI

Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors