What’s An iPhone X? | Specs, Features, And Buying Truth

The iPhone X was the model that changed the look of the iPhone line. Apple dropped the Home button, stretched the screen close to the edges, and brought in Face ID with the front camera notch. If you’ve got one in a drawer, you’re shopping for a used phone, or you just want to know why people still mention it, that’s the gist.

There’s more to it than that, though. The iPhone X sat right between the older iPhone style and the phones Apple sells now. It still feels modern in the hand, yet its age shows in battery life, chip speed, camera software, and repair costs. That mix is why people still ask about it years later.

What’s An iPhone X In Plain English?

Think of the iPhone X as the first “modern-looking” iPhone. It came out in 2017 and marked Apple’s tenth-anniversary model, with the “X” standing for ten. It introduced the screen shape and gesture controls that later iPhones kept building on.

Before this phone, most iPhones had thick top and bottom borders plus a circular Home button. The iPhone X changed that. You swipe up to go home, swipe and hold for multitasking, and use your face to unlock the phone. Once you know that, the whole device makes sense.

It also brought in a sharper screen than the iPhone 8, stainless steel edges, water and dust resistance, wireless charging, and a dual-camera setup on the back. That made it feel like a step up, not just another yearly refresh.

Why The iPhone X Mattered

Some phones are easy to forget. The iPhone X isn’t one of them. It changed how Apple phones looked and worked, then set the tone for the models that followed. If you line it up next to an iPhone 14 or 15, the family resemblance is clear.

Here’s what made it stand out:

• No physical Home button
• Edge-to-edge 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display
• Face ID through the TrueDepth front camera system
• Gesture-based navigation
• Dual 12 MP rear cameras with optical image stabilization
• Wireless charging with a glass back

That list still reads well now. The catch is that time has moved on. Newer iPhones have brighter screens, better battery life, better night shooting, longer software life, and more repair part availability.

What You Get On The Phone

Design And Screen

The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch OLED display with a 2436-by-1125 resolution. Apple lists it as a Super Retina HD display, and it still looks crisp. Blacks look deep, colors pop, and text stays sharp. The stainless steel frame gives it a denser, more polished feel than cheaper aluminum models from the same period.

The screen size lands in a nice middle ground. It feels roomy for reading, maps, and video, yet the body stays smaller than many newer large phones. That’s one reason some people still like it.

Face ID And Gestures

The iPhone X was the first iPhone to use Face ID instead of Touch ID. You raise the phone, glance at it, and it unlocks. Payments, password autofill, and app sign-ins can also work with your face. Apple’s own Face ID setup and security details explain how the system uses the front camera array and a passcode to protect access.

Gesture controls are simple after a day or two of use:

• Swipe up from the bottom to go home
• Swipe up and hold to open recent apps
• Swipe down from the right side for Control Center
• Swipe down from the left side for notifications

Performance And Storage

The phone runs on Apple’s A11 Bionic chip. It was fast in its day and still handles basic tasks fine: calls, messages, music, browsing, email, streaming, and light gaming. It can feel slower with newer apps, heavy photo editing, or long gaming sessions.

Storage came in 64 GB and 256 GB. The smaller option can fill up fast if you keep lots of videos, offline music, or years of photos on the device.

Part	What The iPhone X Has	What It Means Day To Day
Release year	2017	Old by phone standards, so age-related wear matters
Display	5.8-inch OLED, 2436 x 1125	Sharp, rich screen that still looks good
Chip	A11 Bionic	Fine for basics, less suited to heavy new apps
Unlock method	Face ID	No fingerprint reader, no Home button
Rear cameras	Dual 12 MP wide + telephoto	Solid daylight shots and portrait photos
Front camera	7 MP TrueDepth	Face ID plus selfies and video calls
Battery claim	Up to 13 hours video playback	Used units may last much less if battery health is low
Charging	Lightning and Qi wireless charging	Easy to charge, though slower than many new phones
Water resistance	IP67	Some splash protection, not a free pass for water use
Storage options	64 GB or 256 GB	64 GB can feel cramped now

Those specs line up with Apple’s iPhone X technical specifications. On paper, the phone still looks decent. In real life, condition matters as much as the spec sheet.

Camera, Battery, And Software Reality

Camera Quality

The iPhone X has two rear 12 MP cameras: a wide lens and a telephoto lens. In good light, it can still take pleasing photos with natural color and good detail. Portrait mode was one of its bigger selling points, and it still holds up for casual use.

Where it slips is low light. Newer iPhones do a better job with dark rooms, night street scenes, and bright lights in the frame. The iPhone X can still get the shot, yet it needs more patience and steadier hands.

Battery Life

Battery age is the biggest issue on most used iPhone X units. A fresh battery can make the phone feel much better. A worn one can mean surprise shutdowns, fast drain, and slower peak performance under load. If you’re buying one used, battery health should be near the top of your checklist.

Software Life

This is where buyers need a straight answer. The iPhone X is an older model, so it won’t stay current forever. Even when an old iPhone still works, app makers and security updates don’t always stick around at the same pace. That doesn’t make the phone useless. It does change who it suits.

The iPhone X makes more sense as a spare phone, a kid’s first iPhone, a music or video device, or a cheap backup for travel. It makes less sense as a long-term main phone if you want years of updates left.

How To Tell If A Phone Is Really An iPhone X

Plenty of used listings get model names wrong. Some sellers mix up the iPhone X, XR, XS, and XS Max. The shapes look close from a distance, so don’t rely on photos alone.

Use this quick check:

1. Look for the notch and the lack of a Home button.
2. Check the back for a vertical dual-camera layout.
3. Confirm storage options: 64 GB or 256 GB.
4. Find the model number in Settings or on the SIM tray area.
5. Match it with Apple’s iPhone model identification page.

That last step matters. A phone that “looks like an X” may be a different model with a different screen, battery, camera, or value.

Question	Good Sign	Red Flag
Battery health	80% or higher, better if replaced by Apple or a trusted shop	Low health, random shutdowns, no battery info shown
Screen	Even brightness, good touch response, no burn-in	Ghost images, dead pixels, lift from frame edges
Face ID	Unlocks and sets up with no errors	“Face ID not available” or sensor faults
Body and glass	Minor wear only	Cracked back glass or bent frame
Seller details	Clear IMEI status and model proof	Vague answers or “I think it’s an X” wording

Should You Still Buy One?

That depends on the price and your plans for it. If the price is low, Face ID works, the battery is healthy, and the screen is clean, the iPhone X can still do a lot. It handles calls, messaging, maps, streaming, light photos, and most daily basics just fine.

It’s a weaker buy if you want:

• Top battery life
• Strong low-light photos
• Years of software life left
• 5G data speeds
• Cheap repairs

A used iPhone X shines when you want Apple basics at a low cost and you know its age going in. It falls short when you expect it to feel like a recent flagship.

Who The iPhone X Fits Best

The phone still has a lane. It works well for someone who wants an Apple handset for light daily use, a parent picking up a first iPhone for a teen, or a buyer who needs Face ID and an OLED screen without paying much. It can also work as a secondary device for travel, music, smart-home controls, or car use.

If you’re shopping with care, don’t ask only “Does it turn on?” Ask whether Face ID works, whether the battery has been replaced, whether the screen is original, and whether the storage size fits your habits. Those answers matter more than flashy listing photos.

So, what’s an iPhone X? It’s the phone that pushed the iPhone into its current shape. It still feels sleek, still runs the basics well, and still has a screen people like. Just buy it with open eyes, because age is part of the package.