iPhone X is the best smartphone Apple ever made. It could be the best smartphone released in 2017. Like its rivals and every iPhone that came before it, however, it’s imperfect.
As much as I love using mine, certain things drive me crazy almost every day — and no, the “notch” isn’t one of them. Here are 10 things I hate about iPhone X.
iPhone X annoyances
Some of these irritations stem from the iPhone X’s hardware, which is set in stone. But Apple could fix some of the other iPhone X annoyances with software tweaks.
Let’s start with the physical.
iPhone X is too slippery
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Unless I’m reviewing a case, I like to use my iPhone naked. But that’s not possible with the iPhone X, because it’s too damn slippery.
Its curved glass panels, coupled with its size and weight, mean it’s nearly impossible to go a week without dropping the iPhone X. And if you don’t drop it, it will surely slide off something or slip out of your pocket. You need a decent iPhone X case for grip and protection. (Here’s our list of the best iPhone X cases around.)
Apple used steel to reinforce the iPhone X glass this year, but drop tests prove that doesn’t make a massive difference when it comes to durability. The iPhone X is so fragile that Consumer Reports recommends you buy an older model instead — or an Android-powered rival.
I don’t remember the iPhone 4 being this slippery. Perhaps that’s because it was significantly smaller and lighter than iPhone X, making it easier to hold onto.
iPhone X scratches easily
If you don’t need a case for grip, you definitely need one to protect the iPhone X’s stainless steel frame. It scratches incredibly easily, at least on the silver model I have. It seems just as susceptible to scratching as the metal bezel around the iPhone 3G and the chamfered edge on the iPhone 5.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
I have no idea how my iPhone X picked up so many scuffs. I’ve been using a case since day one. I already had a bunch waiting for launch day, and soon after setting up my iPhone X for the first time, I put one on. I’ve used three different cases so far.
When I took the latest off the other day to clear out dust, I noticed a bunch of scratches on the corners of my iPhone X. They’re only light surface scratches, but they’re noticeable up close.
Maybe the iPhone X got scratched while I changed cases. Maybe the scratches resulted from lint or other debris getting in between the case and the handset. I’m not sure. But I’m always careful with my devices; I had no scratches or scuffs on my iPhone 7 after six months of use.
Face ID doesn’t make everything easier
I love Face ID, the iPhone X’s flagship facial recognition feature. I got used to life without a Home button in less than an hour. Face ID is simpler to use than Touch ID, even more reliable (at least in my experience), and significantly more secure, according to Apple. But certain functions worked better with Touch ID.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Authorizing Apple Pay transactions with Face ID can be cumbersome. Double-clicking the iPhone X’s power button feels more finicky than double-clicking a Home button. And if you place your handset on the payment terminal too quickly, Face ID doesn’t have time to recognize you.
You end up holding up the line in the supermarket, with your iPhone held up in front of your face, trying to initiate Apple Pay again. Customers behind you start to lose their patience. The cashier wishes you’d just brought your wallet. No one is impressed with your iPhone X.
Confirming App Store downloads is even more annoying. With Touch ID, you simply scanned your fingerprint. With Face ID, you must double-click the power button before using facial recognition for authentication. And Apple doesn’t make that explicitly clear.
A friend called me to ask why their iPhone X was asking them to double-click when they attempted to install a new app. Other users on Twitter seem just as confused.
I understand why you need an extra step for confirmation on the iPhone X. You had a chance to cancel an accidental download with Touch ID; you could back out before scanning your fingerprint. But you can’t do that with Face ID if you’re already looking at your iPhone.
But why couldn’t Apple give us a simple confirmation button on the screen?
It’s too difficult to access Control Center
I use Control Center all the time for many different things. Unfortunately, accessing it on the iPhone X is a pain in the ass.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
You must swipe down from the top-right of the screen, which proves incredibly difficult if you’re trying to operate your device with one hand — especially if it’s your left hand. You have to stretch to reach the top corner of the screen, unless you have abnormally large hands.
Accessing Control Center from the bottom of the screen seemed so much easier. Could we not swipe diagonally from the bottom-left corner instead?
You can’t customize iPhone X status bar indicators
iPhone X gives you no option to display your battery percentage in the status bar. In fact, you get no option to display anything other than what Apple gives you. You must open Control Center to see these things, and we’ve already learned that’s complicated.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Some users aren’t interested in seeing cellular or Wi-Fi signal strength, which iPhone X displays at all times. We should be able to choose what we see in the status bar in the same way that we can now choose which toggles and shortcuts we see in Control Center.
Killing iPhone X apps is clunky
Why can’t we kill apps by swiping them away in the app switcher anymore? It was so simple, and it made light work of killing multiple apps in one go. Swiping away apps does nothing on iPhone X.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Instead, you must tap and hold an app in the app switcher, then use the red circles that appear to close each one individually. Closing multiple apps proves time-consuming and incredibly frustrating.
I can’t see a reason for this change. It makes no sense to me.
Portrait Mode is trash
I used an iPhone 7 before getting the iPhone X, so I hadn’t had a chance to try Portrait Mode before. Maybe I expected too much based on the demos shown during Apple’s keynotes, but I’ve been sorely disappointed by it. I think it’s complete garbage in its current form.
I’d say I’ve taken around 30 photos in Portrait Mode so far, and I’ve only kept two of them. The others weren’t worth the storage space. I struggle to take a Portrait Mode photo that doesn’t leave my subject incredibly fuzzy around the edges, and I hate that look.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
I’ve seen much better portrait photos from the Google Pixel 2, which has just one rear-facing camera lens instead of two.
Perhaps I’m using it wrong, but I’ve spoken to others who have experienced the same. I think the feature has potential, and Apple can make improvements easily through software updates. But for now, I’ve stopped using it.
There is no dark mode
iOS needs a dark mode now more than ever.
OLED displays, like the one packed into iPhone X, are far more efficient when displaying darker images. That’s because unlike LCD displays, OLED displays have the ability to light each pixel individually. And black pixels don’t need to be lit at all.
That’s why the user interface is so dark on Apple Watch; black backgrounds use a lot less energy, and this helps make the most of battery life. But we still don’t have a dark mode option in iOS 11, and that needs to change.
When you consider how big the iPhone X’s display is, a dark mode could dramatically increase battery life. All those white backgrounds are taking up too much power.
The software is buggy
I’ve already written extensively about the problems with iOS 11 (and macOS), so I’ll try to keep this brief. Apple’s mobile OS remains plagued with bugs three months after its release. Apple continues working to iron out the biggest issues, but even after the arrival of iOS 11.2, plenty of glitches remain.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apps crash or simply don’t open at all. Funky things happen with the user interface. Wi-Fi stops working when it can’t be bothered to work anymore. There’s a whole Twitter Moment dedicated to the “nightmares.”
It’s unacceptable for a company with billions of users around the world. Apple possesses the resources to eliminate these problems so users would not need to endure them. We expect better when we cough up $1,000.
The price tag is steep
And that hefty $1,000 iPhone X price tag is the least you’ll pay when you buy one of Apple’s futuristic phones outright. You’ll spend an additional $150 if you want the 256GB model.
Yes, I paid the price. And so did millions of others. But I still think iPhone X is wildly overpriced.
I understand the iPhone X brings a cutting-edge OLED display, advanced facial recognition, incredible cameras and more. It should certainly command a high-end price tag. But a 64GB model costs Apple just $370 in components and manufacturing.
That’s around $150 more than the manufacturing cost of an iPhone 7 at launch. Did the iPhone X’s price tag really need to surpass $1,000? Other consumer electronics become more affordable every year. You can buy a fairly decent laptop for next to nothing these days.
So, why is the price of Apple’s smartphones rising so quickly?
I still love iPhone X
I still love iPhone X, despite all these complaints. Every smartphone suffers from some flaws. The best models let you look past their deficiencies by doing plenty of other things incredibly well.
The iPhone X nails the things that matter most to me.
I’m talking about excellent cameras, decent battery life, a great display and simple software (for the most part).
As much as some things frustrate me with iPhone X, its ability to deliver all this and more means I’m still happy with my purchase. But if you’re listening, Apple, please bear my complaints in mind for next year.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
33 responses to “10 things I hate about iPhone X”
“And if you place your handset on the payment terminal too quickly, Face ID doesn’t have time to recognize you.
You end up holding up the line in the supermarket, with your iPhone held up in front of your face, trying to initiate Apple Pay again. Customers behind you start to lose their patience. The cashier wishes you’d just brought your wallet. No one is impressed with your iPhone X.”
You are doing it wrong, before you actually use the payment terminal, push the wake sleep button twice, scan your face and just bring your phone to the payment terminal when it’s time. After you scan your face it remains active for one minute. Iv never tried to use Apple Pay like you do, i did that with touch ID but not with face ID. I actually didn’t knew same working with touch ID too, i always used touch ID like you are now using face ID, in my opinion you should take my advice and start using it like me, everytime when you bring your phone to the payment terminal you know it will work right away.
Usually when Killian writes an article bashing iPhone, I typically chalk it up to Killian being Killian. But not this time I agree with him completely on 8/10 items (portrait photos I never used anyway so can’t agree or disagree, and I never was a fan of Dark Mode on things)
One that I would add to the list is Screenshots by the up volume button plus the power button at the same time. I have probably taken at least 300 screenshots on my iPhone X, not because I meant to, but by accident, it is way too easy to accidentally hit those buttons when you put in or take off your phone from the holder I use in my car. It is one of those in air vent clips.
Yeah, that’s a good one.
I have never accidentally taken a screen shot with the X. I actually had to look up how to do it.
“Instead, you must tap and hold an app in the app switcher, then use the red circles that appear to close each one individually. Closing multiple apps proves time-consuming and incredibly frustrating.”
Actually, just hold on the foremost app till the red circle appears, then swipe the app away. The swiping feature still works, you just have to tap to hold to use it, and once you’ve tapped and held, you can swipe away as many as you want. Doesn’t take long to adjust to.
Just wanted to point out some misinformation here. To kill apps just swipe up, hold and then just swipe up again. No need to use red buttons. In fact once you are in the kill mode you can just swipe up quickly to kill them all.
Here are 10 things I hate about this article:
1. Many of the points have nothing to do with iPhone X, they are an iOS 11 issue.
2. Ferrets emit an order
3. Price is what it is, can’t be too much. You know what I hate about the moon, it costs too much to fly there.
4. Splenda has an after taste.
5. Buy a case.
6. Portrait mode is not “Trash”. You’re clearly not doing it right.
7. Dark mode…seriously? Dark mode is what you hate about iPhone X?
8. New Coke
9. Control center…actually I agree with that one.
10. You chose to be an early adopter of “next years iphone”. Maybe next year the will fix it and in some kind of space time continuum you will love this iPhone X next year.
Have you tried Stevia or Arithratal? Now those have a really bad after taste.
This all makes perfect sense.
Actually, buried deep in the accessibility options there’s a new “Smart Invert” which keeps your photos (on official Apple apps anyway) normal, as well as the main screen and icons (for the most part…colours seem … odd) and inverts the underlying theme… found it by accident and growing fond of it… just my 2 cents..
The problems with Smart Invert is that some images in 3rd party apps still become junk and, more importantly, when Smart Invert is on, there’s no more night mode (no Tru-tone either?). Related: navigation now becomes too bright at night!
As an aside: why the heck doesn’t Apple let you run Apple Map in night mode all the time??? Or, why does Apple think it’s a good idea to blind the he11 out of you when you stop navigation at night and the map suddenly shifts from dark to all bright???
1. Way, way less slippery than the 6, 6S, and 7.
2. Can’t say yet.
3. You might find more success here by NOT being a tool. Double click the Siri button, while your looking at the phone, you can watch the Face ID icon so you know if it’s been authenticated before you ever put it next to the terminal. You write for a tech blog?
4. I agree.
5. Eh, I think the important ones are there. The droid crowd will always want more customization.
6. We should be able to just swipe up to close, but you still can swipe up you just have to press and hold to get the minus sign first.
7. Front facing portrait mode works better on the Pixel, but I have to give it to Google, the Pixel front shooter is the best on any smartphone. I like portrait mode on the rear camera of the X better.
8. I guess I’d like this in low power mode, but I’ve always preferred the bright white space of iOS.
9. It’s not the end of the world buggy like tech blogs like to portray but it could be better. It’s also naive, especially for a tech blogger, to think that money can squash every bug.
10. The top tier 8+ is $950. I, of course, want to pay the least amount possible but again I think the internet is being a bit disingenuous.
I disagree with several of these.
Agree with 5 out of the 10 points, but it’s still the best out there. 2 out of the 10 were complaints about the software and not the phone.
I agree it’s still the best phone out there. None of them are perfect.
It’s funny because Portrait Mode is one of my favorite features, and takes photos that appear nearly as good as my DSLR (at least for taking photos of the family). It needs a little work that I’m guessing can be fixed in software, but most of the time it applies the blur correctly (or at least captures the depth data that can be corrected in an app like Focos).
Luckily most of the issues can be fixed in software.
All of your complaints are petty and picky; they make no sense. Until you can find a real fault, which I’m sure there some, stay silent.
Once again, “Thr Apple Double Standard” is at play.
Honestly, the author’s complaints are utter knit-picking, especially when comparing the iPhone X to its competitors.
I had an iPhone X in my pocket since November 3rd. Not only is the iPhone X the n”best iPhone ever, it is the best smartphone ever – by a wide margin.
I don’t disagree with that. But no smartphone is perfect, and iPhone X has its flaws.
My experience with the iPhone X is that it has no flaws worth mentioning. It is best-in-class in every way: display, silicon, cameras, design, build quality, battery life, customer service, and yes, software.
Your list of super minor gripes about the iPhone X creates a false equivalence.
All of this year’s Android flagships have real issues: clearly inferior silicon in all Android devices; display and build quality issues with the Pixel 2XL; very real software lag with all Samsung phones; spyware/user tracking issues with the Chinese brands; inferior cameras with all but a few Android phones; inferior accessories (Pixel Buds anyone?); inferior customer service and support; etc.
By making a list of super minor (some might say fake) issues with the iPhone X, you are creating the false impression that the iPhone X is not a clearly superior product.
It is a clearly superior product.
This might be the most “first world problem “ article I’ve ever read in my entire life lol . Smh .
Indeed, worthy of another of the SNL send-ups of iPhone users obsessed with non-issues.
You started off on the wrong foot but regained later. Too slippery? Scratches easily? Who on his right mind would *not* have a case on a $1,000+ phone? Even a $500 phone. I don’t care if the phone case is Velcro and fly paper, i’m Not risking breaking a phone over a slip. Want to show off the phone? Look for a clear case.
Others have pointed out that you’re using Face ID for Apple Pay wrong, as well as killing apps and Portrait Mode. My mother is one of the worst photographers ever and her first photo with the X was practically a masterpiece. You just need good background separation.
That said, i’ll Give you that the status bar should be customizable, we should have a dark mode option (just because one person doesn’t like it doesn’t mean others don’t want it), control center should be easier and so should killing apps (even if it’s not as hard as you thought, it could be better). And iOS has had some embarrass inexcusable bugs.
As for the price? Yes, I wish it was cheaper. That’s honestly the only reason why I don’t have one.
“Who on his right mind would *not* have a case on a $1,000+ phone?”
Never used case and don’t use one with X either
Totally agree! Face ID sucks I have it switched off and use passcode instead. Portrait mode is just horrible. Swiping up is the worst replacement for a home button, I’m constantly exiting apps by scrolling slightly too low. Why couldn’t they have a virtual home button using force touch like they have with the flashlight and camera on the home screen? I’m taking mine back for a full refund after using it for 2 weeks it’s overpriced junk!
*force touch buttons on lock screen not home screen.
This who article could be summed up as: I didn’t RTFM.
Ummm if you want to swipe up to close an app in the app switcher then… swipe up. That’s what I do with my iPhone X. I’ve never once pressed the little red close button. I always swipe to force close apps. You’re welcome.
“10 things I hate about iPhone X”
Too slippery? Get a case.
Scratches easily? Get a case.
Want to customize the status bar and CC? Pray for a jailbreak.
Software is buggy?? Software is ALWAYS buggy. Be patient and wait for fixes.
Portrait mode is “garbage” and “trash?” What in the world are you talking about?
Too much money? Don’t buy one.
This is a ridiculous article, apparently for filler on a slow news day. Reads more like a rant from BGR.
Lots of people agree that this article is a joke so ridiculous, worst thing a ever read. Buy a case you fool.
I used the X for a week. It gave me headaches by day 2, and burning eyes constantly. The flickering 240Hz screen is NOT a good thing for people who are sensitive. Everything else on this phone I absolutely love. The screen is gorgeous and bright, FaceID works flawlessly, and the size is absolutely perfect. But I cannot handle the PWM flickering of the OLED screen. 240hz is just simply too slow.
I’m just going to quote you on the only reason i wont buy this new phone “It’s unacceptable for a company with billions of users around the world. Apple possesses the resources to eliminate these problems so users would not need to endure them. We expect better when we cough up $1,000.” IMO $1000.00 for a phone which most people don’t even come close to using to its full potential is insane.
If you purchase an Otterbox Defender cover for your IPhone X, you won’t have the problems with scratching your phone. The cover fits like a glove and you don’t have to worry about it breaking. My son and I have been buying Otterbox phone covers for yrs and never have shattered the glass!!