Consumer Reports has revealed that Apple’s high anticipated $999 iPhone X didn’t beat its predecessor, the iPhone 8, during a rigorous review process.
It raised questions over the iPhone X’s battery life and durability, saying ‘The iPhone X is an innovative device with a fantastic camera and beautiful display, but other phones are tougher and can operate longer on a charge.’
The handset performed badly during drop tests designed to replicate everyday life – which pushed it below its sibling in the rating.
Consumer Reports has revealed that Apple’s high anticipated $999 iPhone X didn’t beat its predecessor, the iPhone 8, during a rigorous review process. Pictured, a boy makes faces while testing out Animoji on an iPhone X at the Apple Store Union Square in San Francisco
‘If not for the damage in that durability test, the iPhone X would have come in ahead of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus,’ says Richard Fisco, head of smartphone testing at CR.
It also said users might also be just as happy with the older iPhone 7.
‘If you want to save even more money, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus remain viable options,’ it said.
the site praised the iPhone X’s display, pointing to its overall brightness and vibrant colors, along with the deep black levels.
‘They look pretty much the same as the 8 and 8 Plus and offer many of the same features.
‘And they’ll cost you just $550 and $670, respectively. ‘
Three samples of the iPhone X were tested.
‘In our initial drop test, the iPhone X performed just fine,’ the site said.
‘It survived four falls onto a concrete surface from a height of 5 feet.’
Apple’s iPhone 8 (pictured) could be a better bet for many users, Consumer Reports said
However, using a tumbling machine, a rotating chamber that repeatedly drops a phone from a height of about 2.5 feet, caused issues.
It found that after 100 ‘tumbles’ the glass on the back was ‘significantly cracked’
The other two phones ended up with malfunctioning displays after 50 drops.
Though the front glass didn’t crack, several bright green bars stretched across the screens from top to bottom.
Samsung’s nearly all-glass Galaxy S8 and S8+ phones also performed poorly in the sametests.
‘In light of those results, we recommend that you protect any of these phones in a case,’ Consumer Reports said.
However, the site praised the iPhone X’s display, pointing to its overall brightness and vibrant colors, along with the deep black levels.
It also said it has the highest-rated smartphone camera Consumer Reports has tested, and hailed FaceID as ‘quick and easy’.
However, battery life was an issue.
Consumer Reports said its test found the iPhone X’s battery lasted 19.5 hours.
The iPhone 8 and SE had 19, the iPhone 8 plus 21 – while Samsung’s S8 and S8+ delivered 26 hours.