When Apple released its highly anticipated iPhone X in November, experts and consumers alike wondered if it was worth the steep price tag. Starting at $999, this special 10th-anniversary model boasts a sleek, buttonless design, an OLED screen and Face ID facial recognition, among other features. It's certainly an impressive device, but do these tech upgrades justify such a significant investment?
As one might imagine, public opinion is split, and people have strong feelings about whether the iPhone X has lived up to its hype. Below, we share the thoughts of nine Forbes Tech Council members.
1. Yes: This Is UX Done Right
I was skeptical that the iPhone X would live up to the hype up until I got one in my hands. The user experience of Face ID and its very natural gestures -- combined with the performance, excellent camera, screen resolution and size -- made it worth every penny to me. If you can afford it, it lives up to the hype in terms of functionality. - Ajai Sehgal, EagleView Technologies
2. Yes: Face ID, TrueDepth Camera And Overall Design Make It Absolutely Worth It
Face ID is significantly finer than I'd ever envisioned, and it's mystifying how swiftly you fail to remember the fingerprint sensor. The TrueDepth camera brings an ingredient of fun with the capability to send Animojis. It looks absolutely stunning, and its brilliant design now means you get a considerably larger and more vibrant screen in a phone that conveniently fits in your pocket. - Jeremy Williams, Vyudu
3. Yes: It's A Step Forward For Biometrics And Device Security
The iPhone X does live up to its hype, and a discerning iOS customer will extract value from owning one. Working heavily in the mobile space, I see this flagship device contributing to the growing ecosystem of secure devices with a frictionless experience. My team and I believe Apple will continue to push the envelope with biometric authentication technologies on consumer devices. - Bojan Simic, HYPR Corp.
4. No: It's Cool Technology With An Uncool Price
Everything about the new iPhone shows progress and exciting updates that are definitely cool to use. While they're not necessarily important for the masses to have, they are incredible advancements in design and technology. The price, however, makes it well out of range for most people. I'm not sure the technology warrants the price, no matter how cool it is. - Muhammed Othman, Calendar
5. No: Keep Your iPhone 6S
For the 1% of people who can afford a new iPhone every year without a thought, this will be yet another iPhone for them to buy because...it's an iPhone. For everyone else, keep that iPhone 6S. You can use normal headphones, click the home button without looking and your identical twin can't use their face to hack into it. - David Murray, Doctor.com
6. No: It Seems Like A Step Backward
After talking to several iPhone X owners, I am left with the impression that it is not worth the hype, with case issues making this phone seem like a step backward. Specifically, unlocking the screen now requires looking at your phone and a slight delay from simply placing your thumb on the home button. The screen is beautiful, and the form factor is perfect, but it does leave much to be desired. - Chris Kirby, Voices.com
7. No: The Hardware Hasn't Changed Enough To Warrant The Price
While Apple's software apps (camera, maps, etc.) keep improving, the hardware has remained relatively unchanged. Sure, they'll change the size of the screen every now and then, but that's not enough to warrant a much higher price point and brand-new phone. I personally cannot wait for a day that phones come with retractable screens to make them as large or small as you want. - Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
8. No: The Value Isn't There...Yet
The iPhone X has failed to deliver value commensurate with its price, though I expect it to come. While dancing emojis, facial recognition and a phone beefy enough to handle ARKit are cool, the value isn't there right now. Not enough apps have AR, VR, MR and facial recognition...yet. As more and more apps include features that integrate these features, the iPhone X will deliver more value. - Rob Versaw