After rigorous testing, Consumer Reports
found Apple's new flagship phone, the $1,000 glass front
and back iPhone X, is one of the best smartphones you can buy.
But it scored slightly lower than the less expensive
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus mainly because it is
more susceptible to breakage.
The final test scores of the iPhone 8 and X are very close.
So which phone is right for you?
It really comes down to personal preference.
A closer look at our test results
and a side-by-side comparison of the phones can help you decide.
Simply put-- performance in the tumble test
made the biggest difference between the iPhone
X and the iPhone 8 scores.
We've tested several iPhone X's in our tumbling drum.
One phone suffered major glass damage on the back
after 100 drops.
After 50, two others had defects in their screens.
The front glass did not crack on any
of the iPhone X's we tested.
Bottom line-- we highly recommend
using a case since repairs without AppleCare insurance
can cost hundreds of dollars.
Both the iPhone 8 models--
also made with glass on the front and back--
passed the tumble test with only a few scrapes.
The iPhone X's aren't the first phones to fail our tumble test.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8's and S8's failed
with broken backs and displays.
In our other durability tests, the iPhone X
did just fine when scratched and checked for water resistance.
The same goes for the iPhone 8's.
Our tests show iPhones have shorter battery life when
compared to other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8
which has 26 hours of battery.
In our tests, the iPhone X's battery
lasted 19 and 1/2 hours when this robotic arm made
calls, surfed the web, took pictures,
and simulated using GPS navigation.
The iPhone 8's battery lasted 19 hours.
Both phones offer wireless charging.
The dual camera on the back of the iPhone X
is the best we've tested and is the top scoring
camera in our ratings.
The wide angle and telephoto cameras
both have optical image stabilization
improving test shots compared to previous iPhones including
the 8.
Even though the 8 has only a single back camera,
it's the second camera of the smartphones
currently in our ratings.
The iPhone X includes facial recognition technology
called Face ID which replaces Apple's fingerprint technology
Touch ID still on the iPhone 8.
In our tests, we found Face ID works very quickly
and was not fooled by tests meant to confuse it.
Both phones can also be unlocked using a six-digit code.
The X is slightly larger than the 8 and has a 5.8-inch
display.
The 8 is 4.7 inches.
The 8 plus--
5.5 inches.
Because there's no home button, the X
has a new set of swipes and gesture commands
that you'll have to learn while the 8's retain the once
familiar to Apple users.
And finally, there's the cost.
The iPhone X starts at $1,000.
The 8 starts at $700.
In response to our tumble test results,
Apple confirms the iPhone X's durability based
on the company's quote "rigorous real world testing"
and said the phone is quote, "made from the most durable
glass ever in a smartphone."
Subscribers can see our full smartphone ratings
at ConsumerReports.org.