The iPhone 10, also known as the iPhone X, marked a major shift in Apple’s design philosophy when it was released in 2017. It was the 10th anniversary edition of the iPhone, and it came with a host of groundbreaking features that set it apart from its predecessors. From the edge-to-edge OLED display to the removal of the home button, the iPhone 10 was a bold reimagining of the classic iPhone design. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the features, performance, and impact of the iPhone 10.

Design and Display: A Bold New Look

Edge-to-Edge OLED Display

The iPhone 10 was the first iPhone to feature an edge-to-edge OLED display, a feature that completely changed the way we interact with smartphones. The 5.8-inch Super Retina display offered vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratios. Whether you were watching movies, playing games, or browsing photos, the OLED screen brought a new level of clarity and depth to everything you viewed. The iPhone 10 also supported HDR10 and Dolby Vision, making it one of the best displays available on a smartphone at the time.

No Home Button

One of the most noticeable changes with the iPhone 10 was the removal of the iconic home button, which had been a staple of iPhones for years. This allowed Apple to achieve the bezel-less design that became a trend in smartphones. In place of the home button, the iPhone 10 introduced Face ID, a facial recognition system that allowed users to unlock their phone simply by looking at it. This was a game-changer in terms of convenience and security.

Build Quality and Materials

The iPhone 10 features a stainless steel frame with glass front and back panels, giving it a premium, high-end look and feel. The glass construction also allowed for wireless charging, which was another first for the iPhone series. The iPhone 10 was also rated with an IP67 certification, making it water and dust resistant, so you didn’t have to worry about your phone getting damaged by the elements.

Performance: Powered by the A11 Bionic Chip

At the heart of the iPhone 10 is Apple’s powerful A11 Bionic chip, which was designed to deliver high performance while being energy efficient. This 64-bit chip provided impressive processing power, allowing the iPhone 10 to run apps smoothly, load games quickly, and perform complex tasks with ease. The A11 chip also featured a Neural Engine, which handled machine learning tasks, such as Face ID and Augmented Reality (AR) apps.

The iPhone 10 also came with 3GB of RAM, which, while modest by today’s standards, was more than enough to handle multitasking and demanding applications at the time of release. The phone offered multiple storage options, including 64GB and 256GB, allowing users to choose the storage that best suited their needs.

Camera: Professional-Grade Photography

The iPhone 10 continued Apple’s tradition of excellent camera performance. It was equipped with a 12 MP dual-camera system on the back, which included a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens, both with optical image stabilization. This allowed the iPhone 10 to take sharp, high-quality photos even in low-light conditions, and the telephoto lens allowed for optical zoom without losing image quality.

Portrait Mode and Lighting

The Portrait Mode feature, introduced in previous iPhones, was further enhanced on the iPhone 10 with the ability to adjust Portrait Lighting effects. This allowed users to simulate professional lighting setups, giving their photos a studio-quality look.

Video Recording Capabilities

The iPhone 10 was also capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second, which made it an excellent option for content creators and videographers. The phone also featured optical image stabilization for video, ensuring smooth footage even when recording on the go. The front camera, a 7 MP TrueDepth sensor, was capable of 1080p HD video recording and also supported Portrait Mode for selfies, giving users more control over the look of their photos.

Face ID: The Future of Security

One of the most innovative features introduced with the iPhone 10 was Face ID, which replaced the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Using the TrueDepth camera system, Face ID analyzed over 30,000 invisible dots to create a detailed depth map of your face. This allowed the iPhone 10 to unlock with just a glance, making it faster and more secure than traditional fingerprint sensors.

Face ID also supported a range of features beyond unlocking the phone, including Apple Pay and App Store authentication, which added an extra layer of security to the device. The system was designed to adapt to changes in your appearance over time, so even if you wore glasses or grew a beard, Face ID would still recognize you.

Battery Life and Charging

The iPhone 10 featured a 2,716 mAh battery, which, coupled with the energy-efficient A11 Bionic chip, provided all-day battery life for typical use. Apple claimed that the iPhone 10 offered up to 21 hours of talk time, up to 12 hours of internet use, and up to 13 hours of video playback. While it was slightly smaller than some of its contemporaries in terms of battery size, its efficiency meant that it could last a full day without issue.

In terms of charging, the iPhone 10 introduced wireless charging, which was compatible with Qi-certified chargers. The phone also supported fast charging, which allowed it to charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes with an 18W adapter or higher (sold separately).

Pricing: iPhone 10 Cost and Availability

At launch, the iPhone 10 was priced starting at AUD 1,579 for the 64GB model, while the 256GB model was priced at AUD 1,829. While the price tag was higher than previous iPhones, the iPhone 10 offered a premium, feature-packed experience that justified the cost for many users.

As the iPhone 10 has been discontinued by Apple, it is no longer available directly from the official Apple store. However, it can still be found through third-party sellers and refurbished options at varying prices. Depending on the condition and storage capacity, the iPhone 10 can be found at reduced prices, making it a more affordable option for those who want to experience the iPhone X design without breaking the bank.

Conclusion: Is the iPhone 10 Still Worth It?

The iPhone 10 was a groundbreaking device when it was released, offering a host of new features and setting the standard for modern smartphones. While newer models have since been released, the iPhone 10 still holds up well in terms of design, performance, and camera quality. For users who don’t need the latest features, the iPhone 10 remains a solid choice, especially if you can find it at a good price through third-party retailers or refurbished options.

Although it no longer has the latest specs or software updates, the iPhone 10 remains a durable, reliable smartphone with all the key features that made it stand out at launch. For those who appreciate Apple’s design philosophy and want a more affordable entry into the iPhone ecosystem, the iPhone 10 remains a worthy contender.

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