Many of the new features Apple announced at its September 12 event are part of iOS 11, rather than tied to new hardware. Person-to-person payments via Apple Pay; an improved lock screen, Notification Center and Control Center; improved video compression via the HEVC codec; more detailed Apple Maps; Do Not Disturb while driving; a dedicated file management app; FLAC support; screenshot editing; animated GIFs; and screen recording, to name but a few, are available on all iOS 11 compatible devices.
Security has been upgraded too. Researchers and forensic analysts with access to iOS 11 report that it's harder to extract data from devices without its six-digit passcode. In addition to requiring a pin when pairing a new PC or Mac for backups, there's a new S.O.S mode that launches a lock screen with options to make an emergency call or display emergency medical information. Crucially, it also silently disables TouchID and the new FaceID feature.
Are there any features I might miss?
Thanks to their glass backs, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X support wireless charging via the QI standard. If you've got a range of wireless charging mats and gizmos already, it's a neat feature, but note that charging wirelessly takes longer than using a cable. If you don't have any wireless charging accessories, Apple will gladly sell you one of its own wireless charging mats called AirPower, which has the unique ability to charge more than one device at once, although there are plenty on Amazon that will do that job. Also note that like the iPhone 7, neither the iPhone X or iPhone 8 have a headphone jack.
Most of the best new features are reserved for the iPhone X. One such feature is Animoji, 3D emoji that created via your facial expressions and voice. You can pick from most non-human emoji (fingers crossed this works with the poop) and use the iPhone X's 3D camera to map your eye, mouth and cheek expressions to that character in real time and send them via iMessage. Animoji is perhaps more of a novelty than it is something you'll use in the long-term, but it's a surprisingly fun novelty for a typically conservative Apple.
Apple is also pushing augmented reality hard with its new phones, although it didn't exactly sell it well during the keynote. There are Snapchat-like overlays; a new Warhammer 40K: Freeblade that lets you battle over real-world locations; a baseball app that overlays info when you point your phone's camera at a live game; and Skyguide, which Superimposes celestial information when you point your phone's camera at the sky. Apple also demoed a real-time strategy game during its keynote that allows players to walk around a battlefield superimposed onto a nearby surface, although it's hard to see how that's any better than a typical RTS, which lets you navigate with as much freedom via the accuracy of the mouse.
Will the iPhone X and iPhone 8 take better photos?
The iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone Plus have similar 12MP, dual camera setups to iPhone 7 Plus, although the iPhone X has a superior f/2.4 aperture on its telephoto lens. Since one lens has a wider field of view than the other it allows for true optical zooming, as well as depth-of-field effects. If you're coming from an iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus, there are some improvements in picture quality due to improved optics and Apple's hardware processing, but if you weren't convinced by their inclusion in the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 is unlikely to push you towards a purchase.
The front-facing camera of the iPhone X has been given a boost via "Portrait Lighting," which uses the 3D sensor to create a depth map and machine learning to change lighting across subject's face in real-time, even after you've taken the photo. The result is more akin to adding a light to the scene, rather than simply applying a filter, at least if Apple's demo is anything to go by.
While the iPhone X can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second, or slow-motion 240FPS video at 1080p. That's in addition to the exclusive augmented reality features. If you're happy with 1080p video, upgrading to the iPhone X just for 4K/60FPS recording and some extra augmented reality features is a tough sell, particularly since still photography should be largely the same.
When can I get one – and how much will it cost?
The iPhone 7 was released in September 2016, which is good news for your wallet. The 7 now starts at £549 to buy outright with the 7 Plus starting at £669.
Contracts for the iPhone 7 start at £33 per month, with a free phone and 8GB of data on a two year contract. The equivalent iPhone 7 Plus contract will cost around £40 per month.
Released in September 2017, the iPhone 8 is Apple's latest smartphone, and has a price hike to match its shiny status. Prices start at £699 for the standard 8 while the 8 Plus starts at £799.
Contracts for the iPhone 8 start at £44 per month for a two year contract with 8GB of data and a free phone. Equivalent iPhone 8 contracts start at £48 per month.
You won't be able to get your hands on the newest member of the iPhone clan – the X – until its launch on November 3, 2017. There's only one screen size for the iPhone X, and prices for it start at a hefty £999.
However, according to reports it's going to be very hard to get your hands on a device at its launch. Analysts looking at the ongoing production of the X say it is likely that just two to three million handsets will be available. The shortage of devices is put down to not enough internals parts being created as yet and the delays could see large queues forming outside Apple Stores around the world for the first time in many years.
Contract providers haven't released all their prices for the new iPhone just yet, but early indications are that they'll match the smartphone's eye-watering starting price. On 02, a 12 month iPhone X contract with 20GB of data costs a whopping £77 per month, plus £30 up front for the handset.
Should I upgrade?
If you can stomach the £1000/$1000 starting price, the iPhone X has a strikingly different design. Not since the iPhone 4 has Apple so dramatically overhauled its flagship device. The near bezel-free display, super-fast processor and 4K/60FPS video recording make it a huge upgrade for anyone still using an iPhone 5, 5S, or 6. The augmented reality features are a neat too, even if it's not entirely clear what Apple's plans are for the tech in the long run.
If you'd rather not spend so much money, the iPhone 8 remains a compelling option, particularly for iPhone 5 and 5S users. Not only do the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus feature larger displays, but their cameras and general responsiveness are far superior. Still photos will be just as good on the iPhone 8 as they are on the iPhone X too. Yes, you don't get to sport the latest iPhone design, but the iPhone 8 ranks high in terms of pure practicality and value (at least compared to the iPhone X).
The upgrade path for those coming from an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus is less clear. Neither the iPhone 8 or the iPhone X appear to bring a huge improvement in photography, while 4K/60FPS video recording alone isn't worth the price of admission. Only the iPhone X with its new design and augmented reality features is compelling enough to iPhone 7 owners, outrageous price tag notwithstanding.
Either way, it's worth waiting for the WIRED review before taking the plunge.
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