As the title states, I recently took advantage of the Verizon $400 discount to try out the iPhone X. This was my first real interaction with the new home button-less generation of phones, and while there were some real positives to the platform, I ultimately decided to return to the iPhone 6S. These are some thoughts on the experience.
The first surprise was that going without the home button works just fine. We have been trained for years to rely heavily on that button, so not having it immediately raises red flags conceptually. However, adjusting to an interface mostly based on swiping didn't take more than 30 minutes - it felt fluent and intuitive almost immediately. Based on this experience, I can buy in to Apple's home button-less future from an interface perspective.
Things that were definitely better and immediately noticeable: All cameras, speaker volume, and speed/fluidity. I wouldn't change a thing about any of these elements, they are fantastic.
After a lengthy test drive, I did conclude that there were definite personal usability issues with the size and the overall layout. Width-wise it's obviously almost identical to the 6S, but the additional height seems like a downgrade. What are they accomplishing here? Displaying additional text vertically on websites? It makes reachability issues worse without much clear benefit to the user. It's also a very odd aspect ratio that doesn't fit any existing standard sizing well. While the notch didn't bother me aesthetically, I hated that I couldn't see battery percentage or change what was displayed across the top.
Stretching the screen to the bottom corners created some discomfort when reaching with a thumb during one-handed use. The evidence for this is the placement of the keyboard when it pops up - Apple leaves a software-based bottom chin underneath because your thumbs naturally fall higher on the screen with a normal grip. This isn't any different with one-handed use, so stretching a thumb downward feels awkward and de-stabilizes the user's grip.
While swiping to close is an easy re-learn, the relocation of the control center is a clear downgrade. This is a menu I access pretty regularly and didn't enjoy the reduced convenience of sticking it as far away from a normal grip as possible (especially for me - I'm left-handed). I found the reachability shortcut easy to use, but two downward swipes is less convenient than one upward swipe.
It's also noticeably heavier and thicker, as has been noted by most people. I don't mind the thickness so much, but the weight contributed to the awkwardness of one-handed use when combined with the ergonomic issues.
I still like my headphone jack and use it regularly. While I was prepared to give this up, I still didn't want to.
Ultimately, this felt like a first-generation device in regards to the new interface and layout (which it is). The size and overall experience are an imperfect intersection of starting with an idea: "Let's make the entire front of the phone all screen" and following up with necessary compromises that are sometimes worse. The phrase that keeps popping into my head is: "They were so pre-occupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
All of this got me thinking about the ideal aspect ratio and size. After some thought, it seems obvious that the button-less layout needs to be offered in a smaller size. However, I think putting the full-screen layout in the body of the 5S would also be less than perfect - When the 5S came out it was the 4 width-wise, but stretched vertically. This was okay because that's how far our thumbs could naturally reach, and is why so many still prefer this size. But adding screen real estate above would create similar issues to the X.
If I could choose, I would like the original iPhone aspect ratio with a button-less layout and the screen width similar to the 6/7/8 body. It's evidence that Apple had some things figured out from the start and have drifted away from them as they have introduced new features and followed industry trends. Going back to an iPhone that is truly ergonomically-friendly would be well-received for many, many customers.
All told, I found the X to be a mostly compromised device when transitioning from the old standard. I believe that Apple's vision of a button-less layout can absolutely work, but they need to get the size and layout right to win over a chunk of their existing customers. Until they offer a smaller, more ergonomically-friendly size I will hold off the next purchase.
And as a final P.S. - I did miss the reliability of the home button and Touch I.D. There's something about good buttons that will always be appreciated in any interface and hardware design. Of all the things about the iPhone experience, I have never thought that the home button was any part of the problem.
The first surprise was that going without the home button works just fine. We have been trained for years to rely heavily on that button, so not having it immediately raises red flags conceptually. However, adjusting to an interface mostly based on swiping didn't take more than 30 minutes - it felt fluent and intuitive almost immediately. Based on this experience, I can buy in to Apple's home button-less future from an interface perspective.
Things that were definitely better and immediately noticeable: All cameras, speaker volume, and speed/fluidity. I wouldn't change a thing about any of these elements, they are fantastic.
After a lengthy test drive, I did conclude that there were definite personal usability issues with the size and the overall layout. Width-wise it's obviously almost identical to the 6S, but the additional height seems like a downgrade. What are they accomplishing here? Displaying additional text vertically on websites? It makes reachability issues worse without much clear benefit to the user. It's also a very odd aspect ratio that doesn't fit any existing standard sizing well. While the notch didn't bother me aesthetically, I hated that I couldn't see battery percentage or change what was displayed across the top.
Stretching the screen to the bottom corners created some discomfort when reaching with a thumb during one-handed use. The evidence for this is the placement of the keyboard when it pops up - Apple leaves a software-based bottom chin underneath because your thumbs naturally fall higher on the screen with a normal grip. This isn't any different with one-handed use, so stretching a thumb downward feels awkward and de-stabilizes the user's grip.
While swiping to close is an easy re-learn, the relocation of the control center is a clear downgrade. This is a menu I access pretty regularly and didn't enjoy the reduced convenience of sticking it as far away from a normal grip as possible (especially for me - I'm left-handed). I found the reachability shortcut easy to use, but two downward swipes is less convenient than one upward swipe.
It's also noticeably heavier and thicker, as has been noted by most people. I don't mind the thickness so much, but the weight contributed to the awkwardness of one-handed use when combined with the ergonomic issues.
I still like my headphone jack and use it regularly. While I was prepared to give this up, I still didn't want to.
Ultimately, this felt like a first-generation device in regards to the new interface and layout (which it is). The size and overall experience are an imperfect intersection of starting with an idea: "Let's make the entire front of the phone all screen" and following up with necessary compromises that are sometimes worse. The phrase that keeps popping into my head is: "They were so pre-occupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
All of this got me thinking about the ideal aspect ratio and size. After some thought, it seems obvious that the button-less layout needs to be offered in a smaller size. However, I think putting the full-screen layout in the body of the 5S would also be less than perfect - When the 5S came out it was the 4 width-wise, but stretched vertically. This was okay because that's how far our thumbs could naturally reach, and is why so many still prefer this size. But adding screen real estate above would create similar issues to the X.
If I could choose, I would like the original iPhone aspect ratio with a button-less layout and the screen width similar to the 6/7/8 body. It's evidence that Apple had some things figured out from the start and have drifted away from them as they have introduced new features and followed industry trends. Going back to an iPhone that is truly ergonomically-friendly would be well-received for many, many customers.
All told, I found the X to be a mostly compromised device when transitioning from the old standard. I believe that Apple's vision of a button-less layout can absolutely work, but they need to get the size and layout right to win over a chunk of their existing customers. Until they offer a smaller, more ergonomically-friendly size I will hold off the next purchase.
And as a final P.S. - I did miss the reliability of the home button and Touch I.D. There's something about good buttons that will always be appreciated in any interface and hardware design. Of all the things about the iPhone experience, I have never thought that the home button was any part of the problem.
