iOS fans have been drip fed the same design over 4 years. Any incremental change in design is going to attract the horde like a tramp to a sandwich.
The X in all honesty is the same as the 8 albeit smaller and uses and different unlock method. But because they have been purchasing the 6, 6S, 7 and now 8 they crave for a design change and are willing to cough up the $$$’s for it.
The X’s display in comparison with the 8 plus isn’t going to be a whole lot different, top end LCD of the 8 Plus vs Samsung old tech Amoled in the X.
Smartphones have peaked, it’s all down to do you prefer iOS or Android, with the latter you get choice in handsets, with Apple you have to have the 8 or 8 Plus same design or join the masses in trying to secure an X, Apple knows what you want and is ramming the price up accordingly as they know the demand is going to be huge. Then we all do it all over again next year and pay even more $$$’s for the yearly spec upgrade.
I can only speak for me but there is still quite a ways to go before android steps up. I use my phone like the average consumer likely does and these are where the rankings come in for me regarding different areas:
Phone calls - Tie between Android and IOS
Getting to visual voicemail - IOS wins
Email - Tie
Message app - IOS wins
Facetime - IOS wins
Internet experience - IOS wins
Camera - Tie for me, but many would say other than Pixel XL IOS wins
Music App - IOS wins
Handling of boarding passes for travel - IOS wins
Social Media - Tie for me
Lagginess- IOS wins
Battery life - IOS wins
Screen - Android wins (Specifically Galaxy S7)
Searching ease of use - IOS wins
Syncing with mac system - IOS wins
You can see for me IOS wins or ties every single category except Screen
SO I will agree that IOS fans are drip fed but that dripping still exceeds what Android offers.