If you remove any subjective gripes or praise for the X and look at purely from a design and tech point of view. The latest flagship device is meant to be the best implementation of every form of use over the previous device. It doesn't matter if you are not a gamer or a video watcher.
With this regard in certain situations (like gaming/media) the X doesn't perform this task better than the 8 (or 6 or 7) as the notch intrudes on content, whether or not you use the device where this would become an issue doesn't alter this fact.
The X should be better in every aspect of use, not just in portrait mode and under certain circumstances and this is where peoples critique comes from.
IMHO Apple have removed bezels which are wasted space and just introduced a different problem, to me that isn't innovation but a further compromise, your mileage may vary.
With this regard in certain situations (like gaming/media) the X doesn't perform this task better than the 8 (or 6 or 7) as the notch intrudes on content, whether or not you use the device where this would become an issue doesn't alter this fact.
The X should be better in every aspect of use, not just in portrait mode and under certain circumstances and this is where peoples critique comes from.
IMHO Apple have removed bezels which are wasted space and just introduced a different problem, to me that isn't innovation but a further compromise, your mileage may vary.