The Apple iPhone X was a huge, innovative push toward the smartphone market’s future when it was released in 2017. So much so that Tim Cook referred to it as “the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone.” What makes it so special even for first-time iPhone users? Is it still worth buying the iPhone X in 2025, or is it obsolete? Let’s see it.
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Why is the iPhone X so unique?
The iPhone X was the first full-screen smartphone and the first Apple phone with a face-recognition model that didn’t need to rely on the Touch ID feature. These changes revolutionized the way we used our phones and were not limited to the iPhone itself.
It’s a big, powerful smartphone with a narrow bezel, an OLED display, a completely overhauled design, a Face ID system, and many other fantastic features. The smartphone was also responsible for raising the bar and setting the standard for the new normal when it came to using our handsets.
👉 Learn more: Why Is There No iPhone 9 and iPhone 10?
An in-depth look at the iPhone X
Let’s take a closer look at this handset’s specs and see if an iPhone X is worth buying in 2025.
Design
The handset boasts a gorgeous, all-glass design. Its full-screen display follows all the lovely curves of the device for an elegant and polished look.
The most durable glass (IP67) ever found in a smartphone at the time of its launch holds the front and the back, in both silver and space gray, for a smooth and glossy finish, free from dust and water-resistant.
The iPhone X is made from stainless steel, one of the hallmarks of a premium device, and it fits comfortably in hand.
Screen
A beautiful 5.8-inch Super Retina display shows off clear and vibrant colors for the user, also featuring a 2436×1125 resolution with 458 pixels per inch.
The new and improved OLED technology allows you to enjoy deeper blacks and more dazzling whites, improving the user experience.
The display is also compatible with HDR and Dolby Vision, as well as Apple’s True Tone tech, which adapts according to your environment—color balances in the display will shift according to the lighting in your space.
You no longer need to search for the brightness controls to manually adjust the phone’s settings.
Camera
The quality of the photos is one of the highlights of the iPhone X.
We start with the 12 + 12 megapixel wide-angle rear cameras, with a telephoto lens (f/1.8 and f/2.4), 4 LED flash, dual optical stabilizer, and optical and digital zoom up to 10x.
The phone can take photos and videos in 4K at 24, 30, and 60 FPS. It far outperforms the iPhone 8 Plus in low-light conditions.
The front camera has 7 megapixels (f/2.2) with photography and video recording in 1080p and Retina flash, allowing you to take some great quality selfies in Portrait mode. Regarding the Face ID function, the new TrueDepth infrared camera system has a projector that creates a three-dimensional map from the grid it projects on the face.
It’s not the best camera you can find on a smartphone in 2025, but it still takes pretty good pictures.
Performance
The iPhone X has an A11 Bionic chip, with all six cores accessible simultaneously, meaning a drastically improved performance—particularly regarding multi-threaded workloads.
You’ll also benefit from a faster GPU, an Apple-designed image signal processor, a video encoder, and an A11 coprocessor.
👉 Related: 21 Best Classic and Old iPhone Games You Can Still Play
iOS compatibility and connectivity
In addition to this cocktail of features, the phone is compatible with iOS 16, although Apple dropped support for iOS 17 and iOS 18 in the iPhone X. This means:
- Missing out on new features and improvements
- Potential security vulnerabilities in the long run after Apple stops releasing security updates for iOS 16
- Reduced app compatibility for new versions
- Potential slower performance
Lastly, the iPhone X does not support 5G connectivity and eSIM. This means users cannot take advantage of faster data speeds and must rely on physical SIM cards.
Battery life and wireless charging
Battery life is something that plagues Apple fans day in and day out. It seems you can never get further than a few months before the battery starts to deteriorate and leave you wishing you had purchased a power bank.
The iPhone X joined the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus as the first Apple phones to support wireless charging. The phone uses the open Qi charging stand, allowing a whole host of pads to power up this device, not just those made by Apple.
With efficiency improvements enabled by the A11 Bionic chip, the iPhone X offers two hours more battery life than the iPhone 7, but the battery falls short of the iPhone 7 Plus.
Where can you buy a cheap iPhone X in 2025?
The iPhone X was released in 2017, so it is very rare to find a brand-new model. Apple no longer sells it officially and has discontinued it in its official store.
While you might find a new model lost on a store shelf somewhere, buying a refurbished phone is the easiest and cheapest option.
At RefurbMe, we compare hundreds of refurbished Apple devices in real time. Buying refurbished products is the best way to save money while boosting the circular economy.
In the end, a refurbished iPhone X works exactly the same as a factory one after going through a rigorous examination by professional technicians, a component replacement if necessary, and a thorough cleaning.
👉 Learn more: 6 Places Where to Buy Refurbished Phones
Check out our real-time iPhone X comparisons from multiple trusted sellers here:
64GB storage
Silver
64GB storage
Space Gray
The verdict
Buying an iPhone X in 2025 can still be a good idea if you don’t need 5G connectivity, eSIM, iOS 17 or 18, and the most powerful specs or if you just need a beautiful smartphone for everyday usage.
This is especially true if we take into consideration that you can get a refurbished model in good condition for $200 or less nowadays.
Apple continues to support older iOS versions like iOS 15 with security updates, so you can expect iOS 16 to receive updates for quite some time, meaning users will be protected with security updates.
The performance of the iPhone X is good; it has fast and wireless charging, the quality of the dual camera is still up to par, and it has a beautiful screen and design overall—in addition to having all the advantages of the Apple ecosystem.
Compare and buy the refurbished iPhone X that best suits your needs on RefurbMe, and with a warranty.
You may also consider reading our iPhone X vs. iPhone XR guide to know the exact differences between what appear to be two quite similar phones or the iPhone X vs. iPhone 13 comparison to know if it’s time to upgrade.
Happy shopping! 🛍️
FAQ
Although they are similar, the iPhone XS has better performance thanks to its A12 Bionic chipset, iOS 18 compatibility, and a slightly better camera. Buying the iPhone XS might be a good option if you’re a gamer, want the best app compatibility, or use more demanding apps.
Yes. The iPhone 11 has better specs than the iPhone X and, therefore, offers better performance (and it’s compatible with iOS 18). Notably, the iPhone 11 has 3110 mAh of battery versus the more modest 2716 mAh of the iPhone X.
👉 Review: iPhone X vs. iPhone 11: What Are the Differences?
A great way to get the best price to buy an iPhone X is to use a comparator like RefurbMe. The iPhone X is discontinued, so you can only buy it refurbished. There are many offers from different sellers, so RefurbMe’s comparison platform will help you find the lowest price available online.
