By letting go of long-standing features such as a physical home button, Apple has brought its smartphone bang up to date. The X has the best screen of any iPhone, ever, and it looks the part too - even with that notch. FaceID works better than any other facial recognition system you’ll find on a phone right now (even if it’s not perfect), and the dual rear cameras take excellent photos - if not quite as natural or detailed as Google’s algorithm-assisted Pixel 2 XL. Beyond some cute face-tracking fun with emoji, though, the X doesn’t have many unique features you won’t also find on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Both get that fancy new A11 CPU and wireless charging, and neither forces you to relearn a load of gestures to get around iOS. They’re a hell of a lot cheaper, too. You’re paying a premium here for that bold new look, FaceID, and not much else. It’s not like that ever put anyone off buying an Apple product before, though, is it? If you want the best iPhone, you’re going to have to find the cash - the X has set the bar, and the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus just can’t jump high enough.

Gorgeous screen - even with the notch; Versatile camera takes great photos; Slick OS runs beautifully on powerful hardware;

Apps look odd without updates ; FaceID isn’t 100% accurate; Super expensive;

I'm a total gadget nerd, and it's been five years since a new smartphone made me nod to myself with the understanding that, "Yes, I need that thing more than I need air." But the buzz around the iPhone X has had me a little more hyped than usual.

The iPhone X went up for pre-order last week and those who were lucky enough to order one, this week is when we will see the first units shipped as of November 3.

iPhone X has it all. Obviously it's not for everybody, but as the most premium of premium phones there's none better.

Desirable design; Face ID is ace; Excellent cameras

So expensive; Side button controls annoy; Notch means some app quirks

All screen The Apple iPhone X has an extremely striking design. This is due to the front face being entirely screen, apart from a small area where the phone's cameras and sensors are placed. The screen precisely follows the contours and curves of the design, even at the rounded corners.

The iPhone X, rather like the original iPhone that launched 10 years ago (hence the use of the Roman numeral for 10 rather than the letter X), is...

Powerful processor; Superb screen; Impressive camera; Excellent apps and features; Beautiful design; Lovely build quality

The 'notch; Pricey

Over the past few years I've openly cheated on my iPhones with Android and, on few occasions, with Windows Phone. Moving forward, as much as a serial cellular cheater can, I can see myself being monogamous with the iPhone X.

New OLED display is beautiful; Bezel-less design makes a big screen usable; A11 Bionic processor is screaming-fast; TrueDepth camera could be a game-changer

It's expensive; Face ID has a learning curve; The 'notch; Apple repairs are more expensive than any other iPhone

Ten years after the launch of the first iPhone, Apple has launched what it says is the phone that kickstarts the next decade for the iPhone. It's the biggest shift in iPhone design since Steve Jobs launched that first device , introducing a new range of technologies to Apple's smartphone as well as...

Display; size; build quality; wireless charging; Face ID

This is an expensive phone

The iPhone X is not the phone of the future. It could be, someday, if Apple's right about augmented reality and the power of a great camera. But for now, the iPhone X represents Apple's most ambitious attempt ever at making a phone absolutely seamless.

Gorgeous design; Face ID is a great idea, mostly well executed; Lots of cameras, all of them excellent; It's faster and smoother than whatever phone you're using now

A grand is a lot to spend on a phone; Apple's love of simplicity sometimes makes everything more complicated; Goodbye, stealthy phone-checking

The iPhone X is the iPhone to buy this year.

Jawdropping OLED screen; Unsurpassed speed; Top-tier camera; Innovative industrial design; Wireless charging

Awkward notch can break immersion; Expensive