iphone X

iPhone X: Release date, price, features and specs of Apple's new flagship iPhone for 2017

Apple has unveiled its long-rumoured iPhone X to mark the 10-year anniversary of the first ever iPhone.

Pronounced 'iPhone ten', like the Roman numeral it represents, the device was launched alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus during an event at the coompany's new "spaceship campus" in California.

Along with a radical new edge-to-edge design, the iPhone X includes new tech that enables users to unlock the handset with their face, as well as animated emojis called 'Animojis' that mirror the user's facial expressions.

Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone X:

All-glass design

Instead of the aluminium casing used in last year's iPhone 7, the new iPhone X has an all-glass enclosure.

This isn't the first time Apple has used glass in its iPhones. The iPhone 4 and 4s had glass front and back panels, with a stainless steel band sandwiched between the two.

However, these phones were plagued by durability issues, with many customers claiming their phones cracked too easily when dropped .Apple claims that the glass used in the iPhone X is the most durable glass to ever appear in a smartphone.

This ultra-strong glass could spell the end for smashed smartphone screens

OLED display

The iPhone X was long rumoured to feature a new cutting-edge OLED display with practically no bezels - and the rumours were correct.

The handset has a cutting-edge Super Retina OLED screen, measuring 5.8 inches diagonally across.

OLED displays are superior to the LCD panels currently used in Apple's iPhones because, rather than requiring a backlight, an OLED-based screen lights up individual pixels when necessary.

This translates to blacker blacks and brighter whites, lower power consumption and faster response times compared to LED displays.

No Home button

As expected, the home button has been completely replaced.

The large touch screen, combined with the new iOS 11 software, enables users to simply swipe up from the foot of the screen at any time to return to the Home screen.

TrueDepth camera

Easily the handset's biggest draw is the TrueDepth camera which enables users to unlock their phone using a facial recognition system called Face ID. Using depth-sensing technologies, the system can map and recognise the user's face, even in the dark.

This technology also enables the user to send animated emojis called 'Animojis' based on their facial expressions.

iPhone X specs

The iPhone X sports the A11 Bionic chip, which has six cores and is the most powerful chip yet in a smartphone, according to Apple.

It will run the next version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 11 , which features an overhauled version of its Siri voice assistant, a new "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature, and a revamped App Store.

Wireless charging

The all-glass design of the iPhone X enables wireless charging and charging devices from Belkin and Mophie will be available.

Apple also gave a sneak preview of its AirPower charging pad, which can charge an iPhone, Watch and AirPods simultaneously.

Water-resistant

The iPhone X is water-resistant to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes - a rating known as IP67. This is the same rating seen on last year's iPhone 7.

IP67 means it will survive a dip in the sink or down the loo, and it won't break if you pour a drink over it, but you probably don't want to take it swimming.

Colours

Despite rumours of a new 'blush gold' colour, only the iPhone 8 was given a new colour option, simply known as 'gold'.

The iPhone X will only be available in space grey or silver.

iPhone X price and release date

Apple fans will have to wait slightly longer for the iPhone X. While the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are available for pre-order from 15 September, the iPhone X cannot be ordered until 27 October.

The flagship handset is due to ship on 3 November 2017.

The iPhone X will come with a steep price tag, starting at £999 for the 64GB version and going up to £1,149 for the 256GB model.