With the new iPhone X, iOS developers are threading new waters. Apple is debarking from the time-tested 9:16 aspect ratio of the software and now have a whole new slew of guidelines, requirements, and restrictions with the new 2:1 software layout, which should theoretically fit a bit more content on the screen.
But is that the case?
We primed our respectable iOS trio - the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus - and took it upon ourselves to find out how iOS 11 differs between the three devices in terms of overall content scaling.
Settings menu
Being the hub with all the essential iOS settings, this one has only scored incremental improvements. A few menus have been bundled together for a more user-friendly experience, but overall, it looks rather similar to iOS 10. However, as you would see, the new iPhone X doesn't actually fit that much more menu items on the screen compared to the more 'mundane' iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus show 7 items, the iPhone X can only do one more and rests its case at a grand total of 8.
Settings on Apples' new iPhones
Scrolling down to a slightly more populated area reveals the same - the iPhone X only fits marginally more content on its elongated display compared to the other two iPhones. There are 14.5 elements on the iPhone X in our second scenario, whereas the iPhone 8 Plus only fits 13 menu items. Meanwhile, the iPhone 8 drags a bit behind with 12 elements, but then again, that's not such a drastic difference.
Settings on Apples' new iPhones #2
Call logs
Now, here is one of the essential parts of any phone that the iPhone X should really shine, right? That long display should really make long lists of missed and received calls a breeze to navigate through.
Well, that's sort of the case here - there's a difference indeed, with both the iPhone X and iPhone 8 reflecting on the numbers in their names. You get to see 10 call log entries on the iPhone X, whereas the iPhone 8 only fits... 8 entries. Again, you're not losing that much content if you're boasting the iPhone 8. Meanwhile, the iPhone 8 Plus serves as a middle ground and fits 8+1 call logs on its screen.
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Call log comparison
Browsing & Internet
The difference in this section is a bit easier to see and comprehend. Firing up PhoneArena.com on Safari on all three devices wields expected results - the iPhone X fits the most content, while the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8 lag a bit behind.. The overall difference between the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 could be as big as a whole article, which is a notable difference.
Browsing experience comparison
The same notable difference in browsing can also be seen on Apple's own website.
Browsing experience comparison #2
Apple Music
With the iPhone X you get the full scope of available Apple Music shortcuts, like New Music, Playlists, TV & Movies, and Top Charts, whereas the other two devices cut some of the content and both display a grand total of two elements before you have to
App Store
Frankly, the App Store looks the best on the iPhone X. The awkward cut at the bottom part on the iPhone 8 screenshot is a telltale sign that you;re getting less content at a glance. If you're shooting for the best possible iOS experience, then you should be going for either the iPhone X or the iPhone 8 Plus, both of which fit slightly more content on screen.
Instagram
Stock apps
Great, but is the deal with Apple's stock apps, like Weather and Maps? Is there a significant difference in the way content is scaled? Well, not that much. In the Weather app, for example, you will be hard-pressed to find any difference between the three iPhones.
Weather app comparison
To a certain extent that's also true to the Maps app, which displays almost the same amount of map info on all three devices.
Apple Maps comparison
Apple Maps comparison #2
Popular third-party apps
Unlike stock apps, popular third-party ones like YouTube and Instagram do make better use of the iPhone X's tall display. The difference between the three devices could be as big as a whole YouTube video hidden from your eyes, requiring you to swipe a lot more in order to explore the same amount of recommended videos, for example.
Instagram tells the same story - you simply get more content on the iPhone X compared to the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
Conclusion
So, is there such a difference between the iPhone X and the other two regular iPhone in Apple's lineup? It depends - for some users, the slightly more content you get on the OLED iPhone at all times could literally be the little stone that tips the scales. To others, however, the difference will be borderline minuscule and totally not worthy of a mention.
In real-life usage, however, the fact that you get more content on your screen right away is beneficial to the user experience - the way we see it, the less you have to interact with your phone to do a specific task or display certain content compared to another device, the better. Some could view that as being counter-intuitive, we know, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
But, in the end of the day, the difference is not that big.
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Peter, an experienced tech enthusiast at PhoneArena, is captivated by all things mobile. His impartial reviews and proficiency in Android systems offer readers valuable insights. Off-duty, he delves into the latest cryptocurrency trends and enjoys sci-fi and video games.
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