iPhone X is now available for pre-order and the first devices are expected to be delivered by Nov. 3. The smartphone is Apple’s most advanced one till date with features such as an edge-to-edge display and a FaceID phone unlocking system.
But iPhone X is also the company’s most expensive iPhone till date — available at a price of $999 — more expensive than other hotly anticipated flagship devices of other smartphone manufactuers this year, including Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Google Pixel 2 and LG V30.
iPhone X has an all-glass frame and a display which covers the device’s front, which means it would be more fragile than previous iPhones, despite Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both the rear and front side.
The reason for this is that Gorilla Glass displays, even though they are stronger than other smartphone displays, can still break if the phone falls at a certain angle. The only thing is this risk is double with iPhone X bcause there is glass at the front and the back, and the repair would be, needless to say, expensive.
In case, your iPhone X breaks, get ready to shell out $279 if your phone is in warranty. In case, the device breaks after the warranty period is over, the repair would cost you $549 — which is more than half the cost of the device.
In comparison, the iPhone 8 repair cost for the display is just $169.
The reason for the higher cost of iPhone X screen repair is that when the device is dropped, the TrueDepth camera that enables Face ID feature is at the risk of breaking, along with the Super Retina display, unlike iPhone 8, which has an IPS display similar to iPhone 7.
But in case you are buying an iPhone X and are worried about its fragility and repair costs, there are some altervatives available. Apple has offered a new version of its Apple Care plan, called the Apple Care+. Just like Apple Care, the plan will consumers the option to extend the warranty service, but, with a twist — the repair costs will come down significantly with Apple Care+. If you take a $199 Apple Care+ plan for the iPhone X, the screen repair will cost you only $29 and in case you damage the entire handset, you will have to chalk out $99.
The same plan is available for $149 for iPhone 8, but it does not have the same features.
In case you don’t want to shell out that kind of money, you can actually mask the expensive device in cases. Apple is offering three cases — a silicone case, a leather one and a leather folio ranging from $39-$99.
You can also opt for cases from Speck, Otterbox, Spigen, Tech 21, X-Doria, Nomad, CaseMate and others. However, a tempered glass is not yet available for the device, but it is likely to be developed soon after the device hits the shelves.