More on using the new iPhone for over a week:
In short, I’m happy with the phone. The biggest negative is not just the learning curve of difference from my iPhone 7 Plus, but the fact that I have a nice iPad Pro that still uses TouchID, and still has the gestures we’ve been using for several years makes switching back and forth a little tough to get used to. The gestures are the problem more than TouchID vs FaceID.
FaceID works well, and is generally more convenient than TouchID, but it does have glitches more often in regular use. Not often enough that I’m crying to go back, but often enough to be a noticeable difference. The one thing more reliable is the problem of having damp hands when using the fingerprint. TouchID was famously useless in that situation, but that problem has gone away. The features that dim the phone screen when you’re not paying attention, and turn down ringers and alarms when you are paying attention work very well, but aren’t huge advantages.
The famous OLED screen is fine, but I don’t routinely notice it as better than LCD screens. Black areas are dramatically darker, it otherwise I don’t notice a difference most times. One place I do notice is reading in the Kindle app with white text on black background. That is better.
I don’t like the length to width ratio of this screen as well as the classic screen, but it isn't really a major problem.
I do like the smaller size a lot! This is probably the best thing about the phone compared to my Seven Plus.
Cordless charging works great! I bought an inexpensive base that works well, I’ll post a link to it. Though I suppose any compatible wireless charger will do. I haven’t used any of the fast charging options, and don’t need them, so I can’t speak to the fast charging feature.
As I mentioned before, I am happy with my purchase, but don’t feel it is a huge step up from my iPhone Seven Plus. Unless you desperately want smaller dimensions with a huge screen, I imagine the Eight or Eight Plus would compare even more favorably and still at lower cost. Because of the cost of repairs to screen or body, I recommend AppleCare with either the X or the iPhone Eight.