The iPhone 8’s release year also happened to be the Apple iPhone’s 10th anniversary, and it was only fitting for the iPhone X to serve as a means to commemorate just that. The iPhone X was presented as the “future of the smartphone” (via Apple). When it was first unveiled, it showcased looks and features never before seen in the lineup. Of course, this created quite a technological gap between the iPhone X and iPhone 8, especially since both were released in the same year. The thing is, the two weren’t exactly meant to close the distance in the first place. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously expressed that the iPhone X was “not replacing something that existed” as it had “no predecessor product” (via CNBC).
Cook explained that he merely didn’t want customers to feel cheated if they announced a better variant shortly after the iPhone 8, so it was “important” for Apple to introduce both phones at the same time. In the end, the iPhone X marked a milestone for Apple, while at the same time, also giving a sneak peek at what was to come. As for the iPhone 9, well, apparently Apple had already moved on numerically with its latest flagship, and re-introducing it as something new years after the fact would likely only confuse consumers. For now, perhaps it’s best for it to remain as the iPhone that got away.
