Finishing the iPhone X in time for the tenth anniversary of the iPhone in 2017 was a "wonderful coincidence", according to Jony Ive.

The Apple design chief made the comments at last month's iPhone X event during a brief chat with Japanese design magazine Casa Brutus, which published the interview on Tuesday.

iphone x front back
Ive told the magazine that the iPhone X project had an incubation period of more than two years, and with features like Face ID and the TrueDepth camera, is one of the most difficult projects Apple has undertaken.

But the company isn't resting on its laurels – Ive revealed that Apple is already working on next-generation designs that improve upon the iPhone X's integrated assembly, with its contiguous chassis and display.

Ive went on to say the replacement of Touch ID fingerprint recognition, which has featured in all iPhone models since iPhone 5s, equates to a heightened user experience, with Face ID being the culmination of years of work towards a non-contact user interface.

Ive concluded by saying he doesn't think of the iPhone X as the ultimate expression of "iPhone", rather it represents a new chapter in the platform's history.

Pre-orders for iPhone X begin on Friday, October 27, with the official launch the following Friday, November 3.

(Via AppleInsider. Source: Mac Otakara.)

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

tomaustin44 Avatar
109 months ago
What a load of BS. Of course it was named that to coincide with the anniversary!
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ntombi Avatar
109 months ago
What a load of BS. Of course it was named that to coincide with the anniversary!
I think he’s saying that the phone itself wasn’t intended as an anniversary phone, but the name is (ended up being).
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
109 months ago
X just naturally and coincidentally followed 8. - Ive
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hank moody Avatar
109 months ago
Is he serious? So if the iPhone X was ready last year it would’ve been out then? On the 9 year anniversary? Yeah right.

Apple has a plan. Who is he trying to fool lmao.
Yes he is serious.
Do you think if they had this technology ready one or two years ago, they would wait risking the competition to approach?

You don’t know business.
YES, this technology being ready on an iPhone IS a coincidence with the tenth anniversary.

Even Apple can’t afford a technology like this in the drawer for one or two years.
It was a coincidence a technology like this being ready with the tenth anniversary.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mporcheron Avatar
109 months ago
Sure, and it’s called iPhone X because old apps hardcoded tests for iPhone 95 and 98.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newyorksole Avatar
109 months ago
Is he serious? So if the iPhone X was ready last year it would’ve been out then? On the 9 year anniversary? Yeah right.

Apple has a plan. Who is he trying to fool lmao.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...