When the iPhone X dropped back in 2017, it felt like a total reset. No home button. That controversial notch. But what really grabbed everyone's attention was how the screen looked the second you picked it up. Finding the right iphone 10 x wallpaper wasn't just about choosing a cool image; it was about showing off that Super Retina display. Honestly, it was the first time an OLED screen on an Apple device actually felt worth the premium price tag.
If you’re still rocking an iPhone X or just nostalgic for that era, you know the vibe.
The iPhone X was a pivot point. Apple moved away from the flat, LCD panels of the iPhone 8 and went all-in on deep blacks and high-contrast ratios. This shifted the entire philosophy of what makes a "good" wallpaper. Suddenly, a bright, washed-out landscape looked... kinda bad. You needed something that melted into the bezels. You needed those true blacks that only an OLED can provide.
Why the iPhone 10 X Wallpaper Needs to Be Different
Most people don't realize that an OLED screen works differently than a standard monitor. Each pixel is its own light source. On the iPhone X, if a pixel is black, it’s literally turned off. It’s not "showing" black; it’s dead empty space.
This is why the original marketing materials for the iPhone X featured those swirling, colorful oil-in-water designs. Those weren't just random choices. They were meticulously designed to highlight the fact that the colors could pop against a void-like background. If you’re looking for a fresh iphone 10 x wallpaper today, you should still be leaning into that logic.
Go for high contrast.
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Avoid grey-ish blacks.
Look for deep indigo or true pitch-black backgrounds.
When you use a wallpaper with a #000000 hex code for the background, the notch basically disappears into the top of the phone. It makes the screen feel like it has no boundaries. It’s a trick of the eye that still feels futuristic even years after the phone's launch.
The Science of "True Black" and Battery Life
There's a practical side to this, too. Because those pixels are off, using a dark iphone 10 x wallpaper actually saves battery. It’s not a massive 50% gain, but research from sites like iFixit and AppleInsider has shown that at high brightness, a dark mode or black wallpaper can shave a few percentage points off your daily drain. In 2026, where older iPhone X batteries are likely starting to show their age, every little bit helps.
You’ve probably noticed that "Dark Mode" is standard now across iOS. Back when the X launched, we didn't have a system-wide dark mode. We had to fake it with our wallpapers.
Sources for the Best Visuals
Where do people actually get these things? Don't just Google "cool backgrounds." You’ll end up with low-resolution junk that looks pixelated on a 458 ppi (pixels per inch) screen.
- Unsplash is a heavy hitter. Search for "Amoled" specifically. You'll find professional photographers who upload high-res shots of neon signs at night or macro photography of liquid droplets.
- Reddit’s r/Amoledbackgrounds is basically the gold standard. They have a bot that actually calculates the percentage of true black pixels in an image. If it’s less than 40% black, the community usually ignores it.
- Walli is an app that actually pays artists. It’s less "corporate" than most wallpaper apps and has some incredible abstract pieces that fit the iPhone X aspect ratio perfectly.
The Aspect Ratio Problem
The iPhone X was the first to use the 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Before that, everything was a more squat 16:9. If you try to use an old wallpaper from an iPhone 6 or 7, it’s going to zoom in weirdly. You lose the edges. You lose the detail.
When you're hunting for a new look, you need a resolution of at least 1125 x 2436 pixels. Anything less and the "Super Retina" branding becomes a joke because you’re looking at a blurry mess.
Remembering the "Internal" Wallpaper Trend
Remember when everyone was setting their wallpaper to a photo of the internal components of the phone? iFixit started this. They took high-resolution X-rays and internal photos of the iPhone X hardware.
Setting this as your iphone 10 x wallpaper made it look like the screen was transparent. You could see the L-shaped battery, the Taptic Engine, and the logic board. It’s a geeky look, sure, but it’s arguably the most iconic wallpaper for this specific model. It celebrated the engineering.
It also served a weirdly functional purpose: it showed people exactly how little space Apple had to work with to cram in the Face ID sensors.
The "Notch" Aesthetics
Some people hated the notch. Others embraced it.
There was a whole sub-genre of wallpapers designed to "hide" the notch by putting a black bar across the top. Then there were the "Notch Wallpapers" that did the opposite. They would draw a glowing neon line around the notch, highlighting it like a piece of jewelry.
Honestly, hiding it is usually the better move for a clean look. But if you want to lean into the 2017 nostalgia, find one of those "Minnie Mouse" or "Batman" wallpapers where the notch forms part of the character's head. It’s cheesy, but it’s a part of tech history.
Why Static Still Beats Live
Apple introduced "Live Wallpapers" that moved when you pressed down with 3D Touch. It was a cool party trick. But let’s be real: how often do you actually 3D Touch your lock screen just to see a cloud move for two seconds?
Static images are better. They don't lag. They don't eat CPU cycles.
Focus on textures. Look for:
- Topographical maps with glowing lines.
- Deep space photography (NASA’s James Webb shots are incredible for this).
- Minimalist architectural shots with sharp shadows.
Setting It Up the Right Way
A common mistake is leaving "Perspective Zoom" on. When you set a new iphone 10 x wallpaper, iOS asks if you want it to move when you tilt the phone.
Turn it off.
It slightly zooms the image, which kills the native resolution. To get the crispest possible look, you want a "Still" photo aligned perfectly to the edges.
Also, consider the "Dim Wallpaper" setting in your Focus modes. If you’re using an iPhone X in 2026, your eyes will thank you if the wallpaper automatically desaturates when you’re winding down for bed.
What People Get Wrong About Color
Some folks think that to make an OLED look good, you need "neon everything." That’s not true. Sometimes the most striking look is a muted, "moody" forest shot where the shadows are deep but the greens are natural.
The iPhone X screen was calibrated for P3 wide color gamut. This means it can show more shades of green and red than your old laptop. If you use a cheap, compressed JPEG, you’re missing out on those nuances. Look for PNG files or high-quality HEIC files.
Actionable Steps for a Fresh Look
If you want to revitalize your device right now, follow this specific workflow:
- Audit your black levels: Download an app like "OLED Blasting" or just use a true-black test image. If your current wallpaper looks "grey" in a dark room, toss it.
- Match your case: This sounds trivial, but it’s a pro move. If you have a Space Grey iPhone X, a wallpaper with slate and charcoal tones looks seamless. If you have the Silver model (which had the chrome-like stainless steel edges), go for something with white accents or bright highlights to catch the reflection of the frame.
- Go to r/Amoledbackgrounds: Sort by "Top" and "All Time."
- Check the resolution: Ensure it’s at least 1125 x 2436.
- Disable Perspective Zoom: Keep the pixels 1:1 for maximum sharpness.
- Use the Shortcuts App: You can actually set your iPhone to change its wallpaper automatically based on the time of day. Try a bright, airy landscape for 8:00 AM and a deep, dark abstract for 8:00 PM.
The iPhone X might be an older model in the grand scheme of Apple's lineup, but its screen technology set the standard for everything that followed. Treat it right with the right visuals, and it still looks better than most mid-range phones coming out today. It’s all about the contrast. It’s all about those pixels that know when to stay off.