If you’re trying to settle a bet or just digging through tech history, here is the short answer: The iPhone 10 (officially known as the iPhone X) was released on November 3, 2017. But man, was that a weird year for Apple.
Honestly, the timeline felt a bit chaotic at the time. Usually, Apple drops a phone in September and you can buy it a week later. Not in 2017. That year, they announced the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X at the same event on September 12. While the iPhone 8 hit shelves quickly, we had to wait nearly two months for the "Ten."
What Year Did iPhone 10 Come Out and Why Was It Delayed?
Apple’s big 10th-anniversary bash took place at the then-brand-new Steve Jobs Theater. Tim Cook stood on stage and pulled the "One more thing" card. That "thing" was the iPhone X. Even though the official iPhone 10 release year was 2017, it didn't actually reach customers' hands until November.
Why the wait?
Basically, the tech was a nightmare to manufacture. This was the first time Apple used an OLED panel, and the supply chain was struggling to keep up. Reports from that era suggest the TrueDepth camera system—the stuff that makes Face ID work—was incredibly difficult to mass-produce.
- Pre-orders opened: October 27, 2017
- Official Launch: November 3, 2017
- Starting Price: $999 (Which felt insane back then!)
I remember the "Great Notch Debate" of late 2017. People were legitimately upset about that little black cutout at the top of the screen. Fast forward to today, and almost every phone on the planet has copied it in some form.
The Confusion Over the Name (X vs. 10)
If you call it the "iPhone Ex," you’re technically wrong, but you’ve got plenty of company. Apple insisted the "X" was the Roman numeral for ten. They skipped the iPhone 9 entirely, which still bothers some completionists.
They wanted to mark the 10-year anniversary of the original 2007 iPhone launch. Launching a "9" alongside a "10" would have made the 9 look old before it even started. So, 2017 became the year of the jump.
Why 2017 Changed Everything for Your Current Phone
It’s hard to overstate how much the smartphone world shifted when the iPhone 10 came out. Before this, we had huge foreheads and chins on our phones. We had the Home Button.
When Apple killed the Home Button, they replaced it with gestures. Swiping up to go home? That started here. Face ID? That started here. It was a massive gamble.
"The iPhone X is the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone." — Tim Cook, September 2017.
He wasn't really exaggerating. If you look at an iPhone 7 and an iPhone 15, the "7" looks like a relic from a different century. The "X" looks like a modern phone. It introduced the stainless steel frame and the edge-to-edge Super Retina display that defined the premium look for the next decade.
Key Specs That Debuted in 2017
It wasn't just about looks. The internals were a significant jump.
The A11 Bionic chip was the first to feature a dedicated "Neural Engine." This was Apple’s first big step into on-device AI and machine learning. It’s what allowed the phone to recognize your face even if you grew a beard or put on sunglasses.
The camera setup was also a big deal. It was the first time the telephoto lens had optical image stabilization (OIS), making those zoomed-in shots way less shaky. Plus, we got Animoji. Remember those? Spending twenty minutes making a digital talking poop emoji follow your facial movements was the peak of 2017 entertainment.
How Much Did the iPhone 10 Cost at Launch?
Let’s talk about the $999 price tag.
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In 2017, people lost their minds over a thousand-dollar phone. It was a psychological barrier. Before the iPhone X, flagship phones usually hovered around $650 to $750. Apple effectively reset the entire market's expectations.
Now, in 2026, we don't even blink at a $1,200 Pro Max. The iPhone 10 was the "patient zero" for the ultra-premium smartphone tier. It proved that people were willing to pay a mortgage-sized payment for a device they used 12 hours a day.
Is the iPhone 10 Still Supported?
If you're still rocking an iPhone 10, you've had a good run.
Apple officially dropped support for the iPhone X with the release of iOS 17 in 2023. This means it doesn't get the latest flashy features or major interface overhauls anymore. However, they usually keep pushing out critical security patches for a while.
Honestly, the battery is probably the biggest issue for most people still holding onto one. Those original lithium-ion cells weren't meant to last nine years. If yours is still chugging along, you likely have a very high tolerance for carrying a power bank.
Real-World Impact: The Legacy of the "Ten"
Whenever someone asks what year did the iPhone 10 come out, they’re usually looking for a date, but the impact is the real story.
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Think about it.
The iPhone X forced every Android manufacturer to rethink their design. Within a year, we saw notches everywhere. We saw companies racing to ditch the fingerprint sensor for facial recognition. It was a total reset of the industry's design language.
It also pioneered the "gesture navigation" we all use now. Remember how awkward it was to learn that first swipe? No more clicking a physical button. It felt like magic, or at least like the future.
What Should You Do if You Still Have One?
If you’re holding a working iPhone X in 2026, you’re basically holding a museum piece that still functions. Here is the move:
- Check your battery health. If it's under 80%, it’s throttling your performance.
- Back up your data. Older logic boards can fail unexpectedly.
- Consider an upgrade. Even the "budget" iPhones of today have processors that run circles around the A11 Bionic.
The iPhone 10 was a legend. It was the bridge between the "classic" iPhone era and the modern "all-screen" era. It came out in 2017, and it changed the way we look at our pockets forever.
If you are looking to sell or trade yours in, don't expect a windfall. Most trade-in programs see it as a legacy device now. But as a backup phone or a dedicated music player? It still looks and feels surprisingly premium. Just don't expect it to run the latest heavy AI apps or high-end games without breaking a sweat.