: Users who preferred the reliability of a physical Home button and wanted the best internal specs without the $1,000 price tag. 3. Critical Buying Factors in 2017

was the clear flagship of 2017, introducing the most significant design shift in the product's history [26]. It was the first to feature a nearly edge-to-edge , effectively removing the iconic Home button in favour of gesture-based navigation [26].

: Buyers had to decide if they were ready to trade the tactile speed of Touch ID for the futuristic convenience of Face ID [26]. Budget vs. Longevity : While the was more affordable, the

featured dual 12MP cameras with improved "Portrait Lighting" effects, offering professional-style photography for a lower cost than the X [28].