Fashion Voyeur

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Categories: Lifestyle, North East Voyeur

A Stay at Beadnell Towers Boutique Hotel

When we were invited to stay overnight at Beadnell Towers as a treat for Bo’s 40th birthday we jumped at the chance.  We’d been invited to the relaunch of this 18 room boutique hotel in the heart of Northumberland and couldn’t make it but after seeing the press pack we’d been desperate to visit.  Set in Beadnell Bay, which was recently listed at number 16 in The Sunday Times Top 40 UK Beaches, Beadnell Towers has undergone a radical but sympathetic restoration and refurbishment which pays homage to the character of the original stone building.

Beadnell Towers Hotel under Stormy Skies taken by Pixie Tenenbaum for Fashion Voyeur Blog

On the day of our visit there was a storm of epic proportions which brought the A1 to a standstill and delayed our check-in massively.  We aquaplaned our way there and instead of the 90 minute journey we expected, it took us a hideous 4 hours to get to our destination meaning we checked in right before our dinner reservation at 6pm, giving us just enough time to change.

Staff at Beadnell Towers are friendly and welcoming and offered to carry our soaking bags up to our room for us, after such a long and frustrating journey a warm friendly greeting hit all the right spots.

Walking through The Towers, you can’t help but be drawn in by the attention to detail, from the point of entry the tone is clear; Beadnell Towers is a home away from home.  They’ve thought about the things you might have forgotten, rainboots by the door, umbrellas incase of bad weather, beautiful toiletries in each room and a pantry on each floor with fresh milk and bottled water for guests to use at their convenience.  Management want you to use The Towers like it’s your home and it’s been renovated with that in mind; there’s a water cooler by the entrance laced with fresh fruit, a library tucked away at the back of the bar and pet bowls are provided.  There’s even a cute secluded roof terrace which we were shown, however didn’t get to use given that the weather was absolute garbage.

After a short walk up a huge open staircase with the original stone wall and some beautiful feature lighting, we’re shown to Muckle Hoose.  A suite like no other.  This double room packs a punch and a pinch me moment as the door opens to reveal its twin copper bathtubs sitting atop a backlit plinth behind the bed.  The room has everything you expect from a luxury boutique hotel – and more.  There are tea and coffee making facilities in each room along with locally sourced shortbread biscuits (the hotel are happy to provide more if you ask), an iron and ironing board if you fancy taking a load up with you, and a wardrobe for stowing luggage.

There’s a handy writing desk in the room, a huge TV which you can temporarily sync up your Netflix and Prime accounts to to use whilst staying in the hotel (just remember to ‘forget this device’ before you leave), a small thought, but one which makes all the difference especially when the weather isn’t so great, or if you have small children to entertain whilst you’re getting ready.

The bathroom is lavishly appointed, considering there are two tubs in the room; the separate bathroom has still been a huge consideration in the design of the suite.  There’s a huge double walk in shower with drencher heads, there’s easily enough room in there to move around too – these are meticulously planned and built bespoke for the space and it shows in the build quality and the amount of space in each room.  Jack and Jill sinks mean that two adults can comfortably use the bathroom at the same time with no waiting around and there’s the added luxury of automated low level, low wattage lighting as any night wanderers or insomniacs like me will discover.  These are all very thoughtful, very cool extras that will make you rethink your home spaces from the moment you check out.

Ok so what did we get up to?  Well, we didn’t actually have a lot of time given our utter debacle of a journey so we landed, had a quick change and headed straight downstairs to our dinner reservation in the hotel’s restaurant.  The restaurant itself wraps around from the hotel bar and constantly smells amazing.  We had a brief chat with the chef who advised that where possible it’s the ethos of Beadnell Towers to use local ingredients and produce in a mission to support other local businesses and growers – something we really liked.

Beadnell Towers Seafood Sharing Platter

As we sat and pored over the menu I drank a local gin, with tonic – a total rarity for me as I’m usually alcohol free but it was super refreshing, reminded me of Menorcan Summers and I wasn’t hammered after one – bonus.  The menu at Beadnell Towers is a treat just to read, there are some absolute culinary delights on there and it took us an absolute age to decide, but we finally settled on the most amazing Seafood Platter of locally sourced fish, mussels, crab and other weird and wonderful things.  As with everything that leaves the kitchen, the presentation of the more exotic food on the menu at Beadnell Towers is what draws you in – we overheard three other tables ask their servers what it is that we were having just based on sight.

Over dinner we got chatting to Deputy Manager Joann about Cadwell Park – the next place we’re visiting and we discover that her mum set a land speed record some years ago at that very race track so we bond over all things motorsport and she’s genuinely interested to hear about what we’ll be getting up to on track the following day so spends some time chatting with us.

Pixie Tenenbaum standing in front of two filled copper slipper tubs at Beadnell Towers Hotel in the Muckle Hoose Suite

After dinner when we decided to call it a night, we swung by the pantry to pick up some water and found it empty.  A quick visit to the bar proved fruitful, we were advised that if ever the pantry is empty, the same bottled water is kept in fridges behind the bar for guests too so it’s always nice and cold.  Once back in our room, we decided to test out those copper slipper tubs.  One of them is perfectly positioned for watching TV, the other not so much so you have to either turn off the TV in advance or attempt to force your partner to talk to you if, like me, you forgot and also drew the short straw.

We found two unexpectedly brilliant things about Beadnell Towers Hotel, they’re probably the two most important things when it comes to an overnight stay anywhere either in the UK or further afield, and quite possibly the most overlooked; these are the bed, and the breakfast.  At this hotel I’m assuming all of the beds are pretty much the same but can only comment on the one that we slept in in the Muckle Hoose suite and we can honestly say (both of us) it’s the most comfortable bed we’ve ever slept in.  We tried (very hard) to find out what type of mattress was on it and failed so have made a note to contact the hotel and ask because as a Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos sufferer, it was the most perfect mattress, period.

Secondly, the breakfast.  Worth visiting for alone.  The breakfast is fit for a king; for hotel residents there’s the obligatory continental set up – with a twist – as a lot of what you see in the buffet has been sourced locally.  You’ll find grains, cereals, fruit and yoghurt.  Then there’s a separate table set up with muffins, pastries and other deli type goods some of which we brought away with us for our journey – encouraged by hotel staff.

The real joy though is in the cooked to order breakfast menu.  Once you’ve steeled yourself with something from the buffet and some of the best freshly ground black coffee I’ve had since Spain and Milan, you’ll find yourself at sixes and sevens trying to select something from the concise, but mouthwatering breakfast menu.  From Craster Kippers to American style pancakes and the obvious choice of a Full English, each breakfast option is prepared fresh to order in the semi open kitchen.  Being a stalwart, Bo opted for the Full English breakfast, and being a fence sitter I opted for both the American style pancakes (in tribute to Miami) and Eggs Benedict because it’s a breakfast favourite of mine and I consider myself to be an excellent critic.

In between ordering and actually eating, we decided to head over to the kitchen for a chat with the chefs and they told us that occasionally new and unique dishes are added to the menu if local fishermen come up with something weird and wonderful in their catch.  As our food arrives at the table it’s clear to see that breakfast (in my opinion) is the dish that Beadnell Towers puts their passion into.  Most guests have travelled to Beadnell from around the North East or further afield to visit the magnificent coastline we have up here, the likelihood is that they’ve been out walking, hiking, boating or driving onward and exploring during their stay and this hotel has quietly considered all of that.  That’s why there are rainboots and umbrellas, drencher head showers to soothe aching muscles, sewing kits in the rooms to darn split socks and the most comfortable beds you could ever imagine to take a load off after a heavy day.   The creature comforts like TV’s which allow you to sync up your own streaming services, free and easy access to water and milk – little things which go unnoticed but make a stay that little bit smoother.

And then there is the breakfast.  Because after you have explored, or even before you have explored, you need to fuel up.  The hotel serves up a breakfast of champions; the Eggs Benedict is as good as Phuc Yea (my favourite Eggs Benedict ever), it doesn’t have that harsh change in temperature or texture and the eggs are cooked to perfection.  The Full English got the double thumbs up from Bo and I wasn’t offered any so I guess that means it was pretty awesome right?  The hands down winner though was the pancakes.  A small stack of light, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

After breakfast when we came to check out, we had to leave early as we had to pick up Plankton from his respite unit then get the bikes in the van ready to head to Cadwell Park for our track day (which you can read about here).  Because the weather had changed and started to brighten up, you could get a sense of just how pretty the immediate surrounding area is.  We’ll definitely make time to re-visit Beadnell Bay and explore the area, we’ve heard the fish and chips up there are amazing!

Pixie

Categories: Lifestyle, North East Voyeur

Boojie Burger at Stack Newcastle

Stack Newcastle has firmly established itself as one of those ‘must visit’ places in the city centre.  The double level container village with its imposing black facade is a lot more welcoming than the initial plans may have led you to believe.  Strung with modern bare bulbs and industrial scaffold style seating, it’s a little bit of Shoreditch right here in the centre of Newcastle.  It even has a roof (of sorts) fitted now so you can revel in the elements as long as you like.

an image showing the front of Stack Newcastle pop up container village in newcastle Upon Tyne

At Stack it’s downstairs for dancing and upstairs for er, eating – so a little different to that age old saying your granddad taught you.  On the top deck you’ll find a smorgasbord of eateries and owners Danieli Holdings have tried to fill units with independents from all over the region providing something for every taste.  There’s one ‘restaurant’ style closed unit in the corner called Cluck Cluck Moo which works in a similar style to Nando’s (except the food is better), you can read my full review here.

When we were invited back to review the latest vendor to the top deck, Boojie Burger, we jumped at the chance.  Now, this isn’t our first visit to Boojie burger.  It’s not even our second.  It’s actually our third.  We’ve visited twice previously (as paying customers) during press events at Stack where we stayed behind afterwards to eat, this was before they’d fully refined their menu so this visit was the first time we’d tasted anything from their brand spanking new menu, which they feel is their best yet and has been developed specifically for Geordie tastebuds.

The servinge hatch at Boojie Burger Stack Newcastle

We arrived to a warm welcome and a reserved table with a lovely lightbox on it displaying my name – a really nice little touch I thought, something that would be great for kid’s parties, bachelorette parties or other similar events.  What we also quickly realised is that Boojie Burger has prime viewing for entertainment at Stack, no matter where you sit, you get a great view of any music or performance acts on down below – top tip alert.

So, what about the food?  Well the menu is short and concise and very easy to follow, however don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s an easy choice.  The guys behind Boojie Burger think they’ve sussed out what the people of Newcastle want from a burger which is why they’ve cut out the lengthy menu options and tried to simplify things.  We opted for a Saucy Pig £7 (Bacon, Cheese and BBQ Sauce), a Mexican £7 (Guacamole, Chipotle Sauce and Cheese) and a simple Cheeseburger £6, all of which come with lettuce and tomato as standard fixings.  The seasoned fries £3 were our choice of sides, although there is Halloumi £3 on the menu (which was sold out when we arrived) – we were advised that this is a firm favourite in the Toon so don’t all rush at once!

All food is prepared fresh to order and you’re given a buzzer which lets you know when to return to the hatch to collect.  The burger patties are packed with flavour, juicy but not fatty or oily and satisfying enough to leave you full but not uncomfortable.  The Saucy Pig was Bo’s favourite – topped with bacon and a lick of tangy BBQ sauce to cut though the meatiness.  I loved the Mexican, dripping with avocado and lashings of Chipotle which gave it that temperature and texture difference throughout, not spicy but an absolute joy to eat!  Plankton loved the good old fashioned American style Cheeseburger and despite having an adult’s appetite, a burger and a portion of fries was easily enough to finish him off!

An image showing the full menu of burgers and sides served at Boojie Burger in Stack Newcastle

Food at Boojie Burger is served in recycled cardboard trays, and wooden flatware is available if required although we were more than happy to go at everything with our hands caveman style.  Prices are standard fare for a freshly cooked burger from an independent provider right in the city centre, especially one this good.  In terms of taste, Boojie Burger is easily on par with Meat:Stack who were recently voted the best burger in Newcastle.  It’s still a relatively undiscovered gem with it being hidden in the upper walls of Stack.

I was on crutches at the time of our visit and despite it being incredibly busy, staff were more than happy to assist and help which I think really added to our experience.  We left happy and with full tummies and there’s not much more you can ask for than that.  We’d highly recommend Boojie Burger, especially given its advantageous vantage point in terms of entertainment and yes, there’s even a vegetarian option on the menu.

Pixie

Categories: Lifestyle, North East Voyeur

Cluck Cluck Moo at Stack Newcastle

If you’ve visited Newcastle recently you’ll know that we’ve been treated to two new container villages in the form of STACK and By The River Brew Company.  Stack takes pride of place in the city centre on the former Odeon site at the bottom of Northumberland Street’s Shopping District and offers a whole host of local independent boutiques on the outer shell as well as local eateries on the inner shell.

The black containers have been adapted to house static bars and fast food joints aplenty, and just recently the group behind this venture opened their first sit down restaurant within STACK (and have given it the best name ever) Cluck Cluck Moo.  I was asked if I’d like to dine at Cluck Cluck Moo on a Sunday lunchtime with my family, in exchange for a completely honest and unbiased review with no placed wording at all and my first answer was, “Is it called Duck Duck Goose?” followed by “Most definitely.”

So off we troped.  We made our way to the container village which despite having been there for a relatively short period of time, has been very much accepted as part of new Newcastle.  If you haven’t been yet, basically the premise is this, the outside is filled with local boutiques, trinket shops, barbers etc. and the inside is where you eat, drink and be merry.  There’s a ‘seasonal space’ inside too which will change, you guessed it, seasonally – right now it’s occupied by Hadrian’s Tipi, something we’ve come to know and love up here in the run up to Christmas but there are plans for a Sub Zero ice Bar in January.

Hadrian's Tipi at STACK 2018

Because nobody visiting STACK at this time of year can resist the lure of the Tipi, we swung by and cosied up on some throw covered benches in front of a pretty awesome singer whose banter was as good as his singing.  After warming up, we headed upstairs and into the furthest corner and the newest unit to find Cluck Cluck Moo, an industrial, modern looking restaurant with a simple premise: pick one protein, one or two sides and a sauce.  Job Done.  Think Nandos, but better.  Yeah I said it.

The menu layout is easy, meat first, the name gives the game away, (providing you didn’t think the place was called Duck Duck Goose) basically you’re choosing either steak or chicken.  The price is in the meat section of the menu and is inclusive so includes your meat selection, one side and a choice of sauce, you can add a second side for £3.  Prices range from £10.95 up to £17.95 or if you’re feeling extra brave you could opt for the Tomahawk Steak at a whopping £49.95 which comes with it’s very own two person minimum warning.  Sides are plentiful and range from Dauphinoise Potatoes to a simple Tomato Basil salad, there’s actually a pretty huge selection and we were advised that often people choose a range of sides as a main course in lieu of a meat dish.  Sauces are as you would expect, with the addition of a risque little BBQ.

After placing our orders, we received the pleasant surprise of complimentary Yorkshire puddings, and pork crackling sticks with dipping gravy on trays which we thought might have been special treatment but we were later advised that these are served to all Cluck Cluck Moo diners as their meals are being prepared in the open kitchen.  We thought this was a nice little touch and actually really, really tasty on a Sunday afternoon.

A Complimentary Apetiser Platter at Cluck Cluck Moo restaurant at STACK Newcastle Fashion Voyeur Blog

The drinks menu at Cluck Cluck Moo puts most cocktail bars to shame, with a selection of weird and wonderful cocktails and mocktails to chose from as well as all the usual cold beers, soft drinks etc. that you would expect, you’re kind of spoilt for choice, but it also makes Cluck Cluck Moo a viable choice for late night dining too.  Because the drinks aren’t run of the mill and boring.

Food is cooked fresh to order but that doesn’t mean you wait forever, my Rump steak (£13.95) arrived cooked perfectly medium, trimmed with lightly braised tomatoes and rosemary and we all ordered a different type of potato chip to share.  Bo’s chicken parmesan (£11.55) was the smallest portion and devoured in around five minutes and the best value for money without a doubt and probably the tastiest dish of all, was Plankton’s Flatiron Chicken.  At £10.95 it’s the cheapest dish on the menu, the largest portion meaning he couldn’t finish it and it was boxed up for him to take home.

Parmesan Chicken at Cluck Cluck Moo at STACK Newcastle Fashion Voyeur Blog

Looking at the menu it’s easy to get carried away and order more than one side but portions at Cluck Cluck Moo are big, sides are bigger than you might expect so order with caution.  Our recommendation would be the Flatiron Chicken, priced at £10.95 (side and sauce included but you can add a second side for a further £3 if you’re extra hungry) and you’ve got yourself a decent Sunday dinner with a nice little appetiser beforehand in a great location in town.  You don’t need much more than that for a great little Sunday in Newcastle.

Pixie.

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle, North East Voyeur, Uncategorized

Slaley Hall Summer Soiree

Northumberland has two modes, Summer and Winter and it looks equally beautiful in either.  Bo and I were invited to Slaley Hall in the heart of Northumberland for the annual Summer Soiree, held during the height of Summer.  Not just any Summer, the Summer of 2018, yeah, the one where we had actual heat and sunshine at the same time.

With the sun high in the sky we set off for Northumberland with the top down, our sunglasses on, and not a jacket in sight.  We arrived at Slaley Hall in the evening with the sun beating down on us like noon on a Summer day, the setting literally couldn’t have been more perfect.  Slaley Hall is as welcoming as it is imposing, this gorgeous castle / manor house never fails to impress and seems to project a different persona from every aspect.  Tonight though, we were there for a showcase in conjunction with Duke Ata Bespoke, a menswear label by one of my BFFs held in the gardens, natch.

Guests were treated to sunset themed mocktails and cocktails prepared using Durham Gin (the house gin at Slaley Hall) on arrival, alongside canapés that looked like delicious mini ice cream cones but turned out to be some kind of weird tunafish wafer thing.  As we walked out to the gardens, the view opened out over beautiful, uber green grass and perfectly trimmed trees.  A live singer played on the lawn for us whilst we chatted and enjoyed the rare occurrence of some evening sunshine, think Nikki Beach, with grass.

After a chance to catch up and chat, we were escorted to the Japanese Ornamental Garden further down in the grounds of Slaley Hall.  A feature that’s pretty well hidden, almost like a secret garden which casts the most perfect light over it’s red and purple leaves and super still pond.  At the entrance to the Garden there’s a stone bandstand type structure, we’re told it can be hired for private dining parties and decked out with lanterns, or used for smaller wedding ceremonies and I can’t help but think what a gorgeous moment that would make.  Today though we’re assembled to hear from Duke Ata about his latest venture, the Duke Ata Clubhouse.  If you haven’t already read my post about the Clubhouse launch event you can find it here.  Duke and his team spoke about their quest to find the perfect base for the Duke Ata Bespoke brand and how as well as the bespoke tailoring range, the brand will now produce a ready to wear collection for men comprising suiting, shirts, socks and shoes, all available to view on the rack at the Duke Ata Bespoke clubhouse in Jesmond.

After his informal presentation, I grabbed Duke for a chat about some of the intricacies of how the Clubhouse will operate and in his usual relaxed tone, he told me that it’s there to be used, basically if a client wants an appointment the team will make it happen.  A driver will be sent to pick up the client from any North East location to bring them to the studio where they’ll chat about personality, style, likes and dislikes so that Duke can get a feel for what the client needs.  After that, the process begins and the suit is crafted to the exact specifications for that particular client.  It’s simple, but also elaborate and it’s a very client-centric approach.  Obviously I know all of this, I hang out there, I’ve even played the vintage piano that sits in the Clubhouse.

Sunset over Slaley Hall at the Summer soiree in Northumberland

At the end of the evening we make our way back across the manicured lawns to the main Slaley Hall building and I can’t help but notice just how beautiful it looks in the Northumberland sunset, right here in the UK.

Pixie

 

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

iPhone X & Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Cameras on trial

If you’re thinking of upgrading your phone, the chances are you’re looking at something produced by one of the two big leading cellphone manufacturers, Apple and Samsung.  If you’re anything like me, you’ll already know their release schedules and most of the expected features before the key notes take place and the releases are even announced and the chances are, you’re more interested in the camera and social media gadgets than the ability to make calls.  Sound familiar?  I was asked by Three UK to take the current new releases (at the time of writing) from both brands to test out the camera functionality, after all, who doesn’t love a good selfie these days right?

Where’s better to test camera functionality than the tourist trail in London?  Nowhere!  Armed with the iPhone X (pronounced 10 to mark the tenth anniversary of the iPhone) and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, I hit up the vibrant Bermondsey Food Market to see what I could capture, before moving along the South Bank via Tower Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe.  It’s worth me mentioning here that I’m an Apple fangirl.  Ever since I jumped on the bandwagon with iPhone 4, I’ve been a devout returner and my home is kitted out with Apple gadgets galore.  iMac, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, Air Pods, Apple TV, AirPort, you name it, I’ve got it – I kind of feel it necessary to declare my potential for bias before we move on.

Ok, so, under the guidance of my photographer friend Rob Percy, I started learning to get to grips with the latest Android offering from Samsung.  The S9 Plus is a big phone, bigger than any of the iPhone models and has an edge to edge screen meaning it’s easy to line up and snap pictures.  It is however pretty hard for an iOS user to get a handle on, to me the phone set up felt clunky, in comparison to the iPhone X (more on that later) it takes more clicks to complete each task, including unlocking the screen, which I found super frustrating.  Yes, both phones have facial recognition, but the Samsung still requires some extra faffing to get into where as the iPhone reads your eyes and unlocks instantly.  Let’s look at the merits of each phone and its respective camera individually:

SAMUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS

It’s a slick looking phone, clean lines, massive screen with a cool little curved edge that looks and feels expensive.  Not quite a point and shoot if you want to achieve the best photographic results as this particular phone allows you to shoot in raw format.  Be warned, this takes some mastering, it requires a lot of post production and manipulation but might just be worth it if you’re looking to ditch the DSLR.  Images created on this device are sharp and the light is automatically adjusted and refocussed in automatic mode – the more you’d select for ease and speed.  Editing is a little more tricky on this device if you’re moving from IOS to Android, I’d need way more than a day to get to grips with it but if you’re already using a Samsung phone and planning on upgrading, I’m assured the tools for image capture are the same as the previous model so you’re all gravy.  The S9 (as with other Samsung models) has a built in virtual assistant called BIXBY, and i hated its constant patronising, like an overbearing parent.  “Are you sure?” Yes I’m fucking sure BIXBY, Samsung are a million miles away when it comes to competing with Apple and Google in the VA arena, however, BIXBY does have some benefits in camera mode; if you point and shoot using BIXBY mode, the camera will highlight points within your screen capture to focus on and then provide more information, an awesome feature for travellers and tourists with a thirst for knowledge.

What you really want to see is the camera footage though right?  I’ve got to admit, the camera is insane.  It’s an amazing piece of kit packed into a cellphone and when you think about the cost which is around £800 (at the time of writing) it’s in the same ballpark as a mid range DSLR but has way more benefits than just being a camera.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Front Facing Camera
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Using straight lines to train the eye
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Demonstrating depth of field
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Bermondsey Food Market
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Bermondsey Food Market
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 PLUS Food mode

One of the things Rob and I discussed during this camera trial, is that screen variation matters.  There’s a little bit of understanding of inception required for this bit; the pictures above were taken using a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus which has a particular type of screen optimised for that device.  When you view them on that screen you see them as they were meant to be, all crisp and clean and vibrant.  However when you take those images and view them on a different screen, as you’re doing right now, you dilute some of that quality as your own screen perceives, translates and displays them within the limitations of your own device.  Still with me?  Basically, they look the best on the device they were taken on and that goes for any device, what you see when you look through another screen shifts the parameters a little, to illustrate my point, here’s some third layer cellphone inception for you, an image I took on my iPhone X, of an image I took on my Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, viewed through the screen of whichever device you’re holding right now…..  Mind.  Blown.A test to illustrate the importance of screen variation in cellphones. The image of of a selfie which has been taken on a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and viewed on screen, then an image of the cellphone displaying that image has been taken using an iPhone X

iPHONE X

The iPhone X marks a departure from the expected format of cellphones from Apple.  Since the first iPhone, things haven’t changed that much and apart from size and internal features and functionality, the phone itself has largely remained the same.  That is until now.  The X marks the tenth anniversary of the iPhone and a brand new luxe take on the iPhone.  The home button and headphone jack are gone in order to make the phone more streamline (it actually looks very like the Samsung model) and there’s a new edge to edge screen to play with.  It doesn’t take long to get used to the missing home button, I’ll admit, the first 15 minutes were frustrating but it’s plain sailing and feels pretty natural after that.  The controls are simple; simple enough that my mum could use it with ease and that’s a pretty good guage for user testing.

The camera is a simple point and shoot and is optimised for use straight away.  According to Apple it’s a big step up from previous iPhone cameras and is the first phone in the line up to utilise Apple’s new technology and dual lens mechanism.  This means that the Portrait mode that is available on the iPhone 7 and 8 Plus models that every Blogger loves, is now available on the front facing camera too.  Just let that sink in.

Editing images in post production is easy, I’m not talking photoshop, FaceTune or filtering images with colour washes, I mean editing the settings to bend light, or enhance shadow within the image; real editing tools to make images strong and bold.  Simple slider functionality is available to edit each image as you wish and there are downloadable apps such as LightRoom if you do want to shoot in raw or using pre-set editing tools.  But what about the images?  Well, they’re crisp and require very little in the way of manipulation, however I’m going to say something a little controversial, I have both the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X and in all honesty, I think the camera on the iPhone 8 Plus is better.  *Gasps*  I know right?  Definitely a shocker but I’m not disregarding it, having Portrait mode available when you’re shooting selfies or anything else front facing is invaluable and therefore a winner.

iPhone X Selfie using front facing camera
iPhone X using lines to train the eye
iPhone X Depth of Field, The Shard
iPhone X The Dickens Inn
iPhone X Depth of Field St Paul’s
iPhone x Tower Bridge

You can see from both sets of images that a selfie looks different, the one taken on the Samsung uses light to blur out imperfections and highlight more vibrant colours, whereas the iPhone image offers a more HD style perspective, leaving you to correct anything in post production.  Both have their benefits and uses, and both are super smart, intelligent devices that will no doubt sell in droves and with only £100 between the two, cost isn’t really a deciding factor

THE VERDICT

Both phones are great, my honest opinion is that the majority of sales will come down to upgrading from a previous model by the same brand.  Generally speaking if you’re in the Android camp then you’re rooted there, and the same goes for established iOS users.  I liked the Samsung’s camera but hated everything else about it, it felt slow and clunky and not as slick as the iPhone.  It feels weird for me to say that because I’m also a Samsung fan, my TVs, refrigerator and washing machine are all Samsung, but they just haven’t done enough for me to leave Apple and rely on the device as my lifeline to the world.  Way too many clicks to do anything and despite the camera coming up aces, I’ll be passing on this one, sorry Samsung.

The iPhone X is a no brainer for me, I’m a fangirl, we’ve established that, Apple have stepped away from the usual release model with the X and I like it, it feels slick, it’s definitely heavier than previous iPhone models but it’s more compact than the 7 and 8 Plus models, with a bigger screen.  Yeah you guessed it, I bought it, but i’m betting you knew that was coming didn’t you?

Pixie xo

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