iPhone 8
The first question that springs to mind is, why would you buy the iPhone 8 when the iPhone X is available? But, as it happens, there are plenty of reasons.
For a start, the iPhone 8 is much more affordable and, if you’re not too concerned about the all-screen front of the X, the 8 is a good-looking smartphone.
The iPhone 8 – don’t call it the 7S! – looks almost exactly like the iPhone 7. It feels almost exactly like the iPhone 7. And it works and costs almost exactly what the iPhone 7 did. But it’s what you can’t see that really counts.
It’s the first iPhone ever to have an OLED screen, and even better, that stunning display basically runs edge to edge. iPhone X comes with other radical changes like the removal of the home button in favor of a new feature Apple is calling Face ID, which scans your face to unlock your iPhone instead of the traditional Touch ID method still used on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
The iPhone 8 is going to be a far more palatable choice for those looking to spend a 'normal' amount on a phone, with the price not rising much from last year. The iPhone 8 price starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,079 for the 64GB variant, while the larger, 256GB version is $849 / £849 / $1,329.
In addition to the True Tone display tech, the iPhone 8 display features a wider colour gamut for better colour reproduction, and dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles. Of course, it also features the likes of 3D Touch and an oleophobic coating to resist smudges from your grubby mitts.
The camera is one of the key reasons you’ll buy the iPhone 8 Plus over the iPhone 8. Whereas the iPhone 8 is fitted with a single 12Mp camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, the Plus additionally has a 12Mp telephoto lens with f/2.8 aperture and OIS that supports 10x optical zoom.
The iPhone 8 has a single 12-megapixel, f/1.8 main camera, as well as a 7-megapixel, f/2.2 front camera. The main camera is optically stabilized, while the front one is not. Apple says the main camera will deliver better photos than the current iPhone 7's main camera does.
That's all fine, for photography. We're confident that the iPhone will still be one of the best camera phones available. But Apple's moving aggressively into augmented reality, and a single-camera phone is at a major disadvantage when it comes to mapping the depth of spaces. Using two cameras, like the iPhone 8 Plus—or even better, the iPhone X's front-facing IR dot projector—makes it notably easier to do high-quality augmented reality.
We saw this when we were demoing ARKit with Apple a few weeks ago. In its current state, ARKit can only map horizontal surfaces. It can't figure out a whole room, including the walls and ceiling, the way Microsoft's HoloLens can. That may be a limitation of a single-camera device.
Available with either 64GB or 256GB memory, the iPhone 8 also has an improved 12MP rear camera, which is larger than before and promises to be faster, too.
Apple has not confirmed the battery capacities for its iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, but it has said battery life will be about the same as for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. This leads us to believe they probably use the same batteries, which are 1960mAh and 2900mAh respectively.
The Plus therefore runs significantly longer than the iPhone 8: an extra 8 hours talk time, 20 hours audio playback or an extra hour internet use or video playback.
Despite their differences in capacity, both batteries can reach 50 percent charge in 30 minutes, and they support Qi wireless charging.
Of course, the iPhone 8 features Apple’s latest iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 11. iOS 11 brings with it a number of new features, including the Files app and support for Apple’s ARKit, powering high-end augmented reality experiences on a range of compatible iPhones.
In fact, there’s far too much to mention here. If you want to find out more about the software, take a look at the latest iOS 11 news.
Although the iPhone 8 doesn’t have the attention-grabbing looks and features of the iPhone X, this phone is going to be the biggest seller of the three. It's an attractive handset, and the improved displays look great.
It’s a decent upgrade on the iPhone 7, and so it would make sense to consider this model if you have an iPhone 6s or older. Especially if the idea of FLAC audio, wireless charging or improved battery life appeals.
Is it Worth Upgrading??
The first question that springs to mind is, why would you buy the iPhone 8 when the iPhone X is available? But, as it happens, there are plenty of reasons.
For a start, the iPhone 8 is much more affordable and, if you’re not too concerned about the all-screen front of the X, the 8 is a good-looking smartphone.
The iPhone 8 – don’t call it the 7S! – looks almost exactly like the iPhone 7. It feels almost exactly like the iPhone 7. And it works and costs almost exactly what the iPhone 7 did. But it’s what you can’t see that really counts.
The iPhone 8 is going to be a far more palatable choice for those looking to spend a 'normal' amount on a phone, with the price not rising much from last year. The iPhone 8 price starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,079 for the 64GB variant, while the larger, 256GB version is $849 / £849 / $1,329.
iPhone 8 Design
The iPhone 8 looks a lot like the iPhone 7, except that the metal back has been switched out for shimmering glass. At 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches and 5.22 ounces, it's almost exactly the same size as the iPhone 7, but heavier. There's still a camera bump on the back, a Lightning port on the bottom, and no headphone jack. The 1,334-by-750, 4.7-inch LCD is the same size and pixel density as the iPhone 7's, but it's been enhanced with Apple's True Tone technology, which gives better white balance in a range of different light.
Below the screen, there's the traditional home button, with Touch ID. The iPhone 8 lacks the cool new Face ID technology in the iPhone X, keeping the fingerprint scanner alive for at least one more year. Dual speakers, at the top and bottom of the phone, promise louder sound than the iPhone 7 line. The phone is also water-resistant, like the iPhone 7 generation.
iPhone 8 Display
They might have the same number of pixels as their respective predecessors, but, placed side-by-side with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the new versions of the Retina HD screen offer noticeable improvements.
Both offer better colour accuracy and a wider colour gamut, and both get the same True Tone technology that we’ve already seen in its iPad Pros; this adapts to the lighting conditions around you to make things easier on your eyes.
Neither screen supports 4K, with the 8 Plus topping out at 1920x1080, so if you’ve got your heart set on shooting Ultra HD video you’ll still need to watch it back on something else. Don’t feel too bad, though: not even the iPhone X has a 4K screen.
In addition to the True Tone display tech, the iPhone 8 display features a wider colour gamut for better colour reproduction, and dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles. Of course, it also features the likes of 3D Touch and an oleophobic coating to resist smudges from your grubby mitts.
iPhone 8 Camera
The iPhone 8 has a single 12-megapixel, f/1.8 main camera, as well as a 7-megapixel, f/2.2 front camera. The main camera is optically stabilized, while the front one is not. Apple says the main camera will deliver better photos than the current iPhone 7's main camera does.
We saw this when we were demoing ARKit with Apple a few weeks ago. In its current state, ARKit can only map horizontal surfaces. It can't figure out a whole room, including the walls and ceiling, the way Microsoft's HoloLens can. That may be a limitation of a single-camera device.
iPhone 8 Performace
Most of what’s new for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus is internal, which is reflected in how fast the software runs. Even if you’re used to the iPhone 7, the new A11 Bionic processors inside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus make them feel that bit faster when churning through even routine tasks.
A quick demo of the new AR-enabled apps showed these phones aren’t in any way poor stepchildren to the iPhone X, as far as power is concerned at least.
Despite the boost in power, the batteries haven’t been upgraded, although Apple claims both models will last just as long as their previous models. That means the 8 Plus will still be the better bet if you want to get the most out of your new phone.
A quick demo of the new AR-enabled apps showed these phones aren’t in any way poor stepchildren to the iPhone X, as far as power is concerned at least.
Despite the boost in power, the batteries haven’t been upgraded, although Apple claims both models will last just as long as their previous models. That means the 8 Plus will still be the better bet if you want to get the most out of your new phone.
iPhone 8 Battery and WielessCharging
Apple has not confirmed the battery capacities for its iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, but it has said battery life will be about the same as for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. This leads us to believe they probably use the same batteries, which are 1960mAh and 2900mAh respectively.
The Plus therefore runs significantly longer than the iPhone 8: an extra 8 hours talk time, 20 hours audio playback or an extra hour internet use or video playback.
Despite their differences in capacity, both batteries can reach 50 percent charge in 30 minutes, and they support Qi wireless charging.
Yes, you read that right. The real reason behind Apple’s decision to re-introduce the glass rear on the iPhone 8 was to include support for wireless charging. After years of fans asking the company to offer wireless charging on the iPhone, Apple has complied, and announced that (in un-Apple fashion) that it’d be compatible with Qi-certified wireless chargers.
That’s right, there’s no proprietary system like with the Apple Watch, meaning it’s compatible with the millions of Qi wireless chargers found around the world, from public places like McDonalds and Starbucks to those that you can buy online for use at home.
In fairness, Apple is due to release its own wireless charging mat with advanced wireless charging tech not seen by competitors, but it’s not due out until 2018.
That’s right, there’s no proprietary system like with the Apple Watch, meaning it’s compatible with the millions of Qi wireless chargers found around the world, from public places like McDonalds and Starbucks to those that you can buy online for use at home.
In fairness, Apple is due to release its own wireless charging mat with advanced wireless charging tech not seen by competitors, but it’s not due out until 2018.
iPhone 8 OS
Of course, the iPhone 8 features Apple’s latest iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 11. iOS 11 brings with it a number of new features, including the Files app and support for Apple’s ARKit, powering high-end augmented reality experiences on a range of compatible iPhones.
In fact, there’s far too much to mention here. If you want to find out more about the software, take a look at the latest iOS 11 news.
Conclusion
It’s a decent upgrade on the iPhone 7, and so it would make sense to consider this model if you have an iPhone 6s or older. Especially if the idea of FLAC audio, wireless charging or improved battery life appeals.
The iPhone 8 costs $699 for a 64GB version, or $849 for 256GB. It comes in gold, silver, or space gray. That's $100 less than the iPhone 8 Plus, and $300 less than the iPhone X. It's still an expensive phone, just a little under the $720 average price of Samsung's flagships.
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