The introduction of the iPhone X seems to have stolen the spotlight, leaving the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models out in the dark. However, we have done our fair share of exploring with these two iPhone models and are here to share our findings.
Essentially, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus are subtle upgrades of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. The differences are ever so slight in most aspects. Is the iPhone 8 Plus really superior to the iPhone 7 Plus? If yes, how so?
Listed below are feature and spec comparisons that draw out the similarities and highlight the differences between the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus:
Design
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If you thought that the iPhone 7 Plus felt big for a 5-5-inches smartphone, you’re in for a bigger surprise with the iPhone 8 Plus. The latter is slightly wider, thicker, taller, and heavier than the iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 8 Plus has the same 5.5-inches retina HD display as the iPhone 7 Plus.
But it is heavier for a reason – its glass back. Because the iPhone 8 Plus has a glass back, it supports wireless charging. The iPhone 7 Plus retains the classic aluminum back.
Apple claims that their iPhones’ glass backs are the toughest. However, at the end of the day, glass cracks. So, unless you really care about wireless charging, you may not see the iPhone 8 Plus as offering anything special than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Value for Money
The iPhone 8 Plus retains the iPhone 7 Plus’ dust- and water-resistant feature. Both models come with an IP67 rating. This means that they will not damage in case of exposure to water up to a depth of 1 meter. Both these models are excellent value for money in 2024 but its hard to get your hands on a brand new one. Price for these devices in the ex- demo and refurbished market is fairly stable over the years. iPhone 7 plus will set you back around $400 AUD in A grade condition while the 8 Plus will cost you around $549 AUD in the same condition. iPhone 8 plus is a wiser option especially it looks more appealing with its all glass design and also has wireless charging feature built in which comes handy if you have a wireless charger.
In terms of color, the iPhone 7 Plus offers one more option than the iPhone 8 Plus with its three color variants.
Display
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Even in this area, Apple chose to retain the Retina HD display of the iPhone 7 Plus while creating the iPhone 8 Plus. Both iPhone models come with 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution. They also both share the same 1300:1 contrast ratio rating.
One of the notable differences between these two is that the iPhone 8 Plus comes with the additional True Tone technology. This technology was first launched with Apple’s iPad range. The technology works to balance the iPhone 8 Plus’ display against environmental lighting to ensure accurate colors.
Performance
If we were to pick out one aspect where the iPhone 8 Plus proves itself as an upgrade to the iPhone 7 Plus, it is its performance. It runs on the Apple A11 Bionic chipset while the iPhone 7 Plus runs on the Apple A10 Fusion chipset.
According to Apple, the A11 chip delivers 70 percent faster multitasking capabilities, 30 percent faster graphics, and 25 percent peak CPU performance. Apple also claims to design the iPhone 8 Plus to be 70 percent times faster than the iPhone 7 when used in low power mode.
The A10 chipset found in the iPhone 7 Plus is still faster than most Android rivals. So you are still good with an iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 8 Plus comes into the picture if you really feel the need for an upgrade that ensures a more efficient performance than your previous iPhone.
Camera Systems
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The iPhone 8 Plus retains the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual 12 MP wide and telephoto rear camera system. It also offers the same 7 MP front camera system, with its f/2.22 sensor. Despite all these similarities, the iPhone 8 Plus offers improved picture and video quality. How? The answer lies in the simple fact that a smartphone’s picture quality relies on the quality of its computational image processing.
The iPhone 8 Plus’ A11 Bionic chipset has a dedicated Image Signal Processor (ISP). This delivers faster low-light autofocus, reduces noise, and improves pixel processing. All these three factors result in better-quality pictures for the iPhone 8 Plus.
Battery Life
All iPhones under the iPhone Plus range always boast a good battery capacity. The iPhone 8 Plus does too. It may not offer a remarkably better battery life than the iPhone 7 Plus. But nonetheless, it offers good battery efficiency.
The selling point about the iPhone 8 Plus when it comes to its battery is that it charges quickly. Its glass back may be controversial, but it is this feature that makes Qi-wireless charging possible. Thanks to this feature, you can expect up to 50 percent charge on your iPhone 8 Plus in just 30 minutes.
The iPhone 7 Plus has a 75h endurance rating while the iPhone 8 Plus comes with an 81h endurance rating.
Storage Capacity and Pricing
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The iPhone 7 Plus is available in three variants with regard to its storage capacity – 32 GB,128 GB & 256GB. The 32 GB ROM variant can be purchased at $349 AUD for a refurbished model. Whereas the 128 GB variant is $429 and the 256gb is $499 depending on where you buy it from.
The iPhone 8 Plus also comes in two variants – 64 GB and 256 GB. The 64 GB variant of the iPhone 8 Plus sells for about $549 AUD here. The 256 GB variant, on the other hand, goes for about $749 AUD. We recommend checking highly rated five-star sellers like Phonebot for up to date pricing on these models.
Conclusion
Both of these iPhone models also share similar attributes when it comes to their Touch ID and FaceTime HD functions. They also both come with gorilla glass and ion-strengthened glass with oleophobic coating. Truth be told, the iPhone 8 Plus feels heavier and looks bulkier than the iPhone 7 Plus. It also does not have too many distinct features to offer, given its pricing.
If you already own an iPhone 7 Plus, switching to an iPhone 8 Plus may not necessarily be an upgrade. You just get slightly improved tweaks with the latter. However, if you own the older iPhone models, say the iPhone 6, then the iPhone 8 Plus is a definite upgrade.
