If you’re still using an iPhone 8 Plus, you may have already started thinking about upgrading. Although the iPhone 8 Plus is still capable of running the majority of applications and games, it lacks the all-screen front face and a few modern features found on newer iPhones.
On the other hand, the iPhone 8 Plus is worth buying in 2021 if you’re looking for a cheap iPhone with a fast processor, large screen, and the latest iOS software updates. With lots of life left, the 8 Plus can be a great budget-friendly upgrade from older devices such as the iPhone 7. Keep reading as we examine how the iPhone 8 Plus stacks up to other iPhones.
iPhone 8 Plus specs
The iPhone 8 Plus was released in September 2017, alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Like its two stablemates, the iPhone 8 Plus is powered by the Apple A11 Bionic chip with Neural Engine, backed by 3GB of RAM. The 8 Plus supports 3D Touch on its 5.5-inch Retina display, a feature no longer present on the latest generations of iPhones. All three phones support Qi Wireless Charging and USB fast-charge over Lightning, and they’re IP67 dust and water-resistant under IEC Standard 60529.
iPhone 8 | iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone X | |
---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
RAM | 2GB | 3GB | 3GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina LCD | 5.5-inch Retina LCD | 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED |
Cameras | Wide: 12MP f/1.8, 28mm | Wide: 12MP f/1.8, 28mm Tele: 12MP, f/2.8, 57mm | Wide: 12MP f/1.8, 28mm Tele: 12MP f/2.4, 52mm |
Water Resistance | |||
Battery | 1821 mAh | 2691 mAh | 2716 mAh |
Price | Starting at $225 | Starting at $230 | Starting at $310 |
The iPhone 8 Plus sets itself apart from its siblings with its screen, overall dimensions, and cameras. The iPhone 8 Plus is of course the biggest of the three, with its 5.5-inch Retina HD LCD and traditional bezels and home button. And like the slightly higher-end iPhone X, you get two 12MP rear cameras: an f/1.8 wide-angle lens and an f/2.8 telephoto with 2x optical zoom. The iPhone 8 Plus is also capable of 4k video recording at up to 60 fps. Here’s how the iPhone 8 Plus compares to other iPhones.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 11 Pro Max
If you’ve hung on to your iPhone 8 Plus until now, you most likely want a replacement that will last you equally long. This is where the iPhone 11 Pro Max comes in. From its powerful A13 Bionic chip and gigantic 6.5-inch display to its stainless steel build quality and IP68 water resistance, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is a substantial upgrade on all fronts. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 11 Pro Max Comparison page.
Performance and battery life
The iPhone 8 Plus is certainly no slouch, but the 11 Pro Max is a substantially more powerful smartphone. Upgrading to the iPhone 11 Pro Max gets you the A13 Bionic chip, which is roughly twice as fast as the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 11 Pro Max also bumps you up to 4GB RAM, making for smoother multitasking with fewer closed apps and reloads. And with its massive 3969 mAh battery, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has better battery life than any other iPhone — even better than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Display
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a much larger and higher resolution display than the iPhone 8 Plus. Despite sharing similar external dimensions, the iPhone 11 Pro Max screen is a full inch larger thanks to its nearly all-screen front face. The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display on the 11 Pro Max also packs a whopping 2688 x 1242 resolution at an equally high pixel density of 458 ppi.
Camera
Finally, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a powerful and versatile triple-camera setup with some of the very latest camera tech you can get in any phone. The 11 Pro Max packs a 12MP wide-angle lens (26mm, f/1.8), a 12MP telephoto camera (52mm, f/2.0), and a 12MP ultrawide camera (13mm, f/2.4). And on the software side, the 11 Pro Max also supports 4k video recording at 60 fps and Apple’s complete computational photography toolbox including Portrait mode, Smart HDR, and Deep Fusion with Night Mode.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 11 Pro
The iPhone 11 Pro is a substantial upgrade from the iPhone 8 Plus in every way. Like the iPhone 11 Pro Max mentioned above, the 11 Pro gives you some of the very latest hardware and software, making for a better overall experience. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 11 Pro Comparison page.
Performance and battery life
The iPhone 11 Pro is powered by the A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine, backed by 4GB RAM. This means that the iPhone 11 Pro is capable of handling any game or app you throw at it, without closed apps and reloads. The iPhone 11 Pro also packs a large 3046 mAh power reserve, giving you all-day battery life — and then some.
Display
Despite being smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone 11 Pro actually packs a larger screen thanks to its all-screen front face and high 82.1% screen-to-body ratio. The iPhone 11 Pro screen is a 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR OLED. This display is incredibly sharp and vibrant, and supports true HDR (1200 nits peak brightness) through Dolby Vision and HDR10.
Camera
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a much better triple-camera array than the iPhone 8 Plus. Upgrading gets you a 12MP wide-angle lens (26mm, f/1.8), a 12MP telephoto camera (52mm, f/2.0), and a 12MP ultrawide camera (13mm, f/2.4) — as well as support for 4k video recording and Smart HDR, Deep Fusion with Night Mode, and Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 11
The iPhone 11 is another great upgrade option if you want some of the latest features and specifications, but don’t want to pay quite as much as you would for an 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max. Despite its relatively affordable price point, the iPhone 11 is ready to deliver a high-end experience for many years to come. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 11 Comparison page.
Performance and battery life
Just like its higher-end siblings, the iPhone 11 is powered by the A13 Bionic chip and 4GB RAM. This means that you’ll have plenty of power for even the most demanding games and apps. The iPhone 11 also packs a gigantic 3110 mAh battery for excellent all-day battery life.
Display
The iPhone 11 also offers a nearly all-screen front face and Apple’s innovative gesture-driven UI. And thanks to its relatively high 79% screen-to-body ratio, the iPhone 11 is able to cram a large 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display in a smaller overall package than the iPhone 8 Plus.
Camera
The iPhone 11 isn’t just a great phone — it’s also a great camera, thanks to its 12MP ultrawide lens (13mm, f/2.4) and a 12MP wide-angle lens (26mm, f/1.8). And harnessing the power of its A13 Bionic chip, the iPhone 11 supports Deep Fusion with Night Mode, Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting, and Smart HDR 3.
iPhone 8 Plus vs XS Max
The iPhone XS Max is a substantial upgrade over the iPhone 8 Plus in nearly every way. In short, you get the faster A12 Bionic chip, Face ID authentication, improved IP68 water resistance, and a more durable stainless steel frame. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone XS Max Comparison page.
Performance and battery life
For starters, the iPhone XS Max packs an A12 Bionic chip, making it faster than the 8 Plus in 3D games and demanding apps. And since the powerful chip is backed by 4GB RAM, it’s also better at multitasking. The iPhone XS Max also boasts all-day battery life thanks to its 3174 mAh capacity.
Display
Just like the latest generation of iPhones, the iPhone XS Max features a nearly all-screen front face and Apple’s innovative gesture-driven UI. Because of this, the Max is able to shoehorn a 6.5-inch Super Retina HD OLED in a smaller overall package than the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone XS Max screen isn’t just big; it’s also sharp and vibrant thanks to its high 2688 x 1242 resolution and HDR support.
Camera
Similar to the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone XS Max packs a dual rear camera setup with wide-angle and telephoto cameras. However, the telephoto lens on the iPhone XS Max has a faster f/2.8 aperture, making it better in low light. It also supports Smart HDR and Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting.
iPhone 8 Plus vs Xs
The iPhone XS is a major upgrade over the iPhone 8 Plus. Upgrading to the iPhone XS get you a faster processor, a larger and more vibrant display, Apple’s innovative gesture-driven UI, and improved stainless steel build quality. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone XS Comparison page.
Performance and battery life
The iPhone XS is powered by the A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine and 4GB RAM. The faster A12 chip lets you run demanding apps and intensive 3D games with ease — and the 4GB RAM means you can multitask without worrying about closed apps and reloads. Battery life is similar between the two phones, with the iPhone XS offering a slightly smaller 2658 mAh capacity.
Display
Despite being smaller overall, the iPhone XS actually packs a larger display than the iPhone 8 Plus. The 5.8-inch Super Retina HD screen on the iPhone XS offers true HDR support and vibrant colors thanks to its OLED panel technology.
Cameras
Similar to the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone XS features a dual rear camera setup with a telephoto lens and wide-angle lens. However, the telephoto lens on the iPhone XS is able to capture more light thanks to its faster f/2.4 aperture. In addition, the XS also supports Smart HDR for improved dynamic range and contrast in challenging lighting situations.
iPhone 8 Plus vs Xr
The iPhone XR is another great upgrade option. Swapping out your iPhone 8 Plus for an iPhone XR gets you several noteworthy improvements across the board ranging from a larger and more vibrant display to a faster processor and Face ID authentication. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone XR Comparison page.
Performance
The iPhone XR is powered by the same A12 Bionic chip that’s found on the iPhone XS and XS Max. As a result, the iPhone XR is able to handle 3D games and demanding apps with ease. The iPhone XR also offers all-day battery life from its 2942 mAh power pack.
Display
Although the iPhone XR is smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus overall, it has a significantly larger 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display. This is made possible by the XR’s relatively high 79% screen-to-body ratio, gesture-driven UI, and nearly all-screen front face.
Camera
Unlike the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone XR does not offer a dual rear camera setup. Instead, the iPhone XR packs a single 12MP wide-angle lens (26mm, f/1.8). Despite the single camera lens, it still supports Portrait Mode and Smart HDR thanks to photo processing enabled by the A12 Bionic chip.
iPhone 8 Plus vs X
The iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X share nearly identical internals. However, the iPhone X is still a good upgrade option for those on a tight budget. The iPhone X improves on the 8 Plus in a number of ways with its all-screen front face, gesture-driven UI, larger and higher resolution 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display, Face ID authentication, and stainless steel build quality. In addition, the iPhone X also has a slightly faster f/2.4 aperture on its telephoto lens, making it better for low light photos. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone X Comparison page.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 8
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are remarkably similar phones. But despite sharing nearly identical internals, there are a few noteworthy differences that you should be aware of. For starters, the iPhone 8 Plus has a much larger, 5.5-inch Retina display — compared to the 4.7-inch Retina display on the iPhone 8. The iPhone 8 Plus is also slightly better at multitasking thanks to its 3GB RAM. In addition, the iPhone 8 Plus has wide-angle and telephoto cameras, compared to a single wide-angle lens on the iPhone 8. Finally, the iPhone 8 Plus features a larger 2691 mAh battery, compared to the 1821 mAh capacity on the iPhone 8. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 8 Comparison page.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 7 Plus
Although they look nearly identical at first glance, the iPhone 8 Plus is actually a fairly substantial upgrade over the iPhone 7 Plus. Powered by the A11 Bionic chip, the iPhone 8 Plus is able to handle demanding apps and light games with ease. In contrast, the A10 Fusion on the iPhone 7 Plus is starting to show its age when performing intensive tasks. The iPhone 8 Plus also offers 4k video recording at up to 60 fps, an improved 5.5-inch Retina Display with True Tone support, and better build quality with its all-glass rear panel. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 7 Plus Comparison page.
iPhone 8 Plus vs 7
Upgrading from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8 Plus gets you a number of substantial improvements. Most notably, you get a much larger 5.5-inch Retina HD display with True Tone support and a higher 1080 x 1920 (Full HD) resolution. The iPhone 8 Plus also features the faster A11 Bionic chip, 3GB RAM for improved multitasking, a dual rear camera setup with 2x optical zoom, and a larger 2691 mAh battery for all-day battery life. Learn more on our iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 7 Comparison page.
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