If you’re thinking about upgrading your iPhone 8 — this is the upgrade guide you’ll need. In this post, we’ll be taking a look to see how the iPhone 8 compares to the newer iPhone models, including the iPhone X, Xr, Xs, Xs Max, and the 11. Also included in the comparisons are the first and second generations of the iPhone SE, and the iPhone 8 Plus, for those who are happy with the iPhone 8 and just want something a little bigger.
Continue reading to view our iPhone 8 Upgrade Guide and see which iPhone will be your next iPhone.
But first, we’re going to start things off by taking a brief look at how the iPhone 8 compared to the previous generations, which included the iPhone SE (2016), as well as the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
iPhone 8 vs SE (2016)
The iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE (2016) both shared a very similar look, where at first glance, you may not have been able to immediately distinguish between the two. However, these were two very different phones. The iPhone SE was released in 2016 and was part of the 9th generation of the iPhone, which was the generation shared by the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The iPhone 8 was released in 2017 and was part of the 11th generation of the iPhone.
The iPhone SE (2016) featured a 4.0-inch display and was powered by the Apple A9 chip with options for 16GB or 64GB of internal storage. The iPhone SE was then refreshed in 2017 and storage options switched to 32GB or 128GB. Other highlights of the iPhone SE (2016) included Touch ID, a 1624 mAh battery, Lightning connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1.2MP front-facing camera, and a 12MP rear-facing camera that could capture 4k video at 30fps or 1080 video at 120fps.
The current iPhone SE (2016) pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone SE (2016) compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 7
While the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 were similar in overall appearance, there were a few notable improvements that made this a worthy upgrade. The iPhone 8 launched with the newer Apple A11 Bionic chip, and that meant an improvement in terms of overall performance. But users also saw a few other additions that were likely more noticeable in day-to-day use.
For example, the iPhone 8 featured a glass back that allowed for wireless charging. The display size remained the same at 4.7-inches, but the iPhone 8 added support for True Tone, which allows the display to make automatic adjustments based on the ambient lighting. Other highlights that users received with the iPhone 8 included a 12MP rear camera with 4k video recording at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second, fast-charging, and higher storage options.
The current iPhone 7 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 7 compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 7 Plus
Going from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8 was a solid upgrade, but going from the iPhone 7 Plus to the iPhone 8 may not have been as popular as an upgrade path. For starters, going from the 7 Plus to the 8 meant you would be getting a smaller display. The iPhone 7 Plus had a 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080) display and the iPhone 8 arrived with a 4.7-inch (1334 x 750) display. Of course, for some, a smaller phone size may have been welcomed and this may have been an ideal upgrade path because outside of the smaller display — there were some welcomed features additions. Similar to those going from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8, those going from the iPhone 7 Plus to the iPhone 8 also would have benefited from the newer Apple A11 Bionic chip, support for fast-charging, wireless charging, and higher available internal storage options.
The current iPhone 7 Plus pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 7 Plus compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
This next section may not have been a path chosen by many, but we suspect there are some people who picked up an iPhone 8 Plus only to realize the plus size was more than they wanted. Or, vice versa, some that picked up an iPhone 8 to realize they wanted the larger display from the plus-sized model.
iPhone 8 vs 8 Plus
Going from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 8 Plus would mean sticking with the same generation. And while this may seem like a lateral move, with few real benefits, there are a few key differences between the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. For starters, the iPhone 8 had a smaller display, which ultimately means it has a smaller overall size. The iPhone 8 display is 4.7-inches and the overall size is 5.45 (H), by 2.65 (W), by 0.29 (D) -inches. Whereas, the iPhone 8 Plus display measures in at 5.5-inches, and the overall size is 6.24 (H), by 3.07 (W), by 0.30 (D) -inches.
Another factor that changed between the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus was the rear-facing camera. The iPhone 8 had a single camera on the back, while the 8 Plus had a two-camera setup on the back with a wide-angle and telephoto lens that meant an improvement in terms of lighting effects (for Portrait Mode), and better depth-of-field. Otherwise, both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus had similar features that included the Apple A11 Bionic chip, support for fast-charging, and wireless charging.
The current iPhone 8 Plus pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 8 Plus compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
While making a move from the iPhone 8 to 8 Plus was a possibility for some, we fully expect that most people looking to upgrade from the iPhone 8 would be going to a newer generation of the iPhone.
iPhone 8 vs X
The iPhone 8 and the iPhone X were both originally released in 2017 and were part of Apple’s 11th generation of the iPhone. Due to both models being part of the same generation, they shared some similarities in terms of hardware specs, such as the Apple A11 Bionic chip. But, despite the similarities in terms of the internal hardware specs, these were two very different phones.
The iPhone 8 carried the familiar 4.7-inch display with the home button and Touch ID that was found on previous generations. The iPhone X moved to the larger 5.8-inch display and dropped the home button in favor of a Face ID and a gesture-based user-interface that we see on all newer models of the iPhone.
The iPhone X display had a resolution of 2436 x 1125 and was a Super Retina HD AMOLED. Other highlights of the iPhone X included a stainless steel frame and overall improved build quality, as well as options for 64GB or 256GB of internal storage, 3GB of RAM, a 2716 mAh battery, a 7MP True Depth front-facing camera, and a dual-camera rear-facing setup that included a 12MP regular lens along with a telephoto lens.
The current iPhone X pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone X compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs Xr
Upgrading from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone Xr meant jumping from the 11th generation to the 12th generation of the iPhone. The iPhone Xr features the gesture-based user interface that was ushered in with the iPhone X and sported a 6.08-inch (1792 x 828) Liquid Retina LED-backlit, IPS LCD. Other highlight features of the iPhone Xr included the Apple A12 Bionic chip, 3GB of RAM, a 2942 mAh battery, 7MP front-facing camera, a 12MP rear-facing camera, and Face ID for device security. The iPhone Xr has options for 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage space, and shipped with six color options to include Product(RED), black, white, coral, yellow, and blue.
The current iPhone Xr pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone Xr compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs Xs
Upgrading from the iPhone 8 to the Xs not only means jumping from the 11th to the 12th generation of the iPhone, but the iPhone Xs was the higher-end model in the 12th generation. Essentially, this is a solid upgrade path that brought several nice improvements. Users grabbing the iPhone Xs would get a larger display, a newer and more powerful processor, a better camera setup, and a gesture-based user experience with Face ID for device security. Key features of the iPhone Xs include a 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED, 4GB of RAM, up to 512GB of internal storage, a 2658 mAh battery, an IP68 rating for water and dust-resistance, and a 7MP front-facing camera. The rear camera setup on the iPhone Xs included a wide-angle and telephoto lens and allowed for features such as optical image stabilization, burst mode, autofocus, Panorama, Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and more.
The current iPhone XS pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs Xs Max
Upgrading from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone Xs Max means getting a much different, and much-improved experience. This upgrade path means jumping from the 11th to 12th-generation of the iPhone, and that means a newer more powerful processor and shifting to the gesture-based user experience with Face ID. The iPhone Xs Max is powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chip. The Xs Max also features a larger display with a higher resolution — coming in as a 6.5-inch Super Retina HD OLED at 2688 x 1242 with HDR support. Other features of the iPhone Xs Max include options for 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM, a 3174 mAh battery, stereo speakers, a 7MP front-facing camera, and an improved rear-facing camera setup that includes wide-angle and telephoto lens.
The current iPhone XS Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone XS Max compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 11
The iPhone 11 was released in 2019 as part of the 13th generation of the iPhone and was powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip with 3rd-generation Neural Engine. Those upgrading from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 11 would see improvements in almost all aspects of the phone. Not only would there be improvements in terms of overall performance, but also in terms of the overall user experience, which came courtesy of the gesture-based UI and Face ID.
Other highlight features of this upgrade include the display size increasing from a 4.7-inch Retina HD display to a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display, options for internal storage going up to 256GB, and the RAM doubling from 2GB in the iPhone 8 to 4GB in the iPhone 11. This upgrade path also meant an increase in the IP rating, going from an IP67 rating on the iPhone 8 to an IP68 rating on the iPhone 11, as well as an improved camera setup with a 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front, and dual 12MP ultra-wide and wide-angle cameras with Night Mode on the back.
The current iPhone 11 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 11 compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs SE (2020)
The iPhone SE (2020) has a similar look and feel as compared to the iPhone 8, however, these are two very different phones in terms of the internals. This would make a great upgrade path if you like the size of the iPhone 8, but want something with a bit more power. Similar to the iPhone 11, the iPhone SE (2020) was released in 2019 as part of the 13th generation of the iPhone and it is powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip with 3rd-generation Neural Engine. The iPhone SE (2020) features a 4.7-inch True Tone Retina HD display, 3GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage space, an 1821 mAh battery, a 7MP camera on the front, and a 12MP camera on the back. Other highlights of the iPhone SE (2020) include a Lightning connector for charging, support for Qi wireless charging, and Touch ID for device security.
The current iPhone SE (2020) pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone SE (2020) compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 12
Upgrading from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 12 means going from an 11th generation iPhone that was released in 2017 to a 14th generation released in 2020. Lots of people would consider this to be a considerable upgrade, and you’ll notice improvements in key areas such as the display, processor, and camera. The iPhone 12 also includes support for sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G networks.
The iPhone 8 featured a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1334 x 750, and the iPhone 12 features a 6.1-inch display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. The display also goes from LCD on the iPhone 8 to OLED on the iPhone 12. The processor and RAM also jump from the Apple A11 Bionic with 2GB of RAM to the Apple A14 Bionic chip with 4GB of RAM.
The rear-camera setup on the iPhone 8 featured a single 12MP lens, and the iPhone 12 rear-camera includes a dual 12MP setup with a wide and ultra-wide lens. The iPhone 12 camera also has features such as Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, Smart HDR, a 2x optical zoom, and up to 5x digital zoom.
The current iPhone 12 pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 12 mini
Going from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 12 mini would bring improvements in almost all aspects of the phone. But unlike some of the other iPhone 12 models, the 12 mini would mean you also keep a small form factor, similar to the size of the iPhone 8. The iPhone 8 measured in at 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.30-inches and the iPhone 12 mini measures in at 5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29-inches. The iPhone 12 may be smaller in overall size, but the display on the iPhone 12 mini is larger and has a much higher resolution. The display size goes from 4.7-inches (1334 x 750) on the iPhone 8 to 5.4-inches (2340 x 1080) on the iPhone 12.
In terms of the other improvements, you’ll notice better overall performance, a higher IP rating for water resistance, and a nicer camera setup in terms of the camera hardware and software. The iPhone 12 mini is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic chip with 4GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, an IP68 rating, and a dual 12MP rear-camera setup that includes a wide and ultra-wide angle lens. The iPhone 12 mini also includes support for 5G connectivity.
The current iPhone 12 mini pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 mini compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 12 Pro
Going from a non-Pro model iPhone to a Pro model iPhone always means some added features, but upgrading from an 11th generation (2017) iPhone 8 to a 14th generation (2020) iPhone 12 Pro would mean you get improvements in every aspect of the phone. But, this upgrade path would also mean you get a larger phone. The iPhone 8 measured in at 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.30-inches and the iPhone 12 Pro measures in at 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.29-inches.
Otherwise, highlight features of the iPhone 12 Pro include a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (2532 x 1170), an A14 Bionic chip with next-generation Neural engine, up to 512GB of internal storage, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front, and a triple 12MP camera array (ultra-wide, wide, telephoto) on the back. The iPhone 12 Pro also includes support for 5G sub-6 GHz and mmWave connectivity.
The current iPhone 12 Pro pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 Pro compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
iPhone 8 vs 12 Pro Max
Upgrading from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 12 Pro Max means going from a small form factor phone to a large form factor phone. Of course, it would also mean a notable increase in all aspects of the phone. If you can stand the increase in size, getting the iPhone 12 Pro Max means you will be getting a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR (2778 x 1284) display, Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, up to 512GB of internal storage space, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and 5G connectivity on sub-6 GHz and mmWave networks.
Another big area of improvement would be the camera setup, both on the front and back. The iPhone 8 featured a 7MP TrueDepth camera on the front with a single 12MP camera on the back. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front with a 12MP triple camera array on the back. The back camera setup includes an ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lens.
The current iPhone 12 Pro Max pricing can be seen below, and you can learn more about how the iPhone 12 Pro Max compares to the iPhone 8 in our comparison guide.
Regardless of which iPhone model you choose for your upgrade — you can be certain that you will find the best prices right here in the Swappa marketplace. Each of the comparison sections included in this post has links to the specific models that were discussed, or you can tap the green button below to browse all of the different iPhone models that are available on Swappa.
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