Short answer: Is the iPhone 8 Plus worth it in 2022? Yes, a used iPhone 8 Plus is definitely worth buying in 2022. The iPhone 8 Plus is perfect if you are shopping on a budget and want a fast phone with a big screen and great battery life. The iPhone 8 Plus still gets iOS software updates, and it’s capable of handling everyday tasks with ease.
Apple releases a new iPhone each and every year. This has been the pattern since the original iPhone was released in 2007, but it is important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade every year. In fact, an iPhone that is a generation, or a few generations older is often a better choice for lots of people. Make sure to keep reading to find out whether a cheap iPhone 8 Plus is worth it in 2022.
Table of contents:
- When was the iPhone 8 Plus released?
- What are the specs for the iPhone 8 Plus?
- Is the iPhone 8 Plus worth it in 2022?
Read our iPhone 8 Plus Buyer’s Guide and our iPhone 8 Plus Upgrade/Comparison Guide
When was the iPhone 8 Plus released?
The iPhone 8 Plus was released in September 2017. The iPhone 8 Plus was released along with the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, and these three phones make up the 11th generation iPhone lineup. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus served as a follow-up to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and the 8 and 8 Plus remained available from Apple through April 2020 when the 2nd-generation iPhone SE was released.
What are the iPhone 8 Plus specs?
The iPhone 8 Plus features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The display size and resolution mirrored the iPhone 7 Plus from the previous year, but Apple did include one new display-related feature — True Tone. The True Tone support means the display can automatically adjust based on the ambient light. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were the first iPhone models to include the True Tone display, which has become a standard feature since.
When the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were first released, the deciding purchase factor was which size display you preferred. If you wanted a smaller phone, you went with the iPhone 8, and if you wanted a bigger phone, you went with the iPhone 8 Plus. Apple has since released plenty of iPhones with larger displays, however, the iPhone 8 Plus stands out as being the last iPhone with a big screen and a home button with Touch ID.
The table below shows how the iPhone 8 Plus stacks up against the iPhone SE (2020), as well as the iPhone Xr and iPhone 11 which were released in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
| iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 | iPhone SE 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5″ Retina HD | 6.1″ Liquid Retina HD | 6.1″ Liquid Retina HD | 4.7″ Retina HD |
| Processor | Apple A11 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Front Camera | 7MP FaceTime HD | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12MP wide and telephoto | Single 12MP wide | Dual 12MP ultra-wide and wide | Single 12MP wide |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 | IP68 | IP67 |
| Battery | 2,691 mAh | 2,942 mAh | 3,110 mAh | 1,821 mAh |
Apple released the iPhone SE 2nd Generation in April 2020 with a home button and Touch ID. The iPhone SE (2020) is newer than the iPhone 8 Plus, which means it has a more powerful processor. The iPhone SE 2020 is built on the Apple A13 Bionic chip, which is the same chip that powers the iPhone 11. The distinction with the iPhone SE (2020) is that it has a 4.7-inch display.
If you are looking for an iPhone with a larger display and a home button — a used iPhone 8 Plus is your best bet. Alternatively, if you are looking to move away from the home button and Touch ID — the iPhone Xr or the iPhone 11 are options to consider.
Is the iPhone 8 Plus worth it in 2022?
The iPhone 8 Plus is certainly worth buying in 2022. The iPhone 8 Plus is a great option to consider if you’re trying to stick within a budget, and you are looking for a phone to handle casual usage needs, such as messaging and emails, social media, sharing some pictures or short videos with friends and family, and maybe listening to podcasts or music and watching videos. And, while the iPhone 8 Plus isn’t the newest model iPhone, it remains a very capable phone, and it still receives regular iOS updates from Apple. And since iPhone 8 Plus prices have fallen quite a bit, it’s always a great time to buy.
Learn more in our iPhone 8 Plus Overview. Then, begin your search for a gently used iPhone 8 Plus by tapping the widget below.
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