iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (REVIEW)

Apple has recently introduced the new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. How do the models compare, what are they capable of, and what do they bring to the table in terms of hardware and software? We looked at the new Apple releases and put them through some arduous tests. Find out in our review how the phones fared.

Appearance and Design of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

At first, it may seem that much did not change for the new iPhone 8. Quite the opposite is true though. Just recall the fans' first reaction to the rear of the iPhone 6, specifically the antenna dividers which disrupted the whole design. Now, Apple has returned to the glass we're familiar with from the successful fourth generation iphones. This look suits the new models and provides them with a cleaner design. On the other hand, the back is now much more susceptible to breakage. We did not have the chance to test this, but we were unable to leave any scratches or marks on the glass in the few days of testing. We also have to compliment the above-standard oleophobic layer, which ensures that the phone remains streak-free even after browsing the internet with a hamburger in your hand.

There are no big changes on the front of the phone (unlike that of the iPhone X) which remains the same as that of the iPhone 7. The one negative is that there is a worse screen-to-body ratio; enlarging the screen would benefit both versions of the iPhone 8. The addition of a notification diode would also not be amiss. A great place for it would be around the home button which has haptic feedback. This works very well and after a few hours of getting used to it you will actually feel like you're pressing a hardware button. Users of iPhones 7, on which the haptic feedback has already appeared, are sure to agree.

And what about the new colours? Since the back is glass, the colours are much more vibrant. New is the space grey version of the Apple iPhone 8 Plus; the back is dark grey, not black as it may seem. We have to admit that we would have preferred black, but this colour is nice as well. Women, however, might prefer the phone in gold with a pink shimmer he front is then white. These are the colours we received the iphone 8 in.

The placement of the buttons and the slider for silent mode is identical to that of the previous generation. The power button is a bit higher on the right side. Due to the 4.7" screen of the iphone 8 it is still easy to reach. It's a different matter for the bigger brother, the iPhone 8 Plus (5.5"), where it is too high to be naturally comfortable. People with smaller hands will surely have to hold the phone with both hands when turning it on or off.

An important factor of the build is also the water resistance that first appeared with the previous generation iPhones, also featured in the new Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. This is an IP67 rating, which means that the phones should be able to withstand depths of up to half a meter for 30 minutes. The water resistance has a catch though. The manufacturer cautions that liquid damage is not covered by the warranty.

Overall, the look of the new iPhones 8 is great. Although not much has change at first glance, the phones feel more cohesive and mature. The bigger iPhone 8 Plus is a bit too big to hold in one hand, but otherwise the construction is top-notch, as is usually the case with Apple's phones.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Screens are Perfect

The screen sizes of the Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus remain identical with the past generation of iphones. The smaller of the two has, by current standards, a very compact 4.7" screen. The iPhone 8 Plus has a larger 5.5" screen. The technology used is called Retina HD by the manufacturer and again it is a class-leading panel with great viewing angles and maximum and minimum brightness levels. On the smaller of the two phones, you'll find a resolution of 1334×750, which is 326ppi. This resolution is sufficient for this screen size, which is also aided by the high quality of the panel.

The larger iPhone 8 Plus has a 1920×1080 Full HD resolution at 401ppi. Both phones feature new True Tone display technology that adjusts the white balance according to the surrounding environment. You don't need to create any custom settings, just activate this feature, and it automatically adjusts whites during the day to save your eyes. We saw this technology in the Apple iPad Pro 9.7" for the first time; it worked then and continues to work very smoothly. 3D Touch is also present, so the display reacts to varying levels of pressure. For example, when you apply extra pressure to the screen, the context menu of applications appears.

The New iPhone 8 Is As Powerful As Ever

As far as performance is concerned, iPhones cannot be expected to lag behind. In a purely parametric comparison with competitors, these smartphones are never at the top, but in practice they are always ahead. Not only are they positioned at the top of many benchmark tests, but they also outperform their competitors in everyday use

Such is the case again. Because of its new Apple A11 Bionic hexa-core processor, Apple has once again increased its performance. The two advantages of this processor should be about a quarter faster and the remaining four energy-efficient ones up to 70% faster than the previous Apple A10 processors. In reality, you cannot tell the difference. The only way would be to use a stopwatch, put the phones next to each other, and carefully measure the reaction times for games and multitasking that show only hundredths of a second difference. The operating memory is the same as for iPhones 7: 2GB for the smaller model, 3GB for the Plus.

In terms of storage, Apple offers 2 variants: a basic 64GB version and then the highest with 256GB of memory. We always test the 64GB version. The operating system consumes some space, so expect about 54GB total. Keep in mind that a memory card can not be inserted into the iPhone, so choose carefully.

Apple iPhone 8 AnTuTu benchmark test

• Total score: 207,952
• 3D: 58,852
• UX: 69,962
• CPU: 63,976
• RAM: 15,162

Apple iPhone 8 Plus AnTuTu benchmark test

• Total score: 212,076
• 3D: 75,915
• UX: 69,9490
• CPU: 52,165
• RAM: 14,506

Class-leading Cameras

Some say iPhones take bad photos, others claim them to have the best camera phones. We are not Google's opponents nor Apple's uncritical supporters, but the eighth generation of iPhones confirms the latter. Photos taken with the Apple iPhone 8 (Plus) cameras look great and you won't even notice the absence of a Pro mode. The cameras take high-quality images right off the bat. Above all, the larger iPhone 8 Plus with its 12Mpx camera has performed above average. Its main wide-angle f/1.8 aperture and f/2.8 telephoto lens are not bad at all. The iPhone 8 Plus can capture top-notch pictures even in the dark.

You can play much more with depth of field on the Plus because of its duo of cameras. In addition to the 10x digital zoom, the dual camera also provides a double optical zoom.

Its smaller sibling, the Apple iPhone 8, offers only one 12Mpx sensor. Its aperture is identical (f/1.8), but it does not have an optical zoom feature - only a 5x digital zoom. The difference can be seem when directly comparing photos, but it is a minor one. It rakes a bit longer to focus and the details are no longer top-notch. Still, it is one of the TOP cameras in mobile phones. This is due partly to its optical image stabilization, which is available in both iPhone 8 models.

However, we did find one flaw in its beauty. Both models have issues correctly evaluating surroundings in poor lighting conditions and the images ended up being overexposed because of the flash. Turning off the auto flash mode resolved this.

There are many shooting modes, including panorama, portrait, and newly QR code scan mode. You can film in 4K mode, even at 60fps, create slow motion videos or time lapse recordings. We discovered one more small deficiency in filming videos, which is the impossibiliy of setting up the resolution and fps directly in the camera application. It's only possible through going to settings and then the camera.

In addition to the rear camera, both iPhones 8 have a front camera with a resolution of 7Mpx and an f/2.2 aperture.

Sample Photos and Videos Taken on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Photos and videos from Apple iPhone 8

Photos and videos from Apple iPhone 8 Plus

Apple iPhone 8 Battery: Fast Charging and Wireless Charging are Finally Featured

The newest addition to the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus is fast charging. According to Apple, the phones can recharge from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes. This wouldn't be a good review if we didn't try it in practice. We nearly got there in 30 minutes, but forgive the manufacturer for an extra 5 minutes. It should also be added that charging then slows down and the entire charging process lasts about an hour and a quarter. It's still a great result.

However, it is necessary to purchase a Lightning-USB-C cable to enable fast charging and, of course, a compatible Apple 29W, 61W or 81W USB-C power adapter. You can also choose third-party power adapters that support USB-PD.

And how is the battery life? The larger iPhone 8 Plus houses a 2675mAh battery. It's not much at first glance, but we got to a day and a half of quite heavy use (calls, messages, communications, listening to music, data, WiFi, camera). You can get up to two days if you really try and restrict data. On the other hand, with occasional gaming, count on less than a day, as that uses up power the most.

The smaller model has a built-in 1821mAh battery. It's not much, but due to a smaller screen, you can get up to a day with regular use. Playing mobile games is the fastest way to run the battery dry. With less than an hour of games, your phone won't make into the evening.

Both iPhones 8 newly support Qi wireless charging, so it may be the beginning of the end of cables for the iPhone. Most wireless chargers should work. Charging takes longer, but usually less than 2 hours.

What Does the new iOS 11 Operating System Bring to the Table?

The Apple iOS 11 is a new and improved system. In addition to the above-mentioned QR codes that Apple learned to read along with this system, the Siri voice-assistant is now able to translate. Siri does not know every language, so you can translate only to and from languages that she does.

Another new feature is the ability to write comfortably with one hand on Apple's keyboard. This is particularly useful with the larger iPhone 8 Plus. However, the one-handed mode is rather hidden. You have to click on the emoticon icon and then click one of the lower options to move the keyboard to the right or left.

Some apps have also been updated; for example, Music, Podcast, and Maps, which now allows navigation inside buildings, though not all buildings yet. Overall, there are not that many changes. There are more new features in the iOS and more detailed information about them can be found in our iOS 11 article. During testing, we did not encounter a single freeze, and we also avoided the recently-discussed problem with the malfunctioning Bluetooth and WiFi disabling switches in the lower, slightly redesigned bar.

We also have to praise the reliable backup recovery, and if you have an older iPhone updated on iOS 11, then the restoration and setup is quicker. Just put your old phone next to the new iPhone 8, enter your account password on your new phone, and within minutes you have all the data and settings on your new phone just like the original iPhone. Likewise, dragging data from your Android phone works seamlessly.

Rating and Availability of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Apple certainly did not attempt to revolutinize anything with the release of the iPhones 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, as is the case with the other novelty, the Apple iPhone X. Fast and wireless charging is a new addition, the design is cleaner and more like the iPhones as we know them. They also have more power and feature improved cameras.

Apple, then, with the new iPhone 8 models, has progressed on the path of evolution. Again, it has used cutting edge technology in the design of both the materials used and the overall usability of the phone. Nothing is perfect of course, not even the iPhone. We did not appreciate the lack of warranty against water damage or the large screen frames. We also disliked the software for evaluating lighting conditions at night.

The last question is whether it pays off for users of the older iPhone 7 (Plus) to switch to the iPhone 8 (Plus). For demanding users who want to take advantage of the latest features, yes.

And what about less demanding users? If you own an iPhone 6s or older, then it's definitely worth it. On the other hand, if you have the iPhone 7, an upgrade to the new iPhone 8 is not necessary.

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Mobile Phones

The Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are the proud successors of the seventh generation that has evolved. The manufacturer once again increased power, improved the screen with True Tone, added fast charging and Qi wireless charging, and used reinforced glass for the back panel. Overall, the iPhone 8 and the larger Plus version are a very good feat that is sure not to disappoint Apple fans.

Pros

• Great craftsmanship
• True Tone display
• Excellent cameras
• Enhanced, dual camera
• Wireless charging and fast charging
• High performance
• iOS 11

Cons

• High-placed power button
• Large display frame
• Warranty does not cover water damage
• Poor software for night photography

Date of Publication: 6. 10. 2017