Other Can't decide: 8+ or XS or XR?

[MarvinHC]

I am starting a new job where I will get a (partial) payment for a new phone (i.e. I get a fixed amount, anything above comes out of my own pocket). I currently have a 7+ which will benefit another family member (I am still perfectly happy with it).

But I can't make up my mind. An 8+ would be an 'economical' choice and has the advantage of keeping the fingerprint sensor.

XS or XR would be more 'fancy' and still give me a big screen, although physically being smaller. But the XS is so ridiculously expensive... XR on the other hand has a worse camera than the 8+...
Also not sure about the face-ID but maybe I am just old fashioned...

My worry about all the options mentioned is the glass back. I always use a case but I wonder how fragile they really are. I have dropped my 7+ numerous times. But I fancy the wireless charging (which I currently get on my 7+ only with a special case)

I know it's a personal decision but maybe some other opinons can help me...

 

[chanerz]

Xs. Don’t miss touch id at all.

 

[gurase]

The 8+ has a better camera in some ways, worse in others. The XR has the larger sensor for better low light photos. I know there are limitations by not having the 2nd camera, but at least portrait mode could improve with software updates.

 

[apolloa]

I am starting a new job where I will get a (partial) payment for a new phone (i.e. I get a fixed amount, anything above comes out of my own pocket). I currently have a 7+ which will benefit another family member (I am still perfectly happy with it).

But I can't make up my mind. An 8+ would be an 'economical' choice and has the advantage of keeping the fingerprint sensor.

XS or XR would be more 'fancy' and still give me a big screen, although physically being smaller. But the XS is so ridiculously expensive... XR on the other hand has a worse camera than the 8+...
Also not sure about the face-ID but maybe I am just old fashioned...

My worry about all the options mentioned is the glass back. I always use a case but I wonder how fragile they really are. I have dropped my 7+ numerous times. But I fancy the wireless charging (which I currently get on my 7+ only with a special case)

I know it's a personal decision but maybe some other opinons can help me...

I would wait and try out the XR before claiming it’s camera is worst then the 8 Plus... considering the ONLY thing it lacks is a zoom lens camera.. it gains all the advantages the XS camera has over the 8 Plus otherwise.

 

[MarvinHC]

I would wait and try out the XR before claiming it’s camera is worst then the 8 Plus... considering the ONLY thing it lacks is a zoom lens camera.. it gains all the advantages the XS camera has over the 8 Plus otherwise.

Fair point, but I won't get a chance to try it out first unfortunately. But the lack of zoom is somewhat of a downgrade. In my current thinking, the XR comes out top.

 

[tonybarnaby]

Xs is the newest tech and probably best
8+ is familiar and cheapest
Xr will have the best battery life and 128gb option

I have seen a lot of people go from the 7+ to 8+ and regret it due to the “been there, done that” feeling. I would say get the xs if you’re a normal user or xr if you need more battery life.

 

[Mijoro]

I made the switch from the 8+ to the Xs best decision ever.

 

[MarvinHC]

Xs is the newest tech and probably best
8+ is familiar and cheapest
Xr will have the best battery life and 128gb option

I have seen a lot of people go from the 7+ to 8+ and regret it due to the “been there, done that” feeling. I would say get the xs if you’re a normal user or xr if you need more battery life.

I wonder if the slightly worse screen on the XR vs the 7+/8+ is noticeable. The extra battery life would be nice however.
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I made the switch from the 8+ to the Xs best decision ever.

Can you tell me the main reasons why? (I would like the smaller form factor, the 7+ is somewhat awkwardly big in jeans pockets. )

 

[tonybarnaby]

I don’t know you personally, but it seems like you want the xs. Considering you get a kickback from work, go for the xs. I have an 8+ and like it, but there’s little doubt the xs and xr are probably both more appealing.

 

[Javieremdz]

Have you considered the X? It is cheaper than the XS and you will get almost all the features.

 

[Falhófnir]

Power
Winner: Xs - marginally, it has the most RAM 4gb vs 3 (if that really matters on a phone which I doubt unless you bookmark by not closing tabs in safari ) and it and the Xr have the A12.

Camera
Winner: Xs - the only one with both the larger sensor and telephoto lens, and the only one with stereo sound recording.

Screen
Winner: 8 plus (to my taste, this is the most subjective element I’d say) justification: it, like the Xr display 414 points across whereas the Xs shows 375. This means more content and the larger width makes content look bigger too. I prefer RGB LCD to pentile oled somewhat, and on largely white content LCD is more power efficient. It also has 401ppi to the Xr’s 326.

Price
Winner: 8 plus - simply the cheapest at each comparable storage tier.

Battery life
Winner: Xr - explicitly noted by Apple.

 

[Matthew.H]

Power
Winner: Xs - marginally, it has the most RAM 4gb vs 3 (if that really matters on a phone which I doubt unless you bookmark by not closing tabs in safari ) and it and the Xr have the A12.

Camera
Winner: Xs - the only one with both the larger sensor and telephoto lens, and the only one with stereo sound recording.

Screen
Winner: 8 plus (to my taste, this is the most subjective element I’d say) justification: it, like the Xr display 414 points across whereas the Xs shows 375. This means more content and the larger width makes content look bigger too. I prefer RGB LCD to pentile oled somewhat, and on largely white content LCD is more power efficient. It also has 401ppi to the Xr’s 326.

Price
Winner: 8 plus - simply the cheapest at each comparable storage tier.

Battery life
Winner: Xr - explicitly noted by Apple.

I'd agree on all those points aside from the stereo recording and larger sensor. The XR has stereo recording and the main camera is the same as the XS, the only camera feature the XR loses is the telephoto lens which isn't a huge loss when it's only 2x zoom.

 

[Mijoro]

I wonder if the slightly worse screen on the XR vs the 7+/8+ is noticeable. The extra battery life would be nice however.
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Can you tell me the main reasons why? (I would like the smaller form factor, the 7+ is somewhat awkwardly big in jeans pockets. )

I agonised over the Xs and the max but ultimately I felt that the max didn’t deliver. Now I know that maybe against the grain but it was disappointing to see that apple hadn’t utilised the extra screen real estate.

The max and the Xs are essentially the same phone in everything but size unlike the 8 and 8+ that gave the + a better camera.

I also use a gimbal and found the 8+ to be slightly too big for it the Xs fits perfectly.

Also unless you have long long fingers it’s hard to reach all areas of the screen on the max.

After having it for a couple of days I can say the Xs is a really nice snappy phone.

 

[apolloa]

Power
Winner: Xs - marginally, it has the most RAM 4gb vs 3 (if that really matters on a phone which I doubt unless you bookmark by not closing tabs in safari ) and it and the Xr have the A12.

Camera
Winner: Xs - the only one with both the larger sensor and telephoto lens, and the only one with stereo sound recording.

Screen
Winner: 8 plus (to my taste, this is the most subjective element I’d say) justification: it, like the Xr display 414 points across whereas the Xs shows 375. This means more content and the larger width makes content look bigger too. I prefer RGB LCD to pentile oled somewhat, and on largely white content LCD is more power efficient. It also has 401ppi to the Xr’s 326.

Price
Winner: 8 plus - simply the cheapest at each comparable storage tier.

Battery life
Winner: Xr - explicitly noted by Apple.

XR also has stereo sound recording.

 

[Falhófnir]

I'd agree on all those points aside from the stereo recording and larger sensor. The XR has stereo recording and the main camera is the same as the XS, the only camera feature the XR loses is the telephoto lens which isn't a huge loss when it's only 2x zoom.

XR also has stereo sound recording.

Ah ok I missed that - that’s good though I still find it hard to believe how long they stuck to mono!

 

[MarvinHC]

Have you considered the X? It is cheaper than the XS and you will get almost all the features.

Not really, the price difference to the Xs is too small.
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I agonised over the Xs and the max but ultimately I felt that the max didn’t deliver. Now I know that maybe against the grain but it was disappointing to see that apple hadn’t utilised the extra screen real estate.

The max and the Xs are essentially the same phone in everything but size unlike the 8 and 8+ that gave the + a better camera.

I also use a gimbal and found the 8+ to be slightly too big for it the Xs fits perfectly.

Also unless you have long long fingers it’s hard to reach all areas of the screen on the max.

After having it for a couple of days I can say the Xs is a really nice snappy phone.

I don't actually consider the Xs Max. I enjoy the big screen of the 8+ which is roughly the same size as the XS, no need for me to go bigger (and even more expensive!)

 

[5105973]

Not really, the price difference to the Xs is too small.
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I don't actually consider the Xs Max. I enjoy the big screen of the 8+ which is roughly the same size as the XS, no need for me to go bigger (and even more expensive!)

That’s a misconception. If you watch videos or movies and don’t want to lose content or bump into the notch, on the Max the black bars that will frame your view will give you what appears to me to be the same viewing area as on an 8 Plus phone. So it takes a Max to equal a Plus for those particular tasks. The XS gives you a narrower view.

On web pages, if I remember correctly, the X displayed slightly less content than the Plus. But someone who can currently compare needs to correct or back me up on that.

 

[Italianblend]

8+ is a really really good phone. Sturdy, heavy, dropped it dozens of times with no cracks.... Love it

 

[MarvinHC]

Ok, I got it narrowed down to either 8+ or XR... I hate to make decisions :-/

 

[martin2345uk]

Just wait for the XR to appear in the stores then have a play with both and see which one gives you the feels

 

[MarvinHC]

Just wait for the XR to appear in the stores then have a play with both and see which one gives you the feels

Yeah, probably the best. I hope it will be instore without delays. But the more I think about it the more I am tempted to stay with what I know I like: 7+ or 8+

 

[filmak]

Yeah, probably the best. I hope it will be instore without delays. But the more I think about it the more I am tempted to stay with what I know I like: 7+ or 8+

Imho the 8+ is a more matured product, refined through the years, its hardware is almost identical to last years X, so it is not, in any way, underpowered.

 

[tonybarnaby]

I have an 8+ but the xr has several perks.

A12
Better battery life
Bigger screen
New camera tech
128gb storage option

It also has some areas the 8+ is better

 

[filmak]

I have an 8+ but the xr has several perks.

A12
Better battery life
Bigger screen
New camera tech
128gb storage option

It also has some areas the 8+ is better

Yes, I agree, the XR seems promising, but so were the X ones, imho it is better to see it in action first, before buying.

 

[Phone Junky]

I have an 8+ but the xr has several perks.

A12
Better battery life
Bigger screen
New camera tech
128gb storage option

It also has some areas the 8+ is better

A12---------------------not that big of a leap
Better battery life------To be determined
Bigger screen----------not in unzoomed uncropped mode
New camera tech------No telephoto lens
128gb storage option--Great if you fall in that zone of storage needs