I'm sure I'm missing something (and I apologize if you explained it above though I didn't see it), but I would have thought that text on the 8 Plus, with its higher ppi and larger fonts, would have been easier to see with your glasses on.
I'm sensitive to others who have eye issues (my first eye surgery was at 6 mos.), so I'm not questioning what you're seeing or what works for you. My vision issue is more of size and clarity of fonts, and if I had an 8 Plus, I would probably not have upgraded to the XR. Coming from a 6s and keeping a phone for several years, I wanted to go with a fuller-screen design at a price I could justify. I'm still tempted to exchange my XR for an 8 Plus but doubt over the long haul that it would make much difference in reading text, and I do like the smaller size of the XR.
I’m nearsighted so my glasses help me see things far away. When I want to see up close I have to take them off, thanks to age, even though they’re supposed to be progressive lenses that let me view things up close. It just hasn’t worked out.
And when I leave my glasses on and hold the 8 Plus at a distance it just doesn’t look clear and comfortable for me.
I’ve had to adjust the white point on my Xr, which is something I have never done on the 8 Plus. It’s hard to describe but it’s probably due to the difference in how the text looks against the backlit display. I’m not really sure myself. I’m just trying to maximize my comfort.
Also maybe I need to hold the Xr further away so my eyes don’t register the grainy quality of the letters. And once I have to hold my phone a certain point away, I need my distance glasses.
I’m sorry if that all sounds even more confusing. Trust me, it IS confusing to actually live it.
I have a very logical mind but my eyeballs are insane.
I love my 8 Plus. It’s a Product Red and so gorgeous. I didn’t really want to upgrade from most aspects of it but the camera improvements the Xr offers are significant to me. Especially stereo audio recording. The Xr also just a little bit easier to pocket.
The 8 Plus isn’t going to get ignored though. At home on WiFi it will continue to get plenty of use. I’m typing on it right now. I just set the Xr on the charger for the night. I’ve played around with a lot of different phones in the last 3 years and kept many of them. I’m finally slowing down though. I canceled a preorder on an upgrade to my Android line. As long as I make sure in the next week that the new phone is compatible with my vision and migraine disorder, I’m probably going to settle down with the Xr.
And I gotta run and deal with a raccoon outside. Sorry
Edit...was skunk and foxes


I’m starting to regret country life.