iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus review from the verge

[Adelphos33]

Fair review. I don't think there is a compelling reason to upgrade from an iPhone 7.

For 6S and below owners, it seems like a good upgrade

My main worry is that I preordered a Plus - based on this review, it doesn't seem the Plus is that compelling relative to the regular version

 

[mctrials23]

Right but then it shouldn’t be reviewed as it’s boring or no big deal because it’s not a major upgrade from the previous year. But I would even quibble with that as I think one could argue the 8 is a bigger upgrade from the 7 than the 7 was from the 6S. I’d also like to know though what would be considered a big upgrade? The smartphone form factor is basically locked. How much can it really change? Now that phones are going near bezel-free what’s left?

The iPhone X would be considered a big upgrade.

I think people are underwhelmed because apple are yet again cutting corners to deliver huge profits at the expense of their customer base. Re-using the same design for 4 models of iPhone is lazy at best. No I don't expect a change to the design every year but when other premium smartphone makers are churning out reduced bezel models for a few years before apple bother to do something I get annoyed.

Its not like its something that is technically tricky for apple to do either.

I know we all say "android may be first but apple is always best" but that is complete BS in a lot of cases. Wireless charging... How is apple doing it better? Their multi device mat that almost no one will buy or use? Fast charging? Exactly the same as samsung and every other cheap ass manufacturer but with a classic apple twist. Spend another £100 if you want to use it. The camera? iPhone 8 camera doesn't look any better than the competition and the iPhone hasn't had the best camera on a smartphone for a long time now.

People are not expecting too much when they ask why they are being told to shell out £1000 for a phone that isn't really any better than the competition. They are asking why apple is charging them £800 for a phone that doesn't measure up to the competitions devices that cost £500. Why a device is £800 when its just the same device from 3 years ago with incremental updates to the hardware that merely keep pace with their competion.

How is apple justifying the price hike year after year for a phone that is getting further behind the competitions hardware. The iPhone X is the first phone apple have released in years that is actually interesting and its priced out of the reach of most of their customers.

 

[willmtaylor]

… And folks, don’t forget, all of these minor spec bumps come at a higher price tag since Apple upped the price by $50.

 

[baldgye3000]

… And folks, don’t forget, all of these minor spec bombs come at a higher price tag since Apple upped the price by $50.

As an iPhone 6 user, I don't see the 8 as very good value, spend a bit more and get the X, which is more phone... I don't understand why the iPhone 8 is so expensive, and/or not available in 128.

 

[bambooshots]

It just boggles my mind why Apple would reduce the battery. Most people I know will happily trade a little weight and thickness for better battery life. It's almost as if they don't give a crap.

They're being Eco-conscious.

 

[santela]

… And folks, don’t forget, all of these minor spec bumps come at a higher price tag since Apple upped the price by $50.

Actually, the $50 only gives u the new chip.

To use the new charging functions it's another $100 or so.

 

[gadget123]

Clearly they just saying this since there's an X model out there.

 

[Steve121178]

It just boggles my mind why Apple would reduce the battery. Most people I know will happily trade a little weight and thickness for better battery life. It's almost as if they don't give a crap.

Apple can't have the cheaper "old" phone battering the "all new" iPhone X when it comes to battery life...

 

[bambooshots]

The 6S and the plus models are still blisteringly fast.

The 6S and the plus models are still blisteringly fast.

My 6s Plus has slowed down a bit. Maybe a backup and restore will help speed it up....but the hang ups when I open apps and messages are getting tiring now.

Was looking forward to the new phones.

 

[pmau]

https://about.bnef.com/blog/lithium-ion-battery-costs-squeezed-margins-new-business-models/

There is something interesting about this trend.
It makes it less profitable to produce batteries, meaning that you cannot earn more just by putting a few more mAh in a battery.

So ... since small devices are either upgraded more frequently or are simply discarded, it makes no sense to offer bigger batteries. Everyone is producing them as cheap as possible.

 

[rdy0329]

The 6S and the plus models are still blisteringly fast.

I agree with this. Apple is sitting on a huge user base of iPhone 6 users. That’s who they are targeting with the 8. Plus, they had the courage to put it in a new iPad early this year (A9 processor of 6s)

As for the verge’s review, i was REALLY surprised how long the video was. For all the talk about X being the looming shadow and for an iterative update, the video was almost 14 minutes long.

 

[yanki01]

As an iPhone 6 user, I don't see the 8 as very good value, spend a bit more and get the X, which is more phone... I don't understand why the iPhone 8 is so expensive, and/or not available in 128.

agree. i'm coming from my 6 and really wanted to upgrade when the 7 came out. didn't see many features that wowed me other than the phone is faster and better camera which is given on every new model. there were some others but still wanted something "new" and different. hopefully the X satisfies it.

 

[JohnnyGo]

I agree with this. Apple is sitting on a huge user base of iPhone 6 users. That’s who they are targeting with the 8. Plus, they had the courage to put it in a new iPad early this year (A9 processor of 6s)

As for the verge’s review, i was REALLY surprised how long the video was. For all the talk about X being the looming shadow and for an iterative update, the video was almost 14 minutes long.

True. iPhone 6/6 plus user base is huge.

 

[TechnicallyTee]

I don't even plan on watching any reviews on the 8 because I know everyone will say the device is a waste of time and its being overtaken by the X. I feel this is misleading information because the device is a great upgrade from the 6 series and even though its not much difference from the 7, the performance of the 7 was great and anything that's going to give it possibly even better performance, then that yields enough for me to upgrade. The subtle upgrades from last year is enough for me to grab the 8+ which I did.

 

[baldgye3000]

agree. i'm coming from my 6 and really wanted to upgrade when the 7 came out. didn't see many features that wowed me other than the phone is faster and better camera which is given on every new model. there were some others but still wanted something "new" and different. hopefully the X satisfies it.

To go off on a tangent...
Personally, I hate the look of the 6. When they showed off the 7 I was shocked that they had done almost nothing to improve it. And like you said, the new features were nothing to really be bothered about.
Also at the time, iPhone X was already being rumoured... so it seemed silly to get involved with buying another expensive iPhone when I could just wait a year.

Well it's come, and the iPhone 8 is the same (more or less) than the 7, which was basically the same as the 6 I have.


The X comes the closest to an actual new iPhone since the 5, imo

 

[Adelphos33]

I don't even plan on watching any reviews on the 8 because I know everyone will say the device is a waste of time and its being overtaken by the X. I feel this is misleading information because the device is a great upgrade from the 6 series and even though its not much difference from the 7, the performance of the 7 was great and anything that's going to give it possibly even better performance, then that yields enough for me to upgrade. The subtle upgrades from last year is enough for me to grab the 8+ which I did.

I agree with you 100% except for one issue - Apple cut the price of the iPhone 7 and increased the price of the iPhone 8 to the degree that made the choice more complicated than it needed to be.

 

[yanki01]

To go off on a tangent...
Personally, I hate the look of the 6. When they showed off the 7 I was shocked that they had done almost nothing to improve it. And like you said, the new features were nothing to really be bothered about.
Also at the time, iPhone X was already being rumoured... so it seemed silly to get involved with buying another expensive iPhone when I could just wait a year.

Well it's come, and the iPhone 8 is the same (more or less) than the 7, which was basically the same as the 6 I have.


The X comes the closest to an actual new iPhone since the 5, imo

..and i really enjoyed my iPhone 5 (still have it). though the lag on my iPhone 6 is unbearable now and i blame software. never realizing how much RAM is needed to properly perform (the safari & app refresh bug the heck out of me).

 

[TechnicallyTee]

I agree with you 100% except for one issue - Apple cut the price of the iPhone 7 and increased the price of the iPhone 8 to the degree that made the choice more complicated than it needed to be.

Yea now that's something I don't agree with and even off topic I hate how they eased the prices up on the iPad Pros by $50. I just wish folks will stop glossing over the 8/8+ like its a waste of device and indeed its not. If you think it is then that's another problem alone.

 

[Rogifan]

I don't agree with this at all.

As is mentioned in the review, the iPhone 8 will probably become the default phone for A LOT of people, and as such a review is necessary. It's also the new big iPhone, Apple (as again is mentioned in the review) also call this a flagship phone.

The 8 is going to become the default phone for 7 users? I somehow doubt that.
[doublepost=1505828122][/doublepost]

The iPhone X would be considered a big upgrade.

I think people are underwhelmed because apple are yet again cutting corners to deliver huge profits at the expense of their customer base. Re-using the same design for 4 models of iPhone is lazy at best. No I don't expect a change to the design every year but when other premium smartphone makers are churning out reduced bezel models for a few years before apple bother to do something I get annoyed.

Its not like its something that is technically tricky for apple to do either.

I know we all say "android may be first but apple is always best" but that is complete BS in a lot of cases. Wireless charging... How is apple doing it better? Their multi device mat that almost no one will buy or use? Fast charging? Exactly the same as samsung and every other cheap ass manufacturer but with a classic apple twist. Spend another £100 if you want to use it. The camera? iPhone 8 camera doesn't look any better than the competition and the iPhone hasn't had the best camera on a smartphone for a long time now.

People are not expecting too much when they ask why they are being told to shell out £1000 for a phone that isn't really any better than the competition. They are asking why apple is charging them £800 for a phone that doesn't measure up to the competitions devices that cost £500. Why a device is £800 when its just the same device from 3 years ago with incremental updates to the hardware that merely keep pace with their competion.

How is apple justifying the price hike year after year for a phone that is getting further behind the competitions hardware. The iPhone X is the first phone apple have released in years that is actually interesting and its priced out of the reach of most of their customers.

So basically a big long rant because the 8 still has bezels and Apple is more expensive than the competition (which has been the case since forever). Yawn.

 

[baldgye3000]

The 8 is going to become the default phone for 7 users? I somehow doubt that.

No?
Like the review said, this is mostly for iPhone 6 users... of which... there are a lot as seen in the post below;

True. iPhone 6/6 plus user base is huge.

I don't know how accurate they are, but nearly every iPhone user I know or have met, has a 6 of some variation...

 

[kawalerzysta]

Zero regrets on my choice. The 6 Plus to 8 Plus I feel is major upgrade for me.

"Apple claims the glass is stronger than ever, but I’ve already scratched the 8 Plus by carrying it around in my pocket."
I've read this elsewhere also "black phone backs you will see the scratches easier compared to the silver.

Grr...well ever since iPhone 4 I have protected the back of my phones (and the front as well) with one of those Zagg protectors, I'll probably do the same with this for piece of mind. Already bought my 7+ case yesterday and front screen protector for the 7+/8+.

Call it "overkill" but I've kept my phones in pretty darn good looking condition through the years, I plan to keep it that way

That makes sense that it will scratch. We are making choice, do want shatter resistant or scratch resistant. At this point we cannot have both .

 

[Dirtydutch]

No one looks at how great the 8 actually is bc they know there is a X on the way. No one can subjectively review this thing bc there is another device coming out right after, everybody is already conditioned to say this is outdated, when in reality there would be numerous ppl on here with glowing statements about it if there was no X coming out.

 

[Nik]

I know this is crazy, but the reason for upgrading from 7 to 8 seems to be able to use it without a case finally. It will not slip out of your hand all the time like lighter, aluminium backed iP7 does. For me, thats an upgrade over the 7. But only if I can sell my iP7 for a good price of course.

The iPhone 8 got an entirely new design, because I do not need a case anymore.

 

[Miketsi99]

I'm going to the 8 from the 6. Main reason is the 64gb compared to the 7's 32gb is a no brainier for me.

 

[Rogifan]

No?
Like the review said, this is mostly for iPhone 6 users... of which... there are a lot as seen in the post below;



I don't know how accurate they are, but nearly every iPhone user I know or have met, has a 6 of some variation...

Ok but people need to stop with the “this isn’t a compelling upgrade from the 7”. I doubt Apple is expecting most 7 users to upgrade to the 8.