iPhone 11 iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone 11 (non-pro) for the next year

[The.Glorious.Son]

I’ve done all I could to avoid starting this thread but I’m genuinely curious in others’ thoughts. I’ve been using the Pro Max and LOVE it. It’s all I’ve wanted in a phone, except, I do have pwm sensitivity to OLED. I could try to alter my use, or deal with periods of eye strain and eye aches but it does get old.

This is not about cost. I paid outright for the Pro Max without blinking. It’s not about value either. I’m just curious about the best remaining choice for the next 11 months. In my opinion:

My 8 Plus Pros: 401 ppi, 1080p, wide screen, videos natively fill the screen, jet black bezels border videos, wider keyboard, not tall and narrow, prefer 2x zoom.

11 Pros: Smart HDR camera, better low light photos, night mode, A13 processor, better speakers with spatial audio.

I don’t have a preference of Face ID vs Touch ID. Both have pros and cons. I prefer the camera on the 11 but prefer the 16:9 aspect ratio of the 8 plus with wider content that doesn’t seem narrow and stretched out. The font seems larger and bolder on the 8 Plus as well no matter how I try to tweak the 11. I take a ton of photos and highly value the camera but also look at my screen and type a lot. I’m not seeking advice per se on which to choose as I know I have to decide on my own. But if you have an opinion or perspective I’m curious to hear it. Sadly, I think my Pro Max must go back. And it sucks (first world, it’s just a phone, type of sucks). Thanks!

 

[Motionblurrr]

I own an iPhone 8 Plus 256GB and I absolutely love it. It's the most perfect version of the classic iPhone design and it has the modern specs for it to be powerful. Wireless charging, TrueTone screen, high PPI LCD, wide color gamut, big battery, nice cameras, etc. The A11 chip is no slouch at all with running iOS 13 either--other than a few iOS 13 related "glitches" everything is still super super fast and almost instant.

I suggest sticking with the 8 Plus if you have PWM. Plus, there's something about holding a big bezel classic iPhone that you don't get with the newer models (newer models are damn awesome btw).

Although, I was always under the impression that the Pro Max has the same width screen?? Maybe I missed this and have my facts wrong. But yeah, 16:9 classic rectangle is awesome. No notch, Touch ID. It's great.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Although, I was always under the impression that the Pro Max has the same width screen??

Thank you so much for your well thought-out and detailed response. You are correct. The Pro Max and 8 Plus are nearly identical in width. In my comparison I was looking at the regular 11 vs the 8 Plus (given the regular 11 would be an LCD option).

 

[austyn23]

The 11´s are faster, but if you go back to the 8+, after a couple of hours you would get used to it and is pretty good even these days.

But... the night mode is a deal breaker for me. Maybe the 2x for you because you already had it on the 8+.

If money is not an issue I think you have to decide between night mode (11) or 2x photo (8+) and wait for next year to see how is OLED is on the new iP.

Also if it's a transition year, the 8+ is really good at price these days, so is a softer transition for next year in money terms.

And for the video aspect ratio, I find more and more videos for the new aspect and not for 16:9. Step by step seems that everything is going to the new phones design.

But get rid of the Pro Max if it hurts your eyes or head, is not worth it. You can adjust to a new size, or to face id, or to the gestures vs the button; but you can´t get used to something that hurts your eyes or gives headaches, I mean, you can, but is pretty dumb... IMO of course.

 

[aakshey]

Have you tried 11PM with Truetone on?

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Have you tried 11PM with Truetone on?

Hi. Yeah I’ve tried truetone on, reducing white point despite that ‘fix’ being debunked, and seeing if dark mode would help. Odd thing is, the feelings are not constant nor consistent. There are times of prolonged use at less than 50% brightness where I’m fine. Other times I’m not. I would think pwm sensitivity would hit consistently but I can’t pinpoint it. Frustrating.

 

[DevinNj]

The 11´s are faster, but if you go back to the 8+, after a couple of hours you would get used to it and is pretty good even these days.

But... the night mode is a deal breaker for me. Maybe the 2x for you because you already had it on the 8+.

If money is not an issue I think you have to decide between night mode (11) or 2x photo (8+) and wait for next year to see how is OLED is on the new iP.

Also if it's a transition year, the 8+ is really good at price these days, so is a softer transition for next year in money terms.

And for the video aspect ratio, I find more and more videos for the new aspect and not for 16:9. Step by step seems that everything is going to the new phones design.

But get rid of the Pro Max if it hurts your eyes or head, is not worth it. You can adjust to a new size, or to face id, or to the gestures vs the button; but you can´t get used to something that hurts your eyes or gives headaches, I mean, you can, but is pretty dumb... IMO of course.

^Pretty much this. If the telephoto lens is important to you (it is for me) then I'd go 8+, if not I'd 100% go for the 11, it's really a great phone.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

^Pretty much this. If the telephoto lens is important to you (it is for me) then I'd go 8+, if not I'd 100% go for the 11, it's really a great phone.

Yeah I definitely love the zoom option. I value it more than wide angle. But at the same time, I’ve put this Pro Max camera against my 8 Plus in many situations and the low light capabilities of the 11 series, even without night mode kicking in, makes photos in certain situations possible whereas with the 8 Plus I wouldn’t have even bothered trying. The downside is viewing my photos, or anything really, on the regular 11. Not because of resolution but because of the narrow display. I’m so accustomed to the wide plus form factor that the 11 feels uncomfortably narrow (6’8” large hands doesn’t help for typing on the 11 either). There’s certainly pros and cons galore. The Pro Max is honestly perfect for me in every way except my darn eyes.

 

[DevinNj]

Yeah I definitely love the zoom option. I value it more than wide angle. But at the same time, I’ve put this Pro Max camera against my 8 Plus in many situations and the low light capabilities of the 11 series, even without night mode kicking in, makes photos in certain situations possible whereas with the 8 Plus I wouldn’t have even bothered trying. The downside is viewing my photos, or anything really, on the regular 11. Not because of resolution but because of the narrow display. I’m so accustomed to the wide plus form factor that the 11 feels uncomfortably narrow (6’8” large hands doesn’t help for typing on the 11 either). There’s certainly pros and cons galore. The Pro Max is honestly perfect for me in every way except my darn eyes.

Yeah, I agree with you on the width of the screen, I could never go back to the regular size/Pro sized phone again. The 11, like my son's Xr really does have a nice size screen size and is really a great display. Apple's LCD displays have always been top notch. It is slightly more narrow, but nothing you couldn't get used to. The only reason I'm on a Max, like I've said before is the zoom. It's definitely a must for my needs and I'm not one for those add-on lenses either. Tried them and nope, not for me. There are definitely pros/cons to both, but either one is a great phone.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Well you know my journey as we've spoken before on the forum about this subject. I decided this week again to embrace the standard 11 having returned the Pro Max because I cannot use it due to PWM. My 7 plus is on end of life and I caved to the idea of having new and "sexy" with the all screen design of the 11. Like you I originally rejected the 11 due to the narrower screen and 828p resolution. But it's jammed with newer tech than the 8 plus so has more life ahead of it. Also considered was buying a 2019/2020 ipad pro in the near future so I didn't want to be stuck with an iPhone that was using the old design language and touch ID (even though I like touch ID).

I'm trying to adjust but it's not helped by the fact the back of the phone has a very slight sharp edge on the sides of bezel where it meets the glass. It's just enough to irritate my skin slightly, I'm so unlucky with the build quality lottery! Also having a glass back phone means I've either got to get a skin or thin case to avoid micro scratches which I'm not excited about. Negatives aside it's a very fast phone, you can quickly ignore the thicker bezels and notch. Battery is a champ. Speakers are great.

Spending too much time on this forum, watching many youtube reviews and being surrounded by people at work with new iPhones has polluted my vision with the 11 series design which does make the older iphones looked dated visually. But in use I do still prefer the 7 plus screen resolution, ratio and build. For a start it doesn't have a band design so no sharp edges!

I'm trying to convince myself to stick with the 11 because it's newer tech and design so will last longer than the alternative 8 plus which in my mind wouldn't feel like enough of an upgrade over my current phone in 2019. Also the 8 plus has the glass sandwich and band design so again potential build issues and fragile glass back.

A friend got me Apple staff discount so the price was right especially if next year's phone is great enough to get me to jump onboard, so any sale of the 11 in a year will have minimal loses financially. This was also a consideration with the 8 plus because in a year it will have a very low value due to its age.

But I can't stop thinking that I've been very happy with my 7 plus for the last 3 years so an 8 plus could do the same for another 3 years. Do I really need to force the change just because the new iPhones look shinier?

The shorter version:
If I could use Apples OLED I'd have the Pro Max no question.
The 11 is runners up prize.
I probably prefer the 7 plus/8 plus design.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

The shorter version:
If I could use Apples OLED I'd have the Pro Max no question.
The 11 is runners up prize.
I probably prefer the 7 plus/8 plus design.

Brother I would have clicked a heart button if we had one because I echo every sentiment.

It’s so difficult having tasted the best. The Pro Max is everything I could want in a phone short of the discomfort. It makes anything else consolation just as you’ve eluded to before. And that’s not a slight to those who love the 11. I’m thrilled for them.

I got used to dark mode and learned to love it but wouldn’t use it on the 11 because it cannot achieve true deep blacks and it offers no battery life savings on LCD. The tall, narrow candy bar screen ratio drives me nuts. The smaller view finder makes taking photos and videos less enjoyable and showing off things on the phone to others is less enjoyable because of the narrow screen that does not have the pop of OLED, the resolution, nor brightness.

I can’t use zoom mode, something I’ve loved on my 8 Plus and Pro Max, because the apps seem crunched together. But without it, many things appear too small. I try to tweak font size, safari zoom, etc but I cannot get it to resemble my pro or Max. If I watch videos that don’t fill the screen, grey bars letterbox the video (because it cannot achieve true black, unlike the ink black bars of the Pro Max and bezels of the 8 plus (since videos natively fill the screen).

All that sounds like I hate the 11, but it has good points. The cameras, even without 2x are huge improvements. Smart HDR alone, let alone better low light and of course night mode. Portrait mode would be better with the help of the 2x lens but whatever. And the speakers with special audio are great. I’ve even come to appreciate Face ID.

I’m not sure what I’ll do. The Pro Max must go back Friday to allow for the 14 day window. I leave for Punta Cana in 2 weeks. I have three choices. Use the trusty ol 8 Plus to document the trip, give the 11 one more shot, or rent the Pro Max for the trip. It’s a tough call. I just want the phone that pwm won’t let me use with reliable comfort. Maybe since my discomfort is not 24/7 and not severe I should just live with it? Not sure. But I’m VERY curious to hear more of your journey. Feel free to follow up here or DM me on here. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts!

 

[ActionFigures]

The 8 Plus is the perfect iPhone. Glass back for wireless charging, A11, 3GB Ram, 1080p screen, huge beautiful screen, 256gb size , and Qualcomm modems makes it a goddamn steal. Best phone I've ever had. If they make an updated one I'll snag it in an instant, I don't really like the notch.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Brother I would have clicked a heart button if we had one because I echo every sentiment.

It’s so difficult having tasted the best. The Pro Max is everything I could want in a phone short of the discomfort. It makes anything else consolation just as you’ve eluded to before. And that’s not a slight to those who love the 11. I’m thrilled for them.

I got used to dark mode and learned to love it but wouldn’t use it on the 11 because it cannot achieve true deep blacks and it offers no battery life savings on LCD. The tall, narrow candy bar screen ratio drives me nuts. The smaller view finder makes taking photos and videos less enjoyable and showing off things on the phone to others is less enjoyable because of the narrow screen that does not have the pop of OLED, the resolution, nor brightness.

I can’t use zoom mode, something I’ve loved on my 8 Plus and Pro Max, because the apps seem crunched together. But without it, many things appear too small. I try to tweak font size, safari zoom, etc but I cannot get it to resemble my pro or Max. If I watch videos that don’t fill the screen, grey bars letterbox the video (because it cannot achieve true black, unlike the ink black bars of the Pro Max and bezels of the 8 plus (since videos natively fill the screen).

All that sounds like I hate the 11, but it has good points. The cameras, even without 2x are huge improvements. Smart HDR alone, let alone better low light and of course night mode. Portrait mode would be better with the help of the 2x lens but whatever. And the speakers with special audio are great. I’ve even come to appreciate Face ID.

I’m not sure what I’ll do. The Pro Max must go back Friday to allow for the 14 day window. I leave for Punta Cana in 2 weeks. I have three choices. Use the trusty ol 8 Plus to document the trip, give the 11 one more shot, or rent the Pro Max for the trip. It’s a tough call. I just want the phone that pwm won’t let me use with reliable comfort. Maybe since my discomfort is not 24/7 and not severe I should just live with it? Not sure. But I’m VERY curious to hear more of your journey. Feel free to follow up here or DM me on here. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts!

Personally I'd give up on the Pro Max no matter how infrequent your discomfort. It's not worth it, who knows if it's stressing your eyes in an unseen way which could lead to future issues?

Yep, it's hard to not have Apples best but I guess we both need to compromise? The 11 or 8 plus could easily see you through the next year when we'll be having this talk again with iphone 2020. At least with the 11 you get the better camera for your trip. But if you always look at it with annoyance it's probably not worth it. That's my 5 cents.
[automerge]1571814814[/automerge]

The 8 Plus is the perfect iPhone. Glass back for wireless charging, A11, 3GB Ram, 1080p screen, huge beautiful screen, 256gb size , and Qualcomm modems makes it a goddamn steal. Best phone I've ever had. If they make an updated one I'll snag it in an instant, I don't really like the notch.

It ticks alot of boxes. Sadly the XS Max and Pro Max are its natural successor so we won't see a return.

 

[icloudUser]

From someone who owns both (8 plus and 11) and in the past having gone from XS to XR for the same OLED PWM reason, i will say this both 8 Plus and 11 are fantastic phones. I do not notice any diff in smoothness and speed on either. What I notice:
1. Screen quality difference between the two. 8 plus is obviously better. You will the difference when browsing through the pics in the photos. If you bring the OLEDs in they are the best
2. 8 plus is better for consuming media compared to the two face id phones(no notch)
3. 8 plus offers a better form factor when you are communicating emails, facetime etc. Similar to the max size phones BUT no notch

Go for the 11 and look for an used 8 plus. I would call this a perfect combination if the 8 plus still had the head phone jack.

 

[bobsamm]

The small 8 has the better reception not the 8 plus.

 

[austyn23]

I would pick the 11 for your trip. I know the 2x zoom is good, but you can also get closer to the object you are pointing; at least most of the times.

But you can't simulate or get close to the night mode with the 8+; at least with the base camera software; don´t know with third part apps.

 

[GeorgieTech]

I was in a similar dilemma, I opted for Iphone 8 and wasn't disappointed. Not only did I save a lot of bucks, I knew I wasn't making too much sacrifice in the performance and that holds true.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

From someone who owns both (8 plus and 11) and in the past having gone from XS to XR for the same OLED PWM reason, i will say this both 8 Plus and 11 are fantastic phones. I do not notice any diff in smoothness and speed on either. What I notice:
1. Screen quality difference between the two. 8 plus is obviously better. You will the difference when browsing through the pics in the photos. If you bring the OLEDs in they are the best
2. 8 plus is better for consuming media compared to the two face id phones(no notch)
3. 8 plus offers a better form factor when you are communicating emails, facetime etc. Similar to the max size phones BUT no notch

Go for the 11 and look for an used 8 plus. I would call this a perfect combination if the 8 plus still had the head phone jack.
[/QUOTE

I agree with everything you say. I do currently have my 8 Plus that I bought on launch day. I was an annual launch day adopter until the X series began. I guess the 8 Plus was technically a launch day phone, but the X was considered better. I was never tempted by the X due to the overall size and aspect ratio. The XS Max did solve the issues I had with the X, but PWM hit me pretty hard on that one. So, I used my 8 Plus another year without any remorse. But this year, different story. The pwm is jussssssst enough to bother me at times. The Pro Max is my ideal phone. LOVE it. But if I cannot use it, that leaves my 8 Plus and the 11. There are two things I value most in a phone. Screen & Camera. With the 8 Plus I get the better screen at the aspect ratio I love. But with the 11, I get a camera that makes otherwise non-photo-ops a relevant achievement. I won't carry two phones (just a personal thing), so I have to weigh which means more to me. A better camera, or better screen to view. This sucks.

I would pick the 11 for your trip. I know the 2x zoom is good, but you can also get closer to the object you are pointing; at least most of the times.

But you can't simulate or get close to the night mode with the 8+; at least with the base camera software; don´t know with third part apps.

Very valid points! I had considered being that guy, and 'renting' the 11 for the trip. I think Punta Cana actually would offer more wide angle opportunities than zoom. My issue comes further into play after the trip. I ache for the ability to feel peace and satisfaction in the device I am using. I cannot seem to get that from either choice. (And to anyone reading I fully acknowledge this is as first-world problem as it gets. I know in the grand scheme of life, the phone one uses is a blip on the radar)

 

[Motionblurrr]

I mean.. if it’s any consolation, I took my 8 Plus down to a trip to Central America in September and took fantastic looking photos. I was not disappointed at all. I even recorded in 4K 60 💪

 

[jimmy_uk]

From someone who owns both (8 plus and 11) and in the past having gone from XS to XR for the same OLED PWM reason, i will say this both 8 Plus and 11 are fantastic phones. I do not notice any diff in smoothness and speed on either. What I notice:
1. Screen quality difference between the two. 8 plus is obviously better. You will the difference when browsing through the pics in the photos. If you bring the OLEDs in they are the best
2. 8 plus is better for consuming media compared to the two face id phones(no notch)
3. 8 plus offers a better form factor when you are communicating emails, facetime etc. Similar to the max size phones BUT no notch

Go for the 11 and look for an used 8 plus. I would call this a perfect combination if the 8 plus still had the head phone jack.

But.....if you had to pick one? Guessing 8 plus has it?

 

[ilikewhey]

if you have no problem with 8 plus physical size i would go with that, 3d touch and the best antenna design apple has so far, unless you convert video all day you wont notice the cpu difference.

 

[KOTN91]

This is not about cost

Just admit it, there probably is a strong element of that at least

I paid outright for the Pro Max without blinking

Get you! Not sure if people are supposed to be impressed by that or not. People on here are afraid to admit that price is a factor, as if everyone is a millionaire and yet strangely scared about what other people on an Internet forum think about their financial circumstances


Just get the XR or 11 and be happy with it, or if money is really tight a 6SS or 6SSS. Even a 6S still does the job. Not the surfboard plus iPhones though, they are seriously naff

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

Just admit it, there probably is a strong element of that at least



Get you! Not sure if people are supposed to be impressed by that or not. People on here are afraid to admit that price is a factor, as if everyone is a millionaire and yet strangely scared about what other people on an Internet forum think about their financial circumstances


Just get the XR or 11 and be happy with it, or if money is really tight a 6SS or 6SSS. Even a 6S still does the job. Not the surfboard plus iPhones though, they are seriously naff

Are you new here? Or just ignorant? If a person doesn’t spell out clearly their situation and ability the default assumption is that a person will only choose a lesser cost phone because they don’t have the financial means. Therefore posts like mine have to qualify the situation or it’ll get skewed. Well, with the exception of someone like you thumbing through, jumping to conclusions, and misinterpreting my intent. Doesn’t happen often, thankfully, but as they say there’s always one...

 

[jimmy_uk]

Just admit it, there probably is a strong element of that at least



Get you! Not sure if people are supposed to be impressed by that or not. People on here are afraid to admit that price is a factor, as if everyone is a millionaire and yet strangely scared about what other people on an Internet forum think about their financial circumstances


Just get the XR or 11 and be happy with it, or if money is really tight a 6SS or 6SSS. Even a 6S still does the job. Not the surfboard plus iPhones though, they are seriously naff

Did you read any of the first post? Op already has an 8 plus so clearly doesn’t think it’s “naff” (and it isn’t).

Also to make the statement “This is not about cost” would mean it’s not about cost.

Had you taken in the first post you would realise this is about not being able to comfortably use the Pro Max due to the PWM of the OLED screen.

 

[KOTN91]

Are you new here? Or just ignorant? If a person doesn’t spell out clearly their situation and ability the default assumption is that a person will only choose a lesser cost phone because they don’t have the financial means. Therefore posts like mine have to qualify the situation or it’ll get skewed. Well, with the exception of someone like you thumbing through, jumping to conclusions, and misinterpreting my intent. Doesn’t happen often, thankfully, but as they say there’s always one...

Sounds like I’ve touched a nerve