Why I think the 8 isn't a great choice for people who don't upgrade every year

[tatsuki]

I think that if you hold onto your iPhone for more than two years the 8 probably isn't a good upgrade to go for.

My reasons are based on the assumption that the X style is going to be Apple's focus next year and onwards.
I think that next year you won't have three different new phones, but only two, a standard size and a plus size in the style of the current X, and maybe a new version of the SE.

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I also think that the price on the 2018 "X" style phone may come down to similar prices to the current 8 and 8+. I think the X and 8 this year are a result of Apples supply issues, not been able to get Oled panels in enough numbers, and hopefully by next year they will have solved this problem (we know they are already trying to ensure they have multiple suppliers of Oled next year instead of been reliant only on Samsung)

On paper the 8 and 8+ are still great phones if you absolutely most upgrade this year and don't want to wait for the inevitable delays or the extra cost of the X, but I think 2018 will be the year Apple brings this new technology to the masses successfully, and this will be a more exciting year for a upgrade!

 

[tjhassan]

I was thinking the same, I think I’m going to cancel my 8 plus preorder today and hold on to the 7. I usually buy my phones outright. IOS11 on my 7 will keep me satisfied for another year I think. Only reason I ordered the 8+ was to try out the bigger screen.

 

[Starfyre]

You could try it out for 14 days before returning it?

 

[tjhassan]

You could try it out for 14 days before returning it?

True

 

[BenTrovato]

If you like touchID and don't want FaceID, want a seriously good processor and one of the best cameras they've made (non X). The 8 is a great choice. If all you care about is style, there are a lot of nicer phone than what Apple offers.

 

[AppleZombie]

Those of us who don't upgrade very year are usually not looking at the "style" but more that the old phone is running slower or has some type of damage that forces us to upgrade. Three years from now, guess what....the X will still be there

 

[Phonzoxd]

I think that if you hold onto your iPhone for more than two years the 8 probably isn't a good upgrade to go for.

My reasons are based on the assumption that the X style is going to be Apple's focus next year and onwards.
I think that next year you won't have three different new phones, but only two, a standard size and a plus size in the style of the current X, and maybe a new version of the SE.

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I also think that the price on the 2018 "X" style phone may come down to similar prices to the current 8 and 8+. I think the X and 8 this year are a result of Apples supply issues, not been able to get Oled panels in enough numbers, and hopefully by next year they will have solved this problem (we know they are already trying to ensure they have multiple suppliers of Oled next year instead of been reliant only on Samsung)

On paper the 8 and 8+ are still great phones if you absolutely most upgrade this year and don't want to wait for the inevitable delays or the extra cost of the X, but I think 2018 will be the year Apple brings this new technology to the masses successfully, and this will be a more exciting year for a upgrade!

It is for your very reasoning that i think the 8 and 8+ is the BEST choice for people who don't upgrade every year.

- You retain TouchID, the superior platform, if they choose to not use it anymore going forward.
- Same CPU as the X, so longevity isn't a problem
- The old style is great for landscape users like me.

My nly issue is the OLED.

 

[Adelphos33]

I think that if you hold onto your iPhone for more than two years the 8 probably isn't a good upgrade to go for.

My reasons are based on the assumption that the X style is going to be Apple's focus next year and onwards.
I think that next year you won't have three different new phones, but only two, a standard size and a plus size in the style of the current X, and maybe a new version of the SE.

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I also think that the price on the 2018 "X" style phone may come down to similar prices to the current 8 and 8+. I think the X and 8 this year are a result of Apples supply issues, not been able to get Oled panels in enough numbers, and hopefully by next year they will have solved this problem (we know they are already trying to ensure they have multiple suppliers of Oled next year instead of been reliant only on Samsung)

On paper the 8 and 8+ are still great phones if you absolutely most upgrade this year and don't want to wait for the inevitable delays or the extra cost of the X, but I think 2018 will be the year Apple brings this new technology to the masses successfully, and this will be a more exciting year for a upgrade!

If Apple sells tens of millions of iPhone X phones at $999 and above (which it seems like they will based on the response here), there is zero chance they will be selling similar technology at $699 just twelve months later.

Apple currently sells new iPhones in price ranging from $350 to $1150. I believe they intend to have a similar range going forward. They may do something like produce an edge to edge LCD screen, but the 8 will likely be on sale for a number of years.

 

[maflynn]

if iPhone X phones at $999 and above (which it seems like they will based on the response here), there is zero chance they will be selling similar technology at $699 just twelve months later.

Agreed, the 1,000 price tag is re-setting what people willing to pay. I for one cannot justify that price point. If this is the new norm, I'll be looking for cheaper alternatives.

 

[tatsuki]

Agreed, the 1,000 price tag is re-setting what people willing to pay. I for one cannot justify that price point. If this is the new norm, I'll be looking for cheaper alternatives.

Apple may well continue with high pricing if they think they can continue to achieve high volumes, they will have to ensure they keep cheaper options available though. I can't see them wanting their market share to drop even more to Android than it is and too high prices will drive more and more people away.
Apple isn't a luxury product, they need a decent user base to encourage developers to keep making apps and so on, if they sell 5 million phones at $5000 each they still make lots of money but they become a niche product and start to lose relevance amongst people who matter for future sales, which is the younger generation.

 

[Adelphos33]

Apple may well continue with high pricing if they think they can continue to achieve high volumes, they will have to ensure they keep cheaper options available though.

Which is why 7, 8, 8s or 9, etc will continue to be made or sold for years to come.

 

[bufffilm]

I think that if you hold onto your iPhone for more than two years the 8 probably isn't a good upgrade to go for.

My reasons are based on the assumption that the X style is going to be Apple's focus next year and onwards. I think that next year you won't have three different new phones, but only two, a standard size and a plus size in the style of the current X, and maybe a new version of the SE.

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I also think that the price on the 2018 "X" style phone may come down to similar prices to the current 8 and 8+. I think the X and 8 this year are a result of Apples supply issues, not been able to get Oled panels in enough numbers, and hopefully by next year they will have solved this problem (we know they are already trying to ensure they have multiple suppliers of Oled next year instead of been reliant only on Samsung)

On paper the 8 and 8+ are still great phones if you absolutely most upgrade this year and don't want to wait for the inevitable delays or the extra cost of the X, but I think 2018 will be the year Apple brings this new technology to the masses successfully, and this will be a more exciting year for a upgrade!

Hate to shock you, but next year we might see Apple continuing with the ipX (meaning a refresh) along with the standard models.

I'm sitting this year out and waiting to see what Apple decides to do in 2018. There's a lot of ways this could turn out and I rather just keep my options open at this point.

None of the iPhones revealed last week are worth buying if you have an 6s/+ or later. That's my opinion.

The ipX is expensive, doesn't have TouchID, has questionable design choices (the notch, UI/UX changes), a Gen1 FaceID which is, as yet unproven, and you might wait months to get one.

The ip8/+ really has only one new feature (wireless charging) and the regular yearly updates to the CPU and camera. Just like the ip7 last year...I don't think they are worth what Apple wants you to pay.

But you are free to do what whatever you want to do.

Had this year's ip8 had OLED...I might have bought one. I say 'might' because if Apple has said no TouchID also on the 4.7" OLED model...that would have been a tough pill to swallow. (I like TouchID that much!)

Unlike many others, I want to see some real improvements before I plunk down more $$$ to buy a new phone.

Stereo speakers and wireless charging are the only really 'new' features to hit the 4.7" iPhone since the 6s.

The ip7 has a ip67 rating, but guess what...if your iPhone doesn't work after a little water gets on it (like say you splashed it)...Apple won't warranty it.

To me, the ip67 rating might as well not be there then.

Ymmv.

 

[Dirtydutch]

Brace yourselves 2018 will be the year all the flagships across every major manufacturer will be around $1000. They've already all eased us into it this year. They will see the market is for the most part willing to pay. The consumer has done this to themselves.

 

[enduro0125]

I think that if you hold onto your iPhone for more than two years the 8 probably isn't a good upgrade to go for.

My reasons are based on the assumption that the X style is going to be Apple's focus next year and onwards.
I think that next year you won't have three different new phones, but only two, a standard size and a plus size in the style of the current X, and maybe a new version of the SE.

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I also think that the price on the 2018 "X" style phone may come down to similar prices to the current 8 and 8+. I think the X and 8 this year are a result of Apples supply issues, not been able to get Oled panels in enough numbers, and hopefully by next year they will have solved this problem (we know they are already trying to ensure they have multiple suppliers of Oled next year instead of been reliant only on Samsung)

On paper the 8 and 8+ are still great phones if you absolutely most upgrade this year and don't want to wait for the inevitable delays or the extra cost of the X, but I think 2018 will be the year Apple brings this new technology to the masses successfully, and this will be a more exciting year for a upgrade!

I think the 8 will be given to my S/O next year when I buy the new oled phone that I wanted to buy this year but decided to wait one more year.

So I think the new 8 will do me and her just fine.

 

[Phone Junky]

If Apple sells tens of millions of iPhone X phones at $999 and above (which it seems like they will based on the response here), there is zero chance they will be selling similar technology at $699 just twelve months later.

Apple currently sells new iPhones in price ranging from $350 to $1150. I believe they intend to have a similar range going forward. They may do something like produce an edge to edge LCD screen, but the 8 will likely be on sale for a number of years.

You can't predict the future sales based on posts here. The people on here are the tech geeks and the "gotta have it" crowd. Of course a majority of the people on an Apple forum are going to want the "new latest and greatest". The response from "Joe Average" to the $1000 price tag might be a different story.

 

[Falhófnir]

It shows that what we’ve all been referring to as a plateau of smartphone tech, or a maturation of the smartphone as a device, is actually becoming a bit of a crisis - we’ve reached the point where going better for the same price every year has become nigh on impossible, the components going into these phones have been creeping up and it’s no longer possible to maintain the sort of prices we’re used to at the leading edge. I expect the P3 panel in the iPhone 7/8 is probably more pricey than the ostensibly similar panel in the 6/6s, and that in turn was more expensive than the smaller panel in the 5/5s. Same thing with camera modules, and probably a less pronounced but still very real eating away of margins from increased storage tiers and ram amounts. As the back end of the market catches up and starts becoming more and more competitive with flagships it’s going to be interesting to see what happens.

 

[DNichter]

The 8 is a solid phone either way in my opinion. I'd just go with the X over it if I had the choice and you are paying monthly. The X (for me) is only $1.20 more per month than my current 7 plus so it's an easy choice.

 

[KittyKatta]

If you buy the 8 or 8+ you will be stuck with the old style iPhone for two years or more while the next few generations of iPhone all receive iOS updates and features based on the new design and new gesture based UI.

I wonder how much people will actually feel "stuck" with a proven user experience?

Consider all those people who stayed with a 5S for YEARS after they would have upgraded simply because they didn't want a big phone and the 5S was the size they preferred.

This may prove to be even more common with the iPhone X. For many people then losing the Home Button and TouchID in favor of Software Gestures an FaceID is considered a downgrade. So I think that for many (most) people then the choice to stick with an "old" design may actually be the right decision.

 

[Adelphos33]

Also remember, there are tens of millions of iPads with touch ID, etc that will be in service for four or five more years. iOS will have to accomodate "traditional" input for some time.

 

[mastershakess]

I actually think the 8 will have value in the next few years for resale. It will be the fastest iphone with the older design and touchID. If people don't like the faceID or notch screen, the 8 will become the best choice.

 

[tatsuki]

I wonder how much people will actually feel "stuck" with a proven user experience?

Consider all those people who stayed with a 5S for YEARS after they would have upgraded simply because they didn't want a big phone and the 5S was the size they preferred.

This may prove to be even more common with the iPhone X. For many people then losing the Home Button and TouchID in favor of Software Gestures an FaceID is considered a downgrade. So I think that for many (most) people then the choice to stick with an "old" design may actually be the right decision.

All good points! It's hard to say at the moment how well the 8 series is selling but going on past lead times it looks like it's not selling nearly as well as previous years iPhones, which may indicate a few different things 1) that people prefer the new design over the current one if upgrading and are waiting for the X, 2) They are happy with their current phones, 3) the pricing has pushed too far.
Obviously we won't know until Apple's earnings report how well the phones are doing, and Apple may not break down 8 an X sales separately so we may never know exact numbers for each model.

 

[TravisPNW]

Those of us who don't upgrade very year are usually not looking at the "style" but more that the old phone is running slower or has some type of damage that forces us to upgrade. Three years from now, guess what....the X will still be there

This exactly.

I'd still be using my 6s Plus if it didn't have a fading ear speaker that was forcing me to bluetooth headset my calls. It's been a great phone.

Also helping with the decision to upgrade to the 8 Plus was Verizon's $275 trade credit. I don't think I'd get much more than that selling it on the open market... so I upgraded.

After 3 years of the 6 Plus and 6s Plus I'm confident I'll be happy with the 8 Plus for 2 more years. I love everything about the Plus right now... the size is perfect. I have big hands and can use it one handed.

Will check back on the X in a couple years and see if they've ironed out the flaws. No problems waiting on a 1st gen product to get better. That's exactly what I did with the Watch... my first one is on the way... the Series 3.

 

[aakshey]

Anybody who has a 6S or SE or newer shouldn't buy a 8 or 8+. X however is up to you.

Another reason is that the 8 is the third year with just 2 GB RAM. And it is the last year for such an expensive iPhone with just 2 GB RAM.

I don't think Apple will just have two new iPhones next year. But if they do, then the cheapest iPhone would be at least USD 800ish or so.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I think each person should make their OWN choice and do what is best for them!

 

[Dirtydutch]

I don't know why people knock the classic design of the 8, that design has essentially lasted 10 years, that to me in the tech world is incredible to find. It's actually a bit sad to see the iconic classic iPhone design dissipate after this year. I mean talk about an impressive run.