Roger Fingas
Ahead of the devices' Sept. 22 launch, some reviews of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are already beginning to trickle in, comparing them against both earlier iPhone models and the elephant in the room, the OLED-based iPhone X shipping Nov. 3.
CNET called the iPhone 8 a "nice upgrade" from devices like the iPhone 6s, but described the phone as essentially the "iPhone 7s" it was once rumored to be, with changes including a faster A11 processor, better camera technology, wireless charging, and a glass back, as well as 64 gigabytes of base storage. The site was more enthusiastic about the iPhone 8 Plus, calling attention to camera features like its upgraded Portrait mode and cleaner low-light shots. The site commented though that people considering a Plus might want to wait for the iPhone X to see whether the latter's upgrades are worth it.
Engadget was more enthusiastic, insisting that the 8 and 8 Plus are "definitely much more" than "7s" models, packing "great cameras, improved software and absolutely first-rate performance" into what it admitted was a "less exciting" design.
"They might not have the X's style, but the 8 and 8 Plus are truly excellent phones that won't let Apple die-hards and new customers down," the site concluded.
The Verge said it couldn't think of a "single compelling reason" to upgrade from an iPhone 7, especially given software-based upgrades coming with iOS 11, cheap wireless charging cases, and third-party apps that can replicate the iPhone 8 Plus's Portrait Lighting technology. Like CNET, it suggested the phones would be worthwhile for people upgrading from pre-7 models, but that people eyeing an 8 Plus might want to consider stepping up to an X.
The iPhone 8 is "Apple's new default phone," it said, adding that while "it's pretty great that a default phone is actually this good," it's "not the future, and it's not the cutting edge."
TechCrunch noted that it was effectively doing a camera review, not just because of the typical demand for high-quality photos and video, but because of the importance of augmented reality and computer vision. The iPhone 8 is "still going to get you most of the way to 'the best' — especially when it comes to the camera," the site said, specifically urging people to get an 8 Plus for its "really incredible" Portrait Lighting feature. Only people who automatically buy the highest-end iPhone every year should wait for the iPhone X, it remarked.
AppleInsider is currently at work on its own iPhone 8 review, coming soon.
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Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
43 Comments
The iPhone 8 is the iPhone 7s, and that's not a bad thing.
At the end of the day smartphones are now mature, just like MacBooks.
Sure they'll get speed bumps and slightly better this or that, but for me at least, the general excitement of new models is gone.
The iPhone. 8 is correctly viewed as an incremental increase over the 7. Given both the hardware and iOS11 improvements, the overall upgrade is quite good. But it won't be enough for me to upgrade from my 7. The Wall Street Journal review ( http://www.wsj.com/video/iphone-8-review-only-a-bit-better-than-iphone-7/6434DBBB-7FF0-45C5-9C03-9AFC8BF831A4.html ) which may be firewalled, gave the iPhone 8 a meh....
As for the iOS11 upgrade I am going to wait a bit before upgrading, as I still have 32 bit programs that won't work.
Apple wanted the iPhone to once again be the most advance mobile device as it was during the early years. The mistake was not getting fully behind iPhone X as the iPhone 8 and naming the iPhone 8 what it really is the iPhone 7s. The "X" thing baffles me since I thought we have seen the end of that numeral for good and yet some marketing genius brings it back. Another thing Apple has not done since the 90's is to make an anniversary model, Jobs was not about looking back, their is no room for nostalgia in hi tech it's go forward or die.
Pricing the (iPhone 7s) closer to last years model would have been a better move, most people don't care that a new chip which nobody was begging for cost more to include in the new model consumers like so level of consistency when it comes to pricing. Will the new iPhone 7s sell, sure will as well as the X when it is finally released. Something I am very curious about is what will the iPhone 9 will that arrive 2 years from now? Will next year be about the 8s? Do we have the iPhone Xs next year and finally will there be an iPone 10?
"The Verge said it couldn't think of a "single compelling reason" to upgrade from an iPhone 7" - This is typically the case with single version upgrades. Moving from a 6 to a 6s gets you a slightly faster device with a couple more features, but generally nothing that justifies the price. The big benefit comes when you jump 2 or 3 versions.
That said, It seems like in many ways smart phones are becoming a pretty mature technology. For many people, the primary incentive to upgrade is becoming the fact that their old phone wore out rather than that they really want/need the new features of the latest phone. Not good news for Apple or Samsung, honestly, but I'm sure that's also why Apple has broadened their offerings. With the updated SE and keeping the 6s in the line up, Apple now has 5 different phones in its lineup ranging from $350 to $1150 - something they've never had before and great news for consumers who get more choices.
Why is the criteria if it’s a compelling upgrade from the previous year phone? How many people upgrade their phone every year? Having said that I personally think the 7 > 8 is a bigger upgrade than the 6S > 7 was.
I see some ‘designer’ put up some Medium post taking apart iOS 11. 9to5Mac has already linked to it. I’m sure the Verge and others will as it will be good for clicks.