Apple's newest smartphones edge out iPhone 7 models in CR's testing. The iPhone X promises bigger improvements.
For a newer phone, the 8 and 8 Plus offer many updated features, and the iPhone X launches an all-new design with a top-to-bottom Super Retina screen that measures 5.8 inches. Apple phones have much to offer, and even older models are a step ahead of many other types of mobile phones.
Apple's newest smartphones, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, look and act a lot like last year's models. But upgrades to the cameras, longer battery life, and wireless charging do give the new models a performance edge over the iPhone 7, placing them among the highest rated phones in Consumer Reports testing.
The cameras got the biggest improvements, with testers reporting that the phones’ rear cameras were among the best they’d ever evaluated. Strong points include juiced-up 4K video recording capabilities and a best-in-the-industry slow-motion feature.
But that may not be enough to convince iPhone 7 owners to upgrade, says Richard Fisco, Consumer Reports’ head of smartphone testing. “This is basically an incremental update,” he says, adding that anyone shopping for a truly revamped iPhone should wait a few weeks for the higher-end iPhone X to debut—assuming you can stomach the $1,000 price tag.
Not that these phones are cheap: The iPhone 8 starts at $699, while the iPhone 8 Plus costs $799 and up.
Here’s a deeper look at our test results:
High-Scoring Cameras
According to our testers, the cameras on both phones rate well for color quality, exposure level, sharpness, and lack of image noise.
This is where the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus really shine. Testers say the cameras on these models are among the best you can find in a smartphone right now.
These are the first smartphones to shoot 4K ultra HD video at a rapid 60 frames per second, up from 30 fps in the iPhone 7. This enables the new models to do a better job of capturing fast-moving action such as sports. The difference was easily noticeable.
Apple also doubled the maximum frame rate used for shooting in slow motion. The new rate of 240 fps—which is available in regular 1080 HD, not 4K—lets you really slow the action, allowing for elegant videos.
Still photography is improved, too. Both phones have a 12-megapixel rear camera, but in the 8 Plus you get a model with dual lenses: one wide-angle and one zoom. The 2x optical zoom of the second lens makes it easier to take pictures of something far away while keeping the image sharp. Single-lens cameras use software to enlarge the picture, but that reduces image quality.
The second lens also allows for a feature Apple calls Portrait Mode, allowing a photographer to introduce effects such as focus in on a subject while blurring the background—a common photography effect known as bokeh.
To evaluate the cameras, the testers took pictures outdoors on a sunny day and in a lab with bright and low light, then evaluated the resulting images on a high-quality 24-inch screen and on color laser printouts. They found the images from both of the phones to be “among the best” for color quality, exposure level, sharpness, and low noise.
Testers also evaluated the front-facing, or selfie, cameras on the phones and found their quality to be very good.
Even with the new glass back, the phones emerged from our tumble test with only a few scrapes.
Like other phones that offer wireless charging, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have glass backs, which could make them more vulnerable to getting damaged in a fall.
To evaluate that, smartphones tested by Consumer Reports take a ride in a specialized tumbler that drops them about 2.5 feet onto a hard surface—and then, for good measure, repeats that 99 more times. Both phones survived with just minor scrapes. (They didn't fare quite as well in a test we conducted in September, which included a drop onto concrete from a height of 5 feet.)
Both phones also survived a dunk test to evaluate Apple's claims for water resistance. The test involves lowering the phones to a depth of about 3 feet, where they sit for 30 minutes. They're examined right afterward to see if they're still working, as well as one, two, and three days later.
Should you go swimming with your iPhone 8? No. But there's no need to panic if you drop it in the kitchen sink.
In our tests, the iPhone 8 delivered 19 hours' worth of battery life. The 8 Plus? A full 21 hours.
Battery life tops the list of priorities for many smartphone users, and our testing shows that while the new iPhones don't lead the field, they do run slightly longer on a charge than the iPhone 7 models.
To find out exactly how long a battery can go, a robotic arm is programmed to repeatedly put a phone through a range of tasks designed to simulate a consumer's average day.
In our testing, the iPhone 8’s battery lasted 19 hours, while the 8 Plus made it to 21 hours—both decent stretches, in line with other highly rated phones. In comparison, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus clocked in at 18.5 and 20.5 hours, respectively.
The 8 and 8 Plus also mark the introduction of wireless charging to the iPhone. This is a convenient feature—you just drop the phone on a charging pad rather than plugging it in. It will work with Qi-compatible chargers already on the market, so you don’t have to wait to buy an Apple-branded model, which the company is promising for next year. Note that wireless charging is typically slower than charging with a conventional plug.
Easy-to-Read Display
Many high-end phones are built with OLED displays, which can save energy while boosting contrast. Like a number of Android phones, Apple's upcoming iPhone X will come with an OLED display, but the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus use a more conventional LCD screen.
Would a typical consumer like an OLED better? Maybe—it really depends on the entire package of hardware and software in a particular model.
Does the use of LCDs mean the iPhone 8 models are sub-par? Not at all: Testers gave these 'smooth, crisp displays' excellent marks. The screens were bright, effective at minimizing reflective glare, and easy to read both inside and out.
One twist is that Apple added True Tone to the new phones, a technology that's already used on iPads. It automatically adjusts the display's white balance depending on the lighting conditions around you, with the goal of making colors look consistent. (Consumer Reports has found it useful on the iPad, depending on what you're doing.)
Game-Worthy Performance
Apple says the new Bionic A11 processor included in both the 8 and 8 Plus is the fastest ever on a smartphone. Our benchmark tests, which are designed to stress and evaluate the phone's processor, memory, and graphics capability proved that to be true.
That’s good news for people who like to play processor-intensive games, or who want to take advantage of the growing number of augmented reality apps being produced. And the same processor is being used in the iPhone X.
But, if you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, don't worry that you're missing out: Their A10 processor is no slouch either and should be able to handle many of the same tasks.
Smartphones Rated
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Editors' note (Sept. 12, 2018): The iPhone 8 Plus reviewed here is now available at a reduced price of $699. See all of the new iPhones and new products that Apple just announced.
Update, 2018:
The iPhone 8 Plus, launched in September 2017, is the second-best phone you can get from Apple. It offers most of the features in the top-of-the-line iPhone X, but in familiar hardware. Two months after the 8 Plus' release, the X would mark the first major design upgrade from Apple in years, but change -- and a high price tag -- was hard to swallow for some.
Since its release, the 8 Plus has held onto its spot as the iPhone with the most features for your money. But with rumors swirling around three potential new iPhones, including an affordable option, it will likely be dethroned this September.
Check out CNET's best smartphones for more information on competitive products.
The original review of the iPhone 8 Plus -- published on December 22, 2017 and which mostly remains unchanged -- follows.
The 8 Plus isn't 'the best iPhone you can buy,' as the larger Plus phones have been since Apple started its 'regular and extra large' iPhone releases in 2014. And it's no longer the only big-screen iPhone. The iPhone X is a step above the 8 Plus in a lot of ways, with some extra camera features, a great size-to-body ratio, a vivid OLED display, and a surprisingly functional Face ID camera that replaces the home button. Of course, it's also more expensive.
But, don't sleep on the 8 Plus. The 8 Plus feels a lot bigger than the compact X, and its design has barely changed from previous iPhone Plus models. But its powerful performance, still-excellent cameras, and roomy, standard-shaped screen -- which maximizes all existing iPhone apps and includes a few iPad-like features not available on the X -- makes it the old-school, 'get it done' veteran of Apple's iPhone lineup.
This big, capable phone includes all of the features of the smaller iPhone 8 ($650 at Best Buy) -- including wireless charging, the True Tone screen and that same superfast A11 Bionic processor you'll find in the X. But, like last year's iPhone 7 Plus ($322 at Walmart), you get a larger 5.5-inch screen, water resistance and -- most critically -- an excellent dual rear camera with 2x optical zoom, upgraded for 2017 with an all-new image sensor. That camera, already great a year ago, has gotten even more refined and fantastic-looking. In the weeks since the 8 Plus release, it's impressed both CNET Senior Photographer James Martin and me. And while the camera on the iPhone X is a bit better, the difference is more one of inches than miles, as Lexy Savvides and Vanessa Hand Orellana found in their deep-dive comparison.
While the upgrades for existing 7 Plus owners are minimal (beyond wireless charging), the 8 Plus is worth the premium over the 8 to get the dual cameras, larger display, and a battery life that still beats out the iPhone X. It feels like a large workhorse next to the iPhone X, a traditional phone... but a powerful one. And, perhaps, one that some will prefer over the X.
Now that I've lived with both phones for weeks, I prefer the more hand-friendly iPhone X. But I think the 8 Plus is still a fantastic package, and a great chance to get onboard with Apple's newest processors without making the full move (financially and ergonomically) to Apple's new iPhone designs.
Editors' note, Dec. 22: This review has been updated to add a battery rating, and a discussion of how battery life compares across 2017 iPhones. A November 16 update added extensive comparisons of the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X, as well as photo comparisons to the Pixel 2.
Design: Once again (mostly) the same
To reiterate: The iPhone 8 Plus has all of the same basic features as the new iPhone 8, except for its larger size, slightly better battery life (in our everyday real-life use) and better cameras. If you want a deeper dive into those main new details of the 2017 iPhones, check out our iPhone 8 review.
As far as the Plus design goes, it's deja vu all over again. The iPhone 8 Plus looks identical to the 7 Plus, but it does feel different, thanks to a move to a glossy glass back. Apple's construction process this time uses stronger aluminum body accents, steel reinforcement inside and metal highlights around the camera lens. There are only three colors this time: white with silver highlights, glossy black and space gray, and a blush pink-like gold that feels rose-goldish.
Camera: Stellar shots, even better video
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ($469 at Amazon) is a great camera. The new Pixel 2 is a great camera. Apple used to have an untouchable lead in camera quality, but now many phones take excellent photos. And that's why Apple has once again raised the bar on its camera.
The 8 Plus includes a new sensor and image signal processor to go with its new A11 Bionic chip, promising richer colors, better low-light shots and faster autofocus. My photos generally turned out great. Low-light gains aren't as dramatic as I expected compared to the already excellent iPhone 7 Plus, but the photos I've been taking have generally looked phenomenal.
Portrait Mode, which debuted last year, now supports flash photography and HDR (on the 7 Plus, too, with iOS 11). The 8 Plus and the X add a new photo technique called Portrait Lighting, a beta feature that adds simulated 3D lighting to faces and even strips out backgrounds to create a studio-shot effect. My mileage varied: Sometimes the effect was stunning, but other times it looked very fake and weirdly clipped. I wouldn't upgrade my phone for it, but it can be fun to toy with. It will undoubtedly get better.
At sunset around my home, comparison shots between the 7 Plus and 8 Plus weren't that easy to tell apart until it was nearly dark. The new slow-syncing flash that promises richer flash photos didn't have a huge impact for me so far, but I need to keep trying it out. But see for yourself: the camera takes damn good photos, and colors do seem enhanced. That can also mean more details. HDR was improved when shooting sun-drenched clouds.
As I mentioned, James Martin used the Plus, too, and as a professional photographer is maybe even more impressed than I am. Instead of new lenses or a really different hardware camera, the software and processing inside are making the photos better. He was impressed by the low noise in low-light photos, the color rendering and the texture representation.
As opposed to traditional camera companies -- the Nikons, Canons and Fujis of the world -- he sees Apple's advances in applying the iPhone's powerful CPU to the photo process to be the most stunning concepts at play. 'Apple is doing things in computational photography that the traditional companies have neglected,' he says.