Introduction
The iPhone 8 Plus launched with the iPhone 8 making a serious leap forward in both performance and design. It is more advanced than the Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the Apple iPhone 8. Boasting a large, 5.5-inch display, a powerful A11 Bionic chip, and a two-camera setup, it checks all the boxes for those needing a bigger screen and advanced photography.
Overshadowed at release by the iPhone X, the 8 Plus is still a solid option for anyone looking for high performance without taking the leap to Face ID and an edge-to-edge display.
Here’s a look at the headline features, some performance benchmarks, and what it’s generally like to use an iPhone 8 Plus to help you determine if this still holds up as a decent option in today’s market.
- Introduction
- Design and Build Quality
- Performance and Battery Life
- iPhone 8 Plus Camera System
- iPhone 8 Plus Display
- Software and Features
- iPhone 8 Plus Specifications Table
- Preinstalled Apps Table
- iPhone 8 Plus Connectivity and Ports
- Audio Quality
- Security Features
- Dust and Water Resistance
- Pricing and Availability
- Pros and Cons
- Conclusion and Recommendation for the iPhone 8 Plus
Design and Build Quality
It sports a glass back design on its back, just like its smaller sibling, the iPhone 8. For the first time in iPhone history, the glass back gives way to wireless charging. This phone retained the classic aluminum frame that makes it tough, while its IP67 water and dust resistance can handle up to brief immersion in water.
One of the highlights of the iPhone 8 Plus is its larger form factor: a 5.5-inch display size that instantly makes this an ideal phone for users who love larger screens with more media consumption and productivity in mind. The design doesn’t stray too far from the iPhone 7 Plus, but the addition of the glass back does give it a more premium feel.
In terms of colors, the iPhone 8 Plus came in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray – all sleek, reflective finishes thanks to that glass back. A little bulkier compared to some newer models, this still can be an outstanding feel in the hand; though one may say one-handed use might be a challenge because of its size.
Performance and Battery Life
The powerful A11 Bionic chip powers the iPhone 8 Plus, one of the most advanced processors to date. Its six-core CPU will perform with incredible speed; multitasking, gaming, and heavy apps run fast. Whether one edits photos or finds oneself at the heart of graphics-intensive gaming, the iPhone 8 Plus remains responsive and smooth.
The battery life is also excellent in this device. With a 2,691 mAh battery, it offers the iPhone 8 Plus up to 21 hours of talk time and 13 hours of internet use with just a single charge. Fast charging has also been added, which gives the battery up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes when using a compatible charger; however, this charger is sold separately.
Meanwhile, Qi wireless charging brings a whole new level of convenience by allowing users to simply set it on a wireless charging pad.
iPhone 8 Plus Camera System
Speaking of cameras, the dual-camera arrangement is one of the main features of the iPhone 8 Plus. The phone features two 12 MP sensors, where one is a wide-angle shooter and another is a telephoto lens for enabling optical zoom and Portrait Mode photos.
With a telephoto lens on board, it carries more depth to the images and allows for a natural-looking background blur, known as bokeh, when it comes to portrait shots.
An improved image signal processor means photos come out sharper with more realistic colors, including in those tricky low-light situations. If you are keen on your video, you can shoot 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, with beautiful clarity. Below is an analysis of the iPhone 8 Plus camera conducted by DXOMARK CAMERA.
The front camera is also quite excellent and shoots sharp selfies and video calls. Though lacking the depth-sensing capabilities of newer models, it offers excellent photo quality.
iPhone 8 Plus Display
It features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with True Tone technology. That shows well-saturated colors and white balance, depending on the surrounding conditions of the light.
The resolution of 1920 x 1080 makes for clear visuals to watch videos, browse, or game on. The screen also features support for Wide Color-P3 and 3D Touch, allowing pressure-sensitive interactions with the device.
While the LCD in the iPhone 8 Plus does not feature an OLED screen as one would find on more modern devices. it’s still very color-accurate and bright.
Software and Features
The iPhone 8 Plus was booted out of its box with iOS 11, but it has since received support for newer versions of iOS, including the latest software updates.
iOS 11 brought several features into the fray, such as improvements to Siri. New App Store design, and the introduction of ARKit for developing augmented-reality apps.
It also includes Apple Pay, Touch ID, and 3D Touch, which make the iPhone secure and intuitive to operate. While the iPhone does not have the Face ID feature in newer models, a lot of people still prefer the reliability and speed of Touch ID.
iPhone 8 Plus Specifications Table
| Specification | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch Retina HD Display | True Tone, Wide Color (P3) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels at 401 ppi | Full HD |
| Processor | A11 Bionic Chip | 64-bit architecture |
| RAM | 3 GB | LPDDR4X |
| Storage Options | 64 GB, 256 GB | Non-expandable |
| Operating System | iOS 11 (upgradable) | Supports latest iOS version |
| Main Camera | Dual 12 MP (wide + telephoto) | f/1.8 (wide), f/2.8 (telephoto) |
| Camera Features | Portrait Mode, 4K video recording | Optical zoom, Live Photos |
| Front Camera | 7 MP | f/2.2, Retina Flash |
| Battery Capacity | 2,691 mAh | Supports the latest iOS version |
| Charging | Lightning, Qi Wireless Charging | Fast charging support |
| Water Resistance | Supports the latest iOS version | Up to 1 meter for 30 minutes |
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm | Weight: 202 grams |
| Security | Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor | Embedded in the Home Button |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 | NFC with reader mode |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Lightning EarPods | No 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Available Colors | Gold, Silver, Space Gray | Glass back with aluminum frame |
Preinstalled Apps Table
The iPhone comes with a suite of preinstalled apps that are designed to enhance the user experience. Below is a table showcasing these apps, their descriptions, and categories:
| App Name | Description | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Make and receive phone calls, manage contacts | Communication |
| Messages | Send and receive text messages and multimedia messages | Communication |
| FaceTime | Make and receive video calls | Communication |
| Manage and organize email accounts | Productivity | |
| Safari | Browse the internet, access websites | Browsing |
| Photos | View, organize, and edit photos and videos | Photography |
| Camera | Capture photos and videos | Photography |
| Maps | Get directions, explore locations, view maps | Navigation |
| Weather | Check current weather conditions and forecasts | Utilities |
| Calendar | Schedule and manage events, appointments, and reminders | Productivity |
| Clock | Set alarms, and timers, and use the stopwatch | Utilities |
| Notes | Create and organize notes and checklists | Productivity |
| Reminders | Set reminders and to-do lists | Productivity |
| Stocks | Track stock market information and news | Finance |
| News | Read and follow news articles from various sources | News |
| Wallet | Store and manage digital passes, tickets, and payment cards | Finance |
| Health | Track health and fitness data | Health & Fitness |
| Settings | Configure system preferences and settings | Utilities |
| App Store | Download and manage apps from the App Store | Utilities |
| iTunes Store | Purchase and download music, movies, and TV shows | Entertainment |
| Books | Read and manage eBooks and audiobooks | Reading |
| Podcasts | Listen to and manage podcasts | Entertainment |
| TV | Watch and manage TV shows and streaming content | Entertainment |
| Home | Control and manage smart home devices | Smart Home |
| Tips | Get tips and guidance on using iPhone features | Utilities |
These preinstalled apps are designed to offer essential tools and services to users, making the iPhone 8 Plus highly functional straight out of the box.
iPhone 8 Plus Connectivity and Ports
All in all, the iPhone 8 Plus does pack a balanced set of connectivity options and ports, thereby allowing the user variety in connecting and maneuvering on the device. An overview of its connectivity and port features has been outlined below:
Wireless Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac: The iPhone 8 Plus features Wi-Fi 802.11ac, which provides faster download speeds, an extended range, and more reliable performance for browsing, streaming, and online gaming.
- Bluetooth 5.0: It comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, which provides users much longer range and much faster speeds than ever when connecting with other wireless accessories like headphones and speakers but also smartwatches.
- NFC for Apple Pay: It features integrated NFC for use with Apple Pay as the primary function, allowing users to make fast, secure payments at NFC-capable point-of-sale terminals.
Ports
- Lightening Port: An iPhone 8 Plus has one Lightning port for charging and data transfer. It supports an incredible number of different accessories, from headphones to docks to adapters.
- No 3.5mm Headphone Jack: Similar to the iPhone 7 series, there isn’t a 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 8 Plus. To hear the audio, users have to use Bluetooth headphones or, if available, Lightning-enabled earphones come in the box.
Wireless Charging
- Qi Wireless Charging: Probably the largest upgrade to be integrated into this iPhone 8 Plus, it allows you to simply rest your device on any Qi-compatible charging pad, without any cables.
Other Connectivity Features
- LTE Advanced: The iPhone 8 Plus supports LTE Advanced, which allows notably higher data speeds, particularly over 4G networks.
- GPS: The iPhone 8 Plus has built-in GPS that provides accurate location tracking with navigation and location-based services.
Audio Quality
Stereo speakers come built into the iPhone 8 Plus, one much louder and providing so much more immersion compared to the older model. These sit on top and bottom of the device, creating a far-reaching soundstage that’s apparent when watching videos or listening to music.
The audio is clear and balanced, with increased bass response, making it a fairly good choice for media consumption. Somehow, the speakers manage to stay clear without notable distortion, even with increased volume applied.
Without the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple uses Lightning EarPods inside the box, which are OK in regards to the sound quality. The device supports Bluetooth 5.0 in case you want to listen to your tunes in wireless mode – it easily pairs up with the AirPods or for that matter with any other pair of Bluetooth headphones.
Security Features
This iPhone model features Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint authentication system. Touch ID resides in the home button for quick and convenient device unlocking, authorization of app purchases, and validation of Apple Pay transactions.
While newer models have moved over to Face ID, a lot of users still like the reliability of Touch ID, especially in environments where wearing a mask might interfere with facial recognition technology.
Besides that, this model runs on iOS, which is an extremely security-sensitive platform. In addition, automatic app sandboxing, periodic issuance of security updates, and two-factor authentication for Apple ID accounts make the device one of the most secure devices in the market.
Dust and Water Resistance
The iPhone 8 Plus is rated IP67 under the IEC standard 60529 for water and dust resistance. IP67 Rating: In this rating, “IP” stands for Ingress Protection, while the two numbers 6 and 7 refer to different levels of protection against solid and liquid intrusions.
Dust Resistance: 6-the numeral 6 means that the iPhone 8 Plus is completely dust-protected. It is “dust-tight,” which means no dust can enter the device under extreme conditions.
Water Resistance: 7 – This number simply indicates that the phone will survive if dropped into up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. That means this phone is resistant to the occasional spills, splashes, and short submersion in water.
But one thing to note is that the iPhone 8 Plus is not waterproof. Anything longer than that, or submerged deeper than the rated depth and time, stands a chance of getting damaged.
Pricing and Availability
When it launched, the base price of the iPhone 8 Plus was $799 for the base 64GB model, while a higher-capacity model cost even more. The device has received price cuts since its launch, particularly with the release of successor models like the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone 11 series, and more.
The iPhone 8 Plus is still available today through Apple’s certified refurbished program or via third-party retailers, and it’s often available at a discount.
Though a couple of generations behind the latest iPhones, it remains a good bet for anyone needing a reliable large-screen iPhone without paying the premium that buys Apple’s most recent models.
Pros and Cons
Pros of iPhone 8 Plus
- Large Retina HD Display: The screen is 5.5 inches and has wonderful visuals that are complemented by True Tone technology.
- Powerful A11 Bionic Chip: Seamless, quick performance with apps, gaming, or multitasking.
- Dual-Camera System: This is very good, with options for optical zoom and Portrait Mode.
- Wireless Charging: Allows for Qi wireless charging for added convenience. Touch ID: Fast, easy, and reliable fingerprint authentication.
Cons of iPhone 8 Plus
- Older Design: Large bezels and home buttons give it a much less modern feel than newer iPhones.
- No Face ID: It doesn’t have facial recognition like newer models.
- No 3.5mm Headphone Jack: It confines headphone use to Bluetooth or Lightning-compatible ones.
- Bulky size may be too big for one-handed use.
Conclusion and Recommendation for the iPhone 8 Plus
Conclusion
The iPhone 8 Plus has been one of the best options to consider for those looking for a solid and powerful smartphone with an enormous display.
Its dual-camera system, A11 Bionic chip, and wireless charging are things that even today stand out, easily making it a great option for users wanting performance without transitioning to the newer Face ID models.
While the design will most definitely feel a bit dated with a home button and larger bezels, it does have an appeal to those who like Touch ID and more traditional aesthetics.
Whether upgrading from an older device or looking for a dependable iPhone with a large screen, I think that the iPhone 8 Plus is very much still worth considering.
Accordingly, the rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529 states that the iPhone 8 Plus is dust-tight, completely dust-protected, and can survive up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
It is not waterproof, meaning anything longer or submerged deeper than the rated depth and time can cause damage. Note that Apple does not cover liquid damage, therefore I would prefer you keep your phone away from liquids and sand regardless of its ability to withstand up to certain degrees. I have placed these buttons below to help you compare prices.
