The iPhone 8 was released in September 2017 and was a big upgrade over previous iPhones at the time. However, technology moves quickly and there are now several newer iPhone models that improve upon the iPhone 8 in various ways.
iPhone X
The iPhone X was released at the same time as the iPhone 8 in September 2017. It was designed to be a premium model above the iPhone 8 and has several advantages:
- All-screen OLED display – The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch OLED screen that fills almost the entire front of the phone, unlike the iPhone 8’s 4.7-inch LCD display with large bezels.
- Face ID – The iPhone X introduced Apple’s facial recognition system, allowing you to unlock your phone and authenticate just by looking at it. The iPhone 8 still uses Touch ID fingerprint sensing.
- No home button – With Face ID, the iPhone X removed the traditional home button, further increasing screen size.
- Dual rear cameras – The iPhone X has dual 12MP wide and telephoto cameras compared to the single 12MP camera on the iPhone 8.
- Faster processor – The iPhone X uses Apple’s A11 Bionic chip which is faster than the A11 chip in the iPhone 8.
In summary, the iPhone X represents a larger design overhaul and has more advanced features. However, it is also more expensive, starting at $999 compared to $699 for the iPhone 8.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR was released in October 2018 as a lower cost alternative to the premium iPhone XS. Here is how it compares to the iPhone 8:
- Larger LCD display – At 6.1 inches, the iPhone XR’s “Liquid Retina” LCD display is much bigger than the 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone 8.
- Faster processor – The iPhone XR uses the A12 Bionic processor which is faster and more powerful than the A11 in the iPhone 8.
- Better cameras – The iPhone XR has a single 12MP wide camera that uses the same advanced image sensor and image processing as the dual cameras on the iPhone XS.
- Face ID – Like the iPhone X, the iPhone XR uses Face ID instead of Touch ID.
- More colors – The iPhone XR is offered in 6 color options compared to the 3 colors available for the iPhone 8.
With a starting price of $749, the iPhone XR provides many new features over the iPhone 8 for just $50 more.
iPhone 11
Released in September 2019, the Apple iPhone 11 built on the foundation of the iPhone XR adding new capabilities such as:
- A13 Bionic processor – Faster CPU and GPU performance than the iPhone 8’s A11 chip.
- Dual cameras – The iPhone 11 has two 12MP cameras including a new wide and new ultra wide camera allowing for additional photography capabilities.
- Night mode – The cameras on the iPhone 11 support a dedicated night mode to take better low light photos.
- Faster Face ID – The TrueDepth camera system on the iPhone 11 supports faster Face ID unlocking.
- Improved water resistance – The iPhone 11 has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating compared to IP67 for the iPhone 8.
The iPhone 11 starts at $699, the same price as the 64GB iPhone 8 but with more features and capabilities.
iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 was launched in October 2020 and brings further enhancements:
- A14 Bionic – Faster CPU and GPU versus the iPhone 8’s A11 chip.
- OLED display – All iPhone 12 models use brighter OLED displays with HDR support.
- 5G connectivity – The iPhone 12 lineup supports faster 5G cellular networks.
- Dolby Vision video – Can record and edit Dolby Vision HDR video.
- Ceramic Shield – 4x better drop protection with new Ceramic Shield front glass.
- MagSafe – New magnetic accessories and wireless charging capabilities.
While the iPhone 12 starts at $799, it packs many cutting edge features you won’t find on the older iPhone 8.
iPhone 13
As Apple’s current flagship iPhone lineup, the iPhone 13 series offers important improvements over the 4 year old iPhone 8:
- A15 Bionic processor – Up to 50% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU versus the iPhone 8’s A11 chip.
- Improved dual cameras – New sensors and lenses for better low light photos and macro photography.
- Cinematic mode – Can record videos with shallow depth of field and automatically shift focus between subjects.
- ProMotion display – 120Hz refresh rate on iPhone 13 Pro models makes screen more responsive.
- Better battery life – iPhone 13 series gets 1.5-2.5 hours more battery life versus iPhone 8.
- Double the base storage – iPhone 13 starts at 128GB instead of 64GB for iPhone 8.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini start at $799 and $699 respectively. While not cheap, they deliver better performance and an overall more advanced experience compared to the iPhone 8.
Conclusion
The iPhone 8 was a major upgrade when it launched with features like a glass and metal design, wireless charging, and faster processor. However, Apple has steadily improved the iPhone over the past 4 years.
Newer iPhones like the iPhone XR, iPhone 12, and now the iPhone 13 outperform the iPhone 8 in almost every way from screen size and quality, cameras, speed, and features. They provide an overall more immersive and capable iPhone experience.
Of course, the iPhone 8 is still a decent smartphone in 2023 for basic usage. It can run the latest apps and software. But if you want the most cutting edge technologies and performance in an iPhone, upgrading to at least the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 is recommended.