The iPhone 8 was released in September 2017 and was an exciting upgrade for Apple fans. This latest iteration of the iPhone had some great new features that made it stand out from previous models. In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes the iPhone 8 so special.
An Improved Camera
One of the most notable features of the iPhone 8 is the improved dual camera system. The phone has a 12MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP telephoto camera, both with larger and faster sensors than previous iPhones. This dual-lens setup allows for 2x optical zoom and Portrait mode, which creates artistic background blur in photos. The cameras also have deeper pixels and a new color filter for better low light performance. Overall, the iPhone 8 cameras capture sharper, more vibrant photos than any previous iPhone.
Portrait Lighting
Building on the Portrait mode of the iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 8 Plus introduced a new Portrait Lighting feature. This uses sophisticated algorithms to recreate studio lighting effects like Contour Light, Natural Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and Studio Light. Portrait Lighting allows you to adjust lighting on a person’s face while maintaining a blurred artistic background. It brings professional studio quality lighting capabilities to the phone in your pocket.
Improved Retina HD Display
The 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone 8 may seem the same size as the iPhone 7 at first glance. However, Apple improved the Retina HD display to be more vibrant and realistic. The screen now supports True Tone technology, which adjusts color temperature to match ambient light. This makes images appear more natural. The display also gained a wider color gamut for reproducing more vivid colors. Overall, the enhancements to the Retina HD display make everything from videos to photos to apps look better than ever.
A11 Bionic Chip
Powering the new capabilities of the iPhone 8 is the A11 Bionic chip. This is Apple’s fastest and most powerful chip ever in a smartphone, with two performance cores and four efficiency cores. The A11 Bionic chip provides a 25% boost in performance compared to the A10 Fusion chip. This means apps launch faster, graphics perform better, and the phone feels incredibly quick and fluid.
The A11 Bionic also includes Apple’s first homegrown GPU, which provides a 30% improvement in graphics performance. This allows for more immersive and realistic gaming and 3D apps. The iPhone 8 truly feels like a portable computer thanks to the blazing fast A11 Bionic chip inside.
Wireless & Fast Charging
The iPhone 8 supports fast-charging for the first time, up to 50% charge in 30 minutes. This is accomplished via a Lightning to USB-C cable connected to a USB-C Power Delivery compatible charger. Finally, iPhone users can charge up quickly before heading out the door.
Wireless charging is another first for the iPhone 8. Simply place the phone on a Qi-compatible charging mat and it will start charging – no cables required. Wireless chargers are becoming more prevalent in cars, furniture, and public spaces.
Enhanced Stereo Speakers
Music, videos, and games get a boost from the enhanced stereo speakers of the iPhone 8. They now deliver louder, deeper, and richer sound. There is increased dynamic range of sound as well as improved bass. Despite the phone’s compact size, audio playback is immersive and clear.
Improved Water & Dust Resistance
The iPhone 8 has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. This means it can withstand being submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. So you don’t have to worry about spills, splashes, or even dropping the phone in water briefly. The phone is also protected from common dust ingress.
Latest iOS 11 Software
The iPhone 8 launched with iOS 11, which brought hundreds of great new features. These include an improved Lock screen and Notification center, new Camera effects like Long Exposure, free augmented reality apps, Apple Pay Cash, Screen Recording, Do Not Disturb While Driving mode, and many more useful additions.
More Storage Capacity
Storage capacities increased with the iPhone 8. It is now available with 64GB or 256GB of storage, compared to 32GB or 128GB in the iPhone 7. This allows you to have more movies, music, apps, and photos stored right on the device.
Faster LTE & WiFi
Connectivity speeds also got a boost with the iPhone 8. It supports LTE Advanced networks, allowing for faster data speeds. Download movies, stream video, and load web pages quicker than older iPhones. WiFi is faster too, with up to 50% higher throughput thanks to new MIMO technology.
Wireless Charging Coil
Inside the iPhone 8 is an all-new glass back design. This enables the induction wireless charging coil for charging on Qi mats. The polished glass back also allows for more unique and beautiful color options. The iPhone 8 is available in silver, space gray, and a stunning new gold finish.
Conclusion
The iPhone 8 took the popular iPhone design to a new level. With enhancements like improved cameras, the powerful A11 Bionic chip, wireless charging, and fast charging, it was an appealing upgrade. The Retina HD display, stereo speakers, and glass back design also got upgrades. For anyone still using an older model like the iPhone 6, the iPhone 8 offered a significant boost in performance and features.
In total, the iPhone 8 brought enough new capabilities for it to feel like a solid step forward. It wasn’t a completely radical redesign, but still pushed the iPhone lineup forward in meaningful ways. For many Apple fans, the improved camera, performance, and wireless charging made it an exciting new device.