Apple’s big launch of its tenth anniversary phone- the iPhone 8, is just a couple of days away on September 12. Based on the various leaks and rumors, one can expect radical changes in the upcoming model in terms of design, camera, screen and features. However, based on a tweet by iPhone 8 leaker Benjamin Geskin, all the new features and changes ain’t coming cheap, and the pricing is likely to be on the higher side than usual-
This begs the question- if you already have an iPhone 7 then is it worth going for an iPhone 8, considering how costly it will be? Though a definitive statement can’t be given out, a rough guess can be made on the basis of all the rumors and leaks in recent months. Let’s do a comparative analysis to help you make an informed decision:
Design and Display
According to rumors, the iPhone 8 is expected to have a glass body with a metal frame, compared with the metal unibody of the iPhone 7. It is also expected to be much larger in size, with the screen dimensions likely to be 143.59 x 70.94 x 7.57mm, against the much smaller 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm iPhone 7.
The bigger screen size can be attributed to the fact the iPhone 7 has large bezels above and below the display, while the iPhone 8 will have none of that. No bezels and no home screen either. That means a 5.8-inch size with a rumored resolution of 1,125×2,436 and an aspect ratio of 18:9.
Another advantage that the iPhone 8 will have over the iPhone 7 will be its better water-resistant capability. The iPhone 7 is IP67 certified i.e. it can be submerged into 1-meter deep water for up to 30 minutes. In comparison, the iPhone 8 will be IP68 certified, which means it can survive 1.5 meters of water for the same time period.
In terms of colors, the iPhone 8 will probably available in the same shades as its predecessor- jet black, gold, silver and black, while a new copper-bronze-pink color called the ‘Blush Gold’ will also be offered.
Verdict: Makes sense to go for the iPhone 8
OS and Power
The iPhone 7 is a very powerful handset, having a quad-core Apple A10 Fusion chipset with 2 GB of RAM. The iPhone 8, on the other hand, is likely to be even more powerful with the Apple A11 or Apple A11 Fusion chipset (smaller at 10nm against iPhone 7’s 16 nm) and 3 GB of RAM, as well as an artificial intelligence processor, making it a total speed demon.
Regarding storage, the entry level model of the iPhone 8 starts at 64 GB and goes up to 512 GB for the top end version. The iPhone 7 comes in 32 GB, 128 Gb and 256 GB models, which makes it a quite spacious phone as well.
When it comes to OS though, there isn’t going to be much difference since both models are expected to feature and get updated to the new iOS 11.
Verdict: Better power and storage are always welcome, so iPhone 8 wins here as well.
Camera
Both iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 will have a 12 MP camera, but the former will also have dual-lens capability. In addition, the iPhone 8 is also rumored to have a ‘SmartCam’ mode that adjusts the settings as per the object that is being clicked, and augmented reality (AR) features that will allow you to include everything from adding 3D objects to pictures and videos, to helping you accurately navigate indoor spaces.
Verdict: The additional features give iPhone 8 the upper hand.
Battery
The iPhone 7 has a 1,960 mAh battery, which is okay and nothing too wonderful since many Android phones nowadays have batteries of 4,000 mAh and more. What about the iPhone 8? Given its larger size and Apple’s rumored plan to move to a stacked mainboard design, there will be more space to house a larger battery. Also, will wireless charging be available? Nothing is known on that front but if Apple springs up a surprise then the iPhone 8 will become quite a coveted device.
Verdict: Apple phones are not known for their wonderful battery life so it won’t matter much.
Price
There is no competition here. The iPhone 7 starts at $649 for a 256 GB set, which remains way cheaper than the entry-level 64 GB model of the iPhone 8.
Overall Verdict:
The iPhone 8 seems like a good option if you can afford some extra bucks, but the top-end model of the iPhone 7 plus would be a cheaper alternative if money is a big issue. So maybe you should buy iPhone 7. Otherwise, the 10th anniversary model would certainly be a sureshot collector’s item for the hardcore Apple fan.