iPhone 8/Plus You'll have to pry my 8 Plus from my cold dead hands

[eoblaed]

My proposition is this. The iPhone 8 Plus is the best phone ever made.

No stupid ugly notch.

Notch isn't an issue. (Also, see 16:9 comment below)

But, even for those that think it is, the XS Max (and related X-style iPhones) have no stupid ugly chin/forehead.

16:9 aspect ratio, like all TV shows, all movies, and everything on YouTube.

I watch 16:9 all the time on my XS Max, including YouTube. And, guess what ... the notch disappears into the black when I do (since the XS Max has a 19.5:9 ratio, 16:9 tucks neatly in there).

Big screen. (Not as tall as X/Xs/Xs Max, but when you continuously scroll, you look at the top of the screen, not the bottom. Extra screen length is useless in vertical mode.)

Bigger screen on my XS Max. I'm not sure I understand your sentences correctly here, but it sounds like you're arguing against bigger screens. The larger (and taller) screen is very useful in many use cases where seeing more data at the same time is not just nicer, but sometimes more practical.

LCD with no PWM. (Meaning no eye strain for those of us sensitive folks who use the phone in the dark for long periods and need to dim the screen below 50% to perhaps 10%.)

Far prefer the Apple OLEDs. PWM is so rare as to be a non-issue for almost everybody. For those where it is an issue, sure, go for an LCD device ... but that's really the only situation where LCD is a better option.

LCD on iPhone 8 Plus is as good as OLED. (Well that's my opinion. I put them side-by-side and I can't tell the difference. And if there is a difference, it's so slight that it makes no material difference.)

Spoken like someone that doesn't use their phone in the dark a lot, which is fine. For me though, the difference between the LCD displays and the OLED is striking.

401 ppi. Perfect. (326 ppi on the XR is fuzzy and acceptable. "Liquid LCD" is a con by Apple. Put an iPhone 7 Plus next to an iPhone 7 and you'll see the difference. I'm not going back to iPhone 4 resolution.)

XS Max: 458 ppi. Perfect-er.
I do agree that the resolution on the XR is sub-standard, but when arguing for 'best iPhone ever made', the XR (ie. budget model) shouldn't even be in the discussion.

Great battery life. (Apparently in theory the XR will be better, but that may be because of the lousy screen.)

Great battery life on my XS Max, too. I never have to worry about keeping it topped off throughout the day.

Home button. (Okay, not that important.)

I see the lack of a home button as an advantage. More immersive display, more intimate experience with the UI and the phone. Much cleaner look. Oh, and looking at photos on a devices that's all screen (which you can do without having to have the chin that a home button requires) is a stunning experience.

Touch ID. (Works every time, in any light, no matter what my facial condition or angle is, such as bleary-eyed and sideways on a pillow in the morning. And Touch ID is super fast. Doesn't work when finger is wet, but that's no big deal for 99% of people 99% of the time.)

No intervening screen to swipe away after using Touch ID.

I've used TouchID since it was first introduced, and have used FaceID since the X. I far prefer FaceID. Yes there are some cases where TouchID will work better than FaceID (lighting is not one of those problem areas, btw: FaceID works in full bright sunlight without issue), but there are cases where FaceID works better than Touch. Also, the seamless integration of FaceID throughout the OS (eg. for web/purchase/etc authentications, app launches, etc) allow for positive ID and progression through the work/data flow without having to reposition my hands to do TouchID. It's a nuance, yes, but a very slick one that feels so smooth. Much nicer than TouchID.

3D Touch. (Not on the XR. C'mon Apple, it's really useful for quick shortcuts into apps.)

Two cameras for 2X optical zoom. (Not on the XR.)

Probably should stop comparing the 8 Plus (the 8 flagship model) to the XR (the 2018 budget model). No one is going to hold the XR up as the top of the line iPhone. If you're petitioning for 'which iPhone is the best', compare apples to apples (hehe).

Battery percentage on the main screen. (Yes!)

Something I'd like on my XS Max, true. Though, I can get the data easily enough, I'm still waiting for its return.

Fast processor. (I compared the iPhone 8 Plus with the XS Max. Speed is the same except for a split second or a full second here or there, but nothing significant.)

A12 is definitely more performant than the A11. Yes, the A11 may be fast enough for you, and that's great, but don't minimize the differences. 'Only' a second faster here or there is noticeable, and for larger, more intensive tasks/games/etc, the differences are far more profound.

No connectivity issues. (None, nada, zero, zilch.)

Same on my XS Max.

Price is not insane.

Well, you're comparing a year old phone to a brand new one. Of course there will be a price difference. $949 (at launch) vs $1249 for a 2565GB model. Sure, a $300 dollar difference, but you're still talking about phones that are in the $1k range. I don't think you can call one price insane without reflecting some on the other price as well.

And finally bezels. (Yes bezels. Get the white version and you can see your phone on a dark background. I got the black bezels. Big mistake. I keep leaving my phone in the car because I can't see it, even with a white case.)

(disclaimer: I never use cases on my phones)
If you're leaving your phone in the car even with a white case, that's a situational awareness issue on your part, not a design flaw on the part of the phone.


And with it comes to the XS line vs the 8 line, there's also the IP68 vs 67, the updated camera sensors, the vastly superior HDR implementation (have you seen some of the side by side comparisons of backlit photos? ), etc.

So I'm sticking with the best phone ever made (for me). I love my iPhone 8 Plus.

Fixed that for you (added the '(for me)')

Sincerely glad you love your 8 Plus; it's a phenomenal device. If you do really love it, though, there's no real reason to try to justify that love by attempting to convince others that a different device is inferior. Just love your device for what it is.

 

[DJ_Smith]

Nobody is ‘triggered’, you entered into a debate suggesting you felt ‘sorry for people who don’t own an XS Max’. You were challenged on your points, some of which you’ve responded to and that is the point of a discussion/debate. You can’t just pop in and make a point insinuating your opinion is fact and then get upset at getting challenged.

Your last point is another opinion. Everybody here likes iPhones and iOS or we wouldn’t be members here, but not everyone will buy an XS Max by choice. You don’t have to agree with people’s reasons, but it pays to respect that everyone has a unique set of buying preferences.

Ok alright buddy you win. But I never want be in debate either. There’s no second thought Max is the best iPhone till date and my point is still there.

I said sorry folks who can’t afford it. The reason behind this’s I see a lot of people here complaining about the phone which I already stated in my previous post.

Ex- the screen is too big
- the screen is too small
- my screen is yellow
- it has speakers on the bottom
- stainless steel is scratching
- display scratching so easily
- gate gate bla bla
- sigh
IMO they are justifying their self not getting the Max. On the other hand i never had any issues with my any iPhone.

Again if you like iPhone and iOS, Max is the best iPhone right there. Give it a chance you won’t be disappointed.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Ok alright buddy you win. But I never want be in debate either. There’s no second thought Max is the best iPhone till date and my point is still there.

I said sorry folks who can’t afford it. The reason behind this’s I see a lot of people here complaining about the phone which I already stated in my previous post.

Ex- the screen is too big
- the screen is too small
- my screen is yellow
- it has speakers on the bottom
- stainless steel is scratching
- display scratching so easily
- gate gate bla bla
- sigh
IMO they are justifying their self not getting the Max. On the other hand i never had any issues with my any iPhone.

Again if you like iPhone and iOS, Max is the best iPhone right there. Give it a chance you won’t be disappointed.

You keep missing the point that nobody is suggesting the Max is an inferior handset, the justification comes when individuals ask if it’s £500 better than an 8+? I don’t think it is and would never pay £1100 ($1448) for an iPhone that essentially does the same thing. Of course people justify their purchase, that’s what you do with yourself before you buy just like you convinced yourself you needed the Max.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Probably should stop comparing the 8 Plus (the 8 flagship model) to the XR (the 2018 budget model). No one is going to hold the XR up as the top of the line iPhone. If you're petitioning for 'which iPhone is the best', compare apples to apples (hehe).

Not sure where you got the impression the XR is the 2018 ‘budget’ model? Wouldn’t it be a budget price and not £749 if that were the case? Just because other iPhones are over £1k does not suddenly mean a phone that is more expensive than nearly all previous generations is now budget.

Well, you're comparing a year old phone to a brand new one. Of course there will be a price difference. $949 (at launch) vs $1249 for a 2565GB model. Sure, a $300 dollar difference, but you're still talking about phones that are in the $1k range. I don't think you can call one price insane without reflecting some on the other price as well.

Depends where you live. I don’t think there would be much criticism of price if every country got US pricing. The prices have got insane and the sales across Europe reflect that in many cases.

 

[DJ_Smith]

You keep missing the point that nobody is suggesting the Max is an inferior handset, the justification comes when individuals ask if it’s £500 better than an 8+? I don’t think it is and would never pay £1100 ($1448) for an iPhone that essentially does the same thing. Of course people justify their purchase, that’s what you do with yourself before you buy just like you convinced yourself you needed the Max.

If 8 Plus works for you then it’s fine. But in the tech industry it’s outdated in massive league, the forehead and chin are huge and wastes a lot of space. It also lacks OLED display which’s huge No in 2018.

Most Smartphone makers are heading towards Notch and edge to edge display and adapting facial recognition system and 8 Plus stands no where near in the competition.

Of course it’s cheaper than Max that’s fine. But If it’s me (in your situation) I would happily pay £500 more and get Max.

 

[iManic]

6s. All of the above plus earphone jack. Also, not absurdly big. 6s. The best phone ever made.

100% the best phone ever made. Also still feels like the best/fastest UI experience of any phone I've ever used. Don't need to see useless benchmarks I know how the phone felt and it was lightning. I really think apple messed up by going away from the 2 huge core chips like the A9. iPhones with the A10 4 core cpu's and especially the A11/A12 6 core cpu's haven't felt the same. My brand new XS Max lags and skips frames all over the place I think they are engaging the low power cores to often.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If 8 Plus works for you then it’s fine. But in the tech industry it’s outdated in massive league, the forehead and chin are huge and wastes a lot of space. It also lacks OLED display which’s huge No in 2018.

Most Smartphone makers are heading towards Notch and edge to edge display and adapting facial recognition system and 8 Plus stands no where near in the competition.

Of course it’s cheaper than Max that’s fine. But If it’s me (in your situation) I would happily pay £500 more and get Max.

Unlike yourself I don’t work in the electronics/tech industry so the ‘look’ of my iPhone is far less important to myself and others around me. A bezel, slightly dimmer screen and the fact I have to unlock my phone slightly faster with my fingerprint are not real world day to day issues either. For me it’s a personal and business device and I can’t see how it’s so heavily outdated when it does the exact same thing as the Max. You’re listing aesthetic preferences and exaggerating their importance.

There’s no doubt Apple are among the best marketeers in the world that’s for sure. They could replace their 15mm corner rads with 17mm next year and people like you would argue why it’s better. Keep up the good work lol.

 

[44267547]

I can’t see how it’s so heavily outdated when it does the exact same thing as the Max.

Exact? Not quite. I mean, In terms of executing communication and some core features (Wireless charging, stereo speakers, water resistance) yes. But it does not have the same capabilities with The true depth camera for example. Is the iPhone 8 out dated? Not in terms of the actual specifications, but some view the form factor being considered outdated.

Not sure where you got the impression the XR is the 2018 ‘budget’ model? Wouldn’t it be a budget price and not £749 if that were the case?

Apple doesn’t have a ‘budget’ iPhone, they have an entry level iPhone, which would be the XR that adopts face ID and the new form factor. All of Apples phones are not considered budget, nor do they even use that word associated with any of their phones in their lineup.

Of course it’s cheaper than Max that’s fine. But If it’s me (in your situation) I would happily pay £500 more and get Max.

For OLED, Face ID and the 6.5 display, I can also justify the additional cost. But I also appreciate having the latest tech and it was rather fatigued from the four-year design from the iPhone 6 through 8.

 

[NorthSeaBeach]

Unlike yourself I don’t work in the electronics/tech industry so the ‘look’ of my iPhone is far less important to myself and others around me. A bezel, slightly dimmer screen and the fact I have to unlock my phone slightly faster with my fingerprint are not real world day to day issues either. For me it’s a personal and business device and I can’t see how it’s so heavily outdated when it does the exact same thing as the Max. You’re listing aesthetic preferences and exaggerating their importance.

There’s no doubt Apple are among the best marketeers in the world that’s for sure. They could replace their 15mm corner rads with 17mm next year and people like you would argue why it’s better. Keep up the good work lol.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Max is the better phone if pwm doesn’t affect you and you’re not experiencing antenna problems, but the 8+ is just one year old and still a very relevant phone from a technical point of view. The technical updates in the max are there but are not very relevant in everyday use for a lot of people. Most relish the new design, display and face id, but for a lot of people those new things are not worth the crazy amount of extra cash.
Fortunately everyone is free to weigh their pros and cons and make a feel good decision. For some that’s the max, for others the 8+ and €500 not spent.

 

[OllyW]

Depends where you live. I don’t think there would be much criticism of price if every country got US pricing. The prices have got insane and the sales across Europe reflect that in many cases.

Americans might get the handset cheaper than us but they have to pay a fortune for their cellular service so most of us Brits end up paying less overall.

I've had my iPhone 8+ for a year and still think it's a great phone and have had no regrets about going for it instead of the iPhone X. I also couldn't care less what anyone else thinks about the phone I have as I've never jumped on the 'latest fashion' bandwaggon and franky none of my friends are that shallow anyway. The latest XS range of phones look great but in my opinion they are still priced too high, so if I was in the situation where I needed to upgrade today I would go for either an 8+ or the new XR .

 

[Shanghaichica]

I agree the iPhone 8+ is a great phone and I am glad I bought it instead of the newer devices. It looks like a classic without looking dated in my opinion and is good value now the newer iPhones are taking the attention.

To be fair it stands out and looks like an iphone. The newer phones could be mistaken for an android phone at a quick glance.

 

[77sunsetstrip]

Regarding the poll, I wonder what the result would be if the general public was asked. This forum is for tech enthusiasts who are bound to favor the latest new thing.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Exact? Not quite. I mean, In terms of executing communication and some core features (Wireless charging, stereo speakers, water resistance) yes. But it does not have the same capabilities with The true depth camera for example. Is the iPhone 8 out dated? Not in terms of the actual specifications, but some view the form factor being considered outdated.

I was talking more about technical specs rather than aesthetics. Those of us that are less of a fashionista put the aesthetics a bit further down the list when choosing the device. Don’t get me wrong I like the new form factor but if that were key for me I’d have bought the XR.

Apple doesn’t have a ‘budget’ iPhone, they have an entry level iPhone, which would be the XR that adopts face ID and the new form factor. All of Apples phones are not considered budget, nor do they even use that word associated with any of their phones in their lineup.

I very much agree.

 

[neteng101]

I was talking more about technical specs rather than aesthetics. Those of us that are less of a fashionista put the aesthetics a bit further down the list when choosing the device. Don’t get me wrong I like the new form factor but if that were key for me I’d have bought the XR.

FaceID is the reality of what Apple is going to be supporting going forward. TouchID is old and pretty much on the way out now... even iPads are going FaceID. This is the technical standard now - TouchID devices are going to be more afterthoughts in future IOS releases. The 8+ is a dinosaur tech-wise in this regard. Its not just all aesthetics... the UI revisions to the new FaceID paradigm shift is the present reality.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

FaceID is the reality of what Apple is going to be supporting going forward. TouchID is old and pretty much on the way out now... even iPads are going FaceID. This is the technical standard now - TouchID devices are going to be more afterthoughts in future IOS releases. The 8+ is a dinosaur tech-wise in this regard. Its not just all aesthetics... the UI revisions to the new FaceID paradigm shift is the present reality.

I’m more than aware FaceID is the norm going forward hence why no iPhones were released this year with TouchID. You haven’t made any revelations there.

TouchID will still be supported for a few more years and is hardly an example of ‘dinosaur technology’ at this point. The 8+ is a year old and Apple are not still selling them at £700+ to then stop supporting them in the near future. You guys and your exaggerated buzz words to make certain models sound largely inferior may suit yourselves but the reality is Apple still sell and support both forms of biometric access.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I’m more than aware FaceID is the norm going forward hence why no iPhones were released this year with TouchID. You haven’t made any revelations there.

TouchID will still be supported for a few more years and is hardly an example of ‘dinosaur technology’ at this point. The 8+ is a year old and Apple are not still selling them at £700+ to then stop supporting them in the near future. You guys and your exaggerated buzz words to make certain models sound largely inferior may suit yourselves but the reality is Apple still sell and support both forms of biometric access.

Definitely not dinosaur technology when every android phone still has a FPS. It’s still very relevant in the industry as a whole. My max has Face ID and my X had Face ID but both of my iPads have Touch ID and I’ve no plans to upgrade either of them any time soon.

 

[LarryJoe33]

When I see an 8 or below or use it, i can’t believe I ever had a phone with a home button and those giant bezels on the top and bottom.

OLD TECHNOLOGY

No worries on prying it out of your hands. It’s all yours. Trading in all my families old 8s for the XR. Preordering 4 of them.

 

[OllyW]

When I see an 8 or below or use it, i can’t believe I ever had a phone with a home button and those giant bezels on the top and bottom.

OLD TECHNOLOGY

No worries on prying it out of your hands. It’s all yours. Trading in all my families old 8s for the XR. Preordering 4 of them.

I don't know how you've managed to cope having to use that old technology while you have been waiting for the XR to go on sale.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

When I see an 8 or below or use it, i can’t believe I ever had a phone with a home button and those giant bezels on the top and bottom.

OLD TECHNOLOGY

No worries on prying it out of your hands. It’s all yours. Trading in all my families old 8s for the XR. Preordering 4 of them.

Yeah it’s almost inconceivable in almost every avenue of exaggerated thought isn’t it?

You’ve added ‘giant’ to the list too along with ‘enormous’, ‘massive’, and ‘huge’, used previously to describe a 15mm bezel. I’m tempted to consult an online thesaurus to see if there’s a more comical word to use for something that’s large? ‘Gigantic’? ‘Humongous’? ‘Colossal’? All good fun lol.

 

[sdwaltz]

You leave your phone in your car because of the dark bezels?

Also guilty...if you have a dark interior, it can definitely happen.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I don't know how you've managed to cope having to use that old technology while you have been waiting for the XR to go on sale.

I know, right? But full disclosure, I have been on the new technology for a year with the X and now XS Max. It's my poor kids that have been stuck with the equivalent of an LG Razor.

 

[cornerexit]

Unlike yourself I don’t work in the electronics/tech industry so the ‘look’ of my iPhone is far less important to myself and others around me. A bezel, slightly dimmer screen and the fact I have to unlock my phone slightly faster with my fingerprint are not real world day to day issues either. For me it’s a personal and business device and I can’t see how it’s so heavily outdated when it does the exact same thing as the Max. You’re listing aesthetic preferences and exaggerating their importance.

There’s no doubt Apple are among the best marketeers in the world that’s for sure. They could replace their 15mm corner rads with 17mm next year and people like you would argue why it’s better. Keep up the good work lol.

I looked at the Xs/max last night while buying a new band for my S4 (which I will be returning as I'm getting a supcase for the S4). I don't even like the OLED screen. It's super smooth and both of the new phones are super thin, and remind me of a piece of slim cardboard but I didn't like the screen. Perhaps my eyes may be susceptible to the PWM or something but I didn't care for it. The LCD is easier on my eyes.

They do indeed do the same things. I'm more like you and use the thing much less than many. in context you have to factor in your real world use vs. some of these people who are viewing that screen most of the day. Phone wars 2018.

 

[sonicrobby]

Regarding the poll, I wonder what the result would be if the general public was asked. This forum is for tech enthusiasts who are bound to favor the latest new thing.

You ask a question in an Apple-fan forum, you need to expect certain results I think the sales numbers would be a better indication, or maybe returns. The amount of non-iPhone X still active (which I dont think is available outside of apple) would be a best indicator.

I personally hated everything about the 6-8 series iPhones, I kept my 5 and SE until the X came out due to the screen. The real issue I had was inconvenience using faceID while the phone is flat on a desk or unlocking it while driving. But overall, none of the other things bothered me, and I adapted to the use of FaceID. I think if youre given a chance with the phone long term, you'd come to like it.

I know the frustration of the industry moving away from things you prefer. I loved iOS6 design, still do, but I had to suck it up and get used to these cartoons. iPad mini is my favorite form factor for the iPad lines, but I have to face the reality that there may be no new ones released again. And for some reason, a phone that can sit flat on a desk without a phone case is just a no-no in the industry, flush camera's are apparently no longer beautiful when it means saving 1.3mm of thickness.

 

[indychris]

I think that pretty much sums it up. Max is the better phone if pwm doesn’t affect you and you’re not experiencing antenna problems, but the 8+ is just one year old and still a very relevant phone from a technical point of view. The technical updates in the max are there but are not very relevant in everyday use for a lot of people. Most relish the new design, display and face id, but for a lot of people those new things are not worth the crazy amount of extra cash.
Fortunately everyone is free to weigh their pros and cons and make a feel good decision. For some that’s the max, for others the 8+ and €500 not spent.

That's the key. Guess it depends on which Max you get. I've had two, and love everything about it aside from the fact that both totally sucked as PHONES. Screen is GREAT. Size is GREAT. Camera is AMAZING. But both totally tanked when it comes to making phone calls for me in areas that my 8+ has no problems. Coming from a Sim-free 8+ to a sim-free XSM, over the course of a 5,000 mile cross country (and back) trek, the Max's (I replaced the first with a 2nd halfway through my trip) both lost signal continually and even when in areas with very strong LTE signals, seemed to struggle in obtaining and holding that signal.

Antenna? Modem? Software? No clue. I can only say that I am left settling for my old 8+ (which fortunately I didn't trade or sell in order to get my Max!) simply because it actually is capable of making and sustaining phone calls, which is actually partially what I use mine for these days, though that may put me in the minority of users apparently.

 

[eoblaed]

Not sure where you got the impression the XR is the 2018 ‘budget’ model? Wouldn’t it be a budget price and not £749 if that were the case? Just because other iPhones are over £1k does not suddenly mean a phone that is more expensive than nearly all previous generations is now budget.

We can pick a different adjective if 'budget' doesn't sit right, but out of the three models launched in 2018, the XR is definitely the least expensive and most feature starved phone of the three. My point is that when someone is making a claim that a year old phone (the 8 Plus) is the best iPhone ever, there's not a lot of validity in comparing it to the least capable 2018 phone to make a point.

The discussion can arguably change if someone was talking 'value' (which is entirely subjective, of course), but the discussion wasn't around value, it was around quality.