Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
NOTE: This model is discontinued and may no longer be available to purchase new. See the latest cell phones or compare used prices.

Apple iPhone 8 Plus review

8.4/10 AVG.
RATING
Compare Compare  
Compare Compare  

Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
...


8.4/10
Informr score
The Apple iPhone 8 Plus currently has an Informr score of 8.4 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 56 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Sharp, vibrant display
  • Blazing fast performance
  • Great battery life
  • Excellent camera
  • New camera modes for better lighting and background bokeh

What's bad

  • Heavy and unwieldy
  • Expensive
  • Overshadowed by iPhone X

Of all the phones Apple has released the iPhone 8 Plus has garnered the least amount of hype.

It’s not that it’s a bad phone. It’s just that Apple immediately superseded the 8 Plus with the announcement of the more advanced Apple iPhone X.

However, if you can’t afford the X, is the 8 Plus worth your money? Keep reading to find out!

If you’re looking for a stunning new design from the 8 Plus, you’ll be disappointed. Reviewers point out it looks almost exactly the same as its predecessor.

With that said, Apple added slight changes such as a durable glass rear. Though Apple touts it as the “most durable glass ever on an iPhone” experts still recommend a case.

But adding glass also added extra weight. The 8 Plus weighs around 202g without a case. For many, this was almost too heavy for comfortable use. Add in its width of 3.07 inches and it’s no wonder experts consider it bulky and unwieldy to use one-handed.

The 5.5 inch IPS display offers the same full HD experience as the iPhone 7 Plus. While not an improvement over previous models on paper, critics are quick to point out the display is crisp. They also noted excellent detail, good contrast and excellent natural color balance.

The one addition to the screen is True Tone technology, which adjusts the color temperature based on ambient light conditions. It’s a very subtle change. But when compared to a 7 Plus, reviewers found the display on the 8 Plus looked more natural.

The iPhone 8 Plus is no slouch in the performance department. It sports the same six-core A11 Bionic processor as the iPhone X.

When pitted against high-end Snapdragon chips, experts found it very comparable. In real life testing, they were blown away by its speed. They noticed no lag or delay—even when pushing the processor to the limit by multi-tasking, playing graphics intensive games or using an augmented reality app.

Battery life didn’t blow critics away, but they could get around a full day out of a single charge—even with intensive use. The 8 Plus also offers quick charging and wireless charging so you can top your phone off quickly if needed.

Cameras are one of the biggest draws for iPhones. The 8 Plus is no exception. The rear camera is a dual 12-megapixel lens setup. One has optical image stabilization and an f/1.8 lens while the other is an f/2.8 telephoto lens. Apple has also increased the size of the imaging sensor and added a new image signal processor.

All of this together means the 8 Plus should take amazing pictures. When reviewers tested it, this held true. The camera focused quickly on subjects. Reviewers also praised the camera for its detailed pictures with vibrant colors and great dynamic range regardless of lighting conditions.

The main update to the camera, however, is Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting. Both use depth information and facial mapping to provide a creamy bokeh background and illuminate faces in difficult lighting situations.

While a decent phone, reviewers have a hard time recommending the iPhone 8 Plus. The Guardian states, “If you’re an iPhone-only buyer... don’t buy the iPhone 8 Plus at the very least until you’ve seen what the iPhone X is capable of…” Trusted Reviews adds, “I really like the iPhone 8 Plus, but I have a feeling I’m going to like the iPhone X more.”


iOS
Operating system
Operating system
iOS
2.39 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.39 GHz
5.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.5"
12+ MP, f/1.8
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.8
2691 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

Though many have argued that the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus feel like ’S’ upgrades, our experience shows that in many ways they offer more improvements than the jump from the iPhone 6s to iPhone 7 cycle. The camera enhancements are significant, bringing Apple back at the same level as the best in th...

- Kunal Dua, Gadgets 360
BGR
BGR

Though there’s a lot that still works in the iPhone 8 Plus’ favor, I find it difficult to recommend someone spend their precious money on it. While the internals are able to match up to other premium devices available today, the same can’t be said about the other features. The design feels downright...

- Sambit Satpathy, BGR
GSMArena
GSMArena

Having lived with the iPhone 8 Plus out of choice since launch, do we regret our decision not to go with the iPhone X? Not one bit. As for niggles - our experience tells us that a large number those that we encountered are software based and should be resolved over time.

- GSMArena
WhistleOut
WhistleOut

The design is well and truly showing its age, but the iPhone 8 Plus is the most pragmatic device in the 2017 iPhone family. You'll get up to two days of battery, two great rear-facing cameras, lightning fast performance, and a stunning True Tone display; it's almost everything you could want from a...

- Alex Choros, WhistleOut
Talk Android
Talk Android

Is the iPhone 8 Plus a good phone? Absolutely. No smartphone can match the iPhone in single device sales, and despite having a shorter feature list, Apple takes the features it does offer and nails them like no one else can.

- Jared Peters, Talk Android


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Apple backs up the iPhone 8 Plus with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your iPhone 8 Plus has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Apple support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Apple's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




Resources


Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
5.5"

The Apple iPhone 8 Plus's screen size is 5.5 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.39 GHz

There is a Apple A11 Bionic Hexa core 2.39 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the iOS 11 (Update Available: 14) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.8 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 7+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/256 GB

Internal memory is 64/256 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
2691mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2691 mAh battery. Apple's performance ratings are 1260 minutes, 752 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

iPhone 8 Plus Specs

Overview
Release Date September 22, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System iOS 11 (Update Available: 14)

Compare iOS Smartphones

Processor Apple A11 Bionic Hexa core 2.39 GHz
Internal Storage 64/256 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.15 W/kg
Body: 1.15 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headphones, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev. A, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Lightning
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.8
Zoom
2x optical, 10x digital
Flash
Yes (Quad LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Panorama, Self-timer, Dual camera feature (12 MP 2nd camera), Exposure control, HDR, Burst mode, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
7+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Face detection, Image stabilization, Self-timer, F2.2 aperture, HDR, Burst mode, Exposure control
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 401 pixels
Size 5.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Retina display
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2691 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 752 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 780 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1260 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.8 x 7.8 x 0.8 cm (6.2 x 3.1 x 0.3 in)
Weight 202 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 67
Headset Jack No
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Apple A1864, A1897

Additional Sensor: Barometer

Apple iPhone 8 Plus Manual (HTML)
Related Links Apple iPhone 8 Plus Reviews
Where to buy Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Suggest a correction