Now that Apple has revealed its smartphone range for 2017, an iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison becomes viable. The two phablet devices from Apple will attract similar consumers, but which of the two devices can be considered the better buy?
Design
Probably the most fundamental difference in the iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison relates to the design of the two handsets. The iPhone X is dominated by the wraparound display that appears on the front panel of the device. This is undoubtedly a massive selling point for the premium Apple handset, and the design of the iPhone X does make both the iPhone 8 Plus and standard iPhone 8 smartphone look a little dated by comparison.
Size
This is another area where there is significant difference between the two devices, with the iPhone X actually being smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus, despite having a larger screen. The iPhone X measures 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in), while the dimensions of the iPhone 8 Plus are 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm (6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 in). Certainly the iPhone X is significantly significantly sleeker than its iPhone 8 Plus rival.
Weight
The size differential between the two handsets also translates into a weight difference, with the iPhone 8 Plus being quite significantly heavier than the iPhone X, despite the brand new Apple smartphone having a superior display. The iPhone 8 Plus weighs over 200g; 28g more than the iPhone X.
Display
And the iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison is also particularly relevant in the display department, with the new contender firstly having a more sizeable screen than the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 8 Plus display is no larger than the iPhone 7 Plus screen from last year, being a 5.5-inches, while the iPhone X features an impressive 5.8-inch wraparound screen.
Resolution
The iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison is also particularly informed by the resolution of the two devices, with the iPhone X coming out on top here quite comfortably, although the gap between the pixel density of the two units is not absolutely vast. The iPhone X is capable of displaying 1,125 x 2,436 pixels (~458 ppi density), while the iPhone 8 Plus is a full HD unit, delivering 1,080 x 1,920 pixel resolution (~401 ppi density). It is also notable that the iPhone X delivers a superior 19.5:9 screen ratio.
Camera
Smartphone camera provisions are becoming increasingly complex, so it is valuable to enlist the technical capabilities of these two devices first.
iPhone X – Dual 12 MP, f/1.8 & f/2.4, phase detection autofocus, OIS, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash
iPhone 8 Plus – Dual 12 MP, (28mm, f/1.8, OIS & 56mm, f/2.8), phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash
While both of these units feature a dual-lens, it is noticeable that the iPhone X has a superior aperture in its second lens. Aside from this there is not too much to choose between the two smartphone cameras, but the iPhone X is undoubtedly capable of superior results.
Processor
The processor provisions of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus have remained surprisingly secretive considering that the two devices have been unveiled. But some benchmark testing of the two Apple phablets has effectively revealed their processing capabilities.
Both of the devices are hexa-core (2x Monsoon Plus 4x Mistral). But the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center has seemingly confirmed that the iPhone X features an A11 Bionic chip clocked at 2.4GHz, which is nearly identical to iPhone 8 and 8 Plus benchmarks.
The iPhone 8 Plus is based on a new design with two performance cores, and four power saving high-efficiency ones running at 2.2GHz. Both smartphones feature a new controller, which enables all six cores included in the devices to work together collaboratively in order to deal with the demanding tasks.
Nonetheless, the iPhone X has the marginally superior processor.
Memory
There is not much difference between the two devices in the memory department, with both the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus featuring 3GB of RAM memory. This quantity is frozen from the iPhone 7 Plus last year, with Apple obviously considering the internal ram of the device to be relatively unimportant. Certainly it has always relied on its unique combination of proprietary hardware and software in order to deliver outstanding performance.
Storage
Again, both devices deliver the precise same quantity of storage, with 64 and 256 GB versions of both smartphones available. Apple has decided against including micro SD card technology in any of its smartphone releases, as in previous years.
Battery
The iPhone X benefits from a non-removable Li-Ion 2716 mAh battery, which is 25 mAh larger than the cell included in the iPhone 8 Plus. Despite the increase in battery size, the Apple smartphone range continues to be somewhat criticized for its rather paltry battery life.
Price
Another key area of iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison is the pricing of the two devices. Considering that many of the specs are rather similar, the $200 gulf between the two handsets may be considered slightly surprising. But, of course, the iPhone X is sleeker, with a larger display and a smaller size, while some of the capabilities of the smartphone are upgraded in comparison to its iPhone 8 Plus cousin.
Whether this justifies the $999 price tag of the iPhone X is debatable, but the smartphone will certainly attract its fair share of consumers even at that hefty price tag.
Conclusion
When making the iPhone X vs iPhone 8 Plus comparison, it is particularly important to know that the iPhone X costs $200 more than its iPhone 8 Plus stablemate. This is a significant amount of money, considering that it represents 25 percent of the overall purchasing price of the iPhone 8 Plus. However, the true Apple aficionado will want to shell out for the wraparound curved display of the iPhone X, coupled with its superior specifications. Both of these smartphones have merit, but we would want to shell out for the iPhone X.
