Thanks to the iOS 11 GM leak this past weekend, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect at Apple’s big launch event. The code that some Twitter users have been digging through appears to shed light on Apple’s new naming convention when it comes to their iPhone lineup. The “S” generation, at least this time around, seems to be skipped. It’s widely expected that Apple will launch an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. For the purpose of this piece, we want to compare the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X to help give you an idea of how the two stack up against each other.
Photo by GeekBarOf course, nothing is official until Apple announces it on stage so be sure to check in after the launch to see if there’s any new information about either device that may have been left out of the leaks this weekend.
Design
The first comparison that will be immediately clear is the differences in design. The iPhone X is going to be a totally new design for the iPhone while the iPhone 8 will largely follow the same design Apple has been using in the iPhone for many years. However, there will be some similarities between the two. Both are rumored to have a glass backside which will allow for the rumored addition of wireless charging. All summer long, we have been hearing about wireless charging coming to the iPhone and it appears all models will get the feature.
The biggest design difference in the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X comparison will be the home button (or lack thereof). The iPhone X will be losing the home button in favor of a bezel-less display. The iPhone 8 will keep the trusty home button. If you’re an Apple fan who can’t imagine life without the home button then you will be able to find a model that suits your needs.
In terms of size, the iPhone X is rumored to be slightly larger than the iPhone 8. The iPhone 8 will be the same size as the iPhone 7. To give you a better idea of size; the iPhone X will be a middle ground between the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – with its body size being closer to the iPhone 7. Both should fit comfortably in your hand. Obviously, the iPhone X will have much more screen real estate with the bezel-less design. The size may be similar but the display is very different.
Display
Speaking of display… This is the arguably the biggest difference in the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X battle. The iPhone X will be the first iPhone to feature an OLED display while the iPhone 8 will stick with the trusty LCD display. The iPhone 8 will also maintain the bezels we have seen in earlier iPhone devices while the iPhone X display with stretch from edge to edge.
The bezel-less design, as I mentioned earlier, will give the iPhone X a huge edge in total available screen real estate. Although the actual size of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X will be similar, the usable display space is very different between the two devices.
An OLED display should also give the iPhone X noticeably better performance when it comes to contrast. On OLED displays, the color black is actually black and not a washed out kind of grey color. Don’t get me wrong; both displays will look great. However, hold them side by side and the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X comparison won’t even seem fair. The iPhone 8 won’t be bad – the iPhone X will just be that good.
Camera
The camera will be one of the other major differences when comparing the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X. The iPhone 8 will likely continue the trend of having a single camera sensor – similar to what we see in the iPhone 7. While this is a respectable camera, it simply won’t be able to hold a candle to the iPhone X. That’s like comparing apples and oranges. The iPhone X is rumored to have dual 12-megapixel sensors that can shoot 4K video at 60fps. If true, that would make the iPhone X one of the best cameras in the smartphone market – at least if we go by specs. Of course, software makes up the other half of camera performance. The iPhone X will likely have some premium features and work better with augmented reality applications. That’s not to say the iPhone 8 won’t be a good camera. The two will both be among the best in the industry but it’s like comparing a Lexus and and a Ferrari. Both are great but one is clearly above the other.
Specs
According to rumors from the iOS 11 GM leak, the iPhone X will sport Apple’s new A11 chip and 3GB of RAM. This makes the iPhone X more powerful than the current iPad Pro which is a pretty amazing feat. We aren’t completely sure what chip the iPhone 8 will have but we do know it will ship with 2GB of RAM. Perhaps the iPhone 8 will have the same chip as the iPhone X. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the iPhone 8 come with the A10X chip that we see in the iPad Pro. In either case, the iPhone X will have a slight edge but both devices should be very snappy and quick.
Price
The price will likely be the ultimate decider for many people considering the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X. With the iPhone 8, the pricing scheme will likely follow the same trend that the iPhone 7 followed before it. That means we will likely see the iPhone 8 come with a price tag around $749. The iPhone X will cost much, much more. The most recent rumors suggest that the iPhone X will start around $900 for the base storage model.
Conclusion
Comparing the iPhone 8 and iPhone X isn’t exactly fair. The two devices are very different and aim at two different markets. The iPhone X is meant to be an industry-leading flagship device while the iPhone 8 is more of a high mid-range device. If you need the newest, hottest device then the iPhone X is the way to go. If you don’t want to spend nearly $1000 on a smartphone, then the iPhone 8 is the way to go and it will surely still be a great device with timely software support from Apple.
Either way: you can’t go wrong. Still can’t decide? Wait for the official reveal from Apple and consider the information and launch prices together. Stay tuned here for more information coming on the upcoming devices if you’re comparing the iPhone 8 vs iPhone X.