iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Which should you buy?

Thomas McMullan Read more August 14, 2017

Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 8, along with the iPhone X, bringing not one but two new handsets to its brood (three, if you count the iPhone 8 Plus). And now that the iPhone 7 has received a price cut, it’s become a palatable option for those that don’t want to fork out a few extra hundred on Apple’s latest premium device.

iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Which should you buy?

To help you decide which handset to go for, here’s our quick rundown of the main differences between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.

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iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Design

The iPhone 7 hardly signalled a massive shakeup in Apple’s design department, with the handset sporting a remarkably similar design to the iPhone 6s. That being said, it made the polarising call to do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, a feat that delighted and dismayed in equal measure. Some applauded the landmark omission, and others lamented the impracticality of the decision.

Apple saved all of its biggest design changes for the iPhone X, meaning the iPhone 8 is more in line with an iterative iPhone 7s update than an out-and-out new phone. Like the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 has a 4.7in retina HD display, with a 1,334 x 750 resolution at 326ppi. At a glance, both phones look identical, with only minute changes made to overall dimensions. The main change to the exterior is the addition of a glass back. iphone_8_iphone_8_plus_iphone_x_pre_order_uk_2

iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Features and specs

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 boast the same camera technology, with a 12-megapixel rear camera and 7-megapixel front camera. They both manage 4K video recording, although the iPhone 8 can do this at 24 and 60fps as well as 30fps.

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Both phones have 3D Touch. Both use Touch ID (not Face ID, like the iPhone X). Where they differ is in terms of processing power. The iPhone 7 has the A10 Fusion Chip while the iPhone 8 has the A11 Bionic Chip with in-built neural engine – the same as the iPhone X. The iPhone 8 doesn’t do facial recognition, but the chip will make running apps a speedier process than in the iPhone 7. The iPhone 8 is also capable of wireless charging, unlike the iPhone 7.

iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7: Price and Verdict

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 are very similar devices. In the end, the main technical differences boil down to processing power, wireless charging capability and a glass-back design.

The main thing you’ll need to weigh up against this is price. The iPhone 7 starts at £529, while the iPhone 8 starts at £669. For reference, the iPhone X starts at £989, and the iPhone 6s starts at £439.

Focusing just on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, you’ll need to weigh up whether that extra £150 is worth a processor upgrade. In our opinion, we’d opt for the iPhone 7. If you absolutely have to spend more money on a brand-new Apple device, you’ll be getting more features for your money with the iPhone X. But the iPhone 7 is a fine device, and has pretty much the same capabilities as the iPhone 8 with a cheaper price tag.