Apple recently welcomed new models to its brood, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. And this means that if you have been meaning to buy an iPhone, or have been keen on the iPhone 7 but didn’t want to spend too much, now is the time. By the time this comparison goes online, Apple would have announced new products in its latest keynote. And so, this means that older models would soon go on sale and they would be available at affordable prices.
At the time of its launch, the iPhone X generated more excitement because of its complete redesign and exorbitant price. The iPhone could have almost gotten overlooked save for the fact that it would be the last model that Apple produced had a physical ‘home’ button. But when you go about comparing it with its predecessor, you will find that look wise, the iPhone 8 is not very different from the iPhone 7.
The question here is, that it has been over 2 years since these phones were launched and new models have been added to the line-up. But if you have been using an older iPhone model or have been wanting to migrate from a different platform, such as Android, these are still great phones. So which one should you go for? Let us look at the differences between the two phones when it comes to specifications, design, display, and features. Read on.
Design: iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 8
If you put the two phones side by side and face-up, they are hardly indistinguishable. For that matter, the iPhone 7 was not a major departure from the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6. Both designs are remarkably similar. This has been a classic design, but one that needed an upgrade. Apple broke the spell by giving the iPhone 8 an all-glass design.
The iPhone 8 is marginally larger (in all directions) and heavier by about 10 grams (approximately 148 grams). So there So if you already have an iPhone 7, don’t worry, chances are that its cases will still fit the iPhone 8. The glass back means that it is compatible with wireless charging accessories on the market (more on that later). Besides, it also gives it a very premium feel. But potentially, it also means that the back may crack.
Both the phones lack headphone ports and feature the same ‘home’ button that stimulates a click but doesn’t actually click downwards, which seems to increase their longevity.
Both phones also have the same IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which means that they can withstand minor dips in water (both claim to remain unscathed for up to 30 minutes).
Performance Comparison
One of the biggest differences under the hood between the two phones is the processor. The newer model may feel a bit heavier, but everyone knew that it would have slight performance improvements, which it does.
While the iPhone 7 features the A10 processor, the iPhone 8 has the A11 Bionic, which Apple claimed at the time of the launch that it was 25% faster than its predecessor. This is a 6-core processor that offers several speed improvements over the last one. In terms of RAM, both phones have the same 2 GB, which we feel is quite sufficient to run iOS and other apps.
The iPhone 8 features a custom-designed GPU, which means its made by Apple. It uses half the power (compared with the A10) and results in 30% faster graphics.
But if you have ever used the iPhone 7, you would hardly feel the difference because the older model is no less powerful. You may feel the difference when you are playing graphic-heavy games or augmented reality apps.
Which Display is Better?
Both devices seemingly have a similar display at 4.7 inches and these will be deemed small compared with newer models. On paper, the two devices have identical displays with the same 1334 x 750 pixels, but there are some subtle differences between the two. Long-time Apple users will remember the TruTone technology that was first introduced in the iPad Pro 9.7 and it now comes with the iPhone 8.
This means that your display will adjust to your environment for the best color tone. The intensity and the color temperature of the screen will change according to your surroundings and the result is soothing to the eye. This ensures the correct color balance at all times. The iPhone 8 is also capable of playing Dolby Vision/HDR content that is fast becoming fairly common for streaming services such as Netflix, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video.
iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 8 Camera
These days cameras on phones are one of their biggest selling points, and for the iPhone, this has been one of its strong features. When you compare the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, you will hardly notice any difference at first glance.
Similar to the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 features a 12 megapixel, f/1.8 aperture, as well as a 7 MP, f/2.2 aperture front camera. The rear camera offers optical image stabilization (OIS), while the front camera does not. iPhone 8 lost out on dual cameras, while the others, such as the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 Plus did.
But according to Apple, the iPhone 8 offers a better camera sensor in terms of speed and size. It features an image signal processor that has been designed by Apple and offers improvements over the predecessor such as better noise reduction (making the images look much sharper) and takes pictures in low light faster.
iPhone 8 offers better video performance; you can now shoot 4K videos at 60 frames per second (the iPhone 7 allows only 30 frames) and it won hands down with slow-motion captured at 240 frames per second (1080p), which is a vast improvement over the iPhone 7.
The iPhone 8 also incorporates AR, which means that it supports all apps built on this platform. This is made possible with the inclusion of new accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Which Phone Has a Better Battery Life?
People who were expecting significant improvement over the iPhone 7 are in for a slight disappointment. If you take a look at the comparison between the two on Apple’s website, the company categorically says that the iPhone 8 will last just the same as the iPhone 7. The latter was a significant improvement over the iPhone 6s, with the battery lasting 2 extra hours.
But take heart, the iPhone 8 supports fast charging (which is now a prerequisite in nearly all phones designed by most rivals), and that means that it can charge the phone up to 50% capacity in just about 30 minutes. It also supports Qi-compatible wireless charging, so you can use any device to wirelessly charge the iPhone 8 that supports Qi compatibility. Apple does not include a fast-charging kit in the box though, so you will have to buy a compatible charger separately (and they do not come cheap either). This could be a grumble for many because comparatively, every Android phone (that supports fast charging) comes with a fast charger and does not cost an arm and a leg.
But both the phones will need to be charged at least once a day, depending on your usage.
iPhone Storage
We have seen with previous iPhone models that 32 GB was the standard on most phones, there is a slight improvement. In this day and age, 32 GB is simply not enough for a device that you use on a day-to-day basis, and Apple has realized it. The iPhone 8 is available in 2 variants; the 64GB and much bigger capacity of 128 GB.
On the other hand, the iPhone 7 is also available in 2 variants, namely the 32 GB and 128 GB. This could cause confusion and dilemma if you are contemplating buying any of the phones depending on their storage.
Price Difference: iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 8
Prices drop for older models whenever Apple comes out with newer models, so naturally, the price for the iPhone 7 has been slashed since iPhone 8 and further models were introduced. The 64 GB version of the iPhone will cost around $449, while the 128 GB version costs $50 more for $499. Apple does not provide the prices for the iPhone 7 on its website, instead, it states that it is available at authorized resellers.
But going through other sources, you find that the iPhone 7 is available for significantly low prices; in some cases, nearly $150-$200 lesser than their original price. This could be a factor that could sway a lot of people who are leaning towards buying a premium Apple product.
Conclusion
Side by side, both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 are great phones with significant advantages over their previous avatars. The iPhone 8 offers important design changes such as an all-glass back and the inclusion of wireless and fast charging but cuts corners by not including the fast charger in the box. It has an all-new processor and offers some improvement in performance if you like your games. These two features alone are important improvements, but not major ones. Still, if you are in the market for a new iPhone and do not want to burn a hole in your pocket, the iPhone 7 is a decent buy.
