I just saw Apple's new iPhones. What's the difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X? Is one of them better than the other? Which one should I get?
Nikesh, via email
Apple's unleashed three new smartphones upon the world: the iPhone 8, larger iPhone 8 Plus, and top-end iPhone X. They're all pretty similar inside but there are some definite differences, with each one suited to a slightly different kind of user. Let's take a closer look.
The iPhones 8 and iPhone X compared
Here's how they compare at a glance.
| iPhone X | iPhone 8 | iPhone 8 Plus | |
| Display | 5.8in, AMOLED, 1125 x 2436px | 4.7in, LCD, 750 x 1334px | 5.5in, LCD, 1080 x 1920px |
| Processors | A11 Bionic (six-core) | A11 Bionic (six-core) | A11 Bionic (six-core) |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB |
| Rear camera | Dual 12MP, OIS on both, 2x optical zoom | 12MP, OIS | Dual 12MP, OIS (f/1.8 lens only), 2x optical zoom |
| Front camera | 7MP with laser facial recognition | 7MP | 7MP |
| Water-resistant? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Face ID? | Yes | No | No |
| Headphone jack? | No | No | No |
| Price? | From £999 | From £699 | From £799 |
Should I get an iPhone X?
This is the big flagship of the bunch - packed with top specs, a stunning design, and the best screen we've ever seen on an iPhone.
The main draws here are:
- The screen. It's a whopper, covering the entire front of the phone right to the edges, and the quality is quite something. It's OLED, and has a resolution of 1125 x 2436 pixels.
- The camera. It's the best thing put on the back of an iPhone yet. It has two lenses, one telephoto and one wide-angle, both of which have OIS (optical image stabilisation) to focus them better.
- Face ID. The iPhone X has sensors at the top that use infrared to identify your face. This is to replace Touch ID, since there's no room for a fingerprint sensor on the handset - you can literally unlock your phone with your face.
The other thing that sets the iPhone X apart is the price. It's a whopping £999 or £1149, depending on storage - but thankfully there are contract deals available to make that more manageable.
Get the iPhone X if:
- You want the best of the best
- You love a giant HD screen
- You want to take the best possible photos
- You can afford the extra expense (though contracts are available, remember)
- You prefer Face ID over Touch ID
- You never really liked the home button anyway
Should I get an iPhone 8?
The iPhone 8 is more of an upgrade to the iPhone 7 than anything. The shape and design are basically the same as the 7, only with new materials, including a shiny glass back and 'aerospace-grade' aluminium around the sides.
Other upgrades include some new, extremely powerful processors - a hexa-core A11 Bionic chipset, the fastest yet - and wireless charging, allowed for by that glassy rear.
Besides those, most things are the same. It has the usual 4.7-inch screen, plus a home button - so it has the standard Touch ID and fingerprint sensor rather than facial recognition tech.
Get the iPhone 8 if:
- You like the standard iPhone shape
- You aren't made of money (it's the cheapest of the current batch)
- You don't want a huge screen
- You prefer Touch ID over Face ID
- You like to take good photos, but aren't fussed about optical zoom
Should I get an iPhone 8 Plus?
There's always a plus-sized version of the iPhone knocking around, and this time it's the iPhone 8 Plus - an upgrade on the 7 Plus model, and a bigger version of the regular 8. Specifically, it has a 5.5-inch screen with a Full HD resolution.
The camera on this one is better than on the standard iPhone 8 too - like the iPhone X, it's a dual-lens affair, though unlike on the X, you only get OIS on one lens.
It has a bigger battery than on the 8 and the 7 Plus too, and possibly more RAM, so it's a bit more high-powered.
Get the iPhone 8 Plus if:
- You want a big screen, but still want a home button
- You prefer Touch ID over Face ID
- You'll be using your phone for work or business
- You want to take great photos
- Compare iPhone 8 Plus deals
