iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: Should you go big?

Apple has launched a trio of handsets: the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. The latter is the most radical departure – with an end-to-end screen design and facial-recognition technology, but the iPhone 8 and its larger sibling still boast a new processor, wireless charging and – perhaps most importantly – a cheaper price tag.

If you’ve already set your mind on the iPhone 8, here’s our brief rundown of the main differences between the two variants: the standard iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus.

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iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: Design

Both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus adopt a design approach similar to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The main difference here is the addition of a glass back. Depending on which camp you’re in, this is either a sleek-but-subtle design upgrade or an extra panel replacement waiting to happen.

Buy the iPhone 8 for £32 a month and £160 upfront with O2

Size-wise, the iPhone 8 has a 4.7in Retina HD display with a 1,334 x 750 resolution at 326ppi. The iPhone 8 Plus has a 5.5in display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 401ppi. If you’re looking for the largest display with the highest resolution between the two, the iPhone 8 Plus is the winner.

iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: Features and specs

The camera department is where the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus depart. Both handsets come with a 12-megapixel rear camera, but the iPhone 8 Plus has a dual-module setup that includes a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens. It also has digital zoom of up to 10x, compared to the iPhone 8’s 5x. Both handsets can however capture 4K video, and both have a 7-megapixel front shooter.

Buy the iPhone 8 for £32 a month and £160 upfront with O2

Powering both smartphones is an A11 Bionic chip – the same included in the iPhone X. All three also work with wireless charging. Unlike the iPhone X, however, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus only use standard Touch ID – not the facial recognition Face ID.

iPhone 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus: Price and verdict

You’re looking at £669 for the starting price of the iPhone 8, and £799 for the iPhone 8 Plus. For reference, the iPhone X will set you back £959.

Keeping focus on the two variants of the iPhone 8, you’ll want to consider whether you prefer the largest dimensions of a phablet, or the smaller body of a standard smartphone. The other main factor will be how important photography is to you. If you want the better camera, then the iPhone 8 Plus is for you.

In fact, we’d go so far as to say that the iPhone 8 Plus is definitely worth the extra £100. If you want a new iPhone, and you don’t want to cough up a grand for the iPhone X, then you’ll still be getting fantastic power and design with the iPhone 8 Plus.