Apple may have just unveiled brand-new iPhones, but there’s still plenty to like about its older devices – and they’re now cheaper than ever before.
After introducing the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max on Wednesday, Apple dropped the prices of some of its older devices. While the priciest iPhone now exceeds $1,100, a year-old phone like the iPhone 8 will set you back a more manageable $600.
And the price isn’t the only thing to love about the iPhone 8 – its design and specs are still competitive with Apple’s new flagship phone.
Here are 6 reasons to still buy the iPhone 8 over the new iPhone XS:
1. The iPhone 8 costs $400 less than the iPhone XS.
If you're looking for an affordable phone with up-to-date specs, the iPhone 8 is a solid option. It starts at $599, or monthly payments of $24.95.
Of course, if you're looking for more storage, the price will increase significantly. While the 64 GB option starts at $599, a 256 GB iPhone 8 costs $749.
Still, it's a better deal than the new iPhone XS, which starts at $999 and can cost as much as $1,349.
2. The iPhone 8 is lighter and thinner than the iPhone XS.
Not everyone is looking for the lightest, thinnest phone. But if that's a priority for you, the iPhone 8 is the best option.
iPhone 8:
- Weight - 148 grams
- Depth - 7.3 mm
iPhone XS:
- Weight - 177 grams
- Depth - 7.7 mm
3. The iPhone 8 is water resistant and has wireless charging, just like the iPhone XS.
Just like the brand-new iPhone XS, the iPhone 8 is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. It's also waterproof in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
The iPhone XS is slightly more waterproof than the iPhone 8, however - Apple says it can be submerged in two meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
4. The iPhone 8 has a home button and a fingerprint scanner.
While it may not be Apple's latest technology, anyone used to Apple's older phones will appreciate a physical home button, along with a fingerprint scanner to unlock your device.
Starting with the iPhone X, Apple abandoned both the home button and fingerprint scanner in favor of Face ID, Apple's facial-recognition technology. The iPhone XS also uses Face ID.
5. The iPhone 8 has an advanced camera that's almost on par with the iPhone XS.
The iPhone 8 is missing a few of the camera features that make the iPhone XS camera so great. It doesn't have portrait mode or portrait lighting on the front or rear cameras, it can't do Animoji or the new Memoji, and it doesn't have 2X optical zoom.
That being said, the iPhone 8 still has a great camera. Its front camera has most of the same specs as the iPhone XS, including a 7 MP lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and 1080p HD video.
The iPhone 8's rear camera has the same 12 megapixel wide angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture as the iPhone XS, along with wide color capture, a quad-LED True Tone flash, and 4K video recording.
The iPhone 8 will get iOS 12, the latest version of Apple's smartphone operating system — the same software powering the iPhone XS.
All of Apple's iPhones dating back to the iPhone 5s will get iOS 12 when it becomes available on September 17, which means the iPhone 8 will run the same version of Apple's smartphone operating system as the iPhone XS.
iOS 12 will come with some significant updates, including a speed boost for older iPhones, a change to the notification system, a new augmented-reality app, and more.