Apple today announced a new generation of iPhone: iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The new iPhone features a new glass and aluminum design in three beautiful colors made out of the most durable glass ever in a smartphone, Retina HD displays and A11 Bionic chip, and is designed for the ultimate augmented reality experience. The world’s most popular camera gets even better with single and dual cameras featuring Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus, and wireless charging brings a powerful new capability to iPhone. Both devices will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, September 15 in more than 25 countries and territories, and in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
“iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are a new generation of iPhone that improve on everything we love about iPhone,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a statement. “iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have new glass and aluminum designs, new Retina HD displays and A11 Bionic — the smartest chip ever in a smartphone. Packed with more advanced cameras with Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting, and the highest quality video capture in a smartphone, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus enable the freedom of wireless charging, all with AR optimization like no phone ever before.”
Stunning New Glass and Aluminum Design
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus introduce a beautiful glass back design made with the most durable glass ever in a smartphone in three new finishes: space gray, silver and gold. The glass finish is made using a seven-layer color process for precise hue and opacity, delivering a rich depth of color with a color-matched aerospace-grade aluminum bezel, and is water and dust resistant.
New Retina HD Displays
The new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays with the addition of True Tone adjust the white balance of the display to match the surrounding light for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience. The vibrant wide color gamut Retina HD display offers the best color accuracy in the industry. Redesigned stereo speakers are up to 25 percent louder and deliver deeper bass, enabling richer-sounding music, videos and speakerphone calls.
Introducing A11 Bionic
A11 Bionic, the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone, features a six-core CPU design with two performance cores that are 25 percent faster and four efficiency cores that are 70 percent faster than the A10 Fusion, offering industry-leading performance and energy efficiency. A new, second-generation performance controller can harness all six cores simultaneously, delivering up to 70 percent greater performance for multi-threaded workloads, giving customers more power while providing the same great battery life. A11 Bionic also integrates an Apple-designed GPU with a three-core design that delivers up to 30 percent faster graphics performance than the previous generation. All this power enables incredible new machine learning, AR apps and immersive 3D games.
Designed for AR
The cameras on iPhone 8 Plus are custom tuned for the ultimate AR experience. Each camera is individually calibrated, with new gyroscopes and accelerometers for accurate motion tracking. The A11 Bionic CPU handles world tracking, scene recognition and the GPU enables incredible graphics at 60fps, while the image signal processor does real-time lighting estimation. With ARKit, iOS developers can take advantage of the TrueDepth camera and the rear cameras to create games and apps offering fantastically immersive and fluid experiences that go far beyond the screen.
All-New Camera for Better Photos and Video
The world’s most popular camera gets even better, featuring an improved 12-megapixel camera with a larger and faster sensor, a new color filter and deeper pixels. A new Apple-designed image signal processor delivers advanced pixel processing, wide color capture, faster autofocus in low light and better HDR photos, while a new quad LED True Tone Flash with Slow Sync results in more uniformly lit backgrounds and foregrounds. All this adds up to outstanding photos with vibrant, realistic colors and more detail.
The new camera also delivers the highest quality video capture ever in a smartphone with better video stabilization, 4K video up to 60fps and 1080p slo-mo up to 240fps. The Apple-designed video encoder provides real-time image and motion analysis for optimal quality video. With iOS 11, both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus support HEIF and HEVC for up to two times compression and storage for twice the photos and videos.
iPhone 8 Plus features dual 12-megapixel cameras and introduces Portrait mode with Portrait Lighting, bringing dramatic studio lighting effects to iPhone, allowing customers to capture stunning portraits with a shallow depth-of-field effect in five different lighting styles.
Portrait Lighting is based on extensive research into the art and science of portraiture and core photographic lighting principles. It uses the dual cameras and the Apple-designed image signal processor to recognize the scene, create a depth map and separate the subject from the background. Machine learning is then used to create facial landmarks and add lighting over contours of the face, all happening in real time, giving customers even more power to express themselves through photography.
Designed for a Wireless Future
The glass back design enables a world-class wireless charging solution. Wireless charging works with the established Qi ecosystem, including two new wireless charging mats from Belkin and mophie, available from apple.com and Apple Stores.
Apple gave a sneak peek of AirPower, an Apple-designed wireless charging accessory coming in 2018, which offers a generous active charging area that will allow iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X customers to simultaneously charge up to three devices, including Apple Watch Series 3 and a new optional wireless charging case for AirPods.
Featuring iOS 11, the World’s Most Advanced Mobile Operating System
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus come with iOS 11, featuring incredible advancements to Portrait mode, while new effects make Live Photos more fun and expressive.
iOS 11 also brings augmented reality to hundreds of millions of iOS devices with a new platform for developers to build apps that let users place virtual content on top of real-world scenes. Siri debuts new male and female voices and can translate US English phrases into Chinese, French, German, Italian or Spanish.
Pricing and Availability
• iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in space gray, silver and an all-new gold finish in increased 64GB and 256GB capacity models starting at $699 (US) from apple.com and Apple Stores and is also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
• Through Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program, customers in the US can get iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, with the protection of AppleCare+, choose their carrier (no multiyear service contract required) and have the opportunity to upgrade to a new iPhone every year. The iPhone Upgrade Program is available for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at apple.com and Apple Stores in the US with monthly payments starting at $34.50 for iPhone 8 and $39.50 for iPhone 8 Plus.
• Customers will be able to order iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus beginning Friday, September 15, with availability beginning Friday, September 22, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, the US and US Virgin Islands.
• iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in Andorra, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and Slovenia beginning Friday, September 29.
• Apple-designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colors will be available starting at $35 (US). Lightning Docks in color-matching metallic finishes will also be available for $49 (US).
• Every customer who buys iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup in-store or online to help them customize their iPhone by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more.4
• Anyone who wants to start with the basics or go further with iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iOS 11 can sign up for free Today at Apple sessions at apple.com/today.
Note: iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are splash, water and dust resistant, and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529.
MacDailyNews Take: These are both winners, priced well, and Apple will sell boatloads of these devices. After iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus is the best smartphone in the world, with iPhone 8 right behind.
And, hallelujah, the stupid “S” is finally dead!!! That alone will sell million more units than if they were stupidly named iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.
Why is iPhone now more expensive than before? Base model has, for almost a decade, been $650. Not anymore.
I’m sure most people are going to ignore (or not even realise) the price difference, which likely means that Apple’s margins will get a nice bump.
There is only one short and rather vague mention of ‘water- and dust-resistant’. I assume this is at least as good as the 7 (swimming pool depth for extended time without any damage). Otherwise, it will be a let-down.
The extensive proliferation of underwater YouTube and FaceBook video over the past year is a direct consequence of iPhone 7. People are using the feature, so it would be a shame if it simply went away.
Talk about a device that’s dead on fucking arrival…. the iPhone 8. Looks too much like an iPhone 7/Plus to get ego upgrade points from your friends. Is too close in price to the X not to pass it up. Not sure exactly who the iPhone 8 is for, or even why they made it in the first place!
I think it is probably for me. Some of us want a device that meets our own personal requirements, but doesn’t provide features we won’t use. Is the iPhone X worth $300 more than the iPhone 8? For some people yes, for others no.
I’m not a bleeding-edge early adopter. I had an Apple ][+, not a I or original II. I waited until Macs had 512K of memory before I got one. I waited until iPhones had 3G and native apps before I bought one. I will probably wait for the second or third iteration of the OLED iPhone, too. In the meantime, the iPhone 8 represents a huge step beyond my iPhone 6s.
This may surprise you, but most Apple customers are more interested in using their devices than in “getting ego upgrade points.” If we wanted fireworks in our life, we would buy an exploding Samsung.
Truth be told, TxUser, I’m upgrading (or downgrading) depending how you look at it, to the iPhone X, but for the record I will note that it’s under duress.
I will miss the headphone jack on my 6S, but I suppose that’s what the shitty adapter is for, right? Tim Cook is a joke of a CEO for Apple. At least he’s consistent though… literally and figuratively he sucks more and more each day.
TxUser,
I was hoping Apple would announce technical upgrades of the iPhone SE also, but alas, Apple did not. Like significant number phone users, I prefer one that fits my jeans front pocket — the iPhone 6 and succeeding iterations are just too long.
I am disappointed that Apple thinks iPhone users that prefer the “4 to 5S form factor” as embodied in the iPhone SE are just those seeking bargains rather than phone users having preference for a convenient “phone size” but would have the best technical specifications as the latest iPhone models.
CGC
I agree completely.
iPhone 8 looks like iPhone 7, which looked like 6s, which looked like 6. I’m not sure what is your point, unless you are one of those who need people to be very clear, at first glance of their phone, that they have the latest model. I’m not. Mine will be in a case, so it will likely look like my brother’s iPhone 6 (3 years old now).
So, what’s the difference, compared to 7? If nothing else other than A11 chip, extra RAM, more storage and wireless charging, then is certainly worth the $150 price difference.
People who bought 6 / 6s two years ago will be looking for an upgrade. This will be the device for them (us; currently 6s for me).
If T-Mobile comes up with some promotional offer that could save me a few hundred $$, I’m jumping on it.
Probably because of the increased base storage (64GB). Personally I would have rather had them keep 128GB priced accordingly, now I’ll almost certainly bump up to 256GB.
They are beautiful, but, not sure why anybody would get these instead of the X? The X is just so far above and beyond, you would be foolish to settle for the lesser models. Your going to pay anyways….
Not everyone enjoys the bleeding edge products that don’t “just work”. Onstage Craig took two tries for facial recognition to unlock the iPhone X. It remains to be seen how much of a pain in the ass this will be in the real world.
My wife wants the 4.7 inch iPhone 8. She doesn’t want the Plus. It looks like the X only comes in 5.8 inch. So I think there will be demand for the smaller phone which the iPhone 8 will fill quite capably.
I think you will find that the X is around the same size as the 8. Yes, it seems it should be close in size to the 8 plus, but actually it is close in size to the 8, and hence is pocketable.
That’s a good point, although the X is a bit bigger than the 6S, but not by a whole lot. It will probably boil down to her desire or lack thereof to move into the cutting edge. She’s probably more content to stick with the tried and true design before moving to the new generation. I see the price of iPhone Xcoming down a bit in the future as production of the OLED displays ramps up, but that’s not the deciding factor.
I have at least 200 good reasons why…
I’m tempted by the X, but I might hold off to see people’s first impressions (of course that might mean waiting months for backorders to be filled). I get the feeling it will be a battery hog, they say it gets 2 hrs. better battery life than the 7, but I’m sure it’ll still be worse than the plus. And as we saw in the presentation, Face ID is still buggy. I’m also curious what kind of cases will be available, since the glass back and front are going to be susceptible to cracks when dropped.
What’s wrong with an S. The public perception is that S = refined and debugged.
There is no “S”.
8 and 8 Plus…
Not sure I want to leap onto the X. (price, similar inside specs for CPU and camera, no home button, no finger scan etc) – feels like I’m not ready for the big shift. 🙂
Very tempted by the 8+ though.
Any idea if the 8 home button is more “physical” than the 7? It looks like it with the gold shiny ring around it? Not been a big fan of the whole “clickey” screen of the 7+ vs my 6+.
The 8+ is the same as the 7+ as far as the haptic home button. I only tried it in store but I wasn’t a fan, nonetheless my 6+ is ready for retirement so I’ll have to decide between the 8+ and X, I’m used to force touch on my Watch so i’ll be glad to have it on my next iPhone.
My 2-year contract is just about up, but I think I’m keeping my 6S+ a bit longer and will consider whatever they call the second generation X in a year when Apple has had a year of free user beta testing for the new model.
2018 iPhone XS? Think of the humor possibilities.
https://goo.gl/wy7PtG#iPhone 8-8 Plus On #Flipkart, Pre-order From September 22
Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8 plus has A great Surprise!! ‘Great Features’. They has brought a host of new features and increased price tags
But on closer inspection, it appears most fundamental upgrade will not work as expected…
‘Great Secret Features’ and ‘Nasty Surprises’ are my regular columns investigating operating system updates for the best features / biggest problems
Hidden behind the headlines.
4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
Optical image stabilization for video
Optical zoom; digital zoom up to 6x
Slow-motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
Time-lapse video with stabilization
The iphone X 8+ and 8 is one of the best mobile developed by the apple.