Got two iPhones on your mind and can't decide? The iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X may be over a year old now, but they're both still stellar phones. But if you're weighing up which iPhone is right for you, now is the time to decide.
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The discontinued iPhone X is fast becoming a rare beast, with providers and retailers flogging off their last remaining stock. The iPhone 8 Plus, meanwhile, remains a popular choice and thanks to a recent price cut, it's looking more attractive than ever.
So which device deserves your hard-earned dollars? Read on.
iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone X: Best features
iPhone 8 Plus
The iPhone 8 Plus comes with a gorgeous, durable glass back which not only looks great, but also enables wireless charging. Like the more expensive X, the 8 Plus is also water and dust-proof, and features the new True Tone white-balance screen technology for perfect viewing both day and night.
The display itself is 5.5-inches and offers a vibrant viewing experience thanks to Apple’s wide colour gamut. In terms of performance, the iPhone 8 Plus is powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic chip, featuring four efficiency cores that are up to 70% faster than the previous A10. The newer chip means even faster processing, plus support for gaming and new augmented reality apps.
Although the iPhone 8 is last year's phone, it still runs Apple's latest operating system, iOS 12, thanks to an update. Key new features in iOS 12 include digital wellbeing tools, customised Siri commands, notification grouping, improved augmented reality support, and group FaceTime.
iPhone X
Apple's crown jewel of 2017, the premium iPhone X is still a great buy. It was the first iPhone to feature an edge-to-edge screen, cutting away the bezels and home button of previous models. It has a nice big 5.8-inch display, which includes a pixel density of 458ppi and a vivid OLED panel. As with the iPhone 8, the iPhone X also comes with True Tone technology, and new dual-domain pixels for viewing at almost any angle.
The iPhone X has no Home button; users will need to get comfortable with using gestures and touch to navigate the interface. To incorporate the all-screen design there's no fingerprint scanner. Instead the iPhone X unlocks with Face ID, which can also be used to authenticate Apple Pay, and much more.
The iPhone X's facial recognition sensors also mean users can create animated emojis (or ‘Animojis’) based on facial expressions. The iPhone X is also ready to update to iOS 12, and comes with Qi wireless charging, water and dust resistance, and ultra-powerful processing, thanks to the A11 Bionic chipset (as found in the iPhone 8 Plus).
It's important to note, however, that all these features come new and improved with the latest iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. The iPhone XR even comes in at a cheaper price point. With the iPhone X being phased out for good, you may be better off considering one of the new devices instead. For more information check out our iPhone XS vs iPhone XR comparison guide.
iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone X: Camera comparison
iPhone 8 Plus
The iPhone 8 Plus camera is pretty dope. It features two 12-megapixel front-facing cameras: a wide-angle shooter with a six-element lens, Optical Image Stabilisation and a larger, faster sensor, plus a second telephoto camera. The dual front cameras also include portrait mode and Portrait Lighting features, plus True Tone flash with Slow Sync.
In front, you’ll find a 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera for premium selfies in a variety of conditions. The front camera also features Retina Flash, plus a wide colour capture and advanced pixel technology.
iPhone X
If you prefer the iPhone X, you'll also get the aforementioned dual 12-megapixel cameras in front, with larger and faster sensors, deeper pixels, and an all-new colour filter. Again, you'll find wide-angle and telephoto cameras with up to 10x digital zoom, with dual Optical Image Stabilisation and optical zoom for amazing, crisp shots - even at a distance.
Portrait Mode has also been given a front facelift, with improved detail and better low-light performance. You’ll also enjoy all the filters and settings you’ve already come to love in the iPhone camera, such as Panorama, Slo-Mo, and 4K video.
Apple’s new front-facing TrueDepth camera is designed to not only authenticate your face (as part of its Face ID biometric security), it also delivers next-level selfies, thanks to its improved depth-of-field capabilities. Faces appear sharply in focus, and the new Portrait Lighting uses algorithms to create the perfect light effects for your facial structure - so if selfies are a priority, the iPhone X is your best bet.
iPhone 8 Plus vs iPhone X: Specs
| iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone X | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch, 401 ppi | 5.8-inch, 458 ppi |
| Display tech | Retina HD | Super Retina HD |
| Operating system | iOS 11 | iOS 11 |
| Camera | 12 megapixel wide angle and telephoto rear cameras 7 megapixel FaceTime HD front camera | 12 megapixel wide angle and telephoto rear cameras 7 megapixel TrueDepth front camera |
| CPU/Chipset | Hexa-core A11 Bionic Chip | Hexa-core A11 Bionic Chip |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB 256GB | 64GB 256GB |
| MicroSD card slot? | No | No |
| USB | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac |
| Battery | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| 4G LTE | 4G LTE Advanced | 4G LTE Advanced |
| Dimensions | 158.4 mm x 78.1 mm x 7.5 mm | 143.6 mm x 70.9 mm x 7.7 mm |
| Weight | 202g | 174g |
| Water/dust resistant? | Yes - IP67 certified | Yes - IP67 certified |
Prices and plans
iPhone 8 Plus
Thanks to a recent price cut the iPhone 8 Plus currently retails at $1,149 outright for the 64GB model. It's also available on contract from Optus and Vodafone.
iPhone X
The iPhone X will cost you $1,479 outright for the 64GB model, or you can pick it up on a plan from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. If you're considering either of these options, however, we'd suggest acting fast. The iPhone X has been discontinued by Apple which means that once providers and retailers sell out their stock, there won't be any more.
If you can't find a price or plan for the iPhone X that suits you, it might be better to consider choosing an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR instead.
The iPhone XS starts outright at $1,629 for the 64GB model, while the iPhone XS Max will set you back $1,799 for the same. The cheaper iPhone XR starts at $1,229 for the 64GB model.
If you don't want to buy outright, all three iPhones are available on plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Start your search here.
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