Product Review: iPhone 8

Apple officially started selling the iPhone 8 (and 8 plus) on September 22, 2017 and we've had our hands on one for a couple of weeks now. At first appearance it looks and feel like previous designs (iPhone 6, 6s and 7) but it's what's inside that really counts! The exterior has the same physical dimensions, so existing users cases/accessories will fit and work as before (no need to upgrade those too)! The back of the iPhone 8 is glass now, but Apple insists that it is as tough as the aluminum backed phones of previous generations. Time will tell. The headphone jack is still missing (removed with the iPhone 7 gen) and the "home" button still isn't a "real" button (like the previous phone gen too) - so again, there's not a real "wow" factor to the the visible physical device. Under the hood, there have been LOTS of changes.

First, wireless charging has finally come to iPhone. It's been on rival phones for years now, so it's about time! True Tone tech adapts white balance to wherever you are at to keep colors "accurate" while viewing. Upgraded Bluetooth and cellular radios provide for more reliable connections. The cameras have been updated and feature a 12-mega-pix back cam and 7 mega-pix front facing camera. HDR mode is on by default now, resulting in better images. The iPhone8 seems to be edged out in low light shooing by the Samsung 8/8+, but only slightly. Slow-mo video in 1080p is awesome along with 4K video at 60fps looking so good, video almost looks not real! Finally, better speakers make for an improved audio experience.

While the iPhone 8 may not be obviously different from the outside, it seems to magically "just work" better. It's faster, smoother and more efficient thanks to the internals being completely reworked. While it's definitely the "Best iPhone yet", we can't help but look forward to the iPhone X set to release in early November 2017 - the device that's changing the rules when it comes to mobile phones. If you don't want to wait or want to avoid the $1000 plus price tag, the iPhone 8 may be just the phone for you!