iPhone 7 vs iPhone 8 – The reasons to upgrade

Apple has unveiled its iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus smartphones.
The company launched the devices alongside its new flagship iPhone X at a special event hosted at the Steve Jobs Theatre in California.
Like the iPhone 7 range, the iPhone 8 will have a 4.7-inch display, while the iPhone 8 Plus sports a 5.5-inch screen.
The iPhone 8 range also features an IP67 durability rating, but this is where the major similarities between the iPhone 8 and its predecessor end.
Improvements
Many iPhone 7 owners may decide to stick with their device due to its capable specifications and the higher price of the iPhone 8, but the new Apple devices offer many new features which will tempt them to upgrade.
Notable improvements over the iPhone 7 include:
- Apple’s A11 Bionic six-core processor, which boasts 70% better performance on multithreaded workloads.
- Support for 4K 60fps and 1080p 240fps video recording.
- New 12MP camera sensor that is more power efficient and provides more light.
- Qi wireless charging and fast charging support.
- Redesigned glass and aluminium chassis.
- Augmented reality support.
The specifications of the iPhone 7 and 8, and iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus are detailed below.
For the recommended pricing section, we took figures from the Apple international website – as there is currently no South African pricing for the new devices.
It must be noted that the iPhone 7 range starts with a 32GB model, as opposed to the iPhone 8 range’s 64GB model – which may account for the entry-level price difference.
iPhone 7 vs iPhone 8
Specifications | iPhone 7 | iPhone 8 |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
Weight | 138g | 148g |
OS | iOS 11 | iOS 11 |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD (750 x 1,334) | 4.7-inch Retina HD (750 x 1,334) |
Rear Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
Front Camera | 7MP | 7MP |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 64GB/256GB |
Processor | A10 Fusion | A11 Bionic |
Network | LTE | LTE |
Connectivity | NFC, Bluetooth, Lightning | NFC, Bluetooth, Lightning |
Durability | IP67 | IP67 |
Price | From $549 | From $699 |
iPhone 7 Plus vs iPhone 8 Plus
Specifications | iPhone 7 Plus | iPhone 8 Plus |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm | 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm |
Weight | 188g | 202g |
OS | iOS 11 | iOS 11 |
Display | 5.5-inch Retina HD (1,080 x 1,920) | 5.5-inch Retina HD (1,080 x 1,920) |
Rear Camera | Dual 12MP | Dual 12MP |
Front Camera | 7MP | 7MP |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 64GB/256GB |
Processor | A10 Fusion | A11 Bionic |
Network | LTE | LTE |
Connectivity | NFC, Bluetooth, Lightning | NFC, Bluetooth, Lightning |
Durability | IP67 | IP67 |
Price | From $669 | From $799 |