Three years ago, Apple changed the face of its smartphone lineup not just with a new, larger size for the iPhone, but by introducing a second extra-large option for users who craved bigger screens still: the iPhone Plus. And for a while, that’s basically what you were buying when you picked up an iPhone Plus: a regular iPhone but with a bigger screen.
But even from the start, there were hints that Apple wanted to differentiate its smartphone models based on more than just device size, and we were already seeing feature disparity between the two iPhones, as the Plus picked up optical stabilization for its camera. While seemingly minor, the idea of the Plus model as the home for advanced camera tech took root, and when the iPhone 7 Plus picked up dual rear cameras last year, it was clear that from here on out we’d be shopping for iPhones based not just on what size we preferred, but what we wanted to be able to do with the phone.
This year that decision is complicated further by the introduction of a third, wildly new iPhone model: the iPhone X. While it does represent another bigger-screen-yet option, it’s far more than just that, experimenting with a controversial new design and advanced tech like Face ID.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus Review
While some shoppers will say, “the more the better,” and eagerly flock to the iPhone X (as they once did to the iPhone Plus) as Apple’s highest-end option, where does that leave the iPhone 8 Plus? It’s still bigger than the iPhone 8, more expensive, and features an upgraded camera. And unlike the iPhone X, it has the benefit of being available right now, rather than forcing shoppers to wait another month.
So who should be buying an iPhone Plus this year? Well, let’s take a look at what you can expect from the phone’s hardware, and Apple’s latest software, as we start breaking things down and answering that question.
In the box:
•iPhone 8 Plus
•Lightning EarPods
•Analog headphone adapter
•Charger
•USB to Lightning cable
•SIM tool
•Welcome card
•Advisory card
•Stickers