True, the iPhone X is the slightly “better” of the two on paper. It has a sharper, larger screen and a depth-sensing front-facing camera. But while it may be the obvious pick simply because of its extra hardware goodies, that doesn’t exactly mean it’s the right one for you.
To make sense of these two iPhones’ key differences and what impact they could make on your decision, I’ll walk you through the questions you should ask yourself when buying either of these two phones. It’s not about finding a “winner,” it’s about helping you find your next iPhone.
Apple’s aim with the iPhone X was to create an iPhone that’s all display, blurring the line between physical object and experience. The 5.8-inch front screen melts into a highly polished curved-edge stainless steel band encircling a durable all-glass body available in two pearlescent finishes: Space Gray and Silver. Both feature a black front panel.
Price: What’s your budget and what’re things worth to you?
Probably the most important factor in anyone’s buying decision is the price. The iPhone X is more expensive than the iPhone 8 by at least $200, £200 and AU$350. But these prices don’t factor in additional costs like tax and AppleCare, which can pile up quickly. To that end, figure out your total budget for the phone first, and don’t forget any cases, extra charging cables and adapters you plan on buying too.
If you can comfortably afford either phone or its accessories, consider the monetary value of each of the iPhone X’s unique features (which I’ll go over) and weigh its worth to you. Is that bigger screen worth the extra $100, and the depth camera worth another $100? Maybe they’re worth an extra $50 to you, and anything more feels egregious.
IPHONE X AND IPHONE 8 PLUS PRICING
| iPhone X | iPhone 8 Plus | |
| US | $999 (64GB), $1,149 (256GB) | $799 (64GB), $949 (256GB) |
| UK | £999 (64GB), £1,149 (256GB) | £799 (64GB), £949 (256GB) |
| Australia | AU$1,579 (64GB), AU$1,829 (256GB) | AU$1,229 (64GB), AU$1,479 (256GB) |
To help you out, here are some things you can get with that additional $200 that work with your new iPhone 8 Plus: a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones, two pairs of Bose SoundTrue Ultra or Klipsch R6i earbuds, at least five different iPhone 8 Plus cases, more AppleCare, two UE Boom 2 Bluetooth speakers, a spare Android phone for fun(!), an Amazon Echo Plus or a Google Home and much more.
iPhone design: Screen size, notch and that home button
The funny thing about the iPhone 8 Plus is that it has a smaller screen and thicker bezels than the iPhone X, but it’s bigger overall. That means it’s wider in the hand and heavier to hold. However, it also has a physical home button that you can easily tap to return home and double-tap to call up recent apps.