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Apple unveiled three next-generation iPhones: the iPhone 8 ($699+), the iPhone 8 Plus ($799+) and the iPhone X ($999). While the latter is the most jaw-dropping of the three, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are the two smartphones you’re more likely to buy, seeing as they’re more affordable and available sooner. Both look similar to the now-old iPhone 7 and 7 Plus — same size and form factor — but Apple’s newest offerings boast some substantial internal upgrades on their predecessors. If you’re someone who annually upgrades to the latest-and-greatest iPhone, here’s everything you need to know about your future pocket companion.
The most powerful chip ever in a smartphone.
Both smartphones are upgraded with Apple’s new A11 Bionic processor. According to Apple, it’s 25 percent faster than the A10 Fusion processor found in last year’s iPhones. Apple also redesigned the GPU chips found in the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which are 30 percent faster and almost twice as energy efficient than the previous GPU chips.
Improved cameras for even better portraits.
The iPhone 8 has a single 12MP rear camera that is larger and faster than the iPhone 7’s camera. It has a built-in optical image stabilizer, too, which will help shaky-handed photographers. The iPhone 8 Plus has a dual-camera system, like the iPhone 7 Plus, but it has two 12MP lenses (f/1.8 and f/2.8 apertures). The improved lenses of the iPhone 8 Plus absorb 83 percent more light for better low-light shooting. It also enables the 8 Plus’s new advanced portrait mode, called “Portrait Lighting,” which uses machine learning to adjust the lighting on people’s faces.
Shoots 4K video at 60 fps.
The cameras on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have the “highest-quality video capture ever in a smartphone,” according to Apple executive Phil Schiller. Both can capture 4K video at 60 fps and can grab slow-motion videos at up to 1080p at 240 fps. (The iPhone 7 could only handle 120fps.)
A beautiful Retina display with True Tone technology.
Apple has upgraded the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus with Retina displays that feature True Tone technology, the same tech found in the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen depending on the environment you’re in. The display can replicate the “paper white” of a notebook so it’s more comfortable on your eyes.
Apple’s real bet is on AR.
The new processors and cameras on both iPhone 8s are designed specifically for augmented reality. As an example, which was shown during the presentation using the “MLB at Bat” app, you’ll be able hold your iPhone, point it at the baseball field, and see real-time stats about the players. If you haven’t experienced AR experience, you will in the near future.
