If you picked up an iPhone 8 when it first came out in 2017, you might be thinking about upgrading - especially given the recently released iPhone 12. But is the iPhone 12 a good buy? Is it different enough to the iPhone 8 to justify dropping your hard-earned cash? To help you decide, we're taking a look at how the iPhone 12 and iPhone 8 compare.
Before we start, here's how the devices stack up in terms of hardware:
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 specifications
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED | 4.7-inch LCD |
| Resolution | Super Retina | Super Retina |
| Rear Cameras | 2x 12MP | 12MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 7MP |
| Processor | A14 | A11 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 64GB - 256GB |
| Water-Resistance | IP68 (up to 6m) | IP68 (up to 1m) |
| 5G | Yes | No |
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 price
It's hard to make a direct price comparison between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 8, given the iPhone 8 is no longer sold. Outright iPhone 12 prices as are follows, however:
- iPhone 12 64GB: $1,349
- iPhone 12 128GB: $1,429
- iPhone 12 256GB: $1,599
And here's a selection of popular 64GB iPhone 12 plans:
For comparison, the iPhone 8 initially launched at $1,079. If you're after a cheaper iPhone 12, you could always consider the iPhone 12 mini which starts at $1,199.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 camera
The iPhone 12 represents a significant step up in terms of camera when compared to the iPhone 8. While both phones have a 12MP primary camera, the iPhone 12 has a better sensor behind it. This will help with lowlight imaging, but you'll also get better photos across the board. We'll aim to update this with some iPhone 12 camera samples shortly.
The iPhone 12 also has a dedicated night mode, which you won't find on the iPhone 8. Night mode takes photos in lowlight over a longer period of time - normally around three seconds - in order to get a brighter overall image. By comparison, lowlight photos from the iPhone 8 look a bit rubbish.
Lastly, the iPhone 12 also benefits from a secondary camera: an ultra-wide lens that ostensibly lets you zoom out from your subject. In our book, extra cameras are always a win. After all, the more cameras, the more photographic possibilities.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 design
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 8 are completely different beasts when it comes to design. The iPhone 12 isn't that much larger than the iPhone 8, but has a much bigger screen. You'll get a 6.1-inch display versus the 4.7-inch screen on your old iPhone 8. That's because the iPhone 12 display is ostensibly edge-to-edge (other than the notch) whereas the iPhone 8 has rather chunky bezels. The iPhone 12 gives you a lot more screen, and looks a lot more modern.
In addition, the screen technology behind the iPhone 12 is much better too. The iPhone 12 has an OLED display, while the iPhone 8 has an LCD display. The iPhone 12's OLED display works by lighting up individual pixels as they're needed, which results in a screen with a higher contrast ratio and deeper blacks. Everything will pop that little bit more.
On the other hand, the iPhone 8 has a backlight behind its display, which means it can't go as dark as the iPhone 12 and won't achieve the same level of contrast.
In addition, the iPhone 8 was the last mainline iPhone to feature a fingerprint reader. Instead, the iPhone 12 unlocks using facial recognition. For the most part, Apple's facial recognition technology has matured to the point where it feels just as seamless as using a fingerprint - if not more so.
If you're thinking about grabbing an iPhone 12, you'll get to pick from five different colours: black, white, blue, green, and red. That's a nice improvement over the stock standard black, white, and gold the iPhone 8 was offered in.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 performance
While the iPhone 8 was no slouch, the iPhone 12 processor represents three generations of performance gains. You'll almost certainly notice a jump in zippiness if you're going from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 battery
We'll need to wait until we've got our hands on with the iPhone 12 to know exactly how it stacks up in terms of battery, but it will easily represent an improvement over the iPhone 8.
Based on Apple's battery specs, the iPhone 12's battery should be very similar to what you'd get on an iPhone 11. In our testing, we found the iPhone 11 could last about a day-and-a-half per charge. When testing the iPhone 8, we found you'd only get a maximum of a day per charge, and sometimes we found we had to top it up during the day. And if you've had your iPhone 8 for three years, there's a good chance your battery's maximum capacity has degraded.
Of course, 5G connectivity could impact the iPhone 12's battery life, so we'll be very interested to see whether the next generation network has any effect on the device's longevity.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 8 connectivity
The iPhone 12 is one of the first iPhones to have 5G connectivity, while the iPhone 8 maxes out at 4G. Of course, 5G is far from essential right now. The networks are very much in their infancy, and there's nothing you genuinely need 5G for right now. 5G itself isn't a reason to upgrade from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 12. But if you were considering getting an iPhone 12 regardless, 5G is a nice little bit of future-proofing.
WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has been upgraded with 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 5G. All you need to do is pop in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.
This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop down menu lets you choose between telcos.
At this stage, we don't have interactive maps for Vodafone due to the telco's limited 5G coverage.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
Should I upgrade from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 12?
If you're thinking about moving on from your iPhone 8, the iPhone 12 represents a significant upgrade to the point where it will feel like an entirely new phone. It's faster, you'll get nicer photos, and the battery lasts longer. If your iPhone 8 is still holding up, don't feel like you absolutely need to upgrade to the iPhone 12. But if you make the plunge, the iPhone 12 will be a great step up.
Alex Choros
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