Tossing up between two iPhones? The iPhone 8 and iPhone X may be a year old now, but they're both still fantastic phones. And if you're torn between one and the other, now is the time to decide.
The discontinued iPhone X is fast becoming a rare beast, with providers and retailers flogging off their last remaining stock. The iPhone 8, meanwhile, remains a popular choice and thanks to a recent price cut, it's looking more attractive than ever.
So how to decide? Here's how the two phones compare on:
iPhone 8 vs iPhone X: Price
Our pick: iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 is a full $500 cheaper than the iPhone X when you compare outright pricing.
Looking at plan options, the situation isn't much better. Plans for the iPhone 8 start at a full $20 less per month.
There's no getting around this fact, the iPhone 8 is a much cheaper phone than the iPhone X. Back in 2017 when the phones were launched, the iPhone 8 was cheaper.
Today, you'll pay $979 for an iPhone 8 64GB model, and $1,479 for an iPhone X with 64GB. If you want 256GB the iPhone 8 will cost you $1,229 and the X will cost around $1729, depending on the retailer.
If you're looking at plans, the difference between the phones in terms of price is still startling. At the time of writing, the cheapest iPhone 8 plan you can get is $70 for 4GB from Optus. The same plan from Optus for the iPhone X is $90 per month, and that's also the cheapest you'll pay for the X on a plan.
Check out iPhone 8 plans below. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
iPhone 8 vs iPhone X: Camera
Our pick: iPhone X
If you're looking for the best camera out of the two phones, the iPhone X is the clear winner.
The iPhone X comes with dual rear-facing cameras, TrueDepth technology on the front, and Portrait Mode.
When it comes to photography, the iPhone X is the clear winner out of the pair of 2017 iPhones. While the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X have the same primary camera, the iPhone X has a secondary lens for 2x optical zoom. The iPhone X also uses the secondary lens for Portrait Mode, which allows you to tastefully blur the background behind your subjects.
It has a front-facing TrueDepth camera which is designed to not only authenticate your face (as part of its Face ID biometric security), but also to deliver next-level selfies, thanks to its improved depth-sensing capabilities. Faces appear sharply in focus, and the new Portrait Lighting uses algorithms to create the perfect light effects for your facial structure.
Check out some plans for the iPhone X below. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
iPhone 8 vs iPhone X: Looks
Our pick: iPhone X
The iPhone X boasts a radical redesign of the traditional iPhone look. It's got edge-to-edge display and a vivid OLED panel.
The home button may be gone, but we think it's well worth the trade-off.
In 2017, the iPhone X represented a radical redesign on the traditional iPhone look, and definitely for the better. Thanks to the demise of the home button and bezels, the screen is edge-to-edge and at 5.8-inches and nice and large too, with a pixel density of 458ppi and a vivid OLED panel.
The iPhone X also comes with True Tone technology (as does the iPhone 8) and new dual-domain pixels for viewing at almost any angle.
Of course, with no home button, you will have to get comfortable with using gestures and touch to navigate the interface. To incorporate the all-screen design there's also no fingerprint scanner. Instead the iPhone X unlocks via facial recognition, which can also be used to authenticate Apple Pay, and much more.
With that big new all-screen display, you'll definitely want to be getting into some Netflix on the go. Here are some iPhone X plans with big data to cover your streaming needs. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
iPhone 8 vs iPhone X: Performance
Our pick: iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 and iPhone X are identical in terms of performance.
So if all you really want is a fast iPhone, you may as well save yourself some money in the process, and go for the iPhone 8.
The iPhone X may have looks and camera smarts over the iPhone 8, but there is one respect in which they are identical - performance. Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone X come are powered by Apple's A11 Bionic chip and run the same software.
The A11 chip features four efficiency cores that are up to 70% faster than the 2016 A10. The newer chip means fast processing, plus support for gaming and new augmented reality apps.
With the iPhone 8 a cool $500 cheaper than the iPhone X, if performance is the main thing you're after, the choice is easy. Here are a few big data iPhone 8 plans to help you get the most out of the speedy performance. Note these plans are all offered on a 24-month contract. However, you have the option to pay off your phone over 12 or 36 months with Vodafone.
iPhone 8 vs iPhone X: Battery life
Our pick: iPhone X
If you're looking for a longer lasting smartphone, the iPhone X is it. You should have around 30% left at the end of the day, where as the iPhone 8 struggles to make it through a full day. If you make it, you'll only have around 10 to 20% left.
When we tested the two phones, we found the iPhone 8 about 10% to 20% of battery life at the end of a reasonably demanding use. By contrast, the iPhone X typically had at least 30% after the same kind of usage. The iPhone X is easily the winner.. Check out the range of iPhone X plans using our handy comparison tool.
Still can't decide?
If you can't find a price or plan for the iPhone X that suits you, it might be better to consider choosing an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR instead.
The iPhone XS starts outright at $1,629 for the 64GB model, while the iPhone XS Max will set you back $1,799 for the same. The cheaper iPhone XR starts at $1,229 for the 64GB model.
If you don't want to buy outright, all three iPhones are available on plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Start your search here.
Jacqui Dent
Editorial Strategist
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