There are still great, cheap iPhones if you go back a few cycles
The iPhone 8 is the best iPhone to buy if you’re looking to save a little money, but not compromise on speed or functionality. With most of the features of Apple’s newest flagship onboard, it has a lot to offer both people looking to upgrade an older iPhone and people looking for their first iPhone.
Best Overall: iPhone 8
When buying a slightly older model of a phone, it’s natural to be worried about how well (and how long) the device will still be running as newer models come out. The good news is Apple has an impressive track record when it comes to supporting older devices with new software updates, and the iPhone 8 has been no exception.
I recently popped my SIM card into my old iPhone 8 and decided to make it my daily carry for a few weeks, and I was astonished at how well it performed. The A11 Bionic chip packs enough power to get you through anything you can throw at it, from gaming for hours on end, to lots of emails, texts, Facebook messages, tweets, and every other type of communication. Not once did I feel like my iPhone 8 wasn’t up to the task. Even over a year later, the battery still lasts enough to get me through my day with average use, thanks in part to some great optimizations that came with the upgrade to iOS 13.
Touch ID is as useful, quick, and versatile as ever.
There’s no denying that opting for an iPhone that has Apple’s old design has a few drawbacks when you compare it to the iPhone 11. You’re not getting an OLED display, the TrueDepth selfie camera, or the near bezel-less design, but in honor of saving $350, the iPhone 8 still has a lot to offer.
While you may not have Face ID on the iPhone 8 you do have Touch ID, which is still as fast, useful, and versatile as ever. You can have more than one fingerprint on record, making it easy to unlock your phone regardless of how you hold it or pick it up, and it’s lightning-quick; just pressing on the Home button and you’re iPhone 8 is ready to use.
The 12MP single-lens camera on the back of the iPhone 8 may seem like a huge downgrade from the dual-camera system that Apple’s newer phones are rocking, but testing them side-by-side you’re likely not going to notice too much of a difference. If you look closely, you may see some slightly better handling of shadows on small objects in the frame, and maybe some slightly better textures on the iPhone 11. However, when it comes to having a great camera in your pocket, the iPhone 8 is more than good enough to satisfy most people.
Last but not least, the screen may only be LCD, but the 1334-by-750 resolution running at 326 pixels per inch still looks really smooth and feels great to watch videos, surf the web, view Instagram, and more. It’s still sporting Apple’s True Tone display, which will help the iPhone white balance your display to the lighting around you to help with eye-strain, and the color — while not as vibrant as an OLED display — still looks rich and full.
Pros
- A11 Bionic chip is still fast
- Camera takes great photos
- $350 cheaper than iPhone 11
- Touch ID
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Don’t like the old big-bezel design
- Want a dual-camera setup
Best Overall
iPhone 8
Water-resistant, wireless charging, A11 Bionic chip, and the wonderfully speedy iOS
While it may lack the new design of Apple’s newest iPhone, the iPhone 8 still offers an all-glass design that allows for wireless charging, has an IP67 rating, and the A11 Bionic chip still feels just as fast and responsive as ever.
Best with Face ID: iPhone XR
The iPhone XR features quite a few upgrades over the iPhone 8, including the new design, even bigger display, Face ID, and dual-SIM support, but still has some of the same features like wireless charging, and LCD display, and a single rear-facing camera. The iPhone XR is a great option for those who don’t mind spending a little more to get a more updated and modern looking device.
Pros
- A12 Bionic chip
- Face ID
- Newer small bezel design
Cons
- Only $100 cheaper than iPhone 11
- Single rear camera
Best with Face ID
iPhone XR
Face ID, TrueDepth selfie camera, and minimal bezel design.
If you’re looking for that new design look that offers an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, and the TrueDepth front-facing camera that allows you to take portrait mode selfies, the iPhone XR is the cheapest way to do it.
Best big iPhone: iPhone 8 Plus
With all the same snappy responsiveness that the A11 Bionic chip gives you, the iPhone 8 Plus is a mammoth of a phone. It’s big in your pocket, big in your hand, but the big screen makes it a great device to game and watch movies. Plus, the dual-camera system on the back gives you the ability to take portrait mode photos, which makes the already great iPhone 8 camera even better.
Pros
- A11 Bionic chip is still fast
- Dual cameras
- Touch ID
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Old big-bezel design
- Only $150 cheaper than iPhone 11
Best big iPhone
iPhone 8 Plus
If you like big and chunky phones, the iPhone 8 Plus is for you. With a bigger screen, bigger footprint, and dual-cameras, it is an improvement over the normal iPhone 8 and still the cheapest iPhone that features a dual-camera setup.
Best new iPhone: iPhone 11
The iPhone 11 is at least $300 cheaper than the iPhone 11 Pro but carries much of the same functionality. Both, for example, have the same A13 Bionic chip with a third-generation Neural Engine. Each model also has a front 12MP TrueDepth camera with a ƒ/2.2 aperture and Retina Flash. Other identical features include 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, and 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide camera lenses on the back of each device.
We know that the iPhone 11 is brand-spanking new, and that means when it comes to a budget device, it likely will be too expensive for a lot of people; however, if you think you have the extra dough to afford it, it is an option worth considering.
Pros
- A13 Bionic chip
- Ultra wide-angle camera
- Multiple color options
Cons
- Pretty expensive
Best new iPhone
iPhone 11
With a lot of the same features as the most expensive iPhone, buying an iPhone 11 will ensure you get the newest phone at the lowest price. Still, it’s more costly than buying older models.
Bottom line
When it comes to getting an iPhone, it’s very easy to assume you might need to shell out a ton of money to get a decent phone, but that’s definitely not the truth. The iPhone 8 is going to serve most people needs without making their wallets cry,
It’s still speedy enough to do all the browsing, photo-taking, and social media interacting that you would want to do every day, and iOS 13 runs perfectly smooth on an iPhone 8. By going with an older model, you will lose out on a couple of things that come along with the design of the newer iPhones, but you’ll still have wireless charging, and you get the added benefit of not having to lose TouchID!
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who has been carrying around an iPhone since he was old enough to buy his own, but he also has a knack for spending his hard-earned money wisely.
Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. He knows everything, literally everything, there is to know about the iPhone.
Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and knows here way around an iPhone. She’s known as the four-inch iPhone fan (R.I.P.).
