iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 12: Do you Need an Upgrade?
Getting an iPhone is something worth meditating on. Whichever model you will upgrade from, the cost of getting a new iPhone is considerable, and you need to know if all the additional features and the boost in performance are enough to justify it.
The iPhone 8 Plus has proven to be an excellent piece of technology that has stood the test of time. However, Apple’s support for its iPhones is roughly seven years, meaning its support will end soon, one of the most significant factors to consider.
You don’t need to get the iPhone 13 or even the iPhone 14 and pay a high price if you don’t want to. The iPhone 12 is still a favorite for many Apple users and has been one of the highest-rated phones to date. It includes 5G connectivity, a ceramic-hardened display, and MagSafe charging. But, what’s more important: its support will end in 2027, so there is still plenty of time.
Let us dive into the iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 12 comparison so you can decide if it’s time to upgrade.
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Price and availability
ModelOriginal Price Refurbished PriceiPhone 8 PlusStarting at $799Starting at
iPhone 12Starting at $699 Starting at
Apple no longer sells the iPhone 8 series, but you can get your hands on it through a third-party seller or look for a refurbished option.
There are significant improvements across the board that make the update well worth it, and you can even trade in your old iPhone to get an even better deal on the iPhone 12.
Display
Regarding the display, there’s no comparison between the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone 12. The latter has a bigger, brighter, and higher resolution display that supports HDR and Dolby Vision playback. It has slimmer bezels despite enjoying a bigger display size and is smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus in size. The iPhone 12’s display is protected by Ceramic Shield, which offers 4x better drop performance.
In contrast, the iPhone 8 Plus uses LCD panels from the good old days when Apple still used them in its smartphones. The iPhone X changed this with the introduction of OLED screens, the same as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have, both of which use Super Retina XDR displays. In short, the switch from LCD to OLED offers sharper colors, truer blacks, better contrast, and displays 117.8% of the sRGB color spectrum, compared to the 119.6% the iPhone 8 captured.
Design
The iPhone 12 is more compact, slimmer, and lighter than the iPhone 8 Plus, even with a screen that adds 0.4 inches. It has adopted the design Apple introduced with the iPhone X, with a notch at the top of the display to include the TrueDepth camera. Minimal bezels are still present surrounding the front display.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are four times more likely to survive a drop without any damage. The IP68 water resistance rating on these series allows Apple’s phones to survive a dip in up to 6 meters of water vs. the iPhone 8 models that could only endure 1 meter.
iPhone 8 Plus
Regarding materials, both smartphones are made with an aluminum design, although the iPhone 12’s curved design looks more modern and elegant. Also, Face ID has substituted Touch ID and the home button on the iPhone 12.
Performance
The A11 Bionic chip of the iPhone 8 Plus was ahead of its time when it first debuted in 2017. The Neural Engine on the chip was a big deal as it greatly helped speed up certain machine learning tasks.
In comparison, the A14 Bionic chip of the iPhone 12 is in another league. Apple claimed that the new CPU was 50% faster than other smartphones of its time. The GPU was also up to 50% faster than any other. The faster Neural Engine, ISP, and ML also greatly benefited apps increasingly relying on them for complex and specific tasks.
Camera
The camera of the iPhone 12 is one of the biggest upgrades and one of the main reasons to upgrade your phone. While the iPhone 8 Plus has a 7MP camera with f/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash, and Auto HDR, the iPhone 12 enjoys a 12MP camera with f/2.2 aperture adding Portrait Lighting, 4K video recording, Night Mode, and Deep Fusion technology. In addition, FaceTime makes it possible to take much better selfies with the newest model.
Apple’s photo processing powers have also improved the iPhone’s camera over the three years between the release of the two models. The machine learning-powered software on the latest iPhones and computational photography software make the iPhone 12 the clear winner.
Storage and RAM
The iPhone 12 is available in 128GB and 256GB storage variants, while you can choose between the 64GB and 256 GB variants in the iPhone 8 Plus.
One advantage of the iPhone 12 is in terms of RAM since it has 4GB compared to the 3GB RAM of the iPhone 8 Plus. The additional gig of RAM provides a much better performance when multitasking and having multiple apps opened simultaneously.
Connectivity
The iPhone 12 models are the first iPhones to offer next-generation 5G connectivity and also have the U1 chip, dual-SIM connectivity, and faster WiFi. The iPhone 8 Plus has advanced LTE, WiFi with MIMO, and NFC with a reader mode.
Battery life and charging
It’s hard to compare battery life between older and newer iPhones, partly because Apple never reveals the size of the batteries it inserts in its phones. But, on average, the iPhone 8 Plus lasts 11 hours. The iPhone 12, on the other hand, lasts up to an average of 9 hours.
The iPhone 8 series were the first Apple phone that supported wireless charging, and of course, it’s also included with the iPhone 12. Now, Apple’s iPhones have added support for MagSafe wireless charging, in which magnet-equipped chargers attach to the back of the phone for a more reliable charge.
The introduction of MagSafe may be the main reason why Apple left the wall adapter behind. With it, the iPhone 12 can charge at up to 15W speed wirelessly. The iPhone 8 comes with a Lightning cable and plug and works with the existing Qi wireless charging standard. You can learn everything about fast charging your iPhone on Apple’s official site.
iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 12: Which one should you buy?
We’ve seen some of the main differences throughout this article, but let’s take a look at some key differences to know why you should choose one iPhone over the other.
Reasons to buy the iPhone 8 Plus
- Much more affordable iPhone
- Compatible with iOS 16
- 2x optical zoom in the rear camera
- Fingerprint scanner
Reasons to buy the iPhone 12
- Better performance
- Better camera quality
- Ultra-wide angle camera lens
- More efficient battery usage
- Larger screen size
- 5G connectivity
Takeaway
If your iPhone 8 Plus’s battery performance is slowing everything down, you can look into upgrading to the iPhone 12, which is now a much more affordable model than the iPhone 13 and 14. It’s undoubtedly faster and lighter, with a bigger display, better camera, and 5G connectivity.
iPhone 12
Sprint
64GB storage
Black
Good condition,
by decluttr
$319
new
$729
-56%
View deals
iPhone 12
AT&T
64GB storage
White
Fair condition,
by Back Market
$326
new
$699
-53%
View deals
iPhone 12
AT&T
64GB storage
Black
Good condition,
by decluttr
$329
new
$699
-53%
View deals
Compare all Refurbished iPhone 12
The iPhone 8 Plus was a very forward-thinking phone for its time, but its support will end in 2023. You can still buy it refurbished at a much lower price point, and it will also be compatible with iOS 16. If you plan to upgrade your current handset, the iPhone 12 is an excellent choice. If you need a cheaper option, you can consider getting the iPhone X.
iPhone 8+
AT&T
64GB storage
Silver
Fair condition,
by Back Market
$137
new
$799
-83%
View deal
iPhone 8+
AT&T
64GB storage
Space Gray
Fair condition,
by Back Market
$139
new
$799
-83%
View deals
iPhone 8+
T-Mobile
64GB storage
Space Gray
Good condition,
by Gazelle
$144
new
$799
-82%
View deals
Compare all Refurbished iPhone 8 Plus
In any case, don’t hesitate to visit RefurbMe to browse the best deals on refurbished Apple products. We compare hundreds of reputable sellers’ devices in perfect working condition with a warranty and hassle-free return policies.
If you want to enhance your experience with your handset, check out some of the best accessories for the iPhone we have reviewed in our blog. Also, don’t forget to check our comparison of the iPhone X vs. the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini vs. the iPhone 8 for more ideas.
👉 Related: 6 Best Places to Buy Refurbished iPhones
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Frequently asked questions
Are the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 12 the same size?
No. The iPhone 8 Plus has a 5.5-inch Retina HD display, while the iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch all-screen OLED Super Retina XDR Display. However, the iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch all-screen OLED Super Retina XDR display, which is almost identical in size to the iPhone 8 Plus.
Is the iPhone 12 harder to use than the iPhone 8 Plus?
No, but you will need to learn and adjust to the gestures and the bigger screen size. Also, the iPhone 12 relies on Face ID, and you may have to get used to Haptic Touch, which has a press-and-hold sensation. The learning curve isn’t big, and these new gestures offer an enhanced experience to users.
Is it still worth buying an iPhone 8 Plus?
The iPhone 8 Plus is a good buy nowadays since it’s compatible with iOS 16, and you can get it refurbished for less than $200 in good condition. Its performance and camera are still worth considering and more than enough for basic usage.
