Buying Guide to Help You Pick Which of the THREE new iPhones is Right For You

Apple introduced three brand new iPhones on September 12th. Not One, Not Two, But THREE! At the time of launch, all three new iPhones were available in silver and black, in both 64 GB and 256 GB versions. They all power up with wireless charging via Qi pads and mats. All three new iPhones also feature an A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, a neural engine, and an embedded M11 motion coprocessor. Finally, they are all splash-, water-, and dust-resistant. They include the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which have faster processors and better cameras than last year’s iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. Then there’s the iPhone X, a $1,000 smartphone that Apple is basically trying to market as a gadget from the future that arrived a little early. It’s the first iPhone ever to have an OLED screen, and even better, that stunning display basically runs edge to edge. iPhone X comes with other radical changes like the removal of the home button in favor of a new feature Apple is calling Face ID, which scans your face to unlock your iPhone instead of the traditional Touch ID method still used on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Going for the less expensive option isn’t always the best idea because those models tend to include cheaper, older hardware that becomes obsolete more quickly. But in this case, since the iPhone 8 runs on the same processor as Apple’s pricier models and still includes new features like wireless charging, it’s a solid move. If you don’t necessarily care about having the best screen quality, more sophisticated camera features, or the ability to log into your phone with your face, go for the iPhone 8.

iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X Details:

Size:

iPhone 8: The smallest of the three at 5.45” X 2.65” X .29”, and weighing just 5.22 ounces, the 8 features a 4.7” widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display.
iPhone 8 Plus: True to its name, the 8 Plus adds some size, measuring 6.24” X 3.07” X .30”, weighing 7.13 ounces, and featuring a 5.5” widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display.
iPhone X: The X finds the happy medium in size, measuring 5.65” X 2.79” X .30”, weighing 6.14 ounces, but features a large 5.8” all-screen OLED Multi-Touch display.

Display:

iPhone 8: The Retina HD display features 1334 X 750 pixel resolution at 326 ppi, typically with a 1400:1 contrast ratio, and Touch ID for security and Apple Pay.
iPhone 8 Plus: The Retina HD display features 1920 X 1080 pixel resolution at 401 ppi, typically with a 1300:1 contrast ratio, and Touch ID for security and Apple Pay.
iPhone X: The Super Retina HD display features 2436 X 1125 pixel resolution at 458 ppi, typically with a whopping 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and Face ID for security and Apple Pay.

Back Camera:

iPhone 8: The 12MP camera has a f/1.8 aperture, with a digital zoom of up to 5x.
iPhone 8 Plus: The Plus pairs wide-angle and telephoto lenses, which have f/1.8 and f/2.8 apertures (respectively), with optical zoom, and a digital zoom up to 10x. It also features portrait mode and the beta version of Portrait Lighting.
iPhone X: The X also features a f/1.8-aperture wide-angle lens, pairing it with a f/2.4-aperture telephoto lens, with optical zoom, and a digital zoom up to 10x. It also features portrait mode and the beta version of Portrait Lighting.

Front Camera:

All three new iPhones feature f/2.2-aperture front cameras that take 7MP pictures, with wide color capture for photos and Live Photos, and 1080p HD video recording. However, the X utilizes a TrueDepth camera (rather than a Facetime HD camera) which enables facial recognition, and features portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and Animoji.

Video:

All three new iPhones feature 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, along with 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps, optical image stabilization, slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps, and time-lapse video with stabilization. However, the 8 Plus and X both feature optical zoom and digital zoom up to 6x, while the 8 only features digital zoom up to 3x. The X also features High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision and HDR10 content for its video playback, compared to the Dolby Vision and HDR10 support offered by the 8 and 8 Plus.

Cost:

The iPhone 8 costs $699 for the 64GB model or $849 for 256GB. It comes in black, silver, or gold.
The iPhone 8 Plus costs $799 for the 64GB model or $949 for 256GB. It comes in black, silver, or gold.
The iPhone X costs $999 for the 64GB model or $1,149 for 256GB. It comes in black or silver.

New iPhones Pros and Cons:

iPhone 8

• Unlike the iPhone 8 Plus, the regular iPhone 8 is still relatively easy to use in one hand. The iPhone X should be too, but it’s also hundreds of dollars more expensive.
• The iPhone 7 cases fit the iPhone  8.
• Since the iPhone 8 only has one rear camera, you won’t have Apple’s Portrait mode or the new Portrait Lighting feature.
• The 4.7-inch screen of the iPhone 8 is smaller and lower-res than the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.
• You will most likely need a battery case for iPhone 8 as it has the smallest battery of the three new iPhones.
• The iPhone 8 will be available September 22, 2017.

iPhone 8 Plus

• The iPhone 8 Plus offers pretty much every single major new feature that the pricier iPhone X does. It’s got the processor, the wireless charging, the 5.5-inch LCD screen has True Tone, dual cameras on the back, and it can do the same new Portrait Lighting effects as the iPhone X.
•  Of all three new models, the iPhone 8 Plus has the best battery life.
• The iPhone 7 Plus cases fit iPhone 8 Plus.
• Although the 5.5-inch 1080p LCD has superb color accuracy, it’s not going to be as vibrant or eye-catching as the iPhone X’s new OLED screen.
• iPhone 8 Plus feels like a “Plus” phone and remains just as cumbersome as its three predecessors.
• If you go with the 256 GB iPhone 8 Plus, it isn’t really all that much cheaper than the iPhone X.
• The iPhone 8 Plus will be available September 22, 2017.

iPhone X

• With its 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED screen on the front and its stainless steel frame, the iPhone X is Apple’s most impressive and futuristic iPhone design ever.  It also has better contrast than the displays on iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and it supports HDR video.
• The iPhone X measures a bit bigger than the iPhone 8, but it’s nowhere near the dimensions of the iPhone 8 Plus. It should be fairly easy to use in one hand.
• If you like being the first to try Apple’s latest technology, you can unlock your phone with your face with Face ID. This also makes it possible to do moving emojis that mimic your facial expressions and take portrait shots with blurred backgrounds with Animoji and Portrait mode on the selfie camera.
• The telephoto portrait lens on the iPhone X’s dual-camera has a better aperture than the iPhone 8 Plus (f/2.4 vs. f/2.8). Plus, both rear cameras have optical image stabilization, which should allow you to use the telephoto lens in darker conditions.
• There’s no home button or Touch ID so. unless you go with a passcode. unlocking your phone requires looking directly at it, every time.
• The notch that houses the front-facing camera and other sensors is there all the time. The notch sticks out into videos if you play them full-screen in landscape orientation. A big problem if you’re not the kind of person who can ignore it.
• The iPhone X is the most expensive iPhone ever and is not available until November 3, 2017

Looking to save $100 – $300 on your new phone? Going for the less expensive option isn’t always the best idea because those models tend to include cheaper, older hardware that becomes obsolete more quickly. But in this case, since the iPhone 8 runs on the same faster performing new A11 Bionic processor as Apple’s pricier 8 Plus and X models and still includes new features like wireless charging, it’s a solid move. If you don’t necessarily care about having the best screen quality, more sophisticated camera features, or the ability to log into your phone with your face, go for the iPhone 8.

The iPhone 8 Plus model includes all of the improvements found in the 8 but with a camera that can do more. This smartphone includes two cameras while the 8 only offers one. Also, the overall dimensions of the larger screen will make viewing videos and Instagram images a  better experience.  So if pictures and videos are your thing, the iPhone 8 Plus may be the way to go.

However, the iPhone X is the way to go if money is no object and you want the Rolls-Royce of iPhones. Offering a top-to-bottom redesign with a bright and colorful edge-to-edge OLED screen, depth-sensing front cameras, wireless charging, and the most powerful Apple-designed processor ever engineered.

Where to Buy the new iPhones and Accessories:

For the last decade, eBay has been the go-to destination for all things iPhone. In fact, leading up to the iPhone 7 release in 2016, an iPhone 6 sold every minute on eBay and an iPhone 6s sold every 3 minutes. Immediately following the launch of the iPhone 6s in 2015, the number of iPhone 6/6 Plus devices sold increased by 23% and following the iPhone 7 release, approximately 630,000 accessories were sold per week on eBay. It’s expected that this newest release will be no different. With new features of the new iPhones, you will need wireless items such as AirPods, other Bluetooth headsets, and speakers. Of course, you’ll want to check out the deals on smart tech and accessories, from cases to docks, mounts, chargers, bundles, etc.,  these should not be overlooked.

New iPhones Comparison

The Specs at a Glance:

P.S. Got your eye on a smartwatch?

A steady stream of rumors suggested that Apple was on the verge of announcing a third-generation Apple Watch that would be able to connect to cellular networks, freeing it from its dependence on the iPhone for both voice calls and data. Available Sept. 22, the smaller Series 3 Apple Watch 38mm model starts at $399 with cellular and $329 without. Larger 42mm models will have starting prices that are a bit more expensive. Additionally, cellular models will add charges to your monthly phone bill. Should be around $10 in the US.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is virtually identical in size and appearance to the Watch Series 2 but has a built-in barometric altimeter, and allows for Siri’s voice for the first time on an Apple Watch. Color options include a new gold aluminum finish, plus silver and space gray, and the cellular version is marked with a red dot on the crown. The Nike version is maintained in Series 3, as is the pricier Hermes and Edition luxury models.

Need a bargain? With the new watch announced, Apple Watch Series 1 gets a price cut.