If you’re gearing up to buy the iPhone 8 with the expectation that you will be getting a premium smartphone loaded with the latest features, you won’t be disappointed.
But if you’re looking to buy the iPhone 8 hoping to have your digital life transformed with augmented reality and the ability to produce flawless photography, you’ve not going to be happy.
And if you’re planning to buy the iPhone 8 expecting to be able to use facial scanning on a edge-to-edge OLED screen, well… you’ve bought the wrong phone.
Those features come exclusively with the iPhone X, which won’t be out until November 3.
Today we are putting out are initial impressions of only the iPhone 8.
iPhone 8 is good, but...
So let’s get back to the first expectation — that of the premier smartphone. Apple has put out a string of solid, high-performance smartphones that date back to the iPhone 6, which launched since 2014.
The iPhone 8 is as solid as any previous iteration, with most of the expected upgrades that come standard in a new flagship smartphone.
It has an upgraded processor — the A11 Bionic, an improved camera with souped-up features, and an improved screen.
Any new smartphone line will include those, and there are plenty of people who complain that Apple should be including more.
Why you should wait for the iPhone X
The one really new feature that will be available on September 23 is the ability to wirelessly charge your iPhone.
However — and this is a sizable “however” — this feature isn’t available out of the box either. To wireless charge the iPhone 8, you’ll need a wireless charging station.
Apple neither includes one with the iPhone 8 nor does it make one. You’ll have to buy one — we’re using a Belkin charger, which retails for an additional $60. (That’s an Amazon price. Local prices may vary.)
The other new edition to the iPhone 8 is the addition of iOS11. We’ll go more in-depth on Thursday as we’re still discovering new features. In short, it’s still one of the easiest to use OS on the market and some of the new features - while not mind binding — will certainly make using the iPhone more intuitive and fun.
AR and other cool stuff
If you think of the iPhone as a augmented reality bending, super-photography creating smartphone - an image that was build largely on Apple’s September 12 presentation — we have to say, that isn’t what comes out of the box.
The augmented reality feature, which Apple demonstrated on September 12 and which looks like a lot of fun, is not there … yet. Maybe it will be there later today when iOS11 official launches.
To really make this feature fly Apple is relying on third-party software developers, who are probably waiting for the official launch.
New apps
When apps such as Walking Dead: Our World — sort of a reverse Pokemon game where the monsters hunt you — launches, then we’ll have something to talk about.
But until these apps are released, there will be VERY high expectations. We’ve seen some of these apps in person and they have the potential to be a serious gamer-changer in software.
But until those apps launch, there are very few apps that use augmented reality available and not are that exciting. Ikea has an app that allows you to virtual place furniture from its catalog into your home.
It’s fun sizing chairs and lamps for about 30 seconds, and to be fair, the app doesn’t even begin to tap into the potential of AR.
Improved camera
As for the camera — those who buy the iPhone 8 Plus will have some additional featured to play with.
The Plus — thanks to Apple’s dual camera feature, which debuted in the iPhone 7 — will be able to play with settings in portrait mode.
Frankly, you really have be a photography fan to appreciate these new features, which include better depth-of-field (a photography term best summed up as the ability to give you a blurry background) and various lighting options.
No, that doesn’t mean you can determine the source of lighting in your photos. Again, that’s the iPhone X.
That doesn’t mean the standard iPhone 8 doesn’t have an improved camera.
Both models have increased focusing speed in low light and the ability to record 4K video at 60 framed-per-second.
Both phones can also record in slow motion at 1080p HD at 240 fps.
Conclusion
So, to sum up, yes, iPhone 8 is a solid, top-of-the-line smartphone, but don’t expect to see everything Apple promised during its keynote on September 12. As for the face recognition and button-less home screen, you’ll have to come back on November 3.
Price, availability in the Middle East
The iPhone 8 is retailing for Dh2,849 for the 64GB version and Dh3,479 for the 256GB version.
The iPhone 8 Plus is Dh3,249 for the 64GB version and Dh3,879 for 256GB.
It will be available in stores on September 23, and is available to pre-order now.
By Scott Shuey
