iPhone 16

Phone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 16: Should You Make the Leap?

Phone 8 Plus vs. iPhone 16: Should You Make the Leap?

The iPhone 8 Plus is still a solid phone, but the iPhone 16 offers significant advancements. Let’s take a closer look.

Display: LCD to OLED

iPhone 8 Plus: 5.5” Retina HD LCD display, large but lacking the vividness of newer displays.

iPhone 16: 6.1” Super Retina XDR OLED display provides sharper contrast, brighter colors, and a more immersive viewing experience. If you’re watching videos or gaming, the difference is clear.

Performance: A11 Bionic vs. A17 Bionic

iPhone 8 Plus: Runs on the A11 Bionic chip, which is decent but starting to show its age.

iPhone 16: The A17 Bionic chip offers a major speed boost, better efficiency, and the ability to handle more demanding apps with ease.

Camera: Big Step Forward

iPhone 8 Plus: Dual 12MP cameras, capable but outdated compared to today’s standards.

iPhone 16: A 48MP primary camera with AI-enhanced features, better low-light performance, and improved zoom. If you take photos often, the upgrade will be immediately noticeable.

Battery Life: Much Improved

iPhone 8 Plus: Good battery life, but it has likely diminished with age.

iPhone 16: With its efficient A17 chip and improved battery, you’ll experience significantly longer battery life, even during heavy use.

5G Connectivity

iPhone 8 Plus: Limited to 4G LTE.

iPhone 16: Fully supports 5G for faster download speeds and better connectivity.

Recommendation: Should You Upgrade?

The iPhone 16 offers massive improvements in display, performance, camera, and battery life compared to the iPhone 8 Plus. However, the iPhone 13 also provides substantial upgrades at a lower price point, making it a strong contender for those looking to upgrade.

Need help choosing the right iPhone? Use the Plug Find Your iPhone Tool for personalized recommendations!

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Compare Specs

iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Sale price$9,999.99
iPhone 8 Plus Gold 256GB (Unlocked) - Plug.tech
iPhone 8 Plus (Unlocked) Sale priceFrom $119.99 Regular price$499.99
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Sale price$9,999.99
iPhone 8 Plus Gold 256GB (Unlocked) - Plug.tech
iPhone 8 Plus (Unlocked) Sale priceFrom $119.99 Regular price$499.99
Color Options

Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine

Silver, Space Gray, Gold

Display

Super Retina XDR display
6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display
Dynamic Island

Retina HD display
5.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD display with IPS technology

Camera

Advanced dual-camera system (48MP Fusion and 12MP Ultra Wide)
Fusion: 48MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture
Ultra Wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
.5x, 1x, 2x optical zoom options
True Tone flash

Dual 12MP cameras (Main and Telephoto)
Main: ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.8 aperture
1x, 2x optical zoom options

Video Recording

4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (up to 4K HDR at 30 fps)
Action mode

4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
Time-lapse video with stabilization

Power and Battery

Video playback - Up to 22 hours
Audio playback - Up to 80 hours

Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
Qi wireless charging

5G Compatible

yes

no