The Three New iPhones WHAT’S NEW?

Apple recently introduced three brand new iPhones. Since the three new phones are arriving almost at the same time, picking the right one for you has become all the more difficult. Here’s all we know about the new iPhones so far.

iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 comes with slight upgrades to the internals and some improved hardware on the outside to make it the affordable upgrade. One of the main upgrades is the new A11 Bionic chip inside, which is rumoured to have been manufactured using a new 10nm process. The chip is incredibly powerful for a phone of this size – and basically is used to push the AR experience.

The design of the iPhone 8 is not very different from the iPhone 7, but at least, there's a glass back on this phone. That means you can charge the device wirelessly, with the new functionality coming to all the new iPhones launched at the 2017 event.

The screen is one of the most noticeable changes, with the 4.7-inch screen now coming with a Retina (Full) HD display, making it look sharper and more clear throughout your app use and web browsing. It's got the True Tone technology we've enjoyed from the iPad Pro – and it does make a difference to the colour of the display.

Apple has gone for a slight boost in the camera again, although it's sticking with its tried-and-tested 12MP sensor in the back. The overall quality of the pictures is still superb though – you're likely to be more than happy with your snaps, and zooming into images shows that things are still clear, bright and crisp.

This phone is a lot more accessible cost-wise, so if you are looking for a more affordable iPhone, this is the one to go for.


iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 Plus has got all the phablet power you want from an iPhone. The design is similar to previous iPhones, with the rolling back curving into the hand, allowing it to feel as premium as the cost suggests. It has the same power under the hood in the shape of the improved A11 chipset, as well as the same 12MP camera bolted on the back. However, that camera is what makes the difference, because it can use the Portrait Lighting mode, as seen in the iPhone X, which is a really neat feature.

The design has a glass back, which allows for wireless charging, feels a little less robust than metal. Sadly, the screen on the iPhone 8 Plus is very similar to the one on the iPhone 7 Plus but the screen from last year was clear and crisp, and didn't rob the battery of power just to pack in the pixels.

The new speakers are stereo, as before, but apparently up to 25 per cent louder and with richer bass, so you'll be able to plop the phone down on the counter and have it function as a Bluetooth speaker replacement. The augmented reality (AR) really has a place just yet in the smartphone as a critical feature, but the one on the iPhone 8 Plus was decent.

However, the 7 Plus is an attractive option at a cheaper price too. If you're not desperate for the improved speed inside, you can get on well enough with last year's model.


iPhone X

The iPhone X is one of the most exciting of the Apple phones released this decade because it has the most radical redesign of an iPhone. The phone looks like one of the least-bezelled phones on the market. The effect of the wider and fuller 5.8-inch screen is really impressive. The resolution of the screen has been upgraded from the iPhone 7. The latest iPhone boasts a resolution of 2436 x 1125 on the new Super Retina HD display. Moreover, the move to the OLED display in the iPhone X has definitely brought an upgrade. The glass rear doesn't feel as premium as the metal of previous models, but it still feels solid and secure in the hand. It's a very light phone as well.

The big change to the iPhone mix this year is the loss of Touch ID in order to make way for Face ID, the ability to open your phone just by looking at it. Apple's method of taking in loads of different face angles, much like when you have to position your finger around the sensor to set up Touch ID, makes a lot more sense, and the company is predictably claiming that this is one of the most secure forms of this technology out there.

Talking about the camera, telephoto lens like that introduced on the iPhone 7 Plus is included, as well as optical image stabilization for both sensors so you've got a clearer and brighter picture whichever mode you are in. The camera on the back is bolted on vertically. The front-facing camera is excellent at sensing your surroundings and your face, and the ability to map a mask, or transform you into an animated emoji, called Animoji, is genuinely joy-filling.

The iPhone X battery size was not mentioned on stage during launch but the battery life has been extended with two hours more power than the iPhone 7 from a single charge. However, the biggest change is the way you can charge the new iPhone, with wireless charging now added to the mix. You can even get a fast charger – 50% within 30 minutes from dead – but only with a USB-C cable.

Pumping at the heart of the iPhone X is the new A11 Bionic chipset, designed to handle the heavy lifting the new phone is calling on it for. The new engine is capable of powering the extra pixels that are spread around the front of the phone, as well as handling the huge power the AR sensor is calling for – and on top of that there’s the general improvement in overall performance, and better graphical performance.

The new chip allows for better photo focusing, better face unlocking and all-round power improvements – this is apparently the world's most powerful phone, which it'll need to be given the amount of functions it's got, and the amount of pixels it has to run.

There’s no doubt that the iPhone X is the futuristic iPhone from Apple that we’ve been waiting for. The phone has created a stir with its display. The colours are just so vivid on the all-screen front. The AR effects are cool but not game-changing. It’s hard to know whether Face ID will be good enough to replace Touch ID.

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