iPhone 8 vs. iPhone XR: What’s the difference, and which one is better?
If it’s time to consider upgrading your iPhone but you’re hoping to find some cheaper options, then both iPhone 8 and iPhone XR are great choices. While iPhone 8 is the last model to have a physical home button, iPhone XR is the cheapest model to include newer features like Face ID. Keep reading, and we’ll dive deeper into what distinguishes these iPhone models.
What’s the difference between iPhone 8 and iPhone XR?
While iPhone XR might seem like a cheaper model thanks to its bright color options, it’s still very much a worthy successor to iPhone 8. Loaded with new features, iPhone XR keeps the baseline iPhone offering up to date with other current models.
Other significant features of iPhone XR include:
- Face ID to unlock the phone and use Apple Pay
- No home button
- 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display
- Battery life that lasts over 13 hours
Some features that set iPhone 8 apart are:
- A physical home button
- Touch ID to unlock the device
- 4.7-inch Retina LCD screen
- Smaller and lighter than iPhone XR
iPhone 8 vs. iPhone XR: The camera
Looking at the specs alone, it is clear that the camera on both models is identical. Both models are equipped with a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a 7-megapixel camera on the front. But, that being said, it’s the image processor on iPhone XR that gives it just enough of an edge. The upgraded chip gives it some updated features like Portrait Mode, which previously required having two camera lenses (seen on iPhone X or even iPhone 8 Plus).
iPhone XR vs. iPhone 8: Size
iPhone XR, just like its 2018 counterparts iPhone XS and XS Max, is a bulkier phone than iPhone 8. It’s bigger and heavier, but thankfully, there are some noticeable upgrades on the iPhone XR that justify its extra size. Things like a larger display, which we’ll talk more about later, and better battery life are definitely strong selling points. But if those aren’t top priorities for you, and if you are more concerned about your iPhone being smaller and lighter, then iPhone 8 would be the way to go.
iPhone XR vs. iPhone 8: Display
The displays on iPhone XR and iPhone 8 probably represent the most significant difference between the two models. iPhone 8 has the familiar 4.7-inch screen, but iPhone XR steps it up to 6.1 inches, which looks and feels massive. Thanks to not having a home button, the display on iPhone XR can go all the way to all four edges, but, like other iPhones that do this, it also has the annoying notch at the top of the screen.
Which is better, iPhone 8 or iPhone XR?
Clearly, the better option between these two models is iPhone XR. The display alone gives it the upper hand. And by getting rid of the home button and leveraging Face ID, iPhone XR can keep up with other iPhone models. With upgraded RAM and processors, iPhone XR is also the more recent model of the two, which means it’s more likely to be able to run newer apps and operating systems as they come out.
While iPhone XR is the better of the options, there are still things you might like and prefer about iPhone 8. It holds on to many familiar features and designs that make an iPhone an iPhone. Things like the home button and 3D touch are both missing from iPhone XR. And it is lighter and smaller, which might be important to you.
Deciding between iPhone 8 and iPhone XR depends on whether you want something newer and more modern or prefer to stay with something you’re more familiar with. Hopefully, this article has answered any questions you may have had about either model and helped you decide on your new iPhone!
