iPhone 8: Still a Great Budget iPhone for USA in 2024

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My flip phone finally died—grandkids insisted I “join this century”

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted something simple to call family and check stocks without learning new tech

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got the iPhone SE but liked the 8’s larger screen for my reading glasses

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Apple Store—wanted hands-on help setting it up. Paid extra for 1-on-1 session

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt overwhelmed but the Apple specialist was patient. Granddaughter helped me add emojis to contacts

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Sleek but too thin—almost dropped it! The home button felt reassuringly familiar

⭐ First Week Usage

Kept accidentally triggering Siri (turns out holding the button too long). Learned to FaceTime the grandkids

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Now use it for morning news, bridge game apps, and depositing checks via mobile banking

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Large text accessibility settings, Medical ID for my heart condition, and the magnifier tool

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Hated typing without a physical keyboard. Also, too many notifications—had to ask grandson to turn most off

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like going from a typewriter to a spaceship. Still miss my flip phone’s battery life

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Can check investments in real-time now. Old colleagues are shocked I text in full sentences

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Joined a senior iPhone class at the community center—made 3 new friends who help me with tech

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Otterbox case (grandkids’ orders), stylus for precise tapping, and a lanyard so I don’t lose it

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

7/10—does more than I need but I’m learning. Great for seniors who want iOS simplicity

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My iPhone 6s was dying mid-shift from Uber/Lyft apps—needed something with better battery and GPS

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted iOS for reliability during rides but didn’t need the latest model

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost went Android for the price, but riders prefer iPhones for CarPlay compatibility

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Swappa—found a mint condition 256GB model for half the retail price. Seller had 500+ reviews

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt like Christmas! Restored from backup and had all my driver apps ready in 20 minutes

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Heavier than my old 6s but the 4.7” screen was easier to see while driving. Glass back is slippery though

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery lasted a full 10-hour shift with CarPlay! GPS was pinpoint accurate—no more missed turns

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Mounted on dash with a magnetic vent holder. Touch ID works great even with my sweaty hands in summer

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

CarPlay integration, fast LTE for surge pricing updates, and the water resistance (spilled coffee survived!)

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Had to buy a battery case for 12+ hour days. Also, no dual SIM for my international riders

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like going from a bicycle to a Tesla—way faster app switching and never lags with multiple maps open

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

5-star rating went up since I’m not fumbling with a dying phone anymore. Kids FaceTime me clearer during breaks

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Started doing Uber Eats too since the camera scans QR codes way faster. Wife says I’m glued to it though

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Anker battery case, Belkin CarPlay cable, and a tempered glass screen protector

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

10/10 for rideshare drivers—best bang-for-buck iPhone that works with all car systems. Buy used to save $$

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My work-provided Android couldn’t handle blueprint PDFs and kept crashing in the field

📌 Purchase Motivation

Needed something rugged enough for job sites but with reliable document editing

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got a CAT phone but needed iOS for Procore and Bluebeam apps

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

eBay—found a seller specializing in “tough condition” phones. Got a scratched-up but functional unit for $180

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Looked like it survived a war but booted up fine. IT guy at work helped encrypt it for company use

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Dings and all, the aluminum frame felt solid. Screen scratches weren’t visible with a matte protector

⭐ First Week Usage

Survived a 6-foot drop onto concrete (case took the hit). Battery lasted a full shift with hotspot on

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Lives in my toolbelt pocket. Glove mode is clutch for winter inspections. Touch ID works with work gloves

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Zoomable blueprint markups, LTE hotspot for crew tablets, and the oleophobic coating (greasy fingerprints wipe right off)

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No IP68 rating made me nervous in rain. Had to buy a bulky case with a port cover

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Night and day—no more waiting 5 minutes for a 200-page PDF to load. Even Siri understands my accent now

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Cut 2 hours/week off paperwork. Super loves that I can iMessage site photos directly to clients

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

The crew calls it my “indestructible brick.” Wife’s happier now that I’m not cursing at a frozen screen

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Unicorn Beetle Pro case, lanyard clip, and a screen magnifier for tiny spec details

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10 for blue-collar work—proves iPhones aren’t just for suits. Buy pre-damaged to save $$

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a durable backup phone for outdoor workout videos after my main phone overheated at altitude

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted an iPhone for better video stabilization but didn’t need Pro camera features

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared iPhone 8’s 4K video with GoPro—chose iPhone for live editing and smaller size

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

BackMarket refurbished—eco-friendly and came with 1-year warranty. Saved $200+

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Pleasantly surprised by the “like new” condition. Had all my fitness apps synced in minutes

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Slippery without a case but perfect weight for holding during plank challenges

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery died fast recording 4K trail runs but wireless charging in my car saved me

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Now my dedicated gym/hiking phone. Touch ID works even with sweaty hands—unlike Face ID

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Slow-mo for form checks, water resistance (survived a snowstorm shoot), and Gymaholic app performance

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No ultra-wide lens for group workout shots. Storage filled up fast with unedited Reels drafts

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Way better stabilization than my old Android but misses some sunset colors accurately

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients love the “cinematic” slow-mo clips. My engagement went up 12% with higher-quality content

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Followers think I upgraded to an iPhone 13—lol. Started a #BudgetCreator series about gear

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Moment lens for wider angles, waterproof armband, and a gorilla pod tripod

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8/10 for creators—does 90% of what flagships do. Just pack a power bank for long shoots

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Dropped my iPhone 7 in the school parking lot—RIP. Needed something durable but familiar

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted to stay with iOS for family iMessage groups and didn’t need fancy new features

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got the iPhone 11 but couldn’t justify the price jump for just teaching apps and Disney+

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Best Buy open-box deal—saved $120 and got Apple Care+ in case my students get grabby

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Kinda missed the excitement of a brand-new phone, but transferring data from iCloud was painless

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Space gray looked sleek, but the glass back made me nervous—immediately slapped on a Otterbox

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery lasted through parent-teacher conferences (miracle!). Kids loved the “bigger” screen vs. my old 7

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for grading apps and Zoom calls. The home button is a lifesaver when wearing gloves during recess duty

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Louder speakers for classroom videos, and the camera’s Portrait Mode for school event pics

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Storage filled up fast with student videos—had to upgrade iCloud. Also, no USB-C is annoying for school Chromebooks

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Feels like my iPhone 7 but upgraded—faster, better camera, and that sweet wireless charging

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Game-changer for recording student presentations. Parents actually compliment my “professional” emails now

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

My mom finally stopped complaining about my “broken” green text bubbles in our family chat

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Otterbox Defender case (survived 3 drops already!), screen protector, and a pop socket for one-handed use

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10 for educators—does everything I need without the flagship price. Just get the 256GB version!

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a reliable secondary phone for client calls and social media while keeping my main device free for photography apps

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted a compact iPhone with a good camera that wouldn’t break the bank

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared iPhone 8 with iPhone SE (2020) but preferred the 8’s glass back and wireless charging

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Bought refurbished from Amazon Renewed—great deal with warranty and trusted seller reviews

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Surprised how pristine it looked for refurbished! Setup was smooth—just logged into iCloud and my apps auto-downloaded

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Loved the weight and size—perfect one-handed use. Rose gold finish looked classier than expected

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery life was eh (had to charge by 3PM), but camera held up well for Instagram stories. Missed Face ID coming from an iPhone X

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Now my go-to for emails and light editing in Lightroom Mobile. Touch ID is faster than I remembered!

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Wireless charging on my desk dock, True Tone display for editing photos, and the home button (nostalgia win)

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Struggled with no Night Mode—had to use third-party apps for low-light shots. Also, no dual SIM for travel

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Way snappier than my old Android backup phone, but not as fluid as my iPhone X for multitasking

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients appreciate the iMessage blue bubbles (lol), and it’s great for quick location scouting shots

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Started carrying it solo on hikes—way lighter than my pro gear. Friends tease me for the “ancient” home button

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Got a Magsafe-compatible case (yes, it sticks with magnets!) and a cheap Qi charger from Target

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8/10—perfect if you want iOS on a budget. Would tell friends to spring for the iPhone SE if they need better battery though

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My Samsung A10 was lagging with campus apps and couldn’t handle Snapchat filters properly

📌 Purchase Motivation

All my friends had iPhones—got tired of being the “green bubble” in group chats

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Debated iPhone 8 vs. iPhone XR—chose 8 for the smaller size to fit in my skinny jeans

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Facebook Marketplace—met a grad student selling hers for $150. Checked IMEI and battery health first

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Was nervous buying used, but it looked flawless! iMessage activation had me grinning like an idiot

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Sooo much prettier than my plastic Android. The gold color matched my aesthetic perfectly

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery drained fast during lectures (RIP), but Airdropping notes with classmates was a game-changer

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for Spotify at work and scanning textbook PDFs. Memoji are my new addiction

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

iMessage effects (confetti = emotional support), Wallet for student ID, and Live Photos of my cat

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Only 64GB meant deleting TikToks weekly. Also, no night mode for dorm mirror selfies

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like switching from a bicycle to a sports car—everything’s instant. Even Starbucks app loads faster

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Tips went up when I could Apple Pay split bills faster. Professors take me seriously with “Sent from iPhone”

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Finally in the iMessage group chats! Got roasted for my “Android-quality” Instagram stories at first though

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Cute glitter case from Etsy, cheap AirPods dupe, and a PopSocket for TikTok filming

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10 for broke students—gets you into the Apple ecosystem without selling a kidney. Spring for more storage!

Benchmark Scores

In benchmarks, the iPhone 8’s A11 Bionic chip scores about 1800 single-core and 4200 multi-core on Geekbench 5. That’s faster than many budget Androids in 2023, proving Apple’s long-term optimization magic. Daily tasks feel snappy, but don’t push it with AR apps.

Build Quality & Materials

The glass sandwich design screams premium, but it’s a fingerprint magnet. The aluminum frame has a reassuring heft, and the 5.5-ounce weight feels perfect. Just beware—the back glass cracks if you so much as look at it wrong.

Display Quality

The 4.7-inch LCD lacks HDR and 120Hz, but color calibration is spot-on. It hits 625 nits brightness—enough for sunny days. Pixels are dense enough that you won’t notice jagged edges unless you pixel-peep.

Camera System & Performance

The 12MP camera struggles in low light (no Night Mode), but daylight shots rival newer mid-range phones. Smart HDR saves blown-out skies, and 4K/60fps video is shockingly good for its age. Selfies? Meh.

Software & User Experience

iOS 15 runs like butter, and Touch ID is faster than Face ID with masks. App launches are instant, and animations never stutter. The lack of an app drawer feels archaic, though.

Battery Life & Charging

A full charge lasts until mid-afternoon with moderate use. Qi wireless charging is convenient, but the tiny 1821mAh battery shows its age. Keep a power bank handy for trips.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The A11 Bionic handles casual games like Among Us flawlessly, but Fortnite at 60fps? Forget it. Graphics-heavy titles drain the battery fast and heat up the phone.

Connectivity & Ports

Lightning is a pain in 2023, and the lack of a headphone jack hurts. LTE speeds cap at 600Mbps—fine for Netflix, but don’t expect 5G’s future-proofing.

Durability & Protection

IP67 means it’ll survive a coffee spill, but the back glass is a $200 repair waiting to happen. Invest in a rugged case—this isn’t a phone to go naked with.

Price & Value Proposition

At $250-ish used, it’s a decent iOS starter phone, but the 2020 SE offers better specs for slightly more. Worth it only if you’re nostalgic for the home button.

Benchmark Scores

The iPhone 8 still holds up surprisingly well in benchmarks for its age, scoring around 4200 on Geekbench 5’s multi-core test. That’s comparable to some mid-range Android phones today, which is impressive for a 2017 device. In real-world use, apps open quickly, and multitasking is smooth—though heav

Build Quality & Materials

Apple’s signature glass-and-aluminum design feels premium even today. The back glass is prone to cracks if dropped, but the aluminum frame adds durability. It’s compact and comfortable to hold—a refreshing change from today’s giant phones. Just don’t skip a case!

Display Quality

The 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD isn’t flashy by 2023 standards, but it’s color-accurate and bright enough for outdoor use. True Tone adjusts whites naturally, and the 326 PPI density keeps text sharp. You’ll miss OLED’s deep blacks, though.

Camera System & Performance

The single 12MP shooter lacks night mode or ultra-wide, but daylight photos are crisp with great dynamic range. Portrait Mode (software-based) works decently for a single lens. Video stabilization is still excellent—perfect for vloggers on a budget.

Software & User Experience

iOS 15 runs smoothly, and Apple still supports it with security updates. The home button with Touch ID feels nostalgic but reliable. App optimization is flawless—no janky Android-style slowdowns here.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is the Achilles’ heel—expect 4-5 hours of screen time. Fast charging (with a separate adapter) helps, but wireless charging is a nice perk. Heavy users will need a battery case or frequent top-ups.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The A11 Bionic chip handles casual games like Genshin Impact on low settings, but it throttles under sustained load. PUBG Mobile runs at 30fps—playable, but don’t expect flagship performance.

Connectivity & Ports

No USB-C here—Lightning feels outdated, and dongles are a must for wired headphones. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are missing, but LTE speeds are fine for streaming. Dual-band GPS is a nice touch for navigation.

Durability & Protection

IP67 rating means it survives spills and dust, but the glass back shatters easily. Screen repairs are pricey ($150+), so a tempered glass protector is a must. Avoid drops at all costs!

Price & Value Proposition

At $200-$300 used, it’s a solid entry into iOS for budget buyers. Newer SE models offer better value, but if you love the home button and compact size, it’s a nostalgic steal.