iPhone 8 Plus: Still a Powerhouse for US Users in 2024

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a workhorse for virtual tours and contracts on the go

📌 Purchase Motivation

Reliable performance for MLS apps and client e-signatures

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost switched to Galaxy Note for the stylus but needed iCloud for teamwork

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Corporate plan from AT&T—tax write-off, baby!

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Unboxed it at a Starbucks between showings—clients thought I was fancy.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Professional silver finish, but the glass back made me nervous at open houses.

⭐ First Week Usage

Scanned a 50-page contract with Notes—lifesaver when the printer died.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Handles 20+ Chrome tabs, but the battery drains fast with hotspot for my laptop.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Markup tools for PDFs, and wide-angle shots for tight spaces.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No 5G means slower uploads when I’m in rural listings.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My iPhone 6S would’ve combusted under this workload.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Closed 3 deals thanks to instant DocuSign access—commission paid for the phone!

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Joined a real estate TikTok trend. Surprisingly, it got leads.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Apple Pencil (with a hacky adapter) and a leather folio for meetings.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8.5/10—business beast. Just carry a battery pack.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Her flip phone finally died, and grandkids insisted on "something with emojis"

📌 Purchase Motivation

Simple iOS and biggish screen for reading

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Grandson showed her the iPhone SE but she liked the 8 Plus’s "real buttons"

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Verizon store—staff patiently explained AppleCare+

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Took me an hour to remove the plastic—thought it was part of the design!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Heavier than expected, but the text size options saved my eyesight.

⭐ First Week Usage

Called Siri ‘the robot lady’ until I turned her off accidentally.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Love the book apps, but I keep pressing the camera by mistake.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Magnifier for tiny medicine labels, and hearing aid compatibility.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Too many steps to delete photos! Where’s the ‘throw in trash’ button?

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My old phone could survive a fall down stairs. This one needs a bubble-wrap case.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Book club thinks I’m tech-savvy now for sharing recipes via AirDrop.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Finally see grandkids’ TikTok dances clearly (bless and curse).

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

PopWallet for my grocery list and a lanyard so I don’t lose it.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8/10—once you learn it, it’s like a friendly library computer.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a waterproof-ish phone for job sites

📌 Purchase Motivation

IP67 rating and heard it could survive a drop in a toilet (tested—it did)

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got a rugged Android but needed iMessage for client invoices

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Facebook Marketplace—got a steal from a guy upgrading to iPhone 13

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Had to wipe off some glitter from the box, but it worked like new!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Heavy-duty feel. Survived my pocket full of wrench scratches.

⭐ First Week Usage

Took it underwater to film a pipe leak—no issues!

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for Zoom calls with contractors, but Siri mishears ‘PVC’ as ‘PB&J’.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Water resistance, loud speakers for noisy sites, and Wallet for contactless payments.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Gloves make Touch ID useless—had to switch to passcode often.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My Samsung would’ve died day one in this humidity.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients trust me more when I pull up 3D plumbing diagrams smoothly.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Joined a local DIY group after posting fix-it videos.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

OtterBox Defender—because concrete floors don’t play nice.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

10/10 for tradespeople. Tough as nails!

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Wanted a durable phone for classroom demos and parent communication

📌 Purchase Motivation

Trusted Apple’s longevity and needed a home button for ease of use

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost chose the SE 2020 but wanted the bigger screen for grading essays

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Best Buy during a back-to-school sale—got a free case too

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Kiddos helped me unbox it—they were obsessed with the ‘fancy gold’ color!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Slippery without a case, but the screen size was perfect for my tired eyes.

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery lasted through parent-teacher conferences, but charging was slow.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Used it to scan docs with Notes app and record student presentations.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Speakers for playing audiobooks, and Touch ID with gloves on (lifesaver in winter).

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Wish it had Face ID for masking during COVID—Touch ID got finicky with sanitizer.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Upgrade from my cracked iPhone 6—felt like a spaceship!

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Saved me from carrying a laptop between classrooms.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Started a teacher TikTok—students think I’m ‘cool’ now, lol.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

PopSocket for one-handed use and a screen protector after a marker mishap.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10—practical for educators. Just pack a charger!

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a reliable secondary phone for on-the-go photo backups and social media

📌 Purchase Motivation

Loved the iPhone 8 Plus’s camera quality and larger screen for editing

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared it to the iPhone XR but preferred the home button and Touch ID

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Bought refurbished from Amazon Renewed for a great deal

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt nostalgic—like unboxing a classic! Setup was smooth with iCloud backup.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Solid build, and the gold finish looked premium. A bit heavy but sturdy.

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery life was decent, but the camera blew me away—portrait mode is killer!

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for quick edits in Lightroom. Missed wireless charging from my newer phone though.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

3D Touch for previewing photos, dual-camera zoom, and wide color display.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Struggled with iOS updates slowing it down slightly over time.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Way better than my old Android for editing, but not as snappy as my iPhone 12.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients loved the sample shots I shared directly from the phone.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Got more Instagram engagement thanks to the crisp photos.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Got a Moment lens attachment for wider shots—game changer!

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8/10—ideal for creatives on a budget. Just wish it had Night Mode.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Upgrade from her cracked iPhone 7—needed better GPS reliability

📌 Purchase Motivation

Bigger screen for navigation and dual speakers for rider podcasts

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared battery life with Android rivals but needed CarPlay

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Swappa—got a "like new" one with 92% battery health

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Plugged it into my car immediately—CarPlay loaded before I even got home!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Fits perfectly in my cup holder mount. Glossy back shows fingerprints like crazy though.

⭐ First Week Usage

Survived a 12-hour shift with 20% left—way better than my old phone.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Maps split-screen with Spotify is clutch, but the phone gets hot on dash in summer.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Do Not Disturb While Driving, and Siri reading texts aloud.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Riders complain my aux cord (via dongle) keeps disconnecting.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like upgrading from a tricycle to a Camry—smooth and dependable.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Tips went up since I can show riders their route clearly.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Started a ‘Driving With Jasmine’ podcast during downtime.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Magnetic vent mount and a lightning-to-USB cable that doesn’t fray.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9.5/10—essential for rideshare hustlers. Just buy extra dongles.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Upgrade from her mom’s hand-me-down iPhone 6

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted a bigger screen for Netflix and group project Zoom calls

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Debated Pixel 4a but stayed for iMessage group chats

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Apple’s refurbished store—student discount sealed the deal

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt so grown-up! Set it up at the dorm with my roommate cheering.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Rose gold was cute, but the bezels felt outdated next to my friends’ phones.

⭐ First Week Usage

Binge-watched *Stranger Things*—speakers were shockingly good.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Great for note-taking with Apple Pencil (used a hack), but storage filled up fast.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Portrait selfies, battery life during lectures, and Find My for lost keys.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

No Night Mode made concert pics look like blobs.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like going from a bicycle to a Tesla—well, a used Tesla.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Google Docs ran smoother, and no more ‘Storage Full’ panic before exams.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Finally got added to the ‘lit’ group chats without Android shaming.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Cheap wireless charger from Target and a glitter case.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

7/10—good starter iPhone. Save up for a newer model if you’re a photo snob.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a backup phone for live food shoots after his Pixel drowned in ramen broth

📌 Purchase Motivation

iPhone’s color accuracy for food photos and reliable video stabilization

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost went for iPhone 11 but found the 8 Plus’s zoom better for plating close-ups

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

eBay—seller included a "mysteriously sticky" stand but it was cheap

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Spent 20 mins admiring the space gray before realizing the charger wasn’t included.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Sleek but slippery—immediately ordered a grippy case for kitchen chaos.

⭐ First Week Usage

Shot a viral reel of pancake art—followers couldn’t tell it wasn’t a newer model.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Editing in VSCO is smooth, but overheating warnings pop up during long shoots.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

True Tone for natural lighting, and the mute switch for stealth filming.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Low-light shots need a ring light—no Night Mode hurts my midnight snack content.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Miss Android’s customization, but iPhone just ‘works’ when I’m covered in flour.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Restaurants take me seriously when I pull this out—weird but true.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Got a collab with a cookware brand thanks to pro-level reels.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Clip-on macro lens and a waterproof pouch for oily fingers.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10 for foodies—just keep a power bank handy.

Benchmark Scores

The iPhone 8 Plus still holds up surprisingly well in benchmarks for its age. Geekbench 5 scores hover around 900 for single-core and 2400 for multi-core, which means everyday tasks like social media, emails, and even light photo editing are smooth. It’s not a powerhouse like the latest iPhones, but

Build Quality & Materials

Apple nailed it with the iPhone 8 Plus’s build—glass back with an aluminum frame feels premium even today. The weight is balanced, and the rounded edges make it comfortable to hold. Just be careful—that glass back is prone to cracks if dropped, so a case is a must.

Display Quality

The 5.5-inch Retina HD LCD is bright and color-accurate, though it lacks the deep blacks of OLED. The True Tone feature adjusts whites based on ambient light, which is great for reading. At 1080p, it’s sharp enough for videos and gaming, but side-by-side with newer iPhones, you’ll notice the differe

Camera System & Performance

The dual 12MP cameras (wide + telephoto) still take great photos in good light, with natural colors and solid detail. Portrait mode works well, though low-light performance shows its age—expect noise and slower focus. Video is stable at 4K 60fps, a standout feature even now.

Software & User Experience

iOS runs smoothly on the A11 Bionic chip, and Apple still supports it with updates. The home button with Touch ID is fast and reliable, though some apps are now optimized for Face ID. The lack of an app drawer might annoy Android switchers, but iOS is intuitive overall.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is decent—about 6-7 hours of screen time with mixed use. It supports fast charging (but you’ll need a separate adapter) and wireless charging, which is handy. Heavy users might need a midday top-up, though.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The A11 Bionic handles most games like PUBG or COD Mobile at medium settings without major hiccups. Graphics are smooth, but newer iPhones push higher frame rates. Long sessions can warm up the phone, but throttling isn’t severe.

Connectivity & Ports

The Lightning port is reliable, but the lack of USB-C feels outdated. Wi-Fi and LTE speeds are solid, though 5G isn’t an option. The single speaker is loud but lacks bass—headphones or Bluetooth speakers are better for media.

Durability & Protection

IP67 water resistance means it can survive spills or brief dunks, but the glass back is fragile. A good case and screen protector are wise investments. The aluminum frame can scratch over time, so handle with care.

Price & Value Proposition

At its current used/refurbished price (~$200-$300), it’s a steal for an iOS device with solid performance. Newer budget Androids offer better specs, but if you’re tied to Apple’s ecosystem, it’s a great value.

Benchmark Scores

In benchmarks, the iPhone 8 Plus’s A11 Bionic chip still impresses—scoring close to mid-range 2023 Android phones. AnTuTu puts it around 220,000, which means apps launch fast and multitasking is smooth. Don’t expect flagship-level numbers, but it’s far from sluggish.

Build Quality & Materials

The glass-sandwich design screams premium, and the space gray finish hides fingerprints well. The aluminum frame adds rigidity, but the glass back is a smudge magnet and slippery—I dropped mine twice before getting a case. Still, it feels more luxurious than plastic-backed rivals.

Display Quality

The LCD panel is vibrant, with accurate colors and wide viewing angles. It lacks HDR, so Netflix binges aren’t as immersive as on newer iPhones, but for daily use, it’s excellent. The 1080p resolution is sharp, though text isn’t as crisp as on Retina XDR displays.

Camera System & Performance

The dual 12MP cameras shine in daylight, with great dynamic range. Zoomed shots at 2x are usable, and Portrait mode’s edge detection beats many budget phones today. Low-light photos need steady hands—night mode would’ve been a game-changer.

Software & User Experience

iOS 15 (and likely 16) runs flawlessly, proving Apple’s long-term support. Touch ID is quicker than Face ID in masks, but app developers are slowly neglecting the home button. The lack of widgets pre-iOS 14 feels archaic now.

Battery Life & Charging

A full charge lasts a workday with moderate use—think emails, Spotify, and Instagram. Heavy gaming drains it fast, but 7.5W wireless charging is a lifesaver on a desk. Just don’t expect all-day endurance like newer iPhones.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

Genshin Impact runs at 30fps on low settings—playable, but don’t expect miracles. Less demanding games like Asphalt 9 are buttery smooth. The metal back dissipates heat well, but extended sessions will warm your palms.

Connectivity & Ports

Lightning is a love-it-or-hate-it port—ubiquitous but outdated. Wi-Fi 6 would’ve been nice, but AC speeds are decent. The lack of a headphone jack stings, but Bluetooth 5.0 ensures stable wireless audio.

Durability & Protection

IP67 rating means it’ll survive a coffee spill, but don’t push its limits. My unit survived a 3-foot drop onto carpet unscathed, but concrete would’ve been brutal. Screen protectors are a must—the glass scratches easily.

Price & Value Proposition

At $250-$350 refurbished, it’s a bargain for iOS users who want a large screen and Touch ID. Newer SE models are faster, but the 8 Plus’s camera and battery are better. Android alternatives offer more bang for buck, but ecosystem loyalty wins here.