We are pretty sure everyone knows by now that the iPhone 8 Plus was a most sought after device from Apple back in 2017 and we can tell you that for the most part, this device was such an interesting phone at that time because it kind of signified the end and the beginning of a new generation. It was a huge leap forward for Apple and the upgrades were well received by the consumers. Apple went on to release the iPhone X in 2018 but the iPhone 8 still to this day has been a fan favourite. Let’s discuss why everyone loves it and if a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus is worth buying in 2021.
Price of a Refurbished iPhone 8
Price is one of the most important factors when thinking about buying a phone so, let’s get this out of the way. Apple doesn’t sell a new iPhone 8 nowadays but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to buy one in good condition. You can easily buy a refurbished iPhone 8 and for those of you who might be wondering if you should go for a refurbished device then yes, you should definitely consider going for a refurbished phone as they offer better value and work just like a new phone.
You can buy an iPhone 8 Plus 64gb from Phonebot for $499 AUD. It offers great value and considering all the features, it surely is a bargain at this price. The 256gb variant might cost you a bit more.
Display
Starting off with the front, the iPhone 8 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen, it’s a Retina IPS LCD display and the resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels with a PPI (Pixel Per Inch) of 326. It goes all the way up to 625 nits of brightness, which in our opinion is enough for day to day and outdoor usage. The screen is bright and the colour accuracy is excellent, Apple has done a phenomenal job with the display and the form factor is perfect even for people with small hands. Even according to 2021 standards, the screen is great for daily use. It also has IP67 water/dust certification and oleophobic coating on the front which makes it resistant to water and dust. It also has an Ion Strengthened glass which may protect the screen from cracking when accidentally dropped.
Overall, the screen is excellent especially for those who consume a lot of media or play games on their phones.
Camera
We have a dual-camera setup on the back, the iPhone 8 Plus has a 12MP wide and a 12MP telephoto lens. The base model of the 8 series, has a single camera on the back. In our testing, the cameras were able to take stunning shots effortlessly. On the iPhone 8 Plus you have optical image stabilization which is great and you have the ability to shoot 4k in 60FPS. iPhone 8 Plus’s camera is able to let in more light, making for better shots in low light and sharper images overall. Both low light and daylight shots have excellent colour contrast and details.
In our experience, you don’t need to tweak the setting too much to get a great shot. All you need to do is point and shoot, the phone will be the rest. The ability to shoot videos in 4k at 60FPS is impressive and we know some other phones also had this feature but Apple has perfected it, the videos are sharp, vibrant and smooth.
Software and Memory
It was launched with the iOS 11 but the iPhone 8 Plus can be upgraded to the latest iOS 14 so, you can enjoy all the latest features from Apple. This makes the phone future-proof and secure. Latest software updates are always welcome and thanks to the iOS 14, the phone feels smoother and snappier than ever.
The iPhone 8 Plus has 3gb of ram which is plenty for multitasking and thanks to Apple’s optimization, everything is smooth. The more the ram you have, the more applications you can have open and multitask. In our extensive testing, the iPhone 8 proved to be an excellent performer in all of our tests and we highly recommend it.
Performance
The iPhone 8 Plus is powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic processor and Apple has done a great job with the hardware and software optimization. It can handle any task you throw at it and is perfect for those who are looking for a phone on a budget. Even gaming performance is good, the iPhone 8 is able to run every game smoothly. You may not be able to run every game at the highest possible setting but that’s expected, it performed exceptionally well and marginally better than we expected.
Apple’s mobile chipsets have always performed better than the Android counterparts and this is the case here, the A11 Bionic processor still performs like a champ.
Battery
The iPhone 8 Plus has a smaller battery than the 7 Plus, with a capacity of 2691mAh. The battery life of a device is good and can easily last you a day if you are careful with it. It can be charged up to 50% in 30 mins with the 15W charger. It also supports Qi wireless charging so, any Qi certified wireless charger can charge it wirelessly which in our opinion is excellent.
Connectivity
It has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band and Bluetooth v5.0 with A2DP, which means good connectivity support in terms of browsing and you can easily share your data with friends and family.
Conclusion
A refurbished iPhone 8 will be the best option in terms of durability, battery, performance, and display. If you are looking for a phone in 2021, a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus should definitely be in your list. If you’re on a tight budget, go for a 64gb variant as it may cost less than the higher capacity ones. So, we hope this was helpful and made your decision regarding a refurbished iPhone 8 easier.
