iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: Release date, specs and all you need to know after Apple’s big launch

iPhone 8 Price and Release Date UK: All you need to know about the iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 8 Price and Release Date Revealed: The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus launched alongside a host of other devices to mark the 10th anniversary of Apple smartphones.

As expected, it was a huge launch event, but our guide strips away the claptrap and tells you what you really need to know about the iPhone 8’s UK release date, price and specs now it’s all official.



Apple’s very first iPhone launched way back in 2007, re-shaping the landscape of mobile phones forever more. Now we’re 10 years on and Apple has massively revamped the iPhone line-up with the new iPhone 8.
iPhone 8 Release Date – When does it come out?
This is always the million-dollar question after an Apple launch event: when does the next iPhone come out?

The good news is, we now know when we’ll be able to get our paws on one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated new smartphones.

At its launch event, Apple revealed that the iPhone 8 would go up for pre-order on September 15, ahead of a final release date of September 22.

As ever with a new Apple handset, demand is expected to exceed supply, so if you’ve got your heart set on either the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus, we’d recommend registering your interest right away.

iPhone 8 Price – How much will the new iPhone cost?

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus come available in two different storage models, meaning there are a handful of price points to take in.

The iPhone 8 costs £699 SIM-free for the 64GB version, rising to £849 for the 256GB variant.

Things get even more eye-watering when it comes to the iPhone 8 Plus, with the 64GB Apple phablet costing £799, and the 256GB model going for a whopping £949 off-contract.

Here’s a quick look at some of the best iPhone 8 pre-order deals available right now.

iPhone 8 Specs and Design – What’s new?

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both feature a raft of new specs – and a slightly tweaked look.

Both now feature a glass back and front, with Apple saying the devices use “the most durable glass” in the smartphone world, though they haven’t revealed quite what this means. More interestingly, perhaps, the glass back paves the way for the pair of support Qi wireless charging, which represents a major step forward for the iPhone. As you’d expect, the iPhone 8 Plus is the larger of the two devices, with a 4.7-inch Retina screen, while the iPhone 8 Plus measures a larger 5.5 inches.

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However, they stop short of featuring an OLED screen, as some had predicted, and instead retain the same IPS screen found on older iPhones. The 3.5mm headphone jack is still gone, though, which may continue to irk audio buffs.

Under the hood, there’s Apple’s new A11 Bionic processor, which the company says comes with a host of performance benefits. And in terms of camera specs, the iPhone 8 features a 12-megapixel primary camera, while the iPhone 8 Plus features a more impressive dual-lens setup that pairs a 12-megapixel rear ƒ/1.8 lens with a telephoto ƒ/2.8 lens.

The table below features a full rundown of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus’ specs, or hit the link below for our full comparison.

iPhone 8 Software – Will it run on iOS 11?

Way back at its annual WWDC conference in June, Apple showcased the latest version of its mobile and tablet operating system: iOS 11.

iOS 11 is set to launch on September 19 this year, meaning that both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will ship with Apple’s latest software.

So what’s new? Well there are plenty of upgrades coming with iOS 11, including an update to Messages. In iOS 11, there will be a bigger focus on apps and stickers, featuring a redesigned app picker. There’s also cloud syncing so your messages carry (or delete) across from an old phone to a new phone.

Siri is getting a new voice that makes her much more lifelike too. It’s a clear bid to tackle growing competition from rivals like Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant. She’ll also be able to translate your voice and speak out the response.

Other changes include updates to the the camera and photos, a redesigned control centre, and modifications to Maps, Apple Music, and the App Store.

iPhone 8 Summary: Should you wait for the iPhone 8?

There are plenty of reasons to wait for the iPhone 8, so here’s our advice:

If you’re using the iPhone 6S (or something older) then you’ll definitely want to wait for the iPhone 8. Apple’s next handset ushers in a significant redesign, and so if you’re coming to the end of a two-year contract, it’s absolutely worth waiting for.

If you have the iPhone 7, you probably won’t need to upgrade. Unless you’re a die-hard Apple fan who needs to be at the bleeding edge of Cupertino tech, it probably isn’t going to be worth the leap. Even considering the fact that the iPhone 8 offers a handful of major changes, the iPhone 7 is still a capable handset by modern standards. Check out our full guide below for the full picture.