iPhone 8 vs iPhone XS

Two of Apple's flagship phones, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone XS were released just one year apart in 2017 and 2018 respectively. For some people looking for a low-cost iPhone, it might be worth comparing these two models, so let's break it down.

Camera

The hardware for the cameras for the iPhone 8 and iPhone XS look similar, but the XS has its advantages. While both phones have a rear 12MP rear camera, that's about where the similarities end. The iPhone XS also has an added 12MP telephoto lens, 10x digital zoom (compared to just 5x zoom on the iPhone 8), Portrait Lighting and Portrait Mode.

Battery

For better battery life, you'll want to look towards the iPhone XS, which boasts a 2658 mAh battery compared to 1821 mAh on the 8. This is a pretty significant increase that will likely give you 3-5 more hours of battery life on a single charge.

Display

The iPhone XS has a larger display size (5.8 inches compared to 4.7 inches on the iPhone 8). You'll also find a higher screen resolution on the iPhone XS at 1125 x 2436 px compared to 750 x 1334 px on the iPhone 8.

Storage 

Both phones have options for 64 and 128 GB internal storage, but the iPhone XS comes with an additional option for 512 GB.

Processor

Expectedly, the iPhone XS comes with an upgraded processor chip compared to the iPhone 8. The XS comes with the Apple A12 Bionic chip, which performs faster and smoother than the iPhone 8's A11 Bionic chip.

At this point, both the iPhone 8 and XS are several generations old and have slightly outdated technology. However, both phones for now still receive the latest iOS updates and you'll likely find cheap options for either model. You'll need to make a decision based off of your preference: if you like bigger phones and value the upgraded chip and more battery life then go with the iPhone XS. If you prefer smaller phones that still perform well, you'll be happy to save a few dollars with the iPhone 8.