Should you buy the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8?

The iPhone 12 is just around the corner, reason enough for many tech enthusiasts and Apple fans to think about buying the new model. The prerequisite for this is a well-filled wallet, as we know that new iPhone models are priced high. But not everyone can afford to spend a four-digit amount on a new smartphone.

If you don’t have big money to spare, you don’t have to do without an iPhone, because even though Apple only sells one iPhone model for less than £ 500 (the iPhone SE), several third-party vendors still offer the iPhone 7. and iPhone models. 8 for sale and you can still find some refurbished models in the Apple store and other resellers. In this article, we will determine if these models are still worthwhile purchases.

Are the iPhone 7 and 8 out of date?

Compared to today’s best smartphones, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 no longer look particularly modern. This is mainly due to the fact that the “screen-to-body ratio” (for example, the proportion that the screen occupies on the front of a smartphone) has increased significantly in recent years. Even the mid-range smartphones of the Android world now consist almost entirely of displays, and clearly visible screen edges are rarely found.

Smartphones are also getting bigger, the 4.7-inch screens on these retro models are very small by today’s standards. At least the Plus versions, with their 5.5-inch screens, are more in line with the current standard. However, a small screen doesn’t have to be bad, and the arrival of the iPhone SE and its subsequent popularity is proof that people want smaller screens.

While these phones were once the flagship devices, even the inexpensive iPhone SE has a more powerful processor than these older phones.

iPhone vs. Android

It’s pretty clear that when it comes to iPhones, you’re better off spending a little more to get a newer iPhone. The iPhone SE or iPhone XR are excellent options. But what if they are still too expensive for you? This is where you might consider an Android phone as an alternative to an iPhone 7 or iPhone 8. After all, many Android phones are considerably cheaper than iPhones.

Comparing iPhone and Android smartphones is always difficult because they are two completely different ecosystems. If we compare the pure technical data, you will find that you can buy the latest Android smartphones with many more features for the price of older iPhones.

The big consideration is how much you want to use iOS instead of Google Android. You must decide if iOS is worth the higher price. But since you are reading this article, let’s say you would like to buy an iPhone.

iPhone 7 and 8 vs iPhone SE (and XR)

Until recently, it was relatively easy to recommend the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8. They are good everyday smartphones for those who don’t need the latest and greatest, and they are reliable. But when the iPhone SE arrived in March, capable of doing everything these older and older models can do for a reasonable price, it became much more difficult to recommend them.

In short, the iPhone SE looks like the iPhone 7 and 8, but it has a better camera and the latest processor. It will also support iOS updates for years to come and is therefore much more future-proof than an iPhone 7 and 8. If you can spend £ 419 on a new iPhone, you should definitely look at the iPhone SE. But there are also arguments in favor of the older models.

Size

The 4.7-inch screen on the iPhone SE is the same size as that of the older models. However, there are the Plus models of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, so you have the option of getting a larger version. There is no larger version of the iPhone SE.

5.5in doesn’t seem like much longer at first, but if you hold the smartphones side by side the difference is clearly visible. However, a bigger screen also means a higher price (we discuss the price in the next section).

But when it comes to screen size, there is another iPhone to consider. The iPhone XR is much newer, with a more powerful processor, and is priced comparable to the iPhone 8 Plus. And the screen is 6.1 inches.

Features and Specifications

There is an advantage of the Plus models compared to the XR: the Plus models come with a second camera lens. The 2x optical zoom telephoto lens lets you take pictures of subjects with the Portrait mode function that blurs the background.

The other advantage or disadvantage depending on your point of view is that the iPhone XR uses Face ID while the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 retain the Home button and use Touch ID. There are many people who prefer Touch ID, but of course the iPhone SE also has a home button.

Even though they were once the flagship phones, even the iPhone SE is now more powerful than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.

Below is a breakdown of the main specifications for each device.

Price

The biggest selling point of the iPhone 7 is the price. An iPhone 7 with the smallest memory size (32GB) can be found for about £ 295.20 here on Amazon and Argos here. £ 123.80 cheaper than a £ 419 iPhone SE. But that’s with less storage, 32GB compared to 64GB. 32GB is very little even for iCloud users.

There’s also a 128GB iPhone 7, which is available for £ 349 from Amazon here and Argos here. But that’s only £ 70 less than the iPhone SE.

The iPhone 8 is priced even less competitively – if you can really find a new model for sale, it’s been out of stock on Amazon for some time.

if you can find one to buy new, it is as expensive as the iPhone SE. Why would you buy an iPhone that looks exactly like the SE, but has fewer features for the same price?

However, there is another option. Buy a refurbished iPhone 7 or 8. Refurbished iPhones are used iPhones that have been professionally refurbished and are sold with a warranty.

Refurbished iPhones are available from all kinds of retailers, including Amazon, as part of regular promotions. The advantage of reconditioned appliances over classic used items is, in addition to being checked by professionals, the aforementioned warranty, which is usually one year.

Refurbished devices are significantly cheaper than new products, a refurbished 64GB iPhone 8 bought directly from Apple costs £ 339. Apple notes that that price is £ 60 off what it considers the new price: £ 399, it’s also just £ 80 less than the iPhone SE. A refurbished 256GB iPhone 8 costs £ 469 from Apple, a saving of £ 160 over Apple’s price tag of £ 629.

However, it is worth shopping around. Amazon also sells refurbished iPhone 8 models and you can get a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus from Amazon here for £ 429.95.

You can see the best deals right now here: iPhone 8 Deals and iPhone 7 Deals.

Verdict

If you find one of these older iPhones on sale at a good price, should you buy it?

We generally advise against buying iPhone 7 or 8 phones. We don’t think the prices we’re seeing on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 (including Plus models) are low enough when you can buy a new iPhone SE for just £ 419.

If you can only spend £ 299, then the fact that you can get an iPhone 7 for that may be attractive, but keep in mind that it only offers 32GB of storage, and we think you will get frustrated very quickly.

If you are looking for an iPhone larger than the iPhone SE and the iPhone XR is too expensive for you, then a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone 7 Plus might be a good option, as long as it is less than £ 629 than the iPhone XR will be. sells retail.

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