The latest iPhone 8 Plus is one of the three flagship smartphones that Apple has to offer this year, and it certainly packs a punch when it comes to sheer hardware. After all, the smartphone is powered by the cutting-edge A11 Bionic chip which is simply the most powerful chip that we’ve ever seen in a smartphone, and thanks to the improved camera sensor, it’s able to produce significantly better results than its predecessor. Well, it even packs new features like Wireless charging and fast charging, which is a first for any iPhone.
However, this time around, there was not much excitement surrounding the launch of the iPhone 8 Plus as most people didn’t even care to queue up in front of the Apple stores across the United States. This is primarily due to the fact that the smartphone packs an ageing design that the company has been using for almost four years, starting with the iPhone 6 Plus. In a year of bezel-less smartphones, the iPhone 8 Plus is still sporting a big chin and forehead, which is disappointing to say the least. As a result, people are forced to look for alternative options. If you’re one of them, take a look at the top 8 iPhone 8 Plus alternatives you can buy:
Best iPhone 8 Plus Alternatives
1. Apple iPhone X
Apart from the reasons that we discussed above for the lack of excitement surrounding the new iPhone 8 Plus, the unveil of the radically redesigned iPhone X is yet another major reason. For starters, it’s the first ever iPhone sporting a bezel-less display and it actually looks like a smartphone from 2017, so we do realize what the fuss is all about. The iPhone X managed to steal the spotlight from iPhone 8 Plus immediately after Apple went ahead and termed it as “the future of the smartphone”. That being said, the iPhone X features an all-new 5.8-inch OLED display, which is a first for any iPhone. The screen has received a resolution bump, and it now sits at 2436 x 1125 pixels, which might not be as much as what the competition has to offer, but still an improvement nonetheless. Under the hood, it’s powered by the A11 Bionic chip coupled with 3 GB of RAM, just like its less exciting sibling.
The new iPhone X had to sacrifice the home button, which housed the much-loved Touch ID fingerprint scanner to achieve a bezel-less design. While it might a bummer for many, the company has introduced a groundbreaking security measure called Face ID that makes use of the phone’s TrueDepth camera system and infrared sensors to accurately identify your face to unlock your phone even if you’re out in the dark. It houses a similar 12 MP dual-camera setup like the iPhone 8 Plus, but the telephoto lens used here has an aperture of f/2.4 rather than f/2.8. Nevertheless, you should be able to take some breathtaking stills with the iPhone X. Thanks to the TrueDepth camera system, the secondary 7 MP camera with f/2.2 aperture will also be able to take Portrait photos with shallow depth of field, just like the rear camera. Lastly, the upcoming iPhone X is expected to pack a 2716 mAh battery that should be good enough to last you all day long under moderate usage, primarily due to the energy efficient processor and iOS 11’s optimization.
Buy: (Available November 3rd, 2017, Starts at $999)
2. Google Pixel 2 XL
Google’s flagships are the way to go if you want the best possible Android experience. The new Pixel 2 XL that was announced at the “Made by Google” event earlier month is no exception in that regard, as it delivers stock Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. The LG-made Pixel 2 XL boasts a 6-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2880 pixels that’s significantly better than what the iPhone 8 Plus has to offer. Performance wise, the device is no slouch either, as it’s powered by Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 835 chip coupled with 4 GB of RAM that should be able to handle anything that you throw at it.
Although the process is considerably weaker than the A11 Bionic chip on the iPhone 8 Plus, the Pixel 2 XL completely outshines the Apple flagship in the camera department, despite the fact that it lacks a dual-camera setup. If the DxOMark benchmarks are taken into consideration, the Pixel 2 XL’s 12.2 MP f/1.8 camera is the highest rated smartphone camera ever with a score of 98. In comparison, the dual-camera packed iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 received a score of 94. The secondary front-facing camera is rated at 8 MP with an f/2.4 aperture that lets you take some great selfies with your friends. With software tricks, Google is able to bring the bokeh effect to the selfie camera as well, which is quite a feat to be honest. Lastly, the 3520 mAh battery is good enough to last you throughout the day even under heavy usage, so there are no worries in this regard.
Buy: (Available November 15th, 2017, Starts at $849)
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
This could very well be Sammy’s year as both of their flagship smartphones garnered positives reviews across the globe from critics and users alike. The South Korean giant has managed to come back strong after the Note 7 debacle last year. The new Galaxy Note 8 boasts a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels for all the eye candy that you’ll ever need. The display curves around the edges to give it a neat bezel-less look, making it look ages ahead of the iPhone 8 Plus. Beneath this sleek chassis, the Note 8 packs a powerful Snapdragon 835 chip just like several other Android flagships that came out this year, and it’s coupled with 6 GB of RAM of exceptional multitasking performance.
There are significant improvements in the camera department as well. In fact, the Galaxy Note 8 is the company’s first smartphone to feature a dual-camera setup. The primary camera is dual-12 MP setup, where the primary lens has an f/1.7 aperture and the secondary telephoto lens has an f/2.4. The low-light performance of this camera is outstanding to say the least and it’s certainly one of the best ones out there. The 8 MP front-facing camera also has an f/1.7 aperture that lets you take selfies that stand out from the rest of the competition. As far as battery life is concerned, the company played safe by opting for a lower 3300 mAh battery in comparison to its predecessor, but it’s still good enough to last you through the day under moderate usage, so this is not the department that you should be much concerned about
Buy: ($929.99)
4. LG V30
The LG V30 is the next best flagship in this list that you can go for, instead of the new iPhone 8 Plus. This one has all the potential to end up as the best Android smartphone of this year in terms of hardware and features. The device is simply a pleasure to hold and look at, credits to the premium curved glass and metal design. The V30’s 6-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels is a dream to look at, and the panel appears quite similar to the one on the Pixel 2 XL. You won’t be disappointed with its performance either, as it’s powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 835 chip coupled with 4 GB of RAM to handle almost everything that you throw at it.
Moving on to the camera, the LG V30 uses its dual-camera setup in a totally different way unlike the iPhone 8 Plus or the Galaxy Note 8. The device sports a dual 16 MP + 13 MP camera setup, consisting of standard and wide-angle lens. The primary lens has an industry-leading f/1.6 aperture that has all the potential to set the benchmark in low-light smartphone photography. The secondary lens can capture some super-wide shots which I personally love to use. The secondary 5 MP front-facing camera might lack the megapixel count, but it still manages to a decent job in taking selfies with your friends. The battery on the LG V30 is rated at 3300 mAh which is ample to last you all day under moderate usage, so we’ve got no complaints here.
Buy: ($800)
5. Samsung Galaxy S8
If you don’t want to go for Samsung’s phablet, the compact Galaxy S8 will certainly be a much better option. Well, the smartphone has most of the goodies that the Note 8 has to offer, and it’ll also help you save a chunk of cash. With rounded corners and curved edges, this bezel-less smartphone is certainly one of best smartphones of this year in terms of sheer design and looks. The Galaxy S8 features a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels which pretty much gives the iPhone 8 Plus’ Full HD display a run for its money. The device packs the same Snapdragon 835 chip found on its bigger brother, but it has lower 4 GB of RAM which is still good enough to handle almost any task without breaking a sweat.
Moving on to the camera, the Galaxy S8 might not sport the fancy new dual-camera setup of the Note 8 or iPhone 8 Plus, but apart from portrait photos, you’ll still have the same level of photo quality that you get on the Note 8 with its 12 MP f/1.7 camera so there’s nothing much to worry about here. The secondary 8 MP camera also has an f/1.7 aperture like the Note 8, which does a stellar job in producing some crisp selfies even in dim lighting conditions. Lastly, the 3000 mAh battery on the S8 is quite decent as it’s capable of lasting throughout the day as long as the usage is moderate. For a $625 starting price tag, the Galaxy S8 is definitely much more value for money than the new iPhone 8 Plus.
Buy: ($624.99)
6. Essential Phone PH-1
This is a beautiful smartphone that’s designed and developed by Essential Products, a relatively new start-up founded by Andy Rubin, the man behind Android operating system. Built out of a solid titanium frame and ceramic back, the Essential PH-1 is an absolute stunner when it comes to design as well as top-notch build quality. For starters, the smartphone features a 5.71-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1312 x 2560 pixels that might look pale in comparison to several other Android flagships, but still a lot better than what the iPhone 8 Plus offers. Under the hood, the PH-1 packs a Snapdragon 835 processor coupled with 4 GB of RAM that’s capable of handing multitasking without any hiccups.
Speaking about the camera, the Essential Phone’s dual-13 MP setup with an f/1.9 aperture is mediocre at best, and it doesn’t even come close in matching the likes of the new iPhone 8 Plus to be honest. Sure, this is definitely not the smartphone you should be going for, if a good camera is one of your top priorities. The secondary 8 MP camera with an aperture of f/2.2 does a fair job at taking selfies with your friends, but it certainly could’ve been better. The battery is also decent at 3040 mAh, but it should still be good enough to last you throughout the day as long as the usage is moderate, thanks to the energy efficient Snapdragon 835 chip that powers the device.
Buy from Amazon: ($699)
7. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Well, we’ve talked about some great premium Android smartphones that you could buy instead of the new iPhone 8 Plus so far. Now, if you can’t really afford the $799 price tag of the iPhone 8 Plus, fret not, you’ve still got your options and they’re quite smartphones that are comparable to the top dogs in terms of performance. Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi’s Mi Mix 2 sits right at the top on that regard. It sports a gorgeous 5.99-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels with an impressive screen-to-body ratio of nearly 81% that makes it look miles ahead of the iPhone 8 Plus in terms of looks. Performance wise, it’s no slouch as the company has jam-packed Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 835 processor to power the smartphone. the Mi Mix 2 can be purchased with either 6 GB or 8 GB RAM depending on the storage variant that you’re opting for, so expect top-notch multitasking performance.
The camera on the other hand is pretty mediocre just like the Essential Phone that we just discussed. The primary 12 MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 fails to live up to the expectations, as it’s far behind that the competition has to offer this year. The secondary front-facing camera rated at 5 MP with an f/2.0 aperture doesn’t do much justice either, as a lot of details will be missing in your selfies. After all, this is a design-centric smartphone rather than a camera-centric device. The ceramic build which we absolutely love makes it look and feel quite like a premium Android smartphone. The battery on the Mi Mix 2 is rated at 3400 mAh, which should be good enough to last you throughout the day under normal usage.
Buy: ($560)
8. OnePlus 5
This is the only smartphone in the list that does not have a bezel-less display, but at the same time it’s also the most affordable one. Considered as a “flagship killer” by many users, the OnePlus 5 packs some impressive hardware under the hood, despite the fact that it looks quite similar to the iPhone 8 Plus. The device sports a 5.5-inch Full HD Optic AMOLED display that’s quite decent for its price point. What makes this phone standout is its top-notch performance, and that’s because the OnePlus 5 is powered by Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 835 processor coupled with either 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM depending on the storage variant that makes it a multitasking powerhouse.
Just like the iPhone 8 Plus, the OnePlus 5 also features a dual-16 MP camera setup with an f/1.7 aperture that lets you take some impressive portraits with shallow depth of field. However, the camera doesn’t come close to matching what the iPhone 8 Plus has to offer, but that’s totally fine considering the huge price gap. The secondary 16 MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture has all the resolution that it needs to take some crispy selfies with your friends. In terms of battery performance, the 3300 mAh battery that the OnePlus 5 packs is good enough to last you all day under normal usage, so we’ve got no complaints in this department.
Buy from Amazon: ($527.89)
SEE ALSO: Top 7 Apple iPhone X Alternatives You Can Buy
The Best iPhone 8 Plus Alternatives You Can Buy
Well, if you don’t want to go for the iPhone 8 Plus just because of its ageing design rather than being satisfied with its powerful hardware, there are much better alternatives that actually look like smartphones from 2018, and most of them aren’t even that expensive. We do understand that everyone of you have different budgets and that’s exactly why we’ve added alternatives at different price points, including the affordable Mi Mix 2 and OnePlus 5. So, which one of these smartphones are you planning to get your hands on instead of the iPhone 8 Plus? Do let us know, by dropping your valuable opinions in the comments section down below.
