4 Things Users Hate About the iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus undoubtedly improve on a lot of key features compared to their predecessors, particularly in processing power and camera quality. But the new iPhone lineup is not without its faults, and at times, some of their features feel like slight downgrades. Press the right arrow to learn four things users hate about the iPhone 8.
4 Smaller Battery
Of all the important features that received an upgrade in the new iPhone 8 lineup, battery life was not among them. In fact, the batteries installed in both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are actually smaller than the batteries in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Presumably, Apple shrunk the batteries in order to make room for other internal components, like the new wireless charging coils.
Sure, battery life is estimated to be “roughly” the same — Apple no doubt tweaked the software and hardware to offset the smaller battery capacity. But still, battery capacity is among the features that rarely sees a significant upgrade in modern flagships. And consumers shouldn’t have to shell out more money for a premium device without an upgrade to battery life.
3 Earpiece Issues
When you buy a new smartphone — and particularly an iPhone — you obviously expect it to “just work.” That’s why it’s especially frustrating when users find a flaw in their brand new device. In the iPhone 8, for example, a concerning number of users are reporting a “very annoying” issue during routine use of their new handsets.
Specifically, users are reporting that they hear a distracting, high-pitched static-like sound during calls using the devices’ front-facing earpiece. Though it seems to be a software-side issue rather than a hardware one, it’s still a problem. Certainly not on the scale of exploding batteries, but Apple would do well to fix the problem sooner than later.
2 Glass-Back Is Less Durable
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus handsets see a return to the glass-back construction of older iPhones. On the upside, this design change allows for the addition of wireless charging, since inductive charging standards aren’t compatible with metal cases. But it also means that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are less durable than their predecessors.
While Apple says it’s the most durable glass ever used in a smartphone, it’s still glass. During recent drop tests, the glass backs on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus both shattered pretty consistently. To be fair, other glass phones (like the Galaxy Note 8) fared worse than the iPhones did. But it doesn't change the fact that the addition of wireless charging feels like it resulted in a tradeoff as far as durability.
1 It’s Not the iPhone X
While the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are certainly top-tier smartphones in certain aspects, many consumers probably feel like the upgrades are incremental. Apple’s iPhone 8 models aren’t necessarily revolutionary in design or concept, and while “better” than their predecessors, they definitely don’t represent as huge of a leap forward as the iPhone X.
The iPhone 8’s “bleak” opening weekend and low sales performance are both indicative of the lackluster buzz surrounding the devices. That’s not necessarily bad for Cupertino, as many Apple aficionados are, no doubt, holding out for the release of Apple’s highly anticipated and actually revolutionary handset: the iPhone X. But it’s pretty plain to see that the iPhone 8 has been overshadowed by its premium stablemate.