3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy the iPhone 8 in 2024

If you’re hunting for a new smartphone in 2024, you’ll probably want to avoid the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, both of which launched back in 2017, might be tempting if you’re on a budget, but these models should be avoided if you’re looking to snag a cheap iPhone.

There are several reasons why we don’t recommend either the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus in 2024 we’ll explain why in this guide.

Software Support

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus didn’t make the move to iOS 17 which means they didn’t get the operating system’s new features. There are also some other implications.

Apple continues to support the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with new versions of iOS 16, but these updates are focused on patching up security issues. We might see the occasional bug fix, but don’t expect much.

In other words, you won’t be able to rely on Apple to fix bugs and performance issues going forward, which is obviously a pretty big deal. While you may be able to fix some problems on your own, others may linger due to the lack of support.

We’d expect these security releases to carry on for a year or two before Apple completely stops supporting the two devices.

One other note: If you’re an Apple Watch owner, and your watch is eligible to move to Apple’s new watchOS 10 operating system in the fall, you won’t be able to upgrade unless you have an iPhone running iOS 17.

Performance

In 2017, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were among the best devices Apple had to offer. That’s obviously not the case in 2024 as their hardware has aged considerably.

You’ll be taking a big chance buying a device with hardware this ancient.

The processor might not run the latest games as well as you would like. The cameras won’t take the best looking photos or videos which could be a problem if you plan to travel or love sharing your content with friends and family.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus don’t have 5G connectivity, something newer iPhone models have on board. And their batteries simply won’t give you the kind of mileage you’ll get from devices with better optimized hardware.

Better Options

If you’re determined to buy an iPhone, but you really don’t want to break the bank, you’ve got a bunch of options starting with phones like the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone SE 2, and iPhone SE 3.

These devices are cheap, like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and all of them will get lengthier software support. They all made the move to iOS 17.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, make sure you take a look at the iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 series, and maybe even the iPhone 13 series.

And let’s not forget about the mind-boggling number of Android phones out there. Many of them cheaper, in some cases much cheaper, than the iPhone.

There are also two other things we should note about extremely old iPhones like the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8. Keep these in mind before you upgrade:

• The resale value of an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus is minuscule compared to newer models and it will continue to drop in 2024 and beyond. If you buy an iPhone 8 model, and decide to sell it, you won’t get much back.
• You can buy newer iPhones on payment plans which allow you to stretch your budget. These might lock you into a contract, but you will likely get a much better experience with than iPhone than you would with a device that’s nearly six years old.

With all of that in mind, do yourself a favor and avoid the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. You can do a lot better in 2024, even if you’re on a budget.