iPhone XR vs iPhone 8 – How Do They Compare?

By Michael Grothaus

Updated: 02/03/21 - 10 min read

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8 – which will win? Which is best? We compare two VERY different iPhones to see if either is worth buying in 2021. Let’s do this…

Apple has a slew of iPhones in its lineup now including the iPhone XR, the iPhone XS, and the iPhone XS Max, as well as its newer models – the iPhone 11 range and iPhone 12 lineup. AND that’s in addition to the older iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

In this context, however, the overall, better phone is the iPhone XR; it’s bigger, has 50% more power, better battery life, and it features Apple’s latest software tweaks inside its camera app. The iPhone XR is the #1 best selling iPhone of the last few years, and the reason for this is simple: it retails for a lot less than Apple’s flagship models, yet still delivers excellent performance and design.

Price Difference (iPhone 8 vs iPhone XR)

iPhone XR – The 6.1in iPhone XR starts at $288.
iPhone 8 – Unlocked the 4.7in iPhone 8 less than $200

The iPhone 11 is the successor of the iPhone XR and for this reason, the iPhone XR can now be picked up for a lot less than when it first launched. This applies to the iPhone 8 too, though we would always recommend the iPhone XR over the iPhone 8 – it’s just a superior device in every way, from battery life to overall performance and looks.

The iPhone XR will also be supported by Apple for longer; the iPhone 8 only has a couple more years of updates at best.

Read on for a detailed breakdown of how these two iPhones compare…

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8 Quick Comparison

Design

iPhone XR – The iPhone XR has a 6.1in display, features Apple’s biometric authentication system called Face ID. It’s industrial design also comes in a wide range of colors, which looks gorgeous, especially the yellow model. Then, of course, there is that beautiful edge-to-edge display.
iPhone 8 – The iPhone 8, from a design perspective, looks outdated. It’s got a big forehead and chin and sports the old school Touch ID, biometric fingerprint reader. Though it only came out last September, its design looked dated compared to flagship iPhones and Android devices.

Winner? iPhone XR – It’s a work of art compared to the 8.

Displays

iPhone XR – The iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge display that is 6.1in and has a 2436×1125-pixel resolution at 458ppi. Without a doubt, the iPhone XR’s display wins the day here-well, almost.
iPhone 8 – The iPhone 8 features a 4.7in display with bezels that has a 1334×750-pixel resolution at 326ppi, making it inferior to the XR. The iPhone 8 beats the XR in one display aspect, however: the XR lacks 3D Touch, which the iPhone 8 has. If you were never a fan of 3D Touch, that won’t matter much. But if you like the feature you’ll be disappointed it’s not in the XR.

Winner? iPhone XR – Its Display Is Bigger And More Beautiful.

CPU/Processor

iPhone XR – the XR features the A12 Bionic chipset. This A12 is a 7nm chip with 6 cores, which is absolutely INSANE. The CPU is almost twice as fast as the A10. You also have more storage options with the XR: 64, 128, or 256GB.
iPhone 8 – the iPhone 8 features Apple’s A11 Bionic chipset. The A11 isn’t any slouch, but it pales in comparison when it comes to the A12.

Winner? iPhone XR – It’s 50% More Powerful Than iPhone 8.

Camera

iPhone XR – The main camera on the iPhone XR is a single-lens 12MP wide-angle camera. It does feature optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. On the front, you have a 7MP camera for selfies and video calling. It also supports advanced photo features like portrait photography.
iPhone 8 – The main camera on the iPhone 8 is also a single-lens 12MP wide-angle camera. It too features optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. On the front, you also have the same 7MP camera as the XR.

Winner? Draw – Both phones feature the same front and rear cameras. However, the XR does have a few more software features, which you might not use much.

Storage Options

iPhone XR – 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB
iPhone 8 – 64GB & 256GB

Battery Life

iPhone XR – The iPhone XR’s battery will get you about 13.5 hours of battery life with mixed usage. It also features wireless charging, which the 7 lacks.
iPhone 8 – The iPhone 8 uses a slightly smaller battery than the iPhone XR and, thanks to that, it will get you about an hour less of battery life on average than the XR. In this respect, the iPhone XR is definitely superior. However, it still lacks performance compared to larger Android phones.

Winner? iPhone XR – It Has Better Battery Life Than iPhone 8 and it has wireless charging.

Price

iPhone XR – The 6.1in iPhone XR starts at $288.
iPhone 8 – Unlocked the 4.7in iPhone 8 less than $200

Verdict – Are They Worth Buying In 2021?

When it comes to design, display, and processing power, the choice is clear: go with the iPhone XR. It’s the more modern of the two phones and its power as a workhorse can’t be beaten by the iPhone 8. However, do keep in mind that while the iPhone XR has a better display, that display also lacks 3D Touch. If you’re a fan of that, you’ll want to get the iPhone 8.

But besides that 3D touch feature, there’s little the iPhone 8 offers besides a cheaper price point and, well, that’s it. The answer is clear: go with the iPhone XR. And, as an added bonus, you can now pick up the iPhone XR for just $288 via Verizon.

The iPhone XR is also 50% faster than the iPhone 8, thanks to its uber-powerful A12 Bionic processor.

The iPhone 8, back when this post was first published, still had a lot of value. But as we move through 2021, the iPhone 8 (and the iPhone 8 Plus) is now starting to show its age. And this is important to consider. Why?

Because the iPhone 8 will soon stop getting iOS updates. Apple no longer supports the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. The next phone on the chopping block later this year will be the iPhone 7 and then, next year, the iPhone 8.

Meanwhile, the iPhone XR, like the iPhone X, will be getting iOS updates for at least another several years – maybe more. You also get access to Apple’s newer features (FACE ID) with the iPhone XR. And a larger display too.

From a value for money perspective, I honestly do not think the iPhone XR can be beat right now – it currently retails for less than $300. Yes, this is for a refurbished unit, but that’s no big deal; they look and function as good as new.

Bottom line? If you’re on a budget or just want to cut down your costs, while still using an iPhone, the iPhone XR in 2021 could be just what you’ve been looking for. Hell, I’m even tempted by this Verizon offer…

Another option worth considering, however, is picking up a newer refurbished iPhone – something like the iPhone X or iPhone XR, which you can get for 40% less than retail via Gazelle, our #1 pick for refurbished iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and iMacs.

Full iPhone XR and iPhone 8 Comparison

iphone 7 vs iphone xr

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8: Specs Comparison

Here are the specs for the iPhone XR:

Display: 6.1in LCD Liquid Retina display with a 2436×1125-pixel resolution at 458ppi
Dimensions: 150.9mm x 75.7mm x 8.3mm
Weight: 194 grams
Storage: 64, 128, or 256GB
Processors: A12 Bionic
Front camera: 7 MP photos and 1080p HD video.
Rear camera: Single lens 12MP wide-angle camera, optical image stabilisation. 4K video.
Battery: Up to 13.5 hours battery life mixed usage.
Other: Face ID, NFC, Wireless charging, IP67 waterproof

And here’s the specs for the iPhone 8:

Display: 4.7-inch display with a 1334×750-pixel resolution at 326ppi
Dimensions: 138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm
Weight: 148 grams
Storage: 64 or 256GB
Processors: A11 Bionic chip
Front camera: 7 MP photos and 1080p HD video
Rear camera: Single lens 12MP wide-angle camera, optical image stabilisation. 4K video.
Battery: Up to 12 hours battery life mixed usage
Other: Touch ID, NFC, Wireless charging, 3D Touch, IP67 waterproof

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8: Display & Design

The iPhone XR features an edge-to-edge display that is 6.1in and has a 2436×1125-pixel resolution at 458ppi. The iPhone 8 features a 4.7in display with bezels that has a 1334×750-pixel resolution at 326ppi. No question about it, the iPhone XR’s display wins the day here-well, almost.

By many aspects, the XR beats the 8: it has a larger display with a higher resolution, a higher pixel density, and is edge-to-edge. But not so fast, the iPhone 8 beats the XR in one display aspect: the XR lacks 3D Touch, which the iPhone 8 has. If you were never a fan of 3D Touch, that won’t matter much. But if you like the feature you’ll be disappointed it’s not in the XR.

The other obvious difference is that the iPhone XR lacks a Home button. It jettisons it in favor of a gesture-based Home control. The iPhone 8 still has the Home button we all know and love. This means the iPhone 8 also still has Touch ID. The iPhone XR lacks Touch ID and replaces it with Apple’s Face ID facial recognition system.

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8: CPU, Battery, and Storage

The iPhone XR has a MUCH larger battery than the iPhone 8. You’ll definitely see a difference because of it. Just check out the battery life specs below to see what we mean. Here’s how the battery life compares between the two in Talk Time, Standby Time, Internet Use, Video Playback, and Audio Playback:

Talk time: iPhone XR – 25 hours. iPhone 8 – 14 hours.
Internet use: iPhone XR – Up to 15 hours. iPhone 8 – Up to 12 hours.
Video playback: iPhone XR – Up to 16 hours. iPhone 8 – Up to 13 hours.
Audio playback: iPhone XR – Up to 65 hours. iPhone 8 – Up to 40 hours.

Both phones also feature wireless charging. As for storage, the XS offers three sizes: 64, 256, or 512GB. The iPhone 8 only comes in 64 or 256GB. As far as the CPU is concerned, the new XS has a better processor than the iPhone 8.

The XS features the A12 Bionic chipset–and upgrade over the 8’s A11 Bionic. The new A12 is a 7nm chip with 6 cores. The CPU is 15% faster and 40% more energy efficient than the previous A11. The GPU now has 4 cores and is 50% faster.

Finally, the Neural engine now has 8 cores for machine learning and is almost 10x faster. Apps launch 30% faster on the XS and Machine Learning runs nine times faster on 1/10th the energy. In other words, the A12 Bionic absolutely flies.

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8: Camera

When you get to the camera department, the two phones aren’t THAT different. On the front camera, both phones feature the same 7MP sensor, but the front camera on the iPhone XR is a TrueDepth system that supports Face ID. It also supports advanced photo features like portrait photography.

The red camera is also almost identical. Both feature a single-lens 12MP wide-angle camera. Both also feature optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. The XR does have some extra software features, however, like Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control and Portrait Lighting.

iPhone XR vs iPhone 8: Cost & Verdict

iPhone XR – The 6.1in iPhone XR starts at $288.
iPhone 8 – Unlocked the 4.7in iPhone 8 less than $200

Michael Grothaus

Apple expert and novelist, Michael Grothaus has been covering tech on KnowYourMobile for the best part of 10 years. Prior to this, he worked at Apple. And before that, he was a film journalist. Michael is a published author; his book Epiphany Jones was voted as one of the best novels about Hollywood by Entertainment Weekly. Michael is also a writer at other publications including VICE and Fast Company.