[Updated/Corrected] The iPhone X has some pretty stiff sibling rivalry from the iPhone 8 Plus. If you don't obsess about edge-to-edge OLED displays and Face ID, the Plus is probably a better deal.
Better because there's key commonality between the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus but you'll pay a lot less for the Plus (and probably have a lot less trouble getting one).
The 4.7-inch iPhone 8 also matches the iPhone X on the specs below -- though the 8 has a smaller screen and the camera is different compared to the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus.
Processors: the same. This makes the iPhone 8 the X's equal when it comes to processing oomph -- a critical spec, if not the most critical. The A11 Bionic processor comes with a Neural Engine and embedded M11 motion coprocessor. And the new Apple‑designed three‑core GPU (graphics processor unit) is up to 30 percent faster than the (prior-generation) A10's GPU.
Qi standard wireless charging in both the iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone X. iPhone 8 works with Qi... [+]
Wireless charging: the same. Wireless charging that works with industry-standard Qi chargers. The glass back allows you to set the iPhone 8/8 Plus down on a mat to charge it up. (And third-party charging solutions are starting to pop up.)
iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8: glass front and back.
Credit: AppleGlass front and back: the same. And speaking of glass, Apple is claiming the "most durable glass ever in a smartphone" in all of the new phones.
Splash, water, and dust resistant: the same. Rated IP67 under IEC standard 60529 on all phones. The IP67 rating means that the phones are protected from dust and can be submerged in about 3.3 feet of static water for up to 30 minutes.
Video recording: the same: 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps; 720p HD video recording at 30 fps; optical image stabilization.
What's not the same:
Primary (rear) cameras similar but not identical*: The iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus have rear cameras that are similar in many respects but have some subtle differences -- which probably won't impact the average user but be important to photo buffs. The most important thing is that they both have 12-megapixel wide-angle and telephoto cameras and both have optical zoom. But while the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X both have wide angle f/1.8 apertures, the iPhone 8 Plus has a telephoto f/2.8 aperture compared to the iPhone X's telephoto f/2.4 aperture (which is better in low-light conditions than the iPhone 8 Plus' f/2.8). The iPhone X also has dual optical image stabilization, the 8 Plus has optical image stabilization only on the wide angle.
Both have a wider color gamut, less noise, are better in lower light, and have improved portrait mode.
Price and availability: Not the same.
iPhone X starts at $999 for the 64GB version and jumps to $1,149 for 256GB. But it won't ship until November 3.
iPhone 8 Plus is $799 for 64GB and $949 for 256GB. And it's available on September 22 (Apple's site currently says "ships: 1–2 weeks.").
iPhone 8 start at $699 for 64GB and $849 for 256GB. (Apple's site also says "ships: 1–2 weeks.")
iPhone X: Yes, it's different. The iPhone X is obviously going to be the only choice for lots of buyers because of its novel "all-screen" OLED-display design, front "TrueDepth" camera and Face ID unlocking (and no home button).
*Correction. The article originally stated that the cameras are identical. While there are similarities, they are not identical.
