Apple iPhone 8 Plus
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until December 2026 · Buy-by December 2024
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~7-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 8 Plus should be supported until around December 2026. Buying it today still gets you about 0.5 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Apple's documentation · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
191% above the under-$300 median ($6.74/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
The last big-screen Home-button iPhone, with dual cameras and surprisingly long security support.
Pros
- Still receiving iOS 16 security updates (16.7.x) in 2026
- Dual rear cameras with Portrait mode and optical zoom
- Glass back adds Qi wireless charging
Cons
- Stuck on iOS 16 with no new features
- Large bezels and a heavy body by modern standards
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.5-inch LCD (Retina HD IPS), 1920x1080, 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| telephoto 2x | 12MP |
| front | 7MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 2,691 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired (USB-PD via Lightning), Qi wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 158.4 × 78.1 × 7.5 mm |
| Weight | 202 g |
| Materials | Aluminum frame, glass front and back |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 11 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Lightning |
| Update policy | ~6 years of updates (our estimate from Apple's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the iPhone 8 Plus get updates?
It tops out at iOS 16, and Apple was still releasing iOS 16 security updates (16.7.x) in 2026. Expect that support to wind down around late 2026.
Does the iPhone 8 Plus have wireless charging?
Yes. Its glass back supports Qi wireless charging, a first for iPhone alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
Is the iPhone 8 Plus good for photography in 2026?
It is fine for casual use thanks to its dual 12MP cameras and Portrait mode, but it lacks Night mode and the computational photography of newer iPhones.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.