Hello Wonderful People,
I hope your week is off to a fantastic start. Spring is in the air and the weather has been a little cooler than normal. The heat and humidity of summer will be here soon enough, so I am enjoying the cooler temps.
There has been a lot of talk recently about the new iPhone 8 that has hit the market. Being a loyal iPhone 6 Plus user, I was not sure if I wanted to upgrade to the newer version or stay with my trusted phone that I have been using for the last two years. Buying a new phone is a considerable purchase, so I did not want to make the purchase if there was not much difference between the two models. Thanks to my partnership with Verizon Wireless, my hubby and I were able to try the iPhone 8 for 30 days to test out and to determine if an upgrade is needed or if I should stick with my 6 Plus. After using it for the 30 days, there are three primary factors that I found that would a current iPhone user should consider when deciding if an upgrade is needed.
The iPhone 8
PHONE SETUP
Once you purchase the iPhone 8, you will need to set it up. Apple uses iCloud to make it easier than ever to accomplish this task. At the initial start-up screen, you will be asked if you will want to sync the new phone with an old phone. If you are, the old phone has to come in contact with the new one. Basically, all you need to do is hold the new phone on top of the old phone and they start sending signals between the phones. From there, all of the purchased apps, telephone numbers, text messages and the like will appear on your new phone in the same location as the old phone. Thanks to the power of iCloud, the new iPhone will now look and act like your old phone in only a couple of minutes. You do not have to be concerned that you will lose your contacts or will have to reinstall all of the apps that you have already been using.
SOUND AND VIDEO
With each new iPhone that is introduced, the sound and the video quality improves. Making the leap from the 6Plus to the 8, I could tell a huge difference when listening to iTunes or watching a movie clip. The sound is clearer and the video was sharper. And it was not just a small difference, but big enough to be noticed the very first time I tried it. The iPhone is always known to have great quality sound and video, it just keeps getting better with each new model that is released. But keep in mind, that the iPhone 8 does not have a jack for you to plug in your headphones. If you are looking to use headphones or earbuds, they have be used wirelessly. That took a little to get used to because I like to plug up my headphones and listen to iTunes sometimes at work. I quickly adapted to the change and it was not a big deal by the end of the 30 days.
BATTERY POWER
One thing that I have grown accustomed to with my 6Plus is that the battery would typically last me all day without having to be recharged. I could take it off the charger as I left for work, and by the end of the day with regular use of the phone, the battery would still be at 60 to 70 percent fully charged. However, with the new IPhone 8, I found that the battery did not have the same staying power. With similar use as my 6Plus, I found the 8 would have closer to 30 to 40 percent battery remaining by the end of the day. While this is still a better battery experience than I had with most of the other phones that are in the market, it was much less than what I was expecting from an Apple phone. It would be a good idea to keep a charger with you; or at your desk at work; so that you can charge it if needed.
After trying the iPhone 8 for 30 days, I realized that Apple continues to make superb smart phones. This version of the iPhone is definitely an upgrade to the 6Plus that I am currently using. Will I go out and buy it for myself? Yes, at the right time. As for now, the 6Plus is still an excellent phone and works well for me. When the time comes and the 6Plus is no longer an adequate phone, I will definitely upgrade the 8, or even the X, or beyond.
FTC Disclosure:
Verizon Wireless provided Bubbling With Elegance And Grace with the iPhone 8 to demo for 30 days. After the 30 days, the phone was returned to Verizon and this review was written. All opinions are our own; and we did not receive any monetary compensation to write it.
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