The iPhone 12 is just around the corner, reason plenty for many tech enthusiasts and Apple fans to think about purchasing the new model. The prerequisite for this is a well-filled wallet, every bit we know new iPhone models come up with a high toll tag. Merely non everyone can afford to spend a four-digit amount on a new smartphone.

If you don't have a g to spare you don't have to practice without an iPhone, because although Apple just sells ane iPhone model for less than £500 (the iPhone SE), various third-party suppliers still offer the iPhone vii and iPhone 8 models for sale and you can still find some refurbished models on Apple's store and at other resellers. In this article we are going to determine whether these models are still worthwhile purchases.

Are the iPhone 7 and 8 outdated?

Compared to current top smartphones, the iPhone seven and iPhone 8 no longer look specially modern. This is mainly due to the fact that the 'screen-to-torso ratio' (due east.g. the proportion that the screen takes upwardly on the front of a smartphone) has increased significantly in recent years. Even mid-range smartphones from the Android world now consist almost entirely of displays, and clearly visible screen edges are rarely plant.

Smartphones are also getting bigger and bigger, the 4.7in displays of these retro models are very small by today's standards. At least the Plus versions, with their 5.5in screens, are more than in line with the current standard. A small display doesn't necessarily take to be bad though - and the arrival of the iPhone SE, and its subsequent popularity, is proof that people want smaller screens.

While in their day these phones were the flagship devices, even the depression-price iPhone SE has a more powerful processor than these aging phones.

iPhone vs. Android

It'due south pretty clear that when information technology comes to iPhones it'southward a better idea to spend a fiddling more to get a newer iPhone. The iPhone SE or iPhone XR are excellent choices. Simply what if those are however likewise expensive for yous. This is where you might consider an Android telephone as an culling to an iPhone 7 or iPhone 8. After all many Android phones are considerably cheaper than iPhones.

Comparison iPhones and Android smartphones is always difficult because they are two completely dissimilar ecosystems. If nosotros compare the pure technical data, yous volition find that you can buy the latest Android smartphones with significantly more features for the toll of older iPhones.

The big consideration is how much you want to utilize iOS instead of Google Android. You need to decide whether iOS is worth the higher price. Just since you lot are reading this article, let's assume that you would similar to buy an iPhone.

iPhone seven & eight vs iPhone SE (and XR)

Until recently, it was relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to recommend the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8. They are good everyday smartphones for all those who practise not demand the latest and greatest, and they are reliable. Only when the iPhone SE arrived in March, able to do everything these older models can do and more for a reasonable toll, information technology became much harder to recommend them.

In brusk, the iPhone SE looks like the iPhone vii and 8, just has a meliorate photographic camera and the latest processor. It will also support iOS updates for the side by side few years and is therefore much more future-proof than an iPhone 7 and 8. If you tin can spend £419 on a new iPhone then you should definitely look at the iPhone SE. Only there are also arguments for the older models.

Size

The iPhone SE's 4.7in display is the same size as that of the older models. Even so in that location are the Plus models of the iPhone 7 and iPhone viii, then yous do have the choice of getting a larger version. In that location is no larger version of the iPhone SE.

5.5in doesn't sound like much more at commencement, but if yous concord the smartphones next to each other the divergence is clearly visible. Yet, a larger display as well means higher price (we discuss price in the next section).

But when it comes to screen size there is another iPhone to consider. The iPhone XR is much newer, with a more than powerful processor, and has a comparable price to the iPhone viii Plus. And the screen is 6.1in.

Features and Specs

There is one reward to the Plus models when compared to the XR: the Plus models come with a second camera lens. The telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom lets you take photos of subjects with the Portrait style feature that blurs the background.

The other reward or disadvantage depending on your view point is that the iPhone XR uses Face ID while the iPhone viii and iPhone 7 retain the Home button and utilize Affect ID. At that place are lots of people who prefer Touch ID - merely of class the iPhone SE also features a Home push.

Despite once being the flagship phones even the iPhone SE is now more powerful than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.

Here's a breakdown of the main specifications for each device.

Specifications iPhone 7 iPhone eight
iOS Volition run iOS 14 Will run iOS 14
Colours Black, Silver, Gilt, Rose Gilt Gilt, Silver, Infinite Grey
Display 4.7in LCD, 1334x750, 326ppi iv.7in Retina HD Display (1334x750, 326ppi) LCD IPS
Processor A10 Apple A11 Bionic
RAM 2GB 3GB
Storage 32GB/128GB 64GB/256GB
Rear photographic camera 12MP, f/1.eight, OIS 12Mp, f/i.viii, OIS, 5x digital zoom, Quad-LED flash
Front photographic camera 7MP FaceTime Hard disk drive, f/2.2 7Mp FaceTime HD, f2.2, 1080p video
Video recording 2160p at 30fps 4K at 24/30/60fps, 1080p slo-mo at 240fps
Wireless charging No Yes
Waterproofing IP67 IP67
Security Bear upon ID Affect ID
Ports Lightning Lightning
Dimensions 138.3 ten 67.1 mm x vii.1mm 138.four x 67.3 10 7.3mm
Weight 138g 148g

Price

The biggest selling point for the iPhone 7 is the price. An iPhone 7 with the smallest retentivity size (32GB) can be found for about £295.20 hither on Amazon and Argos hither. £123.80 cheaper than an £419 iPhone SE. But that's with less storage, 32GB compared to 64GB. 32GB is very little fifty-fifty for iCloud users.

At that place is too a 128GB iPhone seven, which is bachelor for £349 on Amazon here and Argos hither. But that'due south only £70 less than the iPhone SE.

The iPhone 8 is even less competitively priced - if you can actually find a new model on sale, it's been listed equally out of stock on Amazon for some fourth dimension.

if you tin find 1 to buy new it is about as expensive every bit the iPhone SE. Why would you lot buy an iPhone that looks exactly like the SE, but has fewer features for the same cost.

There is ane other selection though. Buying a refurbished iPhone 7 or viii. Refurbished iPhones are used iPhones that take been refurbished by professionals and are sold with a guarantee.

Refurbished iPhones are available from all sorts of retailers, including Amazon, as part of regular promotions. The reward of reconditioned devices compared to archetype used appurtenances is, in addition to the fact that they have been looked at by professionals, the aforementioned guarantee, which is commonly a year.

Refurbished devices are significantly cheaper than new goods, a refurbished 64GB iPhone eight bought directly from Apple costs £339. Apple tree notes that that toll is £60 off what information technology considers to exist the new price: £399, it's likewise only £80 less than the iPhone SE. A refurbished 256GB iPhone 8 is £469 from Apple, a saving of £160 on the Apple price of £629.

It'southward worth shopping around though. Amazon too sells refurbished iPhone eight models and you lot can get a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus from Amazon here for £429.95.

Y'all can encounter the best deals correct now here: iPhone 8 deals and iPhone 7 deals.

Verdict

If you find i of these older iPhones on sale at a good price should yous buy it?

Mostly nosotros would advise against buying the iPhone 7 or 8 phones. We don't call up that the prices nosotros are seeing the iPhone vii and iPhone 8 (including the Plus models) are low plenty when you lot tin can buy a new iPhone SE for only £419.

If y'all can just spend £299 then the fact that you can get an iPhone seven for that may well appeal - just keep in mind that information technology only offers 32GB storage, and we think you lot volition get frustrated by that very rapidly.

If you are looking for a larger iPhone than the iPhone SE, and the iPhone XR is too expensive for you, and so a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone vii Plus could be a good option - as long as information technology's less than the £629 that the iPhone XR retails for.

You may be interested to read:

  • iPhone 7 and 7 Plus vs iPhone SE
  • iPhone 8 and viii Plus vs iPhone SE

Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones for? Read How long do iPhones last.