Head-To-Head: Apple's Rumored iPhone 8 Vs. iPhone 7

Time To Upgrade?

We're a few days away from Apple's big reveal of its next iPhone update, led by a rumored iPhone 8 that could bring a dramatic shift to the decade-old line of smartphones. While it's not certain the device will be actually be called the iPhone 8, many features of a forthcoming flagship Apple smartphone have been widely reported at this point. What do the iPhone 8 rumors tell us about how the device compares to the iPhone 7? In the following slides, the CRN Test Center breaks down the differences between Apple's rumored iPhone 8 vs. the iPhone 7 on specs and price.

Display

Most published speculation suggests that the iPhone 8 will look significantly different from the iPhones of the past, the iPhone 7 included. Reports point to a 5.8-inch display on the iPhone 8, versus the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display sizes on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The iPhone 8 is also expected to use OLED technology for the display, which offers improved contrast, colors, and energy efficiency than LCD, which is what the iPhone 7 comes with. In addition, the iPhone 8 display could get boost in resolution (to 2,436 x 1,125) compared to the iPhone 7 (1,334 x 750) and iPhone 7 Plus (1,920 x 1,080).

But perhaps the most striking difference is that Apple is rumored to be mostly doing away with the large bezels found above and below the display space on the iPhone 7. That means the iPhone 8 will essentially be "all screen" on the front, akin to Samsung's Galaxy S8 and several other Android phones now on the market.

Body

The iPhone 8 body could be getting a makeover compared to existing models, with Apple designing the phone with a glass-and-steel body instead of the aluminum used in the iPhone 7. The glass backing will cover stainless steel on the iPhone 8, according to rumors. Along with giving the phone a sleek look, the glass is needed for wireless charging, another expected new feature for the iPhone 8.

As a result of the minimal bezel around the display, the iPhone 8 will likely be smaller in overall size than the iPhone 7 Plus. Some rumors suggest the iPhone 8 will actually be comparable in overall size to the iPhone 7, despite having a 23 percent larger display.

Processor & Battery Life

Rumors indicate that the iPhone 8 will be upgrading to a faster processor, which is usually the case with a new iPhone release. The iPhone 7 uses Apple's A10 Fusion processor, which features a clock speed of 2.34GHz for its two high-performance cores. The chip also includes two high-efficiency cores for less intensive tasks. The iPhone 8 is rumored to be moving up to the A11 processor -- and while it will likely offer better performance and battery life, specifics haven't surfaced.

On battery life, the iPhone 7 promises 12 hours of LTE usage and the 7 Plus promises 13 hours of LTE usage. Battery life estimates haven't come out for the iPhone 8, though it wouldn't be surprising to see a battery life boost due to the new processor and the energy-saving OLED display. Some rumors also suggest the iPhone 8 will be getting a larger battery than the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Authentication & Navigation

One of the biggest changes that could arrive with the iPhone 8 has to do with how you unlock the phone and navigate around it. That's because Apple is rumored to be getting rid of the Home button entirely. Instead, new gestures and a software bar at the bottom of the display will be added to replace much of the button's functionality, according to the rumors.

However, along with navigation, the Home button has also enabled Touch ID fingerprint unlocking thus far. A fingerprint reader is not something Apple is expected to include in the iPhone 8. Reports suggest that the iPhone 8 will rely mostly on facial recognition for authentication as an alternative. Apple, according to the reports, has been working to make sure that facial recognition will succeed even when the phone is lying flat or in the dark.

Augmented Reality & Wireless Charging

Like the iPhone 7 Plus -- but not the iPhone 7 -- the iPhone 8 is expected to come with a dual-camera setup on the rear-facing side. And rumors suggest that a key part of the cameras is the capability for use with augmented reality apps, which require a high degree of depth sensing.

Meanwhile, rumors suggest Apple will bring inductive wireless charging to the iPhone 8. Induction typically uses a charging pad, rather than being able to charge over longer distances. The iPhone 8 is expected to use the Qi inductive standard from the Wireless Power Consortium, a group that Apple joined this year.

Water Resistance

Though there haven't been as many reports on this as on some of the other potential iPhone 8 changes, a few rumors suggest the iPhone 8 will include improved water resistance compared to the iPhone 7. The reports say the iPhone 8 will come with an IP68 rating, meaning the device could survive submersion in waters as deep as 5 feet, for as long as a half-hour. The iPhone 7, on the other hand, has the lesser rating of IP67 -- meaning it can withstand 3.3 feet of water for that amount of time.

Price

Due to factors such as the cost of the OLED display, the iPhone 8 is expected to come with a sizable price increase over the iPhone 7. Reports from outlets including The New York Times put the iPhone 8 pricing in the ballpark of $1,000. By comparison, the iPhone 7 has a starting price of $649 and the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769.