iPhone 8 vs iPhone XR
The iPhone 8 and the iPhone XR share a badge but not a lineup, and that difference shows up in the spec sheet. The numbers lean one way: the iPhone XR comes out ahead in 2 of the 5 areas we compared, with its clearest lead in the battery & charging category.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Performance iPhone XR wins
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera Tie
- Battery & Charging iPhone XR wins
- Price iPhone 8 wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.0
- Battery & Charging0.0
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.0
- Battery & Charging0.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPhone XR has 3 h more rated video playback
Among all the differences on this page, 16 h against 13 h is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the iPhone XR. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
-
The iPhone 8 has a 1.62 oz lighter build
The iPhone XR gives up a lot on weight: 6.84 oz, compared with 5.22 oz on the iPhone 8. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The iPhone 8 has a 0.04 in slimmer body
Few buyers will miss this one. The iPhone 8 brings 0.29 in to the table; the iPhone XR brings 0.33 in. It’s a difference you mostly notice in the hand and in tight pockets.
-
The iPhone XR has a 1.4-inch larger screen
We don’t score this one. The iPhone XR lists 6.1 in and the iPhone 8 4.7 in, and the better choice depends on your needs. A bigger screen makes reading, video and maps more comfortable, while a smaller one is easier to use with one hand and slips into more pockets.
-
The iPhone XR has a newer 7 nm chip process
When it comes to process node, the iPhone XR wins comfortably with 7 nm against 10 nm. Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict.
Design & Size
- iPhone 8 5.45 in × 2.65 in × 0.29 in
- iPhone XR 5.94 in × 2.98 in × 0.33 in
The iPhone XR is physically larger, so the iPhone 8 will be the easier fit wherever space is limited. Weight-conscious buyers will note the iPhone 8’s 1.62 oz advantage. A thickness gap of 0.04 in separates them, with the iPhone 8 on the thin side.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 5.94 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 2.98 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 5.22 oz (winner) | 6.84 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
Too close to call
Side by side, the display figures for the iPhone 8 and the iPhone XR barely differ. Bottom line for display: it’s a wash.
Screen size
iPhone 8: 4.7 in iPhone XR: 6.1 in Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Performance
iPhone XR leads
On performance, the difference is modest, and it favors the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR delivers a newer 7 nm chip process. A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPhone XR.
Process node
iPhone 8: 10 nm iPhone XR: 7 nm The iPhone XR’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
This area ends level; whatever separates these two, it isn’t memory & storage. The takeaway: memory & storage is not where these two differ.
Camera
Too close to call
On camera, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone XR are effectively level. Neither phone gives you a reason to choose it on camera.
Battery & Charging
iPhone XR leads
On battery & charging, the gap between these two is wide, and it favors the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR wins here with 3 h more rated video playback. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint. The battery & charging verdict goes to the iPhone XR.
Rated video playback
iPhone 8: 13 h iPhone XR: 16 h More rated playback suggests the iPhone XR lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the iPhone 8 and the iPhone XR each bring.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 4.7 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | LCD (Retina HD) | LCD (Liquid Retina HD) |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 1792 x 828 |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 625 nits | 625 nits |
| Always-on display | No | No |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A11 Bionic | A12 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 10 nm Oldest chip process | 7 nm (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 1 |
| Front camera | 7 MP | 7 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K60 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 13 h | 16 h (winner) |
| Wireless charging | 8 W | 8 W |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 11 | iOS 12 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 5.94 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 2.98 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 5.22 oz (winner) | 6.84 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 8 | iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $699 (winner) | $749 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
A price gap of $50 at launch won’t make or break this decision. The iPhone 8 saves $50, but the iPhone XR answers with 3 h more rated video playback and a newer 7 nm chip process.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked October 2018. Actual prices at stores may differ.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 8 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (5.22 oz vs 6.84 oz)
- you want the slimmer phone (0.29 in vs 0.33 in)
- you’d put the $50 saving toward something else
Choose the iPhone XR if…
- you want the longer rated endurance (16 h vs 13 h)
- you care about efficiency under the hood (7 nm vs 10 nm process node)
- you find that the improvements in the iPhone XR match what you need
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 8 or the iPhone XR?
The iPhone XR wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you’d trade the rest for a 1.62 oz lighter build.
Is the iPhone XR worth it over the iPhone 8?
It’s one of the more worthwhile generational jumps: the iPhone XR offers 3 h more rated video playback and a newer 7 nm chip process compared with the iPhone 8.
Which has better battery life, the iPhone 8 or the iPhone XR?
The iPhone XR does better here. It lists 16 h for rated video playback, while the iPhone 8 lists 13 h.
Is the iPhone 8 bigger than the iPhone XR?
It’s the iPhone XR that is larger: 5.94 × 2.98 × 0.33 in, versus 5.45 × 2.65 × 0.29 in for the iPhone 8.
Does the iPhone 8 perform better than the iPhone XR?
The iPhone XR should be the quicker of the two, with a newer 7 nm chip process on its side.
Is the iPhone 8 cheaper than the iPhone XR?
Going by launch prices, the iPhone 8 costs $50 less than the iPhone XR. Prices as of October 2018; current offers may differ.
Executive Summary
The iPhone 8 and the iPhone XR share a family name, so let me focus on what doesn’t match. In daily life, I think the first difference you’d notice is 3 h more rated video playback, and that goes to the iPhone XR. On top of that, the iPhone XR adds a newer 7 nm chip process. Fairness check: the iPhone 8 does come with a 1.62 oz lighter build.
Match the strength to your habits (portability for the iPhone 8, performance for the iPhone XR), and you won’t go far wrong.
My pick: the iPhone XR for most people, with the iPhone 8 as the smarter choice if your top priority is a 1.62 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.