Apple has unveiled the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, featuring a sleek glass and aluminum design available in three colors. The new models boast Retina HD displays, the powerful A11 Bionic chip, and are optimized for augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Source: Apple. The new iPhone 8 and iPhone
8 Plus feature all-glass designs.

The inclusion of single and dual cameras with Portrait Lighting on the iPhone 8 Plus, along with wireless charging capabilities, brings exciting new features to the iPhone lineup. 

According to Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, “iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus represent a new generation of iPhones, enhancing everything we already appreciate about them. These models showcase new glass and aluminum designs, stunning Retina HD displays, and the groundbreaking A11 Bionic chip—the most intelligent chip ever incorporated into a smartphone. Enriched with advanced cameras equipped with Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting, as well as the highest quality video capture available on a smartphone, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus empower users with wireless charging convenience. Furthermore, they are optimized for AR like never before.”

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus debut a glass back design, crafted using “the most durable glass ever,” and are offered in three new finishes: space gray, silver, and gold. The glass finish is achieved through a meticulous seven-layer color process, ensuring precise hue and opacity. This is complemented by a color-matched aerospace-grade aluminum bezel. Both smartphones are designed to be water- and dust-resistant.

The new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays now include True Tone technology, which adjusts the display’s white balance to match the ambient lighting, creating a more natural, paper-like viewing experience. The Retina HD display also boasts exceptional color accuracy. The redesigned stereo speakers deliver sound that is up to 25% louder and richer in bass.

The A11 Bionic chip, making its debut in these smartphones, features a six-core CPU design. This comprises two performance cores that are 25% faster and four efficiency cores that are 70% faster than those found in the A10 Fusion. A new, second-generation performance controller enables all six cores to work in unison, resulting in up to 70% greater performance for tasks that utilize multiple cores. The A11 Bionic also incorporates an Apple-designed GPU with a three-core design, delivering graphics performance that is up to 30% faster than the previous generation.

The cameras on the iPhone 8 Plus are specifically calibrated for AR. Each camera undergoes individual calibration and is equipped with new gyroscopes and accelerometers for precise motion tracking. The A11 Bionic chip further enhances AR capabilities by managing world tracking, scene recognition, and graphics at 60fps, while the image signal processor provides real-time lighting estimation. ARKit allows iOS developers to leverage the world’s largest AR platform, creating games and applications that offer truly immersive experiences.

The enhanced 12-megapixel camera features a larger and faster sensor, a new color filter, and deeper pixels. A new Apple-designed image signal processor enables advanced pixel processing, wide color capture, faster autofocus in low light, and higher-quality HDR photos. Additionally, a new quad LED True Tone Flash with Slow Sync ensures more evenly lit backgrounds and foregrounds.

This new camera also delivers exceptional video quality. It features improved video stabilization, the ability to record 4K video at up to 60fps, and 1080p slow-motion video at up to 240fps. The Apple-designed video encoder performs real-time image and motion analysis to optimize video quality. With iOS 11, both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus support HEIF and HEVC, which can compress and store photos and videos to half their original size, effectively doubling storage capacity for media.

The iPhone 8 Plus boasts dual 12-megapixel cameras and introduces Portrait mode with Portrait Lighting, bringing studio-quality lighting effects to the iPhone. Users can capture portraits with a shallow depth-of-field effect using five different lighting styles. Portrait Lighting is the result of extensive research into the art and science of portrait photography and fundamental lighting principles. This feature utilizes the dual cameras and Apple-designed image signal processor to analyze the scene, create a depth map, and distinguish the subject from the background. Machine learning is then employed to identify facial features and apply lighting effects to the contours of the face, all in real time.

The glass back design facilitates wireless charging, which is compatible with the established Qi ecosystem, including two new wireless charging mats from Belkin and mophie, available through apple.com/sg and Apple Stores. Apple also provided a sneak peek of AirPower, an Apple-designed wireless charging accessory slated for release in 2018. This new AirPower mat will enable iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X users to simultaneously charge up to three devices, including the Apple Watch Series 3 and AirPods.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus come equipped with iOS 11, bringing augmented reality capabilities to millions of iOS devices. Siri has been updated with new male and female voices and can now translate US English phrases into Chinese, among other languages. Siri also utilizes on-device learning to deliver more personalized experiences.

Interested?

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in space gray, silver, and a new gold finish. They will come in 64GB and 256GB models starting at S$1,148 from apple.com/sg and Apple Stores. They are also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).

Pre-orders for both devices begin September 15 in over 25 countries and territories, with in-store availability starting September 22. In the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, customers can pre-order the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus starting September 15, with availability starting September 22, in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UAE. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in Bahrain, India, KSA, Kuwait, and Qatar starting September 29.

In Singapore, StarHub will offer the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus starting September 22, 2017. Pricing starts at S$424 with a new plan. Customers can register their interest in the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus until noon on September 15. StarHub customers can also register their interest in the iPhone X.

Apple-designed accessories, including leather and silicone cases in a variety of colors, will be available starting at S$48. Lightning Docks in color-matching metallic finishes will also be available for S$68.

Every customer who purchases an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, either in-store or online. This service helps customers personalize their iPhone by assisting them with email setup, showcasing new apps from the App Store, and more.

Those in Singapore who want to learn the basics or explore more advanced features of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iOS 11 can sign up for free Today at Apple sessions.

Portrait Lighting samples:

• Natural light: The subject’s face is in sharp focus against a blurred background.
• Studio light: A clean look with the subject’s face brightly lit.
• Contour light: Dramatic shadows with highlights and lowlights.
• Stage light: The subject’s face is spotlit against a deep black background.
• Stage light mono: Like stage light, but in black and white.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about the new iPhone X and the Apple Watch Series 3.

1 The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty.

2 Portrait Lighting is launching in beta.

3 In most countries.