Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus review roundup

Every year around this time Apple releases its new iPhones and every year we get a few early reviews in just before the phone goes on sale.

But this time, Apple has a more interesting phone coming out in November - the iPhone X - casting a shadow over the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - are they still worth it with a design dating back to 2014? Let's see what the reviewers say.

The consensus is that the Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are let down by a tired design that's built on huge bezels and familiar aesthetics, but the new camera, wireless charging and chip partially make up for it.

Engadget praises the iPhone 8 duo on the new excellent camera and a promising AR implementation but takes a point away for the design, despite the use of "grippier" glass.

TheVerge makes mostly the same points - fast new processor, excellent camera and having wireless charging is nice. But Nilay Patel isn't too thrilled with the stiff design either.

TechCrunch focuses on the new camera of the iPhone 8 Plus in their review hailing the new 12MP main camera as killer and the 8 Plus's Portrait Lighting as "working better than it has any right to".

The same theme continues with The Telegraph - praise for the significantly improved camera and the new faster chipset. The new glass back gets a positive mention too.

The New York Times review brands the new iPhones as the "ultimate refinement before eternal retirement".

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) is the only media that outright advises you avoid the iPhone 8 on the grounds that the 8 doesn't do enough to be considered more than a 7s, slightly better camera notwithstanding.

John Gruber aka the Daring Fireball brands the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus "pretty good for a boring update".

CNET would have you wait to see the iPhone X before deciding on buying either an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.

In its brief write-up USA Today describes the new glass and metal design as "lovely".

Wired shares TechCrunch' sentiment that the new camera is kick-ass. It also hails the glass design as a big improvement coupled with wireless charging.

Anyway we'll have even more to say when we get our hands on the new iPhones - camera samples, battery tests, loudspeaker test - all that jazz. So stay tuned!