Hardware

Mobile Phone

Long-term Field Test: 28.09.–15.12.2017


Apple iPhone 8

This is already my third iPhone

Photo: Carton with Apple iPhone 8, colour Space Grey

Photo: Box with Apple iPhone 8, colour Space Grey

Years of experience with much cell phones, but now with my third Apple iPhone. It´s an iPhone 8 with 256GB.

Enjoy reading my test report!

Purchasing

Visit the Apple Store spontaneously on Saturday evening

23.09.2017: Half an hour before closing I visit the Apple Store in Frankfurt am Main. I can not wait to hold the new iPhone models iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in my hands and check the colours. Unfortunately my favorite versions (256GB, Space Grey) are not available for purchase today.

Later at home I decide to buy the iPhone 8 with 256 GB memory in the colour Space Grey and of course I need a new leather sleeve for it. I order a custom tailored nappa leather sleeve with integrated MicroFibre lining with the dimensions 140 x 68 x 7.5 mm at the German fitBAG online shop.

Finally! The iPhone 8 with 256GB in the colour Space Grey is available

28.09.2017: Since last Monday I checked the availability twice daily online at apple.de for a pickup at the Apple Store Frankfurt. At 14:30 it's finally time! The iPhone 8 is available in the colour Space Grey with 256 GB memory! I order it immediately with pickup at the Apple store and get a confirmation by e-mail.
At 14:41, Apple sends me a notification via e-mail that my iPhone can be picked up.
At 18:50 I arrive at the Apple Store and ten minutes later I leave it with my new iPhone 8. teeth smile

Photo: Carton with Apple iPhone 8 – with pickup tag

Photo: Carton with pickup tag: Apple iPhone 8, 256 GB, colour Space Grey

30.09.2017: I get my black nappa leather sleeve from fitBAG. The iPhone 8 slips nearly perfect into the leather sleeve, but it is a little bit tight.
So I order a second one with the dimensions 145 x 70 x 7.5 mm at fitBAG. So it will slide more comfortably into the pocket. The first ordered sleeve is reserve, I can use it also for an older smartphone.

Equipment

  • Apple iPhone 8 with iOS 11
  • Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic
  • Lightning to USB Cable
  • USB Power Adapter
  • Documentation

Photo: Apple iPhone 8 – Carton contents

Photo: open cardboard box with Apple iPhone 8 on the lid. In carton USB Power Adapter and EarPods.

Tech Specs

Model: A1905 (D201AP)

Colour: Space Grey (also available in Silver and Gold)
Memory Capacity: 256 GB (also available with 64 GB)
Weight and Dimensions: Height 138.4 mm x Weidth 67.3 mm x Depth 7.3 mm, Weight 148 grams

Display

Retina HD Display with 3D Touch, LED-backlit widescreen with 4.7 inch (11.94 cm) diagonal,
Pixel-Resolution 1334-by-750; 326 pixel per inch
Contrast ratio: 1400:1 (typical), max brightness: 625 cd/m² (typical)
P3 standard, Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and backside, Display Zoom

Chip

A11 Bionic Chip with 64-Bit Architecture, embedded M11 Motion Coprozessor

Cameras

12 Megapixel iSight Camera
Autofocus, optical image stabilization, Panorama (up to 63 megapixels)
Auto HDR for photos

FaceTime HD-Kamera
7-megapixel photos, 1080p HD video recording, Retina Flash
F/2.2 aperture, Auto HDR for photos and videos, Burst mode, Timer mode, Face detection

Touch ID

Fingerprint sensor built into the Home button

Wireless Technologies

FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC with reader mode

Location

Assisted GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS, Digital compass, Wi-Fi, Mobile data, iBeacon micro-location

Audio Calling

FaceTime audio
Voice over LTE (VoLTE)
WiFi calling

Video Calling

FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or a mobile network

Audio Playback

Audio formats supported: AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) and Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX and AAX+)
User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

Video formats supported: HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2 and Motion JPEG
Supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 content
AirPlay Mirroring, photos and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later)
Video mirroring and video out support: up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)

Assistant Siri

Send messages with your own voice, make calls, set reminders, and more.
Get proactive suggestions, use hands-free, listen and identify songs.

Source/more: https://support.apple.com

Power Adapter

As specified by Apple

Talk time (wireless): up to 14 h
Internet use: up to 12 h
Video playback (wireless): up to 13 h
Audio playback (wireless): up to 40 h
Fast charging: up to 50% in 30 min.
Integrated lithium-ion battery: 1821 mAh
Charging via USB port on computer or mains adapter.

Tip: If you're taking too long to recharge with the included 5 W AC adapter, use Apple's iPad power supply instead.
Do you already have an iPad at home? Otherwise buy the power supply separately.
However, slower charging saves battery life …

Practice

Battery Performance

Battery Service Life, Usage Duration, Gentle Battery Treatment, Charging Time

Battery Service Life (time after charging until next charging)

Very individual, hard to compare. "Little users" and "Heavy users" define everyone else, not to mention the term “normal user”.
Personal definition: private, not allowed in the workplace, professional 5-day-week, heavy use only at weekends and holidays.

Usage Duration

Little use: 2–3 days (Assistant Siri, some e-mails, possibly some iMessages, little calendar use, possibly notes, 3 h listening to music, minimal web use).
Much use: 1 day (assistant Siri, many e-mails, some iMessages, calendar frequent use, some notes, phone calls, 5 h listening to music, 3 h web).

Gentle Battery Treatment

In order to save themselves not replaceable battery, I let it never go to the limits, because that will wear it unnecessarily quickly.
At the latest at 30% residual charge I charge the battery again, but only up to max. 80% (I try to keep it in a range of 30 to 70 percent).
When the battery is nearly empty and then charged to 100% (e.g. overnight) it stresses the battery and uses a full charge cycle.
Modern Lithium Ion batteries provide about 300–500 charge cycles. In practice, these are about 5 years depending on the treatment.
Fast charging is bad for the life of a battery, so I miss no corresponding power supply.
Therefore, the relatively slow charging the notebook does not disturb me, on the contrary. So the battery is also not hot during charging.

Expectable Charging Time

This list is intended to give you an impression of expected loading times.
Charging time on USB jack: 2:08 h (at 30% residual charge to 80%)(Notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E/X)
Charging time with  5 W power supply: 0:54 h (at 33% residual charge to 80%)(Apple 5 W USB Charger)
Charging time with 36 W power supply: 0:49 h (at 33% residual charge to 78%)(Anker 36 W 5 V/7,2 A 4-Port USB Charger)
Charging time with battery pack: 0:43 h (at 31% residual charge to 80%)(Anker PowerCore Edge 20.000 mAh)

Battery Protocol

Measured Value Acquisition

The basis for this series of measurements are screenshots and calendar records, since Apple does not offer a device monitor. The relative energy consumption of apps in percent, battery status shortly before start of charging, at the beginning of charging, after charging was recorded with screenshot. Thus, a relatively accurate indication of the battery power is possible. This is strongly influenced by mobile radio reception quality, frequency of the cell changes and by the utilization intensity. I use my iPhone a little since I work during the day and am not a smartphone zombie (e-mails, internet, calendar data maintenance, SMS, iMessage, evening music listening). On weekends and holidays I use the iPhone frequently (books as a Kindle edition, emails, photography, internet, listen to music, calendar, SMS).
Apple's operating system iOS switches the power saving mode on automatically at 20% residual charge and after battery charging 80% again. Without need I will never let the battery get so empty (this is stress for the battery!). Unless otherwise stated, I use the iPhone after charging to max. 80% to the next charge without power saving mode. When little time is available, I like to use the power saving mode to shorten the charging time.

Logged Measurement Data

28.09.2017: Battery charge via USB on Notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E/X to 57% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 45% at 23:45. First time charging the battery in this new iPhone.
Battery charged: 57% at 00:35. Charging without power saving mode.
Conclusion: 12% in 0:50 h.

29.09.2017: Battery charge at Anker 36W 5V/7.2A 4-port USB charger to 77% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 46% at 07:47. Battery life without power saving mode: 7:12 h.
Charged: 77% at 08:11. Charge without power saving mode.
Conclusion: 31% within 0:24 h.

29.09.2017: Battery charge via USB on Notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E/X to 80% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 34% at 23:09. Battery life without power saving mode: 14:58 h.
Battery charged: 80% at 01:05. Power saving mode from 23:11.
Conclusion: 46 % within 1:56 h.

30.09.2017: Battery charge at Anker 36W 5V/7.2A 4-port USB charger to 78% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 33% at 13:02. Battery life without power saving mode: 11:57 h.
Battery charged: 78% at 13:51. Charging without energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 45% within 0:49 h.

30.09.2017: Battery charge via USB via USB on Notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E/X to 80% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 30% at 19:44. Battery life without power saving mode: 5:53 h.
Battery charged: 80% at 21:53. Power saving mode from 19:50.
Conclusion: 50% within 2:08 h.

01.10.2017: Battery charge at Anker PowerCore Edge 20000 mAh to 80% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 31% at 18:00. Battery life without power saving mode except last 3 minutes: 20:07 h.
Battery charged: 52% at 18:12. Charge with Power saving mode, then deactivated.
Conclusion: 49% within 0:43 h.

02.10.2017: Battery charge at Anker PowerCore Slim to 52% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 31% at 19:28. Battery life without power saving mode: 25:16 h.
Battery charged: 80% at 20:11. Charging without energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 49% within 0:43 h.

02.10.2017: Battery charge at Anker PowerCore Edge 20000 mAh to 92% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 33% at 23:45. Battery life without power saving mode: 3:34 h.
Battery charged: 92% at 00:44. Charging with energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 59% within 0:59 h.

03.10.2017: Battery charge at Apple 5W USB Power Adapter to 80% (iOS version 11.0.1)
Battery still has: 33% at 19:51. Battery life without power saving mode: 19:07 h.
Battery charged: 80% at 20:45. Charging with energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 47% within 0:54 h.

04.10.2017: Battery charge at Anker 36W 5V/7.2A 4-port USB charger to 77% (iOS version 11.0.2)
Battery still has: 67% at 12:54. Battery life without power saving mode: 16:09 h.
Battery charged: 77% at 13:06. Charging without energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 10% within 0:12 h.

05.10.2017: Battery charge at Anker 36W 5V/7.2A 4-port USB charger to 85 % (iOS version 11.0.2)
Battery still has: 31% at 11:53. Battery life without power saving mode: 22:47 h.
Battery charged: 85% at 12:41. Charging without energy saving mode.
Conclusion: 54 % within 0:48 h.

Call Filter

Allow Calls/finely adjustable Positive List

Apple calls it “Do Not Disturb” – check the setup menu DND / Allow calls:

  • Every (unfiltered, all callers)
  • No (calls completely blocked)
  • Favourites (finely adjustable positive list / only friends / acquaintances)

Favourites = Anonymous Callers and disturbers get busy or mailbox

Callers with suppressed call number immediately get a busy signal or be thrown to the mailbox when activated “Do not disturb” (DND).

Time window for conservative people and hardliners, which you still like

Families and friends who suppress their call number (call without a caller ID) can only call at certain times.
For example, if you do not “disrupt” only from 18:00 to 20:00. Between 6 pm and 8 pm everyone would go through, even if the caller can not be found in the address book of your iPhone because of CLIR.

The outgoing message to your mailbox you could formulate accordingly (“landed on the mailbox only because of CLIR”, … “please next time call with activated caller ID”).

Alternatively, enable a rough positive list

If anonymous callers, stalker, automatic dialing and dialing the wrong number fax machines are to be blocked, but everyone else should call contact saved in the iPhone address book, you can find the ideal solution later in the settings menu DND / Allow calls:

Groups

  • all contacts

This option allows the selection of contacts / groups

  • all (Contacts added by mail accounts, each email account separately selectable)
  • collected addresses
  • contacts

Telephone Terror

As soon as diallers of dubious advertising callers start calling you in short intervals and suppress their own phone number or display a fake, constantly changing phone number, “Do Not Disturb” must remain active, otherwise you are no longer reachable for serious callers! For businesses and also for private individuals, it is then worthwhile to buy a real call filter from the App Store. But beware, most of them are crap!
Two notable exceptions: Call Ranger and Number Shield.

enlightenedSince iOS version 16, you can finally create groups in the address book! Apple now calls them “lists” and you don't need iCloud or an extra app to assign your contacts to groups lists.

Blocking individual Phone Numbers

Since iOS 14.7 (?), unwanted phone numbers can be blocked directly from the call list without having to save them in the address book!

Block dubious Numbers directly from the Caller List

  1. open the caller list
  2. tap the (i) to the far right of the phone number
  3. tap on the red lettering “Block caller” at the very bottom
  4. the safety note appears:
    “You will not receive any calls, messages or FaceTime calls from the blocked person.”
    Block contact | Cancel
  5. tap “Block contact”, if you are sure, otherwise tap “Cancel”

If you make a mistake (e.g. slipped in a line, got the wrong contact), you can tap on “Unblock” immediately afterwards.
If you want to unblock the contact later or check all blocks already stored, you can do this via the settings menu:
Settings/Phone/Blocked contacts/Add contact. Search for names in the address book, select, done. While you're at it, you can also add annoying insurance agents, colleagues etc. When you are done, press Cancel in the top right-hand corner. This will take you directly back to the “black list” without selecting a new candidate and you can also undo blockings by swiping the name to the left. Then “Unblock” appears to the right of the entry, which you tap to confirm.

  • If you do not need to answer every call, you can use the phone app to
    Mute unknown callers” and
  • with Settings/Do Not Disturb/Allow Calls limit to “All Contacts
    – anyone who is not in the address book can then no longer bother you

Assistant Siri

Technically thrilled (and) sci-fi fans would like to use their computer as in the Sci-Fi series Star Trek by language.
In 2007, the company Siri Inc. started developing a digital assistant, in April 2010 Apple bought the company with all rights to the products and the iPhone 4s became the first smartphone with the digital assistant named Siri. Since then you can control the iPhone by voice.
Unfortunately, Steve Jobs had decided to let the very powerful software work very slimmed down online.
The original software could run completely without an online connection to the data center on the iPhone and would not be as restricted as we know it.

Use

I see the main purpose of a digital assistant in the operation of the smartphone, without taking it into the hand. Anyone who uses a Bluetooth headset is particularly pleased about this possibility, because this way the iPhone can remain protected in the pocket. On most headsets, the voice control is started with a long press on the call answering button. If you use a headset on an Apple iPhone from version 4s upwards, the assistant Siri is addressed and instead of "Hey, Siri!" To say is called his desire. Siri answers questions about the weather, can send dictated messages, read the messages received, remind them of appointments, wake up in the morning, play their own music, call the performers of a running music track, and the events of sporting events and much more.

Features

A few examples …

Stock Exchange

  • Share price of [name of share]
  • What is the DAX?

Phone and Contacts

  • Call [Name]
  • Call [phone number]
  • Redialling
  • Start FaceTime with [Name]

Find Friends

  • Where is [Name]?
  • Who is near me?

Messages

  • Send a message to [Name]
  • Send an iMessage [Name]

Mail

  • Write an email to [Name] with the content: [content].

Appointments

  • When is my next appointment?
  • Create an appointment tomorrow at [time]
  • Move the current date from [Time] to [Time]

Reminders

  • Remind me on [date] at [time]: [content].
  • Remind me of [content] as soon as I get home.

Notes

  • Note: […] shopping

Time and Alarm

  • What time is it?
  • What date do we have?
  • Set alarm to [Time]

System

  • Switch [Function] on / off.
  • Is WLAN on?

Maps and Navigation

  • Where am I?
  • Start navigation from here
  • When are we there?
  • Finish navigation

Music

  • Play Blue Monday by New Order
  • Play My Playlist [Name]
  • Play something from Yello
  • pause

Weather

  • Do I need an umbrella?
  • How cold is it now?
  • How warm is it now?
  • How will the weather be tonight?
  • How will the weather tomorrow morning? (Up to 24 hours forecast)

Sports

  • Give me the current football results

Hey, Siri!

So you call the assistant and immediately afterwards the question or the desire.
Siri understands freely formulated questions / instructions and answers some questions with a comment …
Example: To the question “How cold is it now?” Siri replied, “It is now 7, but I do not find it cold, Michael”.
By the way, Siri is bitterly cold 4 degrees down, Siri comments on all of them, “… but I do not find it cold”.

Disadvantage

Since foreign languages do not have the same priority at Apple, Siri is still not as humorous as in their native language.
There is a separate database for each language.

For several months, Siri has been commenting on any temperature from about 20 degrees Celsius as “hot”.

Data Synchronisation

Media Content

In order to keep media contents (books, photos, music, videos) on the iPhone synchronously with a local computer, Apple's desktop software iTunes is required.

For business reasons, German business people must avoid Apple's iCloud.
Instead, iTunes is used with USB cable (but without backup in the iCloud).
Security-conscious private users should do the same.

After the USB connection is established with a Windows computer, the user is prompted by Windows as to whether the images and videos found on the iPhone should be displayed in the Explorer window or copied to the SSD (see the figure below). This is without iTunes the only way to get at least pictures and videos from the iPhone to the Windows computer.
For the iCloud, Apple uses mostly foreign data centers!

Screenshot: Import pictures and videos

Fig.: After plugging in the iPhone, Windows offers to copy the media content to the SSD of my notebook

Backup

Regular Backups with iTunes

Illustration: Optimal backup setting for iTunes

During the evening charging of the battery at the USB port of the notebook, I automatically create an encrypted backup to SSD and copy it to an external hard drive (see figure).
I also use iTunes to sync music from an external hard drive to the iPhone.

E-Mail, Contacts, Tasks, Notes

An iCloud e-mail account can, but does not have to be created!
PIM data such as e-mail, addresses, contacts, tasks and notes can be matched perfectly with your existing e-mail accounts. This is also supported by the Exchange ActiveSync protocol, which works with Microsoft Outlook, but also with 1 & 1 Mail Business, for example. Advantage of EAS: easy setup and all data are always available on the go (older mails are only loaded by the server when total time is selected for synchronisation).

Safety tip: For optimum transport encryption, always set StartTLS with appropriate port!
Anyone who has installed Microsoft Outlook locally can keep it synchronized with iTunes via iTunes (not self-tested).
I have created two accounts. ICloud was already preset, which I have strongly limited:

  • iCloud (My iPhone search) only in an emergency to the iPhone search
  • 1&1 Mail Business (Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders)
  • Posteo (Mail, Notes, Address book and Calendar)

iPhone needs iTunes – for Privacy Reasons

Fig.: iTunes Version 12.3.3.17 64 bit for MS-Windows

Fig.: iTunes Version 12.3.3.17 64 bit for MS-Windows

Before the purchase of my first iPhone I had already installed iTunes, to see how it tolerates with my notebook Sony VAIO Z12X9E / X. If this had not gone well, I would not have been able to use an iPhone, because without iTunes, most Apple products are not usable if you value privacy. The iCloud runs mainly in third-party data centers (Google, Amazon) and therefore I avoid the storage of personal data in their "clouds". The transport encryption has finally been somewhat improved, but is still far from optimal.

iTunes Version Query

In the menu bar “?”, Then “Info …”, you will see the result as shown here as example. For iPhones with iOS 11 you need iTunes version 12.6 or later.
And for new iPhones like 8 (Plus) and X you must install iTunes 12.7 or later!
If you have trouble with installing the update on your Windows PC/Notebook make a backup and then uninstall the older iTunes version. Thereafter try a new installation of version 12.7 – it will work now. Same issue since years with iTunes and updates. Next issue will be to update from 12.7.xx to 12.8 …

Portable High-End Equipment

Music Player in Glass Case with Aluminium Frame

01.10.2017: Listen to my favorite album: The Best Of The Art Of Noise (1992), 2. Title: Yebo (Mbaqanga Mix). This is ideal for testing low-frequency playback! Also very good for testing is title 7: Legacy.

This is a synthesizer sound that is not objectively suitable for testing the sound quality of a music player – electronic music sounds good on every device. But I know this album inside and out, and I've heard it quite often on MP3 players (constant-quality coding, dynamic data rate up to 320 kbit / s).
For the objective test of the sound quality I have used musical titles with acoustic instruments and very often heard musicians.
Also the hearing test CD of the audio magazine HiFi was very helpful in the objective test of the acoustics.

Ruler-straight Frequency Response

The Apple iPhone 8 can show correctly that it has pulled down to the low-frequency range a ruler-straight frequency. Otherwise, the bass would not be so abyssed, undistorted and clear (unfortunately I can not measure it - and no test magazine has published measurements).

Only gsmarena.com tests and always publishes the frequency response diagram!
Because of same audio technology they test only the Plus models from Apple.

My hearing is confirmed – the frequency response is from 18 hertz to almost 20,000 hertz as pulled with the ruler and thus better than with many other smartphones.Smiley, laughing
The signal-to-noise ratio is also excellent. Because the latency is extremely low, iPhones are liked by musicians and DJs.

Bottom line: the best high end music player – but not with the included Apple EarPods!
These have a too weak bass reproduction, but otherwise offer quite linear reproduction (writes the press).
Since I do not think of such gimmicks, I have not even unpacked these EarPods.

My audio test equipment: As headphones I use the Sony MDR-EX90LP on the Bluetooth audio transmitter Samsung Level Link.
This in-ear earphone in studio quality ensures unadulterated playback.

Messaging

iMessage targeted for Years

Time and again one can read in the IT news that iPhones of journalists and other vulnerable persons have been spied on. Often the spy software got onto the iPhone unnoticed through a security hole in iMessage.

Cryptology professor Matthew Green recommends Apple to completely rewrite the code base of iMessage (Reference).

Apple had always closed security holes relatively quickly, but as long as the code of iMessage is not significantly improved, there will always be successful attacks.
That is why I have deactivated iMessage (and also FaceTime).

Alternative: Threema

Threema can optionally be used without personal data such as telephone number or e-mail address. The Threema ID is sufficient.
Chats are end-to-end encrypted and phone calls are tap-proof.

Alternative: Session

Session does not use any personal data, i.e. neither telephone number nor e-mail address! There is also no connection to the device's address book! The Session ID is generated locally on the device and serves as public key.
Chats are end-to-end encrypted and phone calls are tap-proof.
Further advantages: decentralised onion routing network, free of charge.

Telephony

Telephoning with excellent Acoustics

The Apple iPhone 8 provides excellent sound quality and supports HD Voice (Plus) – even with Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
If your call partner also calls via UMTS or VoLTE with HD Voice (Plus), you will experience a better sound quality than ISDN in the fixed network!
You can recognize callers and their state of mind in the voice and conversations remain more relaxed, because no disturbing noises annoy.

Good Reception – many others are worse

Most smartphones offer only a comparatively poor reception quality, especially when using UMTS and LTE.
At all events the GSM frequencies can be received in a satisfactory quality. Anyone who lives and works in the metropolitan area and rarely lives in rural areas will hardly notice this. Many smartphone users are calling less and less, using instant messaging services instead.

The Apple iPhone 8 does not let you down in difficult reception situations!
World travellers benefit from the higher frequency band selection compared to the competition models.
If others lost reception, you often continue to phone unimpressed.

Reliability

Hardware

Since the purchase on 28.09.2017 the hardware has not yet made any problems. Should that change, I document it here.
My iPhone I usually turn off never, but use it always discreet (am not a “Smartphone Zombie”) …
Before going to bed, I usually switch my iPhone to flight mode, which consumes 0–2% energy within 8 hours.

Software

The apps are also running completely trouble-free on my iPhone 8 so far.

iOS (Apple's Firmware)

28.09.2017: First time setting and software update
21:20: For the first time turned on. 21:22 it puts the statistics: Settings / Mobile Network.
22:24: Restart after updating to iOS 11.0.1, System Build 15A403, kernel Darwin 17.0.0.
04.10.2017: Software update
01:47: Restart after updating to iOS 11.0.2, System Build 15A421.
14.10.2017: Software update
00:38: Restart after updating to iOS 11.0.3, System Build 15A432.
02.11.2017: Software update
23:54: Restart after updating to iOS 11.1, System Build 15B93.
09.11.2017: Software update
22:38: Restart after updating to iOS 11.1.1, System Build 15B150.
19.11.2017: Software update
20:02: Restart after updating to iOS 11.1.2, System Build 15B202.

  • 28.09.2017 beginning with iOS 11.0 ex factory
  • 28.09.2017 update to iOS 11.0.1
  • 04.10.2017 update to iOS 11.0.2
  • 14.10.2017 update to iOS 11.0.3
  • 02.11.2017 update to iOS 11.1
  • 09.11.2017 update to iOS 11.1.1
  • 19.11.2017 update to iOS 11.1.2

Software

Built-in Apps (non-erasable)

App Store, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Clock, Compass, Contacts, FaceTime, Files, Find My Friends, Find My iPhone, Health, Home, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, News, Notes, Phone, Photos, Podcasts, Reminders, Safari, Settings, Siri, Stocks, TV, Tips, Voice Memos, Wallet, Watch, Weather, iBooks, iTunes Store

Apps by Apple for free

Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand and iTunes U are preinstalled.

Highly recommended Apps in Apple's App Store

  • 1Blocker Ad Blocker and Firewall by Salavat Khanov
  • Battery Charge Alarm by Bastiaan Modderkolk
  • Number Shield by Kinnaman Software LLC
  • Cs Cesium Music Player by Mike Clay
  • Date & Time Calculator by Thomas Tsopanakis
  • Shortcuts by Apple
  • Privee – Photo Zensor by Zenlogic LLC
  • Strongbox (Zero) – KeePass & PwSafe by Mark McGuill (Phoebe Code Ltd.)

You can find apps that I have already tested on the Mobile Apps page.
Most of these have proven themselves.
For apps that I have not yet tested myself, I link to developer's website or to Apple's App Store.

Missing Software

  • App for automatic location-dependent volume control
  • real call filter as has been a matter of course on other smartphone platforms such as Symbian OS, Android OS and BlackBerry 10 OS for many years

Addendum 20.06.2021: with iOS 15, Apple will finally deliver in autumn what actually belongs ex works.

Hardware – Details and some Photos

Audiophile Characteristics

The audio quality is excellent! The frequency response is from 18 Hz to nearly 20 kHz as pulled with the ruler – and the headphone output hardly any different!

Glass Case with a Frame made of 7000 Aluminium Wrought Alloy and Stainless Steel Chassis

The excellently processed case feels very good and is a hand flatterer.

The high-resolution 4.7-inch Display presents Photos and Text sharply

The size of the screen is sufficient to even edit the website on the go. Some of a program recorded through Save.TV app I will even look at it.

The A11 Bionic Processor is one of the fastest Smartphone Processors on the World Market

Before the purchase of the iPhones I had already read of it, but now I notice this every day that it is true.
Normal “daily business” leaves it completely cold, everything runs smoothly and the housing is never warm.
Too bad that Apple does not provide an interface to evaluate the temperature of processor or battery.
I would be interested in how the situation is here – compared to the BlackBerry.

Careful Selection of Color in Daylight

If you have the opportunity to visit an Apple Store should take the opportunity, also because the iPhone on press photos and on the Internet at Apple (all artificial light) looks quite differently than in bright daylight! Like myself, it can happen to you that in the daylight-flooded Apple Store you choose a different color version than on the screen, if you can take the iPhones all undisturbed in peace in your hand and compare. In the bright Apple Store, the colors do not look so intense.
In metal cases and frames, I generally prefer the unpainted variant quasi in “original color”. For a stainless steel case, I would choose stainless steel colors, Apple uses a very good 7000 aluminium wrought alloy, so I would like the original aluminium case.
Apple achieves the colors by anodizing and adding to the alloy, so they avoid the problems with paint finishes, nevertheless, my favourite is the original “metal color”.

Space-grey is my Favourite

I might have chosen a gold-colored or silver case, but in the Apple Store I noticed that these variants (as synonymous in Rosé Gold) have a silver or gold ring around the fingerprint sensor on the white front. I really do not like it. Much better: a black front with a black fingerprint sensor is uniformly black when the LCD is off. Therefore, my choice fell on “Space Grey”. This is pure taste. You may like another color variant. Main thing you are satisfied with your iPhone, because it will be your daily companion!

Localization by GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and QZSS

Thanks to the use of four satellite systems, the location is safer and possibly even more accurate. Documents / reports about it I could not find yet.

Lightning Jack and Cable

Micro-USB plugs are fiddly and depending on the quality of workmanship (which varies even with the original manufacturer) the plugs fit easily or with difficulty. That's my experience. I almost couldn't get the USB plug of the short original Apple cable shown here out of the USB socket of my Sony notebook without an accident!

Photo: Apple Lightning-to-USB-Cable

Photo: Lightning-to-USB cable (0.5 m) for 25.00 EUR (no joke, that´s Apple pricing of standard quality)

Photo: Apple 5-watt power supply unit (with socket for Lightning-to-USB cable)

Photo: Apple 5-watt power supply unit (with socket for Lightning-to-USB cable)

Depending on the system, a lightning plug can be easily and precisely inserted into the lightning socket. Finished.
If you do not pay attention to details and processing quality, you will miss the detail, I think it is important.

Photo: Open original box with Apple iPhone 8 256GB, Colour Space Grey

Photo: Newly opened for the first time original box with Apple iPhone 8 256GB, Colour Space Grey

Nappa Leather Sleeve by fitBAG

When I buy a new smartphone, I always buy a leather case from fitBAG (made in Germany) for it …

Photo: one side of the black fitBAG nappa leather bag

Photo: one side of the black fitBAG nappa leather bag

Photo: other side of the black fitBAG nappa leather bag

Photo: other side of the black fitBAG nappa leather bag

Aluminium and glass are susceptible to scratches. That's why I buy a custom-made black nappa leather sleeve from fitBAG's online shop.

The iPhone 8 fits perfectly in the black nappa leather case measuring 145 x 70 x 7.5 mm. Symbol: Thumbs up!

If you want to feel naked Glass Enclosure with Aluminium Frame

You want to protect an expensive iPhone from damage. Some use leather cases, others foils. Foldable flip cases made of genuine leather are also a popular solution.The disadvantage of these products is that you can hardly see or feel the beautiful case directly with your hands. Another solution are cases from which you take the smartphone out to operate it. That is why I have been a fitBAG regular customer for years.

Despite being custom-made, bags from fitBAG are not expensive! If you prefer naked glass with an aluminium frame on your skin, you can save the money for an Apple leather case (€55)! Buy a fitBAG leather case instead for €17.90 plus shipping. Specify the iPhone model and its case dimensions 145 x 70 x 7.5 mm so it won't be too tight. After a few weeks the bag will widen a little, but until then the outer buttons would be stressed, which is too risky for me (I am very fussy). From many years of experience with fitBAG's nappa leather cases, I can assure you that they are very precisely made and your iPhone will not sit too loosely in the case even after months.

Pros

  • good reception quality on all frequencies – also with 3G and LTE!
  • brilliant acoustics (at telephone calls and music playback – even via Bluetooth)
  • HD Voice Plus (EVS-codec) ready (if your provider offers it and your dialogue partner uses same capabilities, then your voice calls have high fidelity)
  • very high-resolution display
  • excellent build quality
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 256 GB internal memory
  • very efficient set
  • reliable hardware
  • no bloatware installed

Cons

  • no location-based sound profile (no such API activated by Apple)
  • not a really good flexible call filter solution
  • models with a future-proof memory size are very expensive (256 GB is a must because of nonexisting expandability!)
  • battery not removeable

Conclusion

Some Apple peculiarities make a blanket recommendation impossible.
If you are willing to compromise and accept the disadvantages (maybe even because of the advantages), you will get a very nice and solid smartphone!

Reference

Tech Specs iPhone 8 by Apple Support Page

iMessage: Code better be completely rewritten
heise online news 07/2021 (German-language)

Matthew Green: A case against security nihilism

Famous IT security researchers warn (German-language)

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