Newer technology doesn’t always make for a better phone. Choosing a new phone is about choosing what works for you, and figuring out what you want and need from a phone. These two phones are of a similar size and were released about a year apart, so let’s take a closer look.

With its X release, Apple launched a whole load of firsts. These were the first phones to get rid of the home screen and bezels for more screen space, the first to have just Face ID (a result of not having a home button), and the first to have an OLED screen. The iPhone 8 Plus in comparison has the older LCD screen, and it still has a home button, so big bezels, and Touch ID. The main difference this makes is the screen size compared to the size of the phone. The iPhone XS Max measures 157.5 x 77.4 mm and has a 6.5-inch screen, whereas the iPhone 8 Plus measures 158.4 x 78.1 mm and the screen size is a whole inch less (5.5 inches).

The iPhone XS Max might have the edge in terms of screen size and performance, but when it comes to battery life and cameras, the iPhone 8 Plus has plenty to offer. Both phone batteries will last you the day and both have dual 12 MP cameras at the rear and 7 MP at the front. There’s a slight improvement to the rear camera on the iPhone XS Max as it has optical image stabilisation on both lenses, compared to just one on the iPhone 8 Plus. Both phones have a glass and metal case and fast processors, though being the newer phone, the iPhone XS Max has a slightly faster A12 to the iPhone 8’s A11.

The newer iPhone XS Max is arguably a better phone, notably for its screen size and performance, but it was also around €400 more expensive on release. A lot of people still like the home button iPhone setup, and camera and processor-wise, the iPhone 8 Plus has a lot to offer. You can get either of these phones cheaper if you purchase refurbished and you’ll be doing your bit for the environment too.