The iPhone 8 launched on September 12, 2017, alongside the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. This marked Apple's first major redesign since the iPhone 6 in 2014, introducing wireless charging and an all-glass body.
Apple announced the iPhone 8 during its keynote event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. This was the first product launch held in the newly opened Apple Park headquarters. The event also introduced the iPhone X, which featured an edge-to-edge display and facial recognition technology.
The iPhone 8 introduced several notable improvements over its predecessor, the iPhone 7:
The iPhone 8 launch was significant for several reasons:
First, it marked the beginning of Apple's transition toward wireless charging, a feature that has become standard in many modern smartphones. Second, the all-glass design set a precedent for future iPhone models, including the iPhone X and later releases. Finally, the launch event itself was historic, as it was the first major product announcement held at the new Apple Park campus.
Some people confuse the iPhone 8 launch date with that of the iPhone X. While both phones were announced at the same event, the iPhone X was released later, on November 3, 2017., the iPhone 8 is often mistakenly referred to as the "iPhone 7S," a name that was rumored but never officially used by Apple.
As someone who attended the iPhone 8 launch event, I remember the excitement around the new features, particularly wireless charging. At the time, this felt like a new innovation, even though it's now commonplace. The event also highlighted Apple's shift toward a more futuristic design language with the iPhone X, which would influence smartphone design for years to come.