September 12, 2017. If you were a tech geek back then, you remember that Tuesday. It wasn't just any keynote. Apple was finally moving into the "all-screen" future with the iPhone X, but standing right there in the shadow was the workhorse—the one people actually bought. We're talking about the iPhone 8 Plus.
Honestly, the iphone 8 plus launch date was a bit of a weird moment in Apple history. It felt like the end of an era and the start of a new one, all happening on the same stage at the Steve Jobs Theater. While everyone was losing their minds over Face ID and the notch, the 8 Plus was quietly being positioned as the "safe" pick for people who weren't ready to give up their home button.
The Official Timeline of the iPhone 8 Plus
Apple didn't mess around with the schedule. They stuck to the playbook they'd been using for years. After the big reveal on September 12, the pre-order gates opened at 12:01 a.m. PDT on Friday, September 15, 2017.
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You might remember the rush. It wasn't quite as chaotic as the iPhone X pre-orders later that year, but the 8 Plus in Gold was definitely harder to find if you didn't click "buy" within the first ten minutes.
The actual iphone 8 plus launch date—the day it hit store shelves and started arriving on doorsteps—was September 22, 2017.
People stood in lines. Not the mile-long lines of the iPhone 6 era, but there was still that buzz. It launched in over 25 countries that first Friday, including the US, UK, Australia, and China. A second wave followed on September 29, hitting places like Russia, Greece, and Saudi Arabia.
Why the Launch Was Sorta Controversial
It’s easy to forget now, but the 8 Plus was in a tough spot. It was basically an iPhone 7 Plus with a glass back and a faster brain. Critics at the time, including some big names at The Verge and TechCrunch, called it the "iPhone 7S" in all but name.
The price wasn't exactly cheap either.
- 64GB Model: $799
- 256GB Model: $949
Compare that to the iPhone X, which started at a then-unheard-of $999. Suddenly, the 8 Plus looked like a bargain, even though it was more expensive than the 7 Plus was at its own launch.
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The Specs That Mattered (and Still Do)
Under that glass back—which Apple claimed was the most durable ever in a smartphone—was the A11 Bionic chip. This thing was a monster. It had a six-core CPU that absolutely crushed everything in the Android world at the time.
It was also the first time we saw Wireless Charging on an iPhone. Finally. No more fumbling with Lightning cables in the dark, provided you had a Qi-compatible pad.
The camera was the real reason most people chose the Plus over the standard 8. You got that dual 12MP setup. Wide and Telephoto. It introduced Portrait Lighting, which was still in beta at launch. It used the A11 chip to map your face and simulate studio lighting in real-time. Sometimes it looked amazing. Other times, it made you look like a floating head in a black void.
Misconceptions About the 8 Plus Release
Some people still think the 8 Plus was delayed because of the iPhone X. That's actually a myth. The X was delayed (it didn't ship until November), but the 8 Plus was right on time.
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Another weird thing? The colors. We only got three at the start: Silver, Space Gray, and a very specific "new" Gold that looked kind of like cream or blush. The vibrant Product RED version didn't actually show up until April 2018. If you bought on launch day, you missed out on that crimson finish.
Is the iPhone 8 Plus Still Relevant?
Fast forward to today. The 8 Plus is officially a "vintage" device in the eyes of many. It was discontinued on April 15, 2020, to make room for the second-gen iPhone SE.
It officially hit its limit with iOS 16. If you're looking for iOS 17 or the latest AI-heavy features of 2026, the 8 Plus is out of the loop. But for a "legacy" phone? It’s legendary. It was the last great "classic" iPhone design.
If you are still holding onto one or thinking about buying a refurbished model for a kid or a backup:
- Check the Battery: These units are old. If the battery health is below 80%, the A11 chip will throttle, and it’ll feel sluggish.
- Stick to Light Apps: It handles social media and texting fine, but don't expect it to run high-end AR games anymore.
- Security Matters: Since it doesn't get the latest iOS versions, it’s missing the newest security patches. Use it with caution for banking or sensitive data.
The iphone 8 plus launch date marked the peak of the Home Button era. It was a solid, dependable machine that didn't try to reinvent the wheel—it just made the wheel spin faster.
To get the most out of an old iPhone 8 Plus today, your best move is to perform a clean factory reset and replace the battery through a certified technician. This will eliminate the "lag" that most users mistake for a dying processor and give the device another two years of life as a dedicated media player or secondary device.