While we always look forward to a new iPhone drop, the latest brings the greatest camera and video improvements to date. Along with the game-changing features guaranteed to step up your Instagram feed, the new all glass iPhone 8 and 8 Plus also boast some other new features to take advantage of like wireless charging, updated SOS emergency technology, and 4K video. Below, the best tips and tricks to utilize on your new phone.
1) Make your own gifs with Live Photo Effects. You can now turn your live photos into two different forms of gifs: loop and bounce. To do so, make sure you have the 'Live' button selected at the top while taking a photo. Then, swipe up on a live photo in your camera roll to select one of three new effects: Loop (repeats the action in a continuous looping video similar to a gif), Bounce (plays the action backward and forward in a video), and Long Exposure (simulates a DSLR-like effect by stacking Live Photo video frames to blur the action).
2) Create higher definition videos with the new 4K video mode. On both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus you can produce enhanced 4K videos, which use optical image stabilization and the f/1.8 aperture setting for a more professional video result. To record 4K video go to Settings -> Camera -> Record Video -> Select 4K at 60 fps. Once you’ve selected 4K at 60 fps, you'll see a 4K badge in the Camera app while you’re recording.
3) Make your photos look more professional with five new Portrait mode options. While the iPhone 7 Plus rolled out Apple's new Portrait Camera Mode, the iPhone 8 Plus boasts five new portrait settings to give you a variety of lighting options. The new settings include:
- Natural Light: Your subject’s face in sharp focus against a blurred background.
- Studio Light: A clean look with your subject’s face brightly lit.
- Contour Light: Dramatic shadows with highlights and lowlights.
- Stage Light: Your subject’s face spotlit against a deep black background.
- Stage Light Mono: Like Stage, but in classic black-and-white.
4) Smoother time-lapse videos are here. A new video stabilization tool allows you to take a clearer time-lapse video, even if your hands aren't steady. Swipe to the time-lapse setting in camera, press the camera button, and start recording.
5) Take a photo while recording video. You can now capture both photos and videos simultaneously by tapping the white circle to the left of your record button while recording a video. Total. Game. Changer.
6) Go wireless with the new charging feature. The glass design of the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus allows for the phone to be charged on wireless mats from Belkin and Mophie so you don't have to deal with losing your charging cord again.
Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad, $60, apple.com.
Mophie Wireless Charging base, $60, apple.com.
7) Zooming on photos and videos is now easier than ever. Instead of dealing with the pesky zoom function, you can now get an optical zoom simply by tapping the 1X button in photos or videos. To zoom in up to 10X, press and hold the button to toggle to your desired point.
8) Take advantage of the new SOS safety feature. While the camera functions may be heralded as the most exciting iPhone 8 and 8 Plus features, the new SOS feature is way underrated. Amping up the safety factor for iPhone users, you can now trigger SOS by pressing and holding the side button and either volume button for 6 seconds to quickly call emergency services. If you want, you can also initiate SOS by rapidly clicking the side button five times. The 5-click option can be enabled under Settings -> Emergency SOS -> Also Works with 5 Clicks.
You can order the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus now at apple.com.