Apple could be playing catch up if it hopes to move up on Consumer Reports’ list of recommended smartphones for consumers, after its latest device – the iPhone 8 – managed to end up rated lower than last year’s Samsung Galaxy S7. More directly, it should be said that both devices actually received the same score of 80 points. However, the non-profit magazine saw fit to place the Galaxy S7 at a higher ranking than the iPhone 8 because of comparisons between the two in terms of both call quality and battery life. For Apple, that means that although the iPhone 8 did manage to move up the list from where its iPhone 7 placed. However, the new handset still landed a full point lower than Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in Consumer Reports’ ranking.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S7 wasn’t the only older Android flagship that managed to tie things up, at least in the number of points received, with Apple’s latest offering. LG’s G6 managed to score 80 points, as well, despite that it has since been one-upped in performance and size by a new phablet flagship from the company, which arrived in the form of the more recent LG V30. Samsung’s S Pen-enabled Galaxy Note 8 phablet, meanwhile, also earned a solid 80 points. Unfortunately, both of those devices also fell below both the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 8 in terms of placement on Consumer Reports’ consumer recommendations rating list.
In fairness, it should also be pointed out that Apple does have a new flagship – the iPhone X – that is expected to outperform the company’s iPhone 8, at least in terms of specifications on paper. It’s equally important to note, however, that it remains to be seen whether or not it can beat out any of the above-mentioned devices on Consumer Reports’ list of recommendations. After all, the ratings are not based on performance alone but instead focus on how useful or usable any device is when it finally reaches a consumer’s hands and is put to the test through real-world use. With that said, the news that an older Android OS device managed to be more highly recommended by Consumer Reports than Apple’s latest offering should be encouraging to fans of the Android platform.