If youre gearing up to buy the iPhone 8 with the expectation that you will be getting a premium smartphone loaded with the latest features, you wont be disappointed.

But if youre looking to buy the iPhone 8 hoping to have your digital life transformed with augmented reality and the ability to produce flawless photography, youve not going to be happy at least not on day one.

And if youre planning to buy the iPhone 8 expecting to be able to use facial scanning on a edge-to-edge OLED screen, well youve bought the wrong phone. Those features come exclusively with the iPhone X, which wont be out until Nov. 3.

Today we are putting out are initial impressions of only the iPhone 8. Well post a more thorough review on Thursday.

So lets get back to the first expectation - that of the premier smartphone. Apple has put out a string of solid, high-performance smartphones that date back to the iPhone 6, which launched since 2014. The iPhone 8 is as solid as any previous iteration, with most of the expected upgrades that come standard in a new flagship smartphone. It has an upgraded processor - the A11 Biotic, an improved camera with suped-up features, and a improved screen. Any new smartphone line will include those, and there are plenty of people who complain that Apple should be including more. To those people, we say wait for the X.

The one really new feature that will be available on Sept. 23 is the ability to wirelessly change your iPhone. However - and this is a sizable however - this feature isnt available out of the box either. To wireless charge the iPhone 8, youll need a wireless charging station. Apple neither includes one with the iPhone 8 nor does it make one. Youll have to buy one - were using a Belkin charger, which retails for an additional $60. (Thats an Amazon price. Local prices may vary.)

The other new edition to the iPhone 8 is the addition of iOS11. Well go more in-depth on Thursday as were still discovering new features. In short, its still one of the easiest to use OS on the market and some of the new features - while not mind binding - will certainly make using the iPhone more intuitive and fun.

Failure to live up to expectations:

If you think of the iPhone as a augmented reality bending, super-photography creating smartphone - an image that was build largely on Apples Sept 12 presentation - we have to say, that isnt what comes out of the box.

The augmented reality feature, which Apple demonstrated on September 12 and which looks like a lot of fun, is not there yet. Maybe it will be there later today when iOS11 official launches. To really make this feature fly Apple is relying on third-party software developers, who are probably waiting for todays official launch. (Editors note: Weve already seen one major release on the Apple Store since we originally wrote this review.)

When apps such as Walking Dead: Our World - sort of a reverse Pokemon game where the monsters hunt you - launches, then well have something to talk about.

But until these apps are released, there will be VERY high expectations. Weve seen some of these apps in person and they have the potential to be a serious gamer-changer in software.

But until those apps launch, there are very few apps that use augmented reality available and not are that exciting. Ikea has an app that allows you to virtual place furniture from its catalog into your home. Its fun sizing chairs and lamps for about 30 seconds, and to be fair, the app doesnt even begin to tap into the potential of AR.

Improved camera

As for the camera - those who buy the iPhone 8 Plus will have some additional featured to play with. The Plus - thanks to Apples dual camera feature, which debuted in the iPhone 7 - will be able to play with settings in portrait mode. Frankly, you really have be a photography fan to appreciate these new features, which include better depth-of-field (a photography term best summed up as the ability to give you a blurry background) and various lighting options. No, that doesnt mean you can determine the source of lighting in your photos. Again, thats the iPhone X.

That doesnt mean the standard iPhone 8 doesnt have an improved camera. Both models have increased focusing speed in low light and the ability to record 4K video at 60 framed-per-second. Both phones can also record in slow motion at 1080p HD at 240 fps.

So, to sum up, yes, its a solid, top-of-the-line smartphone, but dont expect to see everything Apple promised during its keynote on September 12. As for the face recognition and button-less home screen, youll have to come back on November 3.

The iPhone 8 is retailing for Dh2,849 for the 64GB version and Dh3,479 for the 256GB version.

The iPhone 8 Plus is Dh3,249 for the 64GB version and Dh3,879 for 256GB. It will be available in stores on September 23, and is available to pre-order now.

Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2017. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).