The quick answer

• Calls, texts and data: yes, on all three networks
• Software: stuck on iOS 16
• No eSIM, no 5G, no T-Mobile Band 71
• Still a decent basic phone; replace the battery

Calls and the 3G shutdown

The iPhone 8 supports VoLTE, so it kept working after the 3G shutdown. It runs on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, and on most prepaid brands that use them.

The real limit: iOS 16

The iPhone 8 stops at iOS 16. Most apps still support iOS 16 in 2026, but that's changing as developers move to iOS 17 and later. Expect the first apps to drop it within the next year or so.

Coverage

It doesn't support Band 71, T-Mobile's long-range 600MHz signal, which T-Mobile and its MVNOs (Mint, Metro, Ultra) rely on in rural areas and inside buildings. On Verizon and AT&T, coverage is close to a newer phone's, but without 5G.

No eSIM

eSIM arrived on iPhone with the XS and XR in 2018. This phone only takes a physical SIM card, so check that your carrier still ships one. Most free carrier trials now run on eSIM, so you can't use them on this phone.

Who it still works for

Anyone who wants a small iPhone with a Home button and Touch ID for calls, texts, maps and messaging. It's also a good kids' phone. A new battery makes a big difference.

If you're replacing it

You don't need a new flagship. A recent iPhone 16e, or an Android phone like the moto g 2026 or Galaxy A17, will get years of updates, and several carriers give those away when you switch. Pair it with a low-cost plan: Mint Mobile is $15 a month for 6GB on a 12-month term, and Visible is $25 for unlimited with taxes included.