The iPhone 7 is a step in the right direction. Coming up with worthwhile improvements to a familiar design, Apple has done well to make it’s phone better than its predecessors. However, are the changes enough to invest in an iPhone 7? Before we decide, let’s take a quick look at the notable upgrades in this latest iPhone iteration.
Design
Beyond the silver, gold, black, and rose gold options, the iPhone 7 now comes in a shiny Jet Black. This new color is a slick and polished finish that’s instantly pleasing to the eyes. Despite the aesthetic improvement, the Jet Black version has been reported as slippery to hold. It also often leaves fingerprint traces more than its matte counterparts.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 7 has redesigned the home button. It replaced the mechanical part into something similar with the Force Touch technology that you find in MacBook products. Frankly, using the new button takes some getting used to. Instead of pressing the button inward, it requires you to apply a slight amount of pressure before it responds with a vibration.
Camera
On paper, iPhone 7’s brighter f/1,8 aperture, optical image stabilization, quad-LED flash and 12-megapixel sensor are expected to produce great snapshots. However, indoor shots haven’t been instantly impressive as those fancy specifications may suggest.
On the other hand, when used outdoors, the iPhone 7 produces better contrast and colors for its shots compared to iPhone 6. The camera is crisper, sharper, and richer than the iPhone 6s, but the overall quality is still a step behind Samsung’s.
Durability
The iPhone 7 is finally water resistant. Drop the iPhone 7 in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes and the phone will work just fine. It’s not waterproof, though, so we do not recommend testing the limits.
What this means is that you now have little to worry about if you accidentally drop your iPhone 7 down the tub or use it in the rain. Such upgrades certainly make the iPhone better prepared for using in harsh conditions.
Battery
Compared to its A9 predecessor, the A10 Fusion chip has been designed with significant energy saving capacity. So even with all its processing power, the A10 extends the iPhone 7’s battery life by two hours more than the iPhone 6.
If you’re feeling up to it, you can last 13 hours and 2 minutes while playing videos on loop on your phone. This noticeably improved battery life is definitely a credit to its highly efficient cores.
Performance
So far, the performance of the iPhone 7 really separates itself from previous models. With its quad-core A10 Fusion processor, the phone responds quicker and runs the latest iOS more smoothly.
In terms of graphics, the iPhone 7 has consistently passed various graphics test from different reviewers.
Another major improvement on the iPhone 7 is its display, which now runs with a wide color gamut display that allows it to reproduce more intense shades of color. Its display is also a bit brighter than that of iPhone 6s.
Storage
iPhone users have long complained about how 16GB doesn’t suffice for their data storage needs. Apple has finally admitted its shortcomings and made the iPhone 7 start its storage capacity at 32GB.
Doubling the storage capacity of the phone is definitely a wise move for Apple. Although it’s unfortunate that there’s no 64GB option available as a sort of middle ground, we’re glad that this concern has finally been addressed.
Software
iOS 10 is the mobile operating system that comes with the iPhone 7. It may not look like any different from iOS 9 at first glance but, the improvements of this latest mobile OS has mostly been geared towards improved functionality and ease of use.
To get a better idea of what to expect from this latest Apple OS, read about the major improvements in iOS 10.
| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Quad-core A10 Fusion |
| RAM | Not stated |
| Screen size | 4.7in |
| Screen resolution | 1,334 x 750 |
| Screen type | IPS |
| Front camera | 7 megapixels |
| Rear camera | 12 megapixels |
| Flash | LED |
| GPS | Yes |
| Compass | Yes |
| Storage (free) | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Memory card slot (supplied) | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Wireless data | 3G, 4G |
| Dimensions | 138 x 67 x 7.1mm |
| Weight | 138g |
| Features | |
| Operating system | iOS 10.0 |
| Battery size | Not stated |
While the iPhone 7 is undoubtedly the best iPhone yet, most of its improvements may not seem that impressive. Sure, it has raised the bar for iPhones overall, but it’s a step behind Samsung.
