You have most likely heard by now that Apple has released their latest model of the iPhone, appropriately named the iPhone 7. But what exactly does this newest phone have to offer, and is it really worth trading up when the iPhone 6s only came out a year ago? Let’s take a look at some specs:
Lightning Connector
Just by looking at the iPhone 7, it is almost identical to the iPhone 6s. The shape, dimensions, and screen size are all identical and it’s only a bit lighter than the iPhone 6s. The only visible difference is the controversial lack of a headphone jack, but does that really matter? Included in the phone box is an adaptor, so you can continue to use your favorite headphones or your Beats by Dr. Dre with the iPhone 7. The only caveat is that you won’t be able charge your phone and use headphones at the same time. For a person like me – who has a tendency to forget to charge their phone or just blows through their battery life – this might be a deal breaker.
Battery Life
Apple explicitly says that the iPhone 7’s battery will last 2 hours longer than the iPhone 6. Great, right? The only thing is that if you are constantly using Bluetooth in order to use your wireless headphones, you might be blowing through your battery a bit faster. But if you just use the adaptor that is provided with the phone or the EarPods (Apple’s term for their headphones) you should be just fine and you’ll have 2 more hours to spend scrolling through Instagram or Facebook before you need to recharge!
Color
Another visible difference of the iPhone 7 is the color selection. The colors offered previously were Space Grey (if you’re wondering what the heck Space Grey is, it’s just dark grey), Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold (glorified pink). For those of you that miss the good old days of a plain black iPhone, you’re in luck! The colors offered for the iPhone 7 are Jet Black (shiny black), Black (matte black), Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. However, if you want Jet Black, you’re going to have to dish out some extra cash because you can only get that specific color if you purchase a 128 GB or 256 GB model.
Storage
That brings us to the storage options! The iPhone 6s only offered two storage options- a 32 GB model or a 128 GB model. This update has three options- you can choose between 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. So for those of you that have endless apps, pictures, and music and find that you always need more space, this might be the phone for you! Remember the good ol’ days when the iPhone only had 8 GB?
Waterproof
A huge selling point of the iPhone 7 is that Apple has made it “Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant.” So basically you don’t need to buy a waterproof case or put your iPhone in a plastic bag anymore if you’re going to the beach- all you need is the phone itself! Obviously, don’t dunk your phone into a pool of water or put it under the tap, but you don’t need to freak out anymore if your phone gets a little wet.
Price
Price remains a big factor when purchasing a new phone. Quite surprisingly, the iPhone 7 really isn’t that much more expensive than the iPhone 6s. Currently, the iPhone 7 starts at $649 for the 32 GB model. Of course, if you’re dead set on the Jet Black color, you’re going to have to spend at least $749 for the 128 GB version. But compared to the iPhone 6s, which is priced at $549 for the 32 GB model, you’re getting some serious upgrades for only an extra $100. The only add-on when it comes to price would be if you wanted to purchase AirPods (Apple’s wireless headphones), which are priced at a steep $159. But with the adaptor Apple provides for you, the AirPods are pretty unnecessary.
After looking into the iPhone 7, it seems like a great phone. Apple may not have upgraded it that much, but the fact that it is water resistant, gives you 2 hours of extra battery life, and the new color options may make it worth it! It may not be a great choice for everyone, especially those of you who just purchased an iPhone 6s a year ago, but if you’re like me and are still using your iPhone 5 from four years ago, definitely take the plunge and go for the iPhone 7 (just don’t let your phone take a literal plunge into a pool of water- it’s not that water resistant).
References
http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone/compare/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-iphone-7-news-2-2/
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/632026/Apple-iPho…
http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/972934
http://www.morningnewsusa.com/iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-jet-black-vs-matte-…
https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/14/deleting-apples-pre-installed-apps-in-…
http://www.iphone7updates.org/iphone-7-waterproof-confirmation-news-comi…
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/apple-boss-says-companys-new-8834519
http://www.iphone7updates.org/apples-force-touch-technology-for-iphone-7…