The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have been out for a couple of months now, and they have been relatively well received in the market. Strong sales last quarter gave both Apple and Foxconn a boost in revenue and profit.
The last generation of flagships shipping straight out of Cupertino has made waves for some controversial changes, most notably the removal of the headphone jack. Still, fans all over the world have moved in droves to get their hands on it.
However, some people have questioned if getting the iPhone 7 is worth it, as they see it more as a transitional device rather than a full-fledged iPhone.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Pros
There are many strong selling points to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but perhaps the most consistent argument for the handsets is their amazing camera. Not even Android fans can deny that Apple optics are some of the best in the business, and this generation things are no different.
The upgraded f/1.8 28mm lens on the iPhone 7 and the additional f/2.8 56mm telephoto on the iPhone 7 Plus deliver some top-notch image quality (12 MP). Add to that the support for quad-color True Tone flash, digital zoom, wider color gamut, and enhanced optical image stabilization and you have a great photography experience.
A close second in the pros list is the neck-breaking A10 Fusion chip inside next-gen smartphones. Only on a few occasions will you see the power of its two high-performance cores, but the real gain here is more processing power for less battery consumption.
The design is a wild card depending on who you ask, but overall it is also a plus this time. Apple managed to pack stereo speakers, better cameras, more power, more RAM (32 GB now standard), and then went ahead and made the whole iPhone water resistant.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Cons
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: there is no headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. While Apple may have called the move ‘courageous,’ most people have labeled as an annoyance.
There was no real justification to get rid of the 3.5 mm, Jack, for the device is just as thick as the iPhone 6 and 6S. As a result, your audio listening options are forcefully reduced to an awkward $9 dongle or $159 wireless AirPods that look cool but sound just above average.
Speaking about inconveniences, the removal of this entry means that there is also a single Lightning port now on the phone, meaning you’ll have to decide whether you want to charge it or listen to music if you do get the adapter and don’t get the AirPods.
Other caveats that users have reported is that the display is almost unchanged and the new home button is weird to use because it doesn’t click anymore. Moreover, the $649 and $769 starting prices for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus respectively also keep the devices out of range of most consumers.
Waiting for the iPhone 8 is the smart bet
No one can deny that Apple’s iPhones are some of the best smartphones on the market. Hell, they singlehandedly stand their ground against Android’s dozens of manufacturers, which account for over 1 billion users worldwide.
In spite of this, some design purists might have reserves about details as slight as the camera bump, or the scratch-prone Jet Black finish that the company is offering this time (although it looks quite sleek).
Fans have noticed since the beginning that there are areas in which Apple can improve, like packing OLEDs instead of LCDs, making Siri even smarter, and doing what they do best: blow away fans with groundbreaking features.
In light of the recent reveal of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ and the upcoming 10th anniversary of the iPhone, it is the humble opinion of this writer that you might be better off waiting until September to see what surprises Apple has for the fans.
You don’t need an iPhone 7 right now, especially if the iPhone 8 is right around the corner. Cupertino is sure to be preparing something very special, and you can survive another couple of months with your old iPhone or Android device.
Source: Apple