| General Info | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Technology | CDMA/GSM |
| Data Type | 4G |
| Device Type | Smartphone |
| Operating System | iOS |
| Physical Specifications | |
| Height | 6.23 Inches |
| Thickness | 0.29 Inches |
| Weight | 6.63 Ounces |
| Keyboard | Touch Only |
| Phone Form | Open-Faced |
| Display Specifications | |
| Display Size | 5.50 Inches |
| Touchscreen Size | 5.50 Inches |
| Audio/Video Specifications | |
| Front Camera | 7.00 Megapixels |
| Rear Camera | 12.00 Megapixels |
| Video | HD |
| Hearing Aid Compatibility | M3/T4 |
| Battery Specifications | |
| Standby Time | 384 Hours |
| Talk Time | 968 Minutes |
| Battery Type | 2900 mAh |
| Memory Specifications | |
| Internal Memory | 32.00 GB |
| Expandable Memory | 0.00 GB |
The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is a marked improvement over the smaller iPhone 7. The 7 Plus combines all the best features of the 7, and it includes several features that push it into a higher echelon of quality.
There are two main differences that separate the 7 and the 7 Plus. The camera is vastly better on the iPhone 7 Plus, and the battery life offers significantly more utility than the smaller iPhone 7. The 7 Plus is slightly larger in size than the 7, which allows the battery to be equally larger. The improvements to the camera include a dual lens system that makes the 7 Plus much more attractive to those with an interest in photography.
In terms of improvements from the previous generation, the iPhone 7 Plus has two new finishes, twice as much storage, and upgraded internal components like the vibration motor. The headphone jack is also gone, and the Lightning port now doubles as the headphone port thanks to an included adapter.
As is the tradition for the new iPhone lines, there are three available models for the iPhone 7 Plus. The models differ based on their capacity, and the options are 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB. This is literally twice the storage capacity of the older 6S and 6S Plus.
The pricing structure for these new devices is based on the capacity. The smallest model provides 32GB of storage for $749, the mid-range model offers 128GB for $849, and the top-of-the-line model has an enormous 256GB for $949.
All versions of the device can be purchased after the September 16th release date for the iPhone 7 Plus. Pre-orders start on September 9th for early adopters.
Typically, the iPhone gets a makeover when a new number is designated for the device, but the 7 and 7 Plus are actually nearly identical in design to the 6S and 6S Plus. They have the same rounded edges and thin frame, and they even have the exact same physical dimensions. The only difference is that the newer models are each about 5 grams lighter than the older models.
The 7 Plus does have the inclusion of a second camera, which is one of the only ways to distinguish it from the other models. But the device is packed with many features that can't be seen, like the new casing that is splash-proof, waterproof, and dust-proof. Such resilience is rare in advanced devices.
Perhaps the biggest change to the architecture of the iPhone 7 Plus is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone port. The port was removed to make space for other components, like a new speaker. The absence of the port supposedly improves battery life, and it allows the phone to reach thinner dimensions.
Headphones will now function through the Lightning port instead. The device is packaged with a set of standard EarPods with a 3.5mm plug and an adapter for the Lightning port. The Lightning Connector allows the user to take advantage of their own headphones if they would like to.
The 7 Plus fits snuggly in the hand thanks to its ergonomic design. If you already have experience with an iPhone 6S or 6S Plus, you already know how the 7 Plus feels since they have nearly identical structures.
One noticeable difference is that the classic antenna bands that Apple has famously included in many of their older devices are no longer visible on the back of the 7 Plus. The solid color of the back plate is much more aesthetically pleasing than the older versions. If you choose the new Jet Black finish for the device, you can hardly see the bands unless you actively search for them.
The finishes for the 7 Plus have received a few new additions as well. The Jet Black finish is the new premium finish, and there is also a flat Black option that forgoes the glossy finish. Of course, the phone is available in Rose Gold, Gold, and Silver as well. The Silver option is a replacement of the Space Grey that was phased out thanks to the addition of the Black and Jet Black finishes.
One of the most noticeably hardware changes to the 7 Plus is the new Home button. Older versions of the Home button were clickable, but the new version uses pressure sensitivity in order to take full advantage of the button. The button uses haptic feedback to let the user know when an action is made.
Pressing the Home button at varying levels of pressure will most likely be the biggest change to the utility of the device, but the level of control the user has over the 7 Plus is unprecedented.
The 7 Plus contains one of the most advanced displays available from a smartphone. It measures 5.5 inches diagonally, and can deliver resolutions of up to 1080p. Their proprietary Retina display includes more pixels and color potentials than any previous version of the iPhone display.
Even though there are larger screens out there, the quality of the 7 Plus display pushes it above the competition. The screen is actually bonded to the glass surface, and it can produce more colors than ever before.
The display also includes a new Wide Color Gamut, which boosts color production even further. The contrast ratio has also been improved, and the display is roughly 25 percent brighter than that of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
Apple has always placed a large portion of significance on music through their devices. The fact the headphone port has been removed is a huge indicator that the 7 Plus can deliver impressive audio quality. A standard 3.5mm headphone port can only carry so much data from the device to the headphones, but the Lightning port can transfer much more.
Older versions of the iPhone included a single output speaker, but the 7 Plus has dual speakers to produce superior sound. The removal of the headphone port freed up enough space for the second speaker, and the two speakers are on either end of the device for a stereo effect.
The stereo effect produced by the dual speakers makes the sound feel more surrounding and less directional than older versions of the iPhone. The lack of the headphone port also points to the idea that wireless headphones will soon be the standard, and Apple is prepared with a wireless version of the EarPods called AirPods. The numerous upgrades to the audio potential for the 7 Plus are truly magnificent.
The 7 Plus includes the first major upgrade to the camera system that iPhone has received in many years. The system has dual lens, which allows the device to use optical zoom and capture brilliant images. Each camera has a resolution of 12MP, and the lenses work together to create a telephoto effect.
The new flash for the 7 Plus is a Quad-LED light that function with Apple's TrueTone technology. The flash is able to produce appropriately toned light for just about any scene or skin tone.
The dual lens camera is a huge step forward for the iPhone line, and the addition of optical zoom opens up an entirely new world of photography. The phone also has the ability to defocus the background, which allows the camera to be used like a DSLR.
Other phones have included similar pieces of technology, but none have the same refined utility and reliable quality as the 7 Plus. Apple has every right to be proud of their new camera, but it isn't a scientific breakthrough. It is simply a refinement of existing technology.
The Camera app has also seen some improvements, including the zoom feature that can smoothly go from optical to digital. The app is smooth and intuitive like it has always been, with the new features seamlessly integrated into the existing system.
Battery life for the 7 Plus has been improved over past editions as well. According to the technical specifications released by Apple, the 7 Plus offers an additional hour of battery life over the 6S Plus. The likely reason for such an improvement is the new A10 chip found in the 7 Plus. The chip is able to conserve power adequately without sacrificing utility. The A10 chip includes a smaller M10 chip that functions as a motion coprocessor.
It is currently unknown whether the battery itself is larger than the battery from the 6s Plus, but estimates show the battery is most likely the same size. The inclusion of other new components most likely prevented Apple from bulking up the battery, which explains why the slightly improved battery life might be due solely to the more efficient A10 chip.
The 7 Plus is basically a revamped version of the 6S Plus, but it does include some notably improvements that make it a superior device. The new camera is incredibly impressive, but the lack of a headphone port might dissuade some buyers.
The addition of waterproof sealing is sure to please many users, and the improved sound quality is second to none. A bit more could have been done to attract users from the 6S Plus, but overall, the iPhone 7 Plus is a good step forward.
