The iPhone 7 is simultaneously a cautious upgrade and an ambitious gamble. Apple’s new smartphone sports mostly minor but welcome upgrades in its design, display, audio and camera, more than enough to keep the faithful happy.
Ultimately though, the iPhone 7 will be remembered as the phone that ditched the headphone socket, a bold move that customers might not be ready for yet.
The iPhone 7’s design is almost identical to that of the 6 and 6S, aside from the antenna lines on the rear, and, in the case of the 7 Plus, the dual camera lenses. The exception is the new shiny “Jet Black” finish, whose sleek gorgeous looks are sadly something of a fingerprint magnet.
Aside from its looks, the iPhone 7 is happily now water-resistant (for when you drop it in the bath, not for snorkelling), with its home key button replaced by a non-mechanical sensor that gives a pleasing “taptic feedback” when you push it.
The display is brighter, with a wider color gamut, and National Geographic images look crisper and better defined. The stereo speakers are noticeably punchier than before, but don’t throw out your Bluetooth speakers.
The iPhone 7’s second largest change is its new camera. The iPhone 7 Plus has a 28mm wide-angle lens and a 56mm telephoto, offering far more zooming potential, with increased camera effects promised by Apple in the coming months.
Images are sharper and better in lowlight than on the iPhone 6S. However, our photographer preferred the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, which offers more detail resolution, better highlights and more pleasing and natural images.
And so at last to the headphone socket, or lack thereof. Those using traditional headphones can still plug in through the included adapter, but while audio is fine, the adapter is fiddly and easy to lose. What’s more, the inability to charge the phone at the same time as listening via the adapter is a not insignificant downside.
The Apple faithful already using Bluetooth headphones will find the iPhone 7 a worthy upgrade. Those unwilling to part with their expensive wired headphones may want to think twice before upgrading.
© 2016 The National under contract with NewsEdge. -.
