The iPhone 7 - is it worth it?
Amy Power, 10th October 2016, Gadget
We had all waited patiently for the latest iPhone upgrade, and when the iPhone 7 was launched this September, I think it is safe to say we were all left feeling slightly underwhelmed...
As of July of this year Apple announced that they had sold 6 BILLION iPhones worldwide. An astronomical amount, and a huge milestone for the company.
When it was announced that the iPhone 7 was to be launched in September 2016, Apple had the world holding their breath, eagerly awaiting the grand reveal of both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus...but it turned out to be a bit of flop.
We are used to seeing Apple change the aesthetics of each new model, so from the get go you notice a big difference! However with this latest update very little aesthetically has changed. Although there is something ALL users will notice, straight off the bat.
The end of the headphone jack
We assume a lot of you will know about this, but Apple's latest iPhone includes the removal of the headphone jack. That means that when you want to listen to music, you now need to either connect to your headphones via the phones bluetooth, or use the adapter they provide to make your existing headphones useable.
This alteration does cause some issues. For example, say you were on a train and wanted to charge your phone, and listen to music at the same time, you would need to purchase a £35 adapter lead so that you could plug in both the charger and your headphones.
Airpods
Perhaps you have seen Apples new wireless headphones the Airpods? If you want to purchase them along with your iPhone it's worth bearing in mind that it will cost you an additional £159.00. You should also note that the Airpods will need to be charged every 5 hours, but they do come with a case that holds 24 hours worth of battery power, so you can charge them whilst you're on the go.
Water Resistant
One of the best enhancements of the iPhone 7 is that it is now "Water Resistant". Which basically means that should you drop your phone in the toilet, sink, bath, (or even in my case in your cup of tea!) do not panic! It won't be the end of your iPhone. The Infohut on YouTube made a full video testing the iPhone 7's water resistance. You can watch that video here.
Photo taken from infohut's YouTube video.
Storage
The new iPhone offers DOUBLE the storage space of its predecessor. You can now purchase a 32gb, 128gb or 256gb phone! This is one upgrade we are sure no one will be complaining about.
Aesthetics
Many had speculated that the iPhone 7 would mean a new range of bright playful colours. This, however, is not the case. The only additional colour is a jet black, which reviews have said, is ‘a fingerprint magnet.' Apple also says that the jet black is liable to scratching, and suggests if you are concerned about this you should use a case. So, two very important points to keep in mind before deciding on the colour.
The other alteration Apple has made is the removing of the home button. As you will see the circle "button" is featured on the phone,however when you press it, instead of pressing in like other iPhone models, this button dips slightly and vibrates. James Titcomb's review for The Telegraph sums it up best:
'If you've experienced 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s or...the MacBook or Apple Watch, you'll have an idea for how this feels, but on a button that looks like a button, it's a strange sensation... Ultimately though, this seems like another thing we'll get used to.'
- Read the full article here.
Should I take the plunge?
After reading multiple reviews from readers who have actually tried the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, it is clear that if you have a model that is the iPhone 6 or below and your upgrade is due, you will notice a huge improvement when using the iPhone 7. However if you have the iPhone 6s the only real difference you will notice is when using the camera. If the camera quality is important to you, then you can read a detailed review here of the updates.
