Next Step in Apple´s Phone Evolution - the iPhone 7 PlusIn September 2016, Apple made a huge announcement. Two years after the launch of the iPhone 6 and a year after the introduction of the iPhone 6s, the time had come to roll out a totally new instalment in the iPhone saga: the iPhone 7. As with the iPhone 6, the new model came in standard and Plus varieties. This buyer’s guide will lead you through the features, strengths and weaknesses of the iPhone 7 Plus.
The first iPhone appeared almost out of nowhere in 2007, when Steve Jobs stunned the tech world. The device that he held in his hand was revolutionary. For the first time, engineers had created a mobile phone that fused the capabilities of laptop computers and phones. Nowadays, we take smartphones for granted, but back then the compact design and wide range of features offered by the iPhone was remarkable.
After the iconic first iPhone proved a success, Apple returned to the drawing board again and again. Each time a new iPhone appeared, the Cupertino-based tech company seemed to add features nobody had ever seen, while retaining the eye-catching design of the phone for which it is so famous. The original phone was followed by the 3G in 2008, then the 3GS, the iPhone 4, the 4S, the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S, and then the iPhone 6 in 2014. The launch of the iPhone 6 also saw the introduction of a new product variety – the Plus range of iPhones, the first one was the iPhone 6 Plus. Now, Apple offered a standard 4.7-inch screen size, along with a giant 5.5-inch screen (the iPhone 6 Plus). It was a response to the increasing demand for TV and movie streaming, and Apple were the first to make their wide-screen play.
Since then, the iPhone 6 has been eclipsed by the iPhone 6s Plus (launched in 2015), which has now been toppled by the iPhone 7 Plus. At each stage, Apple have learned from their mistakes and found ways to make their large screen models more user friendly and resilient, resulting in a market-leading phone that is perfect for streaming fans.
We know that the iPhone 7 is at the forefront of the new wave of large screen iPhones, but what exactly are its major features? Well, here are some of the major reasons to consider making it your next smartphone purchase:
The 5.5-inch 3D Touch enabled screen which delivers a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and is capable of displaying 4K video.
The quad core Apple A10 processor is equipped with 3GB of RAM, resulting in big performance improvements over the 6s and the iPhone 6.
A redesigned home button that is easier to press, and a completely waterproof design that will help protect the phone against damage.
32GB of storage as standard, which is twice what you would get with the 6s or iPhone 6. You can also purchase models with as much as 256GB of memory if you require really high-end processing power.
Apple have removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, which won’t please everyone. They expect customers to move on from wired headphones to wireless varieties in the future (and aren’t subtle about pushing people in that direction). If you really love your high-quality headphones and don’t want to invest in a wireless equivalent, stick with the 6s instead.
Colours have been added to the product range: black and jet black.
To deal with the large screen size, Apple have kept the reachability function of the 6s Plus (by tapping the home button twice the top of the screen instantly scrolls down to be near your fingers).
A dual-lens camera on the back of the phone. One lens is a 28mm 12MP wide-angle lens. The other is a 56mm, 12MP telephoto lens. So you can zoom into photo subjects without any loss of quality. As with the 6S Plus, you will also benefit from optical image stabilisation, while Apple say that the 7 Plus delivers enhanced brightness too.
iPhone fans will also note that some things haven’t changed a bit. For instance, the dimensions of 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm are exactly the same as the iPhone 6s. Apple seem to have been happy with their formula, so why tinker with a classic?
Those are the fundamental aspects of the iPhone 7 Plus. Apple have added a few handy features here, kept a few successes there, and boldly done away with the headphone jack as well. For a more in-depth look at what you’ll be getting if you purchase an iPhone 7 Plus, here are the phone’s main specifications:
Dimensions: 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm
Weight: 188g
SIM type: Nano SIM
Screen type: capacitive and 3D Touch enabled
Screen size: 5.5 inches
Screen resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
Operating system: iOS 10
Chip: Apple A10 Fusion
CPU: Quad-core 2.23GHz GPU: Six-core processor
Internal storage space: 32/128/256GB
Memory: 3GB RAM
Camera: 2 12MP lenses, one 28mm and one 56mm, quad LED flash
Max video resolution: 2160p at 30fps
Does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack
Bluetooth - v4.2, A2DP, LE
Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Includes GPS
USB v. 2.0
Web browser: Safari
Sensors included: Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery life: 384h on standby, 21h talking, 60h music (max)
If you want a wide-screen iPhone, does it really have to be the most recent model? The listed price of the iPhone 7 Plus can be extremely high, and certainly well above older phones like the iPhone 6 Plus or the iPhone 6s Plus. The big question is whether the iPhone 7 Plus is distinctive enough to warrant paying the extra money. As noted above, the loss of the 3.5mm jack is a small issue that might sway some people. However, it’s what hasn’t been changed that matters more. The iPhone 7 Plus is faster than its predecessors and is better equipped to handle graphics-intensive games. It has more memory and storage space, offers higher resolution graphics and better cameras. But these aren’t revolutionary improvements. Older phones like the iPhone 6 Plus offered decent speed, could handle the kind of games on offer at the iTunes Store and its display made TVs and movies look just fine. Unless you are a serious cinephile or you are a professional film-maker or photographer, the difference in resolution won’t be a huge distraction.
Having said all that, if you have an older Plus model iPhone, you’ll enjoy the extra features. You’ll notice the crisper graphics and the better resolution. You’ll also appreciate the redesigned home button which is now a capacitive pad, not a click button (even though the haptic mechanism actually makes it feel like you are pressing a button still). You’ll also notice that the cameras are much better. But first time users would still think that the 6 Plus and the 6s were first-rate phones, although if you have access to a discounted update, why not take advantage of it?
Another think to think about is size. The main thing about so-called Phablets (phone + tablet), is that they are much larger than ordinary smartphones. They have to be to provide the screen space for more in-depth apps and streaming, but this comes at a cost. One of the beautiful things about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 is that they are easy and quick to use. You can manipulate the screen with one finger, holding the phone in one hand. This is much harder with larger phones like the iPhone 7 Plus. The concept of the phablet isn’t intended to suit everyone. If you have smaller hands or aren’t as experienced with smartphones, you’ll need time to adapt, and you may well be better off with a smaller phone. The same goes for people who only need a good, reliable smartphone to contact friends or surf the web. The bigger screen is great for streaming and gaming. It’s not essential for using Facebook or checking your e-mails, so why pay the extra if you don’t have to?
Of course, nobody is forcing you to purchase another iPhone. It could be time for a change to a rival brand like Sony, LG or Samsung, all of which offer Plus-style smartphones with large screens and similar features to the iPhone 7 Plus. They often come with much lower price tags, too. Here are a few of the options you might consider:
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – Try to forget about the exploding phones story from early 2016. Samsung have ironed out the flaws in their latest large-screen model, which comes with a massive 5.7-inch screen. Unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has no side bezels. Instead, the wraparound screen makes the most efficient use possible of the phone’s design, keeping the overall size surprisingly low. The 4GB of RAM bests the iPhone and it’s a bit lighter as well, so it’s worth a try.
The LG G5 – LG’s wide-screen contender comes in 5.3 inch and 5.5 inch varieties and probably has the best of the iPhone 7 Plus when it comes to cameras. The G5 has gone for two rear facing cameras, one 8MP and one 16MP, while it also boasts 4GB of RAM and expandable storage (up to a massive 2TB).
Huawei P9 – Another cheaper phablet, the P9 has an innovative camera that takes both colour and monochrome images and “refocuses” them after capturing the image, bringing them together in a composite 12MP result. This boosts the depth of the field and tightens the contrast, both slight improvements over the iPhone 7 Plus. You can also get 4GB models with a generous 74GB of storage for much less than most iPhone 7 deals.
Google Pixel – Finally, Google have unveiled their successor to the Nexus range, and it’s an efficient Android alternative to the iPhone 7 Plus. The Pixel XL offers a 5.5-inch screen, will have a serviceable 12MP camera, a fingerprint scanner and several eye-catching colour schemes. Best of all, it will be optimised for Android apps, and with Google’s support, should be the best option for people who love to tailor their phones to their own special settings. That’s one of the major fault lines between Android and iOS devices, and something that iPhone 7 Plus buyers need to think about. When you buy an iOS phone, you’ll be getting a reliable, easy to use OS that is regularly updated, along with access to the huge iTunes Store, which usually releases apps well before Google Play.
However, the price you pay is being tied to Apple’s operating system. For most people, that’s not a problem, but if you like fiddling around with your phone’s settings and using your technical knowhow, Android devices offer much more flexibility.
The phones mentioned above are all cheaper than the iPhone 7, at least in terms of recommended retail prices, and they aren’t massively inferior in performance. When you buy an Apple phone, you always pay more for the peace of mind and reputation of the brand, along with access to Apple’s in-depth support services, but that’s not a price everyone will be happy to pay.
There’s no shortage of accessories on offer if you want to optimise your purchase and enhance the capabilities of your iPhone 7 Plus.
Some of the most useful accessories are iPhone cases, and manufacturers have been quick to offer specialist products to suit the shape of the iPhone 7 Plus. For example, the tech21 Evo Wallet is a great way to protect your iPhone against damage caused by falls or the weather (and can help you to grip the phone as well).
Wireless headphones are another important iPhone 7 accessory. Remember, Apple have got rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack, replacing it with Bluetooth and a 2.0 USB connector. So why not take the chance to upgrade your music listening experience with products like the Audeze EL-8 Titanium wireless headphones? On the other hand, you can still use your prized corded headphones if you invest in an Anker Bluetooth Adapter, which has its own jack and connects up to your iPhone 7 Plus.
The iPhone 7 Plus has a good battery life, but every phone on earth tends to run out at awkward moments in films, conversations or games. You can avoid this by purchasing a smart battery case that attaches to the back of the phone as a hump. Alternatives include high-capacity power banks like the Aukey 20,000 mAh Portable Charger, which is small enough to fit neatly into your handbag or coat pocket.
Other accessories allow you to make the most of the iPhone 7 Plus’ advanced camera features. A great case in point is the Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand PRO which is a three-legged tripod and will stand firmly in place even on uneven surfaces.
By now you’ve probably got a good sense of which large-screen smartphone you’d like to go for. However, it’s never a bad idea to recap the good and bad points of the iPhone 7 Plus to make perfectly sure. On the positive side of the ledger, the iPhone 7 Plus:
Delivers a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Has an innovative dual camera system which delivers bright, crisp images and 4K video footage.
Has 3GB of RAM, which is more than any other iPhone Plus model.
Has a 5.5-inch screen which puts it in the phablet class, and is ideal for watching video and using apps.
Features the 3D Touch screen system which will be integrated into more and more apps as time progresses.
Then again, there are some negatives to think about too:
Other phones in the same class have 4GB of memory and more storage space.
The cost of the iPhone 7 Plus is higher than almost any other similar phone.
The large screen can be inconvenient for some users.
The performance of the phone, while impressive, doesn’t deliver that much more than the 6s or the 6 Plus.
The absence of the 3.5mm headphone jack will annoy some music lovers .
These negatives aren’t likely to put off committed iPhone fans who can’t wait to update their phone, and they shouldn’t dissuade first time iPhone owners either. If you can afford the iPhone 7 Plus and want a phablet-style phone, it’s one of the best options around.
Now you’ve made the decision to purchase a brand-new iPhone 7 Plus and you can’t wait to start streaming video and playing games on its high resolution, extra-large screen. But what’s the best way to make the purchase?
One option is to go online and visit the Apple store. However, before you buy from Apple, take a step back. You can almost certainly get a better deal by checking out the iPhone 7 Plus HotUKDeals listings, where the latest discounts from leading UK iPhone retailers are posted as soon as they are announced.
You’ll find discounts from major high street retailers like Argos, Currys and Tesco. You may be able to visit and talk to staff about the phone’s features, which is usually a good idea. Check to see whether the size of the phone matches your hand shape. If not, a different wide-screen phone might be more suitable.
Alternatively, you can also pick up discounted iPhone 7 Plus phones online at merchants like Very, Mobiles.co.uk, Buymobiles and MobilePhones Direct, along with Amazon and eBay sellers. So don’t buy impulsively. There’s probably a better deal hiding in the HotUKDeals listings.
Pick the right time to make your purchase too. Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November are always good times to hunt for deals, as are the pre-Christmas and January Sales. Apple also tend to roll out new models in September, so many retailers start to discount older models in August. Be sure to stay tuned to avoid missing out.
The iPhone 7 launch was one of the biggest tech events of 2016, and the iPhone 7 Plus is one of the year’s most impressive products. If you want a large-screen phone with excellent graphics capabilities, an efficient processor and a reliable, easy to use operating system, you can’t go wrong with this model, so bookmark the iPhone 7 Plus HotUKDeals listings today.
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