Apple just announced the next model in its flagship handset device, the iPhone 7. Though not much has changed on the outside, it's under the hood where it really counts. Here's everything you need to know!
What's the lineup? What sizes will the iPhone 7 come in?
Just like its two predecessors, it will come in two sizes – 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch. Unfortunately for the small-handed iPhone fans, there is not going to be an iPhone 7se.
How much is it going to set me back?
The iPhone 7 starts at $649.
It will be available in the following storage capacities:
- 32GB
- 128GB
- 256GB
The Jet Black model only comes in 128GB and 256GB
The iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769.
It will be available in the following storage capacities:
- 32GB
- 128GB
- 256GB
The Jet Black model only comes in 128GB and 256GB.
Through Apple's Upgrade Program, U.S., UK and China customers can get an unlocked iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus with AppleCare+ for monthly payments as low as $32.
When do I get my hands on it?
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available for pre-order this Friday, September 9 and will be in our grubby hands on Friday, September 16.
Does it come with iOS 10?
It sure does. No update needed. By the time you unbox your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10 will already be kicking it, drinking a beer, and waiting for you to get the grill heated up.
iOS 10 preview: Cleaner, clearer, and more convenient
New color?
Yup. And it's called "Jet Black."
Apple has redesigned the exterior of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with an aluminum casing that is covered with a high-gloss glass exterior. The antenna is embedded into the body of the case for better reception quality. It is sleek, shiny, and not entirely unlike the models prior to the iPhone 4.
How powerful is this bad boy?
The Apple A10 Fusion Processor is a 64-bit four-core powerhouse. Two are high-performance cores that are 40% faster than the A9. The other two are high-efficiency cores that use 1/5 the power so you can get longer battery life. The Apple-design performance controller will smartly choose which chip to use, depending on what you are doing on your iPhone. GPU performance is 40 percent better than the A9 chip. The iPhone's motion chip, the M-series, has also been upgraded to M10.
Apple did not mention RAM, but we believe it remains the same as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at 2GB.
Is it waterproof?
No. But, it is more water-resistant than ever before with an IP67 standard. So, if you fall in the pool (or drop it in the toilet), you won't be up a creek without a paddle.
What about the headphone jack? Tell me it's still there!
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your ancient, outdated 3.5mm headphone jack is no more. I feel your pain. I didn't want to lose it either. But, the good news is that you can still listen to wired headphones, thanks to the included Lightning to 3.5mm adapters with digital-audio converters that come with every new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
If you aren't particularly interested in Bluetooth headphones, you can still listen to your favorite tunes and talk on the phone, hands-free, with Lightning headphones. Apple will also include Lightning headphones with every new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Apple has also announced the new AirPods, which are wireless earbuds specially designed for the iPhone 7 and iPhne 7 Plus. They use a W1 chip, which is a high-quality wireless processor. the AirPods only play when they are in your ear. You can access Siri with a double tap. Voice accelerometers capture your voice while you are talking. It comes with a wireless charging case that keeps your AirPods charged. The charger can keep your AirPods juiced for up to 24 hours and the AirPods can work continuously for up to 5 hours before needing to be recharged. It also connects automatically to your Apple Watch.
AirPods will cost $159.
New Beats wireless headphones also take advantage of the new W1 wireless chip.
And the camera? Are there really two of them?
Sort of. The iPhone 7 Plus is getting the dual-lens treatment, while the iPhone 7 has been relegated to the one-camera corner. The new dual-camera feature on the iPhone 7 Plus features two cameras side-by-side that shoot as one for high-resolution optical zoom. One camera is a ƒ/1.8 aperture wide-angle lens, while the other is a built-in ƒ/2.8 aperture 2x zoom telephoto lens. A new button will be available on the iPhone 7 Plus that will allow you to tap the screen to quickly zoom in with the telephoto lens. Additional internal software on the iPhone 7 Plus will make it possible to zoom up to 10x.
Apple has also upgraded the iSight camera in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with better optical image stabilization that is three times better than iPhone 6s. It has a wider sensor for capturing more light, and the 12-megapixel lens is 60% faster and 30% more efficient. The True Tone Quad-LED flash provides 50% more light and a new "flicker sensor" identifies flickering light. The image signal processor is also faster.
The FaceTime camera has been updated to 7 megapixels and video is 1080p HD, with wide color capture and image stabilization.
There is a new option in the Camera on the iPhone 7 Plus called "Portrait" that creates a shallow depth-of-field.
The screen is 25% brighter with a wide color gamut and Cinema standard, so you can see colors pop in a way that wasn't available before.
Any big news about the display?
Nope. This iPhone 7 has a Retina HD display with 1334 X 750 resolution at 326 ppi. The iPhone 7 Plus has a Retina HD display with 1920 X 1080 resolution at 401 ppi.
They both sport wide color gamut with 625 cd/m2 max brightness and dual-domain pixels.
What's all this about new stuff you can do with the Home button?
It's a little confusing to us, too. At least right now. But, from what we understand, the Home button now has a taptic engine so you can get a little buzz on your finger when you do certain things. Thanks to force touch sensitivity, it can access quick actions, messages, notifications, ringtones, and third-party apps. It is also customizable. What that means, exactly, we'll have to find out.
Has the battery life improved?
It sure has! You'll get at least one hour more on iPhone 7 Plus than its predecessor and at least two hours more on iPhone 7.
Speakers?
Speakers are now stereo with increased dynamic range. Maybe that's why Apple got rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack?
What else?
Felica technology will come with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to bring Apple Pay and Transit to Japan.
Questions?
Got more questions about the new iPhone? Sound off in the comments below!
