Tech junkies are filled with excitement as Apple has finally unveiled the line-up of its new products during an event on Sept 7. It looks like the company decided not to wait until its 10th anniversary to release the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
When Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, took the stage during Apple's big event, the audience were not sure if they would be seeing an iPhone 7. Prior to the launch, there were speculations that the company would be holding off the name "iPhone 7" and "iPhone 7 Plus" for their 10th-year anniversary release. But it turns out that the company decided not to wait that long.
How different is it from the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus?
When Schiller held up the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, viewers could not immediately spot the difference. Aesthetically, both phones look identical to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus since Apple decided to stick with the same exterior design. However, the antenna bands are now moved to the edge of the device.
Apple has also introduced a new jet black model with a glossy back that stands out. However, users would need to pay a higher price since the model would be offered exclusively in128GB and 25GB models. A matte version is also offered to users who prefer less shine on their devices. Other color options include silver, old gold, and rose gold.
How different is the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in terms of performance?
Although Apple did not change much of the new iPhone's exterior, the company ensured that it would perform better. Aside from being water-resistant with the capacity to withstand immersion for about 30 minutes (in 1 meter of water), the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus would be powered by a new Apple A10 Fusion with a 64-bit 4 core CPU. This is about 40 percent faster than the A9 used in the iPhone 6s and double the speed of the old A8 processor.
The new models also promises users more battery life. A user review reported that the iPhone 7 could last up to 14 hours when using Wifi. The iPhone 7 can last for 12 hours when 4G is turned on. Meanwhile, the iPhone 7 Plus can last 15 hours on both Wifi and 4G. According to the Telegraph, that is two hours longer than the iPhone 6s and an hour longer than the iPhone 6s Plus.
The Cameras are better
Although the iPhone's camera has always been good, other brands have proven to surpass its quality. Given that, Apple has made an effort to hit back by improving on the camera quality of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
The iPhone 7, with a 4.7-inch display, is now equipped with a f/1.8 lens, which allows 50 percent more light onto the lens. It has a new 12MP sensor that is 60 percent faster and 30 percent more energy efficient.
The iPhone 7 Plus, with a 5.5-inch display, is equipped with a 12MP dual lens camera. One is the wide angle lens and the second is a telephoto lens that allows the camera to zoom in 10X with optical and soft zoom options.
The front cameras of both devices have also been upgraded from 5MP to 7MP for better selfies and FaceTime.
Apple has killed the headphone Jack
Apple has decided to remove the headphone jack and replace it with a pair of lightning EarPods which can provide up to five hours of listening. Infrared sensors can detect which pod is in the users' ear, while motion sensors control the headphones to detect the users' voice and activate Siri.
How much do I need to get the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus?
According to the Apple Store, the iPhone 7 price starts at $649 and the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769. Pre-orders start on Sept 9.