Black vs Jet Black

[DDustiNN]

Jet Black looked amazing in the Apple promos and keynote. Jaw-dropping. I was 100% sold.

Then all of the hands-on videos and pictures appeared. It looks more like plastic to me. It reminds me of the in-store demo units of video games, specifically remembering the PS2 and PS3. The controllers were all shiny and cheap-looking, after everyone's grubby hands all over them. But when you bought a new controller, it looked great and not shiny at all.

So the matte looks great, and the Jet Black looks like cheap shiny plastic.

Maybe photos don't do it justice. I might change my mind after seeing one in person. But I ordered a matte black 7 for now, because it looks much better so far.

 

[macgeek88]

I went with Black. Mostly honestly because of availability. I want my phone yesterday lol. But I do like the matte black stealth look.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Jet Black looked amazing in the Apple promos. Jaw-dropping. I was 100% sold.

Then all of the hands-on videos and pictures appeared. It looks more like plastic to me. It reminds me of the in-store demo units of video games, specifically remembering the PS2 and PS3. The controllers were all shiny and cheap-looking, after everyone's grubby hands all over them. But when you bought a new controller, it looked great and not shiny at all.

So the matte looks great, and the Jet Black looks like cheap shiny plastic.

Maybe photos don't do it justice. I might change my mind after seeing one in person. But I ordered a matte black 7 for now, because it looks much better so far.

It kind of reminds me of when I had a 3GS.

 

[cforster]

Matte black! Don't want those microabrasions 🙂

I think it's hilarious. I bet 99% of the people on this forum had never heard of, said, or typed "microabrasions" before now.

It's a beautiful phone. It will be used. It will show use.

 

[jamesjingyi]

Jet Black looked amazing in the Apple promos and keynote. Jaw-dropping. I was 100% sold.

Then all of the hands-on videos and pictures appeared. It looks more like plastic to me. It reminds me of the in-store demo units of video games, specifically remembering the PS2 and PS3. The controllers were all shiny and cheap-looking, after everyone's grubby hands all over them. But when you bought a new controller, it looked great and not shiny at all.

So the matte looks great, and the Jet Black looks like cheap shiny plastic.

Maybe photos don't do it justice. I might change my mind after seeing one in person. But I ordered a matte black 7 for now, because it looks much better so far.

I have heard from reviewers that they thought it looked pretty nice quality wise and felt great. I'm kinda scared of scratches but will probably try it and if it scratches in the first few days, return it for a matte black one.

 

[arctyler]

It will look like swirl marks if I had to guess... Not noticeable to your average person but yet like many cars, if you put it in sunlight, you will see wicked swirls.

 

[teeitup]

I know the newer Apple TV remote has been referenced on this forum has a good comparison between the matte black and gloss black. It's also a good way to see how grippy the gloss black is. It's actually quite a bit more grippy than the matte black.

 

[Pipper99]

Nice. I'll likely go with matte black. Nice to hear that it does look black in real life. I plan on going caseless so jet black is a no-no. Scratches drive me nuts.

Me too, and I can't stand fingerprint smudges, either.

Here's his recommendation based on actors who've played James Bond

https://twitter.com/gruber/status/774171553764220928

 

[CGW]

I decided on getting Jet Black. I found a clear Spigen hybrid case on Amazon for $14. Plus I'm sure there are going to be tons of matte black cases out there if I ever do get tired of the Jet black.

Here's a link if anyone is interested.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LRSII7A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered that Spigen case, also.

Not sure what is meant by the case being 'Jet Black optimized'. Looks like it has a black edge all around the case--which I'm not a fan of, which is why I also ordered a second Spigen case that doesn't have a black edge.

 

[pchan0]

Matte black for me, love the stealth look!

 

[michael31986]

Guys just get a clear back screen protector. What's the problem.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

I think it's hilarious. I bet 99% of the people on this forum had never heard of, said, or typed "microabrasions" before now.

It's a beautiful phone. It will be used. It will show use.

See also: chamfered edges and unapologetically plastic

 

[Shaddow825]

Me too, and I can't stand fingerprint smudges, either.

Here's his recommendation based on actors who've played James Bond

https://twitter.com/gruber/status/774171553764220928

Yea matte will have way more smudges as the oil won't wipe off as cleanly as jet black will. Quick swipe fixes jet, you'll have to really rub down the matte

 

[Apple-of-my-eye]

My son wanted jet black- but when he saw he probably wouldn't get until October- he decided the Matte black would be fine since it'll be in a case anyway and that is projected to be here on launch day. We ended up ordering a jet black Spigen case for it.

 

[scott5626]

It will look like swirl marks if I had to guess... Not noticeable to your average person but yet like many cars, if you put it in sunlight, you will see wicked swirls.

If I had jet black I'd put a good coat of carnuba wax on it.

 

[michael31986]

I will never understand the whole. I didn't want to wait so I got another color. Lol get the color you want.

 

[Savor]

I would rather get the matte black for the obvious reasons but jet black is a mixture of looking tacky and sexier in photos. Yes, iPhone 3G/3Gs-like or a black iPhone 5c. The Darth Vader iPhone 7. Matte black doesn't even look true black and for most showoffs, nobody could tell if you had a 6/6s or 7 since it is just a darker space gray.

I personally don't like dual tone phones. Whatever I see on the back should match the color on the front. Still, I would get matte black if I had to choose. But I wouldn't close the door on jet black considering I want black onyx Note7 which is glass and invites scratches and fingerprints in any color. The jet black reminded me of the Xiaomi Mi 5. The render of the "space black" looks closer to the jet black than the matte black.

I want to see a durability test on both black and jet black. Most people really can't make a final decision until they finally see it in person. Matte black also invites fingerprints like any black color and I want to see if it scratches, different color like what happened to the slate iPhone 5 and HTC One M7? The jet black is aluminum but the glossy plastic layer might be similar to 3G/3Gs where if it scratched up, same color underneath although it might depend if the scratches were shallow and not so deep.

The way I see it is like comparing original PS4 vs PS4 slim and Pro or og PS3 vs its slim revisions. The newer ones went matte black and lost its bling and pizzazz. The older one looked hotter but the glossy finish attracted fingerprints. Rather get black iPhone 7 since I am practical but jet black really did surprise me andI did consider getting a 256gb jet black. The showoff in me sometimes wants others to know I wasn't holding just a 32gb iPhone 7 and darker space gray. For four hours after the announcement, jet black was really on my mind even though matte seems more practical to own. Can't underestimate the power of the dark side!

Just wait for the durability tests. Our fingerprints also has more tractions if jet black. I want to see how well the jet black holds up to scratches. I just find it strange that $800+ Note7 and jet black iPhone 7 can invite scratches and fingerprints so easily while phones under $100 can maintain looking cleaner. The matte black iPhone 7 might show less fingerprints BUT if scratched up, you are going to have to live with that silver color underneath forever. You asked for metal. Plastic and glass aren't that way.

^ The One M7 on the right was a fingerprint magnet too and is matte black. Glad I went with glacial silver which maintained its clean-look. Just remember, either glossy and matte in black will attract fingerprints. The scratches underneath is my deciding factor between the two.

 

[Rob198612]

i ordered jet black and completely forgot about the Ghost Armor until someone mentioned it in another post. So, I ordered the Jet Black on day 1 will go to mall find the Ghost Armor kiosk and have them install me a clear film protector on the backside of the phone so it can always look great!

 

[Gathomblipoob]

but jet black is a mixture of looking tacky

Exactly. I was going for the jet black but "tacky" finally won out. Just my opinion, though.

 

[techiebug]

Yea matte will have way more smudges as the oil won't wipe off as cleanly as jet black will. Quick swipe fixes jet, you'll have to really rub down the matte

No not really. It's way harder for the matte back to get dirty. Plus it's not shiny so fingerprints will not be obvious like on the shiny one.

But the real issue with the Jet Black is neither smudge or fingerprint as these are not permanent. It's the micro scratches that are. It will show no matter what. Unless you wrap it in a skin. A case won't protect it completely as dust can fall inside. Plus just the process of putting on a semi hard case can scratch the curved edge.

 

[x-evil-x]

You can't really compare the durability of a plastic painted piece to an anodized aluminum piece. To me it looks almost glass like not plasticy. I wonder if you can actually polish them and add wax to it like a cars paint job. If you've taken care of a black car you know what kind of maintenance it takes and the swirls that it gets but they can be taken out with a nice polish. I don't see the finish being much different than taking care of a black car

 

[Savor]

If I did get an iPhone 7, I would be about 55% leaning towards the matte black. But that jet black is quite stunning. I am under the spell from all the promo photos Apple has been pushing with it. I can hear James Earl Jones voice telling me, "Do not underestimate the power of the dark side!" I remember owning the iPhone 3G and the glossy back AND curve was easier to grip than the 2G. So maybe fingerprints isn't so bad to make it less slippery. And who the hell stares at the back of their iPhone all-day anyway? Both still look similar at the front.

Plus that jet black although prone to fingerprints and scratches like the Note7, is really the first all-black iPhone consistently across with the exception of that Apple logo and a few other cosmetic things. The 3G series still had the chrome bezel around it. The 4 series had that stainless steel antenna band. This is Apple's version of Metallica's Black album. The Sith among all iPhone color options. Kylo Ren would be proud of owning one.

+ More uniformed look
+ Hides antenna lines the best
+ Hides the camera hump the best
+ Just more bling-bling and a standout

Get whatever black option makes you happy. Mine would either be the 256gb of either black options. I have owned matte and glossy black products. Now I prefer matte but I realized they are also guilty of showing fingerprints or oily smudges. The matte is just duller to make the fingerprints shiny like glossy would do. I am holding a black matte finish phone right now and I see the smudges but just too lazy to clean it. All black products are guilty of showing smudges. I remember having the black Sony PS2 phat and it still showed oily marks which was pretty hard to clean off like what the black matte HTC One M7.

I guess comparing between jet black vs black is similar to my old 1999 Honda Civic back in the day. The jet black when clean is like my car after a car wash or waxing. So shiny like I just bought the car brand new and afraid to get it dirty so soon. The matte black is equal to my car after a few days from the wash. Duller. Less shine. Still clean though. I like them both. Just need to wait and see what the durability tests and reviews have to say. Both should be great at whatever you choose and as long as you're happy.

 

[jk4lebron23]

. The Sith among all iPhone color options. Kylo Ren would be proud of owning one.

.

Eh I've been referring to the Jet Black as Darth Vader and the Matte Black as Kylo Ren, Darth's helmet was shiny where Kylo's was matte.
I am now putting my Star Wars fanboy away for the day. Haha

 

[x-evil-x]

If I did get an iPhone 7, I would be about 55% leaning towards the matte black. But that jet black is quite stunning. I am under the spell from all the promo photos Apple has been pushing with it. I can hear James Earl Jones voice telling me, "Do not underestimate the power of the dark side!" I remember owning the iPhone 3G and the glossy back AND curve was easier to grip than the 2G. So maybe fingerprints isn't so bad to make it less slippery. And who the hell stares at the back of their iPhone all-day anyway? Both still look similar at the front.

Plus that jet black although prone to fingerprints and scratches like the Note7, is really the first all-black iPhone consistently across with the exception of that Apple logo and a few other cosmetic things. The 3G series still had the chrome bezel around it. The 4 series had that stainless steel antenna band. This is Apple's version of Metallica's Black album. The Sith among all iPhone color options. Kylo Ren would be proud of owning one.

+ More uniformed look
+ Hides antenna lines the best
+ Hides the camera hump the best
+ Just more bling-bling and a standout

Get whatever black option makes you happy. Mine would either be the 256gb of either black options. I have owned matte and glossy black products. Now I prefer matte but I realized they are also guilty of showing fingerprints or oily smudges. The matte is just duller to make the fingerprints shiny like glossy would do. I am holding a black matte finish phone right now and I see the smudges but just too lazy to clean it. All black products are guilty of showing smudges. I remember having the black Sony PS2 phat and it still showed oily marks which was pretty hard to clean off like what the black matte HTC One M7.

I guess comparing between jet black vs black is similar to my old 1999 Honda Civic back in the day. The jet black when clean is like my car after a car wash or waxing. So shiny like I just bought the car brand new and afraid to get it dirty so soon. The matte black is equal to my car after a few days from the wash. Duller. Less shine. Still clean though. I like them both. Just need to wait and see what the durability tests and reviews have to say. Both should be great at whatever you choose and as long as you're happy.

you skipped over the 5

 

[lamerica80]

I think a lot of people will be surprised at just how black the black version is. In one of the hands on reviews I read "in pictures the black iPhone 7 looks kind of dark grey, but in real life its black. Really black". Like they said at the presentation, "it diffuses light".

So people avoiding it thinking its more of a darker space grey will be disappointed later since its actually darker than night and therefore gorgeous. The Jet black one will look like its made from plastic and actually cheaper looking i believe.