iPhone 7/Plus Buy iPhone 7 or 8 ?

[AMSOS]

(1) I’ve noticed for some time that Cricket has been offering really good iPhones deal. Some months ago the 7 was going for more than $400 but today I saw that they’re giving it out for 300 !

Unfortunately, the 8 is $600.

So, how is Cricket able to offer such good deals on new iPhones (upgrades and not just new connections)?

(2) Since I really like the smaller form factor of the pre-iPhone X models, I am thinking of getting the iPhone 7 and using it with my Cricket connection. After 6 months I'll get it unlocked and can use it for my international travel.

My requirements are basic - emailing, messaging, browsing, calling, video chat, and using the camera in good light. Having the phone last for the next 3 years is important. The iPhone 7 was released in 2016 and should just about make it to the end of the update cycle in 2021.

The 8 is too expensive for me, and its camera is probably not much better than the 7. Besides, the processor in the 7 was a big jump from earlier ones and should last the distance.

Is the iPhone 7 deal perfect for me or am I making a mistake by not getting the iPhone 8?

Thanks!

 

[Seanm87]

If you really want to future proof you should get the 8

 

[Apple_Robert]

Get the phone that fits your budget and needs. You said the iPhone 8 is too expensive for you. You already have your answer. No need to try and overthink the obvious.

 

[ACG12]

Get the 7, the 8 isn’t that much of an upgrade over it and the glass back is a big con. It is not worth double the price.

 

[puma1552]

Get the 7, the 8 isn’t that much of an upgrade over it and the glass back is a big con. It is not worth double the price.

the 7 is getting old now

 

[AMSOS]

If you really want to future proof you should get the 8

Yes, I do. But the 7 should be getting the yearly updates for the next 3 years. And it's unlikely that I'll use the phone beyond that anyway.
But I would do a rethink if the updates stop in 2 years. In fact, I saw this report about how iOS 13 will not support for 6s and below models.
So, not sure there.

Get the phone that fits your budget and needs.

That is easily the 7. Except, I do feel like going for the faster processor in the 8. Could be that it'll ensure a much smoother functioning in 2 years from now.
But then, my usage is pretty standard and I am not doing any heavy lifting with the phone.

Get the 7, the 8 isn’t that much of an upgrade over it and the glass back is a big con.

Oh yes. How could I forget the easy to break glass back! But what truly makes matters worse is that it adds so much to the weight.
The latter is another reason I am not even thinking of the Xs or Xr.
I guess I'll be shifting, although reluctantly, to another phone after a few years. The one-handed use of my 7 coupled with the "it just works" nature of iOS has been a big draw for me.

the 7 is getting old now

Yes, but it's processor is quite powerful and should see it through to the end of the update cycle in 2021?

 

[44267547]

I would Definitely consider the 8, I don’t typically like to use this term, but it is more ‘future proof’, especially that it has the A11 Bionic processor, includes true tone, wireless charging and overall, it is similar to the 7, but I think it’s Apple’s most mature device out of that particular series.

 

[Count Blah]

I recently struggled with this as well. I had some $$$ left over from a company tech budget. I was hoping the iPhone 8 would come back to the refurb store, but it was absent for the last two months, except for the 256Gig model that I didn't really need.

After debating for a long time, I ended up throwing in some extra money on my part to get a "new" iPhone 8. If the 7 fits your needs, then get it. I generally keep my phones for a number of years, so that's why I went with the 8. If you think you would be in a better financial position in 2 years, then get the 7 and don't look back.

 

[Kerry78]

iPhone 7 is a great phone I’m on my second one, that I loved it that much

In terms of it lasting well I think Apple will stop selling it this year and the iPhone 8 will become the lowest phone they sell!

Not tbh tried the 8 personally but I do like the product red one though I think the 7 will last for myself till next year, if you need something to last you longer get the 8 but wait till they drop it lower Sept if you can

 

[Ixon2001]

I bought a 7 just over a month ago to replace the SE will keep it for about a year then probably pick up a XR or even a XS by which time will be much cheaper, gonna skip the standard 8 because of the 2GB of ram as Apple has moved onto 3GB & 4GB so the likes of iOS 14 onward's will more than likely start to struggle on 2GB devices.

 

[AMSOS]

Not tbh tried the 8 personally but I do like the product red one though I think the 7 will last for myself till next year, if you need something to last you longer get the 8 but wait till they drop it lower Sept if you can

So, what will you get at the end of the this year?
Do you think the 7 can go on till the end of 2020? Maybe even 2021?
If Apple have made a serious effort with iOS 12 to make it work well on older devices, why shouldn't the 7 be able to keep working well with iOS 13, 14, and even 15?

I bought a 7 just over a month ago to replace the SE will keep it for about a year then probably pick up a XR or even a XS by which time will be much cheaper, gonna skip the standard 8 because of the 2GB of ram as Apple has moved onto 3GB & 4GB so the likes of iOS 14 onward's will more than likely start to struggle on 2GB devices.

So are iOS 14 onwards going to have significantly heavy graphics?
From what I see the iOS graphics are already pretty 3 dimensional and quite pleasing to the eye. What are they planning to do with iOS 14 that will make it a much heavy iOS to begin with?
Also, with iOS 12 Apple seemed to be signalling to users that they are going to go out of their way to keep supporting older devices. Shouldn't one expect to see the same happening with subsequent iOS updates in the next few years?

 

[tonybarnaby]

The 8 has multiple advantages over the 7, but they both have the same amount of ram. I don't think the 8 will last more than a year or so longer than the 7 before using it becomes a chore.

 

[Reno Raines]

If you can afford it I would say the 8.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The 8 has multiple advantages over the 7, but they both have the same amount of ram. I don't think the 8 will last more than a year or so longer than the 7 before using it becomes a chore.

It’ll be plenty good enough for the next 3 years though. The OP won’t be keeping it longer than that as they said.

 

[0388631]

8.

I'd hold onto it until Apple get their head out of their ass and make a quality device again without cutting features because they can.

 

[Kerry78]

So, what will you get at the end of the this year?
Do you think the 7 can go on till the end of 2020? Maybe even 2021?
If Apple have made a serious effort with iOS 12 to make it work well on older devices, why shouldn't the 7 be able to keep working well with iOS 13, 14, and even 15?

I will change to a newer phone next year because I had a battery replacement in my 7 Dec.. I think the phone will carry on working with iOS 13 but I think iOS 14 might not be that great!

 

[Droid187]

if you’re gonna pay $600 for the 8 you might as well pay $100 more for the Xr

 

[maerz001]

U can buy a 7 now and 8 in 1-2 years for the same price

 

[Falhófnir]

The 8 is nice but I definitely wouldn't recommend paying double for it over a 7.
[doublepost=1549144642][/doublepost]

I would Definitely consider the 8, I don’t typically like to use this term, but it is more ‘future proof’, especially that it has the A11 Bionic processor, includes true tone, wireless charging and overall, it is similar to the 7, but I think it’s Apple’s most mature device out of that particular series.

Frankly if there's a pinch point with these models, its going to be the RAM not the chip. The 8 has the same 2GB as the 7 while the latest releases have 3 or 4GB. Since the A9, apple's chips have built up a pretty comfortable performance buffer between themselves and iOS requirements. Even if iOS 13 is a significant redesign it's difficult to imagine it being much more intensive than 7-12 has been, transparency effects are about as hard on the GPU as you can get, and they're already present and run fine.

 

[AMSOS]

It’ll be plenty good enough for the next 3 years though. The OP won’t be keeping it longer than that as they said.

Speaking of years, do you have any idea what to expect in 3 years from now?
This year has made it clear that this incessant drive to hike prices has bottomed out and people are stepping back from buying the latest device.
Is there any chance that iPhones could go back to being more affordable for students and other people who may actually use it to also get work done, but can no longer afford the new devices?
Or of course, if they'll make a smaller screen (~ 4.7") phone again?
For me the 7 is nearly a perfect phone and I could buy it over and over again!
[doublepost=1549146046][/doublepost]

if you’re gonna pay $600 for the 8 you might as well pay $100 more for the Xr

That's a very good point. I would get a bigger screen, much better battery, but most importantly the latest processor for just $100 more.
Except, the Xr and its ilk are super heavy creatures (and big!) and for me this is a deal breaker. I can't imagine what it will be like using them with an Otterbox case, ha ha!
The 7 has a nice heft to it even with the Otterbox Commuter, and works well for me.
I feel really sad to see the demise of one-handed use in a light weight package
[doublepost=1549146352][/doublepost]

Even if iOS 13 is a significant redesign it's difficult to imagine it being much more intensive than 7-12 has been, transparency effects are about as hard on the GPU as you can get, and they're already present and run fine.

Exactly. And I've noticed that while iOS 11 was quite buggy on my phone, since updating and freshly installing iOS 12 my phone is smoother and less buggy than before.
I have no use for heavy lifting work such as editing photos or videos, and email, messaging, browsing should be fine on the 7 even when it runs iOS 15.
Speaking of which, what exactly in future iOS versions could make the 7's process/RAM slow down considerably? Just curious to know - AR? Something else?
Thanks!

 

[now i see it]

Rumor has it that iOS 13 will drop support for all iPhones from the 6S back.
That puts the 7 just clinging to the bottom barely able to run it.
Get a 7 now, it runs iOS 12 fine, but it won't be a phone you'll be able to (or want to) update 2-3 years from now. That might be fine.
Personally I wouldn't buy a 7.

 

[Falhófnir]

Exactly. And I've noticed that while iOS 11 was quite buggy on my phone, since updating and freshly installing iOS 12 my phone is smoother and less buggy than before.
I have no use for heavy lifting work such as editing photos or videos, and email, messaging, browsing should be fine on the 7 even when it runs iOS 15.
Speaking of which, what exactly in future iOS versions could make the 7's process/RAM slow down considerably? Just curious to know - AR? Something else?
Thanks!

AR possibly, though I don’t think it would affect system fluidity. Looking at the 5s on iOS 12, I think we’re just at the point where hardware is easily capable enough to run the software, and being tightly optimised is the biggest factor in general performance.

 

[44267547]

Frankly if there's a pinch point with these models, its going to be the RAM not the chip. The 8 has the same 2GB as the 7 while the latest releases have 3 or 4GB. Since the A9, apple's chips have built up a pretty comfortable performance buffer between themselves and iOS requirements. Even if iOS 13 is a significant redesign it's difficult to imagine it being much more intensive than 7-12 has been, transparency effects are about as hard on the GPU as you can get, and they're already present and run fine.

Good points. But I think it depends how you look at this, if you look at it in comparison in terms of iOS updates versus core performance with the processors, iOS 12 was meant to help manage older model iPhones to perform better, where as iOS 13 could be more intensive depending what Apple changes. And I also want to add that it really depends on how somebody is using their phone and what for what tasks, that they would even notice the differences in terms of Ram management, but being that the OP is considering the 4.7 iPhone 8 versus the 4.7 iPhone 7, either way it’s 2 GB of RAM. The 3 GB obviously being exclusive to the Plus models for the 7 & 8.

Being that I did own iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8, the A10 fusion processor versus the A11 Bionic, there are some noticeable differences for performance, at least as iOS updates have progressed since the release of those phones, the A11 clearly has the advantage in terms of just how much more efficient it really is for battery mamangement, but everyday usage for others, they probably wouldn’t be able to differentiate the difference between both processors.

 

[HappyIntro]

8.

I'd hold onto it until Apple get their head out of their ass and make a quality device again without cutting features because they can.

IMO all Apple iPhones currently on offer are quality phones. I'd agree that the prices are a bit too high, but you can't say they're not quality phones.

To the OP: I'd gravitate toward the 7 because the price is so low. Get a nice new 7 and plan on upgrading in 2 to 3 years, and start a separate savings account to get ready for your next phone after the 7. If you start now (putting spare cash in a jar, even, lol) in two years you will be poised to get the latest and greatest.

 

[AMSOS]

Rumor has it that iOS 13 will drop support for all iPhones from the 6S back.
That puts the 7 just clinging to the bottom barely able to run it.
Get a 7 now, it runs iOS 12 fine, but it won't be a phone you'll be able to (or want to) update 2-3 years from now. That might be fine.

Yes, I've heard of that one recently. And frankly, I am puzzled. What was the point of the entire exercise with iOS 12 and its focus on making older devices work well, if they planned to stop this practice with the very next iteration?
So, you're guessing that iOS 13 will be the last supported upgrade to the 7, and they'll drop support right after that?
[doublepost=1549171815][/doublepost]

Looking at the 5s on iOS 12, I think we’re just at the point where hardware is easily capable enough to run the software, and being tightly optimised is the biggest factor in general performance.

And you think the 8 will be much better optimised when phones go to iOS 13 and 14?
Even if one were looking to use the phone for basic use such as browsing, emailing, messaging etc.
The A11 is not that much better than the A10 and both have 2 GB RAM, don't they?
[doublepost=1549172043][/doublepost]

And I also want to add that it really depends on how somebody is using their phone and what for what tasks, that they would even notice the differences in terms of Ram management, but being that the OP is considering the 4.7 iPhone 8 versus the 4.7 iPhone 7, either way it’s 2 GB of RAM. The 3 GB obviously being exclusive to the Plus models for the 7 & 8.

Since my use is with messaging, emailing, Notes and browsing (with the native apps), besides the camera, do you think I'll even be able to see a significant different between the 7 and 8 running on iOS 13 or 14?
So, my question is - doing what will show the difference between these two?
How complex would the processing on say iOS 13 need to be for the 7 to breakup?
Also, curious that if the 7+ already has 3 GB RAM then it'll likely be at par with the 8 ?
Thanks!
[doublepost=1549172463][/doublepost]

To the OP: I'd gravitate toward the 7 because the price is so low. Get a nice new 7 and plan on upgrading in 2 to 3 years, and start a separate savings account to get ready for your next phone after the 7. If you start now (putting spare cash in a jar, even, lol) in two years you will be poised to get the latest and greatest.

You said it! Ha, ha - let me get a piggy bank now ;p) But just wondering if I should not be going for the 7+ with its 3 GB RAM. Going by the comments here the "problem" area after a year will likely be the RAM and not so much the processor.