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Dj64Mk7

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Sep 15, 2013
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My iPhone 7 Plus isn't near dead yet (I got it about 22 months ago), but nonetheless I am interested in upgrading this year (if T-Mobile has a good Black Friday promotion). How does the iPhone 7 Plus compare/contrast to the iPhone XR?
 
Well, I've identified that there's obviously no telephoto lens. That's about the only downgrade I see. Am I missing any?

When I say downgrade, I'm not talking subjective things like no home button, the sensor cluster, or Face ID.

Personally, I'm also comparing XR with my 6s, so I'm in a similar boat to you.

+ Better battery life
+ Better camera sensor, slow-mo, fps
+ Faster processor
+ Bigger screen
+ Wireless charging
- Lower screen resolution than + phones or other X models
- No telephoto
- No 3D touch
- Glass back (breaks easier)
- Time to grow accustomed to notch
XR is also heaver (I guess this could be a pro or con)

The XR definitely looks nice, but it's not without trade-offs.
I thought for sure Apple could create a "no brainer" proposition for upgrading my 3+ year old 6s, but... they haven't quite. It still requires a lot of weighing what's important to you against the cost.
 
Well, I've identified that there's obviously no telephoto lens. That's about the only downgrade I see. Am I missing any?

When I say downgrade, I'm not talking subjective things like no home button, the sensor cluster, or Face ID.



Do you mean that in a negative or a positive light?

Positive, 7s is way behind.

a10 vs a12 is the biggest difference.
 
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Yea but that's just one phone. Just like how my SE took a **** when it went to ios11 from 10 while for other people it greatly improved.
 
+ Better battery life
+ Better camera sensor, slow-mo, fps
+ Faster processor
+ Bigger screen
+ Wireless charging
- Lower screen resolution than + phones or other X models [on such a small screen (compared to flat screen tv), not that big of a deal ]
- No telephoto [Many of us only take stills, and nothing elaborate]
- No 3D touch [Don't really use it]
- Glass back (breaks easier) [Any iPhone would be in a case of some kind for me]
- Time to grow accustomed to notch [an issue with all of the new phones]
XR is also heaver (I guess this could be a pro or con) [yet lighter than XS max]

Added some personal notes to maybe help you. Will have to wait for reviews by some folks to see if the cellular connectivity problem is on the Xr also.
 
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If you like your 7 Plus and it still works fine, just don't upgrade. The XR will be significantly better in many ways, but what's worth asking is whether those ways are important to you.

I wouldn't consider upgrading if my EIP for the 7 Plus wasn't coming to an end next month.
[doublepost=1539651323][/doublepost]Here's an interesting question: is it absolutely worth $50 more for the XR over the 8 Plus?
 
I upgraded from my red 7+ to yellow XR and I’m very happy with the move. Occasionally miss 3D Touch and telephoto, but not enough to make me want to go back. When the phone is naked XR definitely is thicker, but not too bothersome.

Edit: damn, noticed this is an old thread. The guy above me dug up this old thread, haha
 
Screen is sharper on the 7+.

I’d stick with it or go with the XS/MAX if I were you. I returned my XR for the 8+ as the XR text was less sharp to my eyes.
That is interesting because I was actually considering trying to pick up a product red 8 Plus to get the updated cameras and wireless charging. But at the end of the day, my 7 Plus is still such a great phone, it’s hard to be motivated to spend money to replace it. I think the 7 Plus is one of the best iPhones they’ve ever made from a performance, feature, aesthetics point of view.
 
Personally, I'm also comparing XR with my 6s, so I'm in a similar boat to you.

+ Better battery life
+ Better camera sensor, slow-mo, fps
+ Faster processor
+ Bigger screen
+ Wireless charging
- Lower screen resolution than + phones or other X models
- No telephoto
- No 3D touch
- Glass back (breaks easier)
- Time to grow accustomed to notch
XR is also heaver (I guess this could be a pro or con)

The XR definitely looks nice, but it's not without trade-offs.
I thought for sure Apple could create a "no brainer" proposition for upgrading my 3+ year old 6s, but... they haven't quite. It still requires a lot of weighing what's important to you against the cost.


Text is a deal breaker. Spend the 250 on the XS or get a max or used X on Ebay. Glass back and Notch are also minuses but not “deal breakers”. Glass/wireless can be plus for some.
 
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Geekbench wise, XR's low power mode is almost same as 6s's regular mode.. I think that tells a lot. And once you get used to the gesture control, you'll never want to go back to home button iPhone. It's so organic and fast with gesture control except bringing down the control center from the top right.
 
I think the 7 Plus is one of the best iPhones they’ve ever made from a performance, feature, aesthetics point of view.

Maybe. The biggest advantage to the iPhone 7 was the 7000 series aluminum they used for the casing, which made the phone fairly light, but the most refined iPhone is definitely the 8 over the 7 just in terms of the improved volume with the dual speakers, Tru-Tone, and wireless charging. And granted my next point is more preference, but the glass back on the iPhone 8 allows a better grip on the phone over the aluminum, which can be sort of slick in the hand.
 
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The screen on the 7 Plus is crisper than the one on the Xr. That's what I concluded after a night comparing my Xr, which I returned, and my wife's 7 Plus. The difference was obvious to me.
Since reading text is what I do most on my phone, that was a definite dealbreaker. Got a mint second hand 8 Plus instead and I'm happy. Saved me a lot of money too.
 
The screen on the 7 Plus is crisper than the one on the Xr. That's what I concluded after a night comparing my Xr, which I returned, and my wife's 7 Plus. The difference was obvious to me.
Since reading text is what I do most on my phone, that was a definite dealbreaker. Got a mint second hand 8 Plus instead and I'm happy. Saved me a lot of money too.
The chip in the iPhone 7 Plus is two generations behind the XR. So the whole "saving money" statement is a little difficult to conclude on. The 7 Plus will certainly start to feel slow a lot earlier than the XR.
 
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XR is a powerhouse. Full screen, Touch ID, wireless charging. Get the XR, try it for a week or two. If it’s not to your liking, return it. I came from a 7 and it feels like a night and day difference to me. I ditched home buttons this year on phone and pad and to me it’s a significant upgrade. i never used force touch or whatever. Always considered it useless.
 
XR is a powerhouse. Full screen, Touch ID, wireless charging. Get the XR, try it for a week or two. If it’s not to your liking, return it. I came from a 7 and it feels like a night and day difference to me. I ditched home buttons this year on phone and pad and to me it’s a significant upgrade. i never used force touch or whatever. Always considered it useless.

*FaceID
[doublepost=1542818135][/doublepost]
The chip in the iPhone 7 Plus is two generations behind the XR. So the whole "saving money" statement is a little difficult to conclude on. The 7 Plus will certainly start to feel slow a lot earlier than the XR.

Can't even believe people are comparing these 2.
 
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