iPhone 6(S)/Plus iPhone 6s vs iPhone 7

[toronado455]

Tracfone is apparently dropping service for two of my old phones because they are not VoLTE compatible. As reparation they are offering discounts on new phones.
Among the offerings are:
Space Gray iPhone 6s 32GB for $100
Rose Gold iPhone 7 32GB for $250
Black iPhone 7 32GB for $325 $250 (corrected 05/11/19)

Is it worth the extra $ for the iPhone 7? What about "buzzgate"? Is that still an issue on the 7? Also I don't really like the home button on the 7.

 

[akash.nu]

What’s buzz gate?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[toronado455]

What’s buzz gate?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

AKA "hissgate". I read about it on Wikipedia. A quick search turned up this article from 2016:
https://www.imore.com/no-hiss-buzz-not-unique-not-iphone-7-problem

 

[braddick]

Why is the black iPhone 7 $75. more than the gold unless you meant the black was a 7 Plus.

 

[toronado455]

I dunno. They are both the small size 7. Maybe the Rose Gold isn't selling as well? It sure seems a steep premium for the black color.

 

[akash.nu]

AKA "hissgate". I read about it on Wikipedia. A quick search turned up this article from 2016:
https://www.imore.com/no-hiss-buzz-not-unique-not-iphone-7-problem

Is that even an issue?!

I mean, the article you linked to as well says it’s not a problem.

iPhone 7 had capacitive home button which is much more durable compared to the previous models. The different feeling you might have after switching to the capacitive home button will go away only after a few days once you get used to it. I say go for the iPhone 7, it will last you longer and apple will support with the newer iOS versions for longer as well.

 

[toronado455]

I have no idea if it's an issue. Just thought I'd ask here. The article indeed seems to indicate this is a non-issue, and it's unlikely I would be doing any processor intense stuff on it often anyway.

Regarding iOS support, I was asking at the Apple store yesterday, and the sales rep was offering no promises that the iPhone 7 would even get iOS 13. Then again, he was trying his best to get me to buy a iPhone Xs. LOL

From what I've read it seems iOS 12 is the last update for the iPhone 6s. I'd probably be fine with that. I prefer the physical home button. Is there any way to totally disable the haptic feedback on the 7 home button? (I know the intensity can be set at 3 different levels) I just really dislike haptic feedback and tend to disable it immediately in every new phone I get.

 

[Lekro]

I have no idea if it's an issue. Just thought I'd ask here. The article indeed seems to indicate this is a non-issue, and it's unlikely I would be doing any processor intense stuff on it often anyway.

Regarding iOS support, I was asking at the Apple store yesterday, and the sales rep was offering no promises that the iPhone 7 would even get iOS 13. Then again, he was trying his best to get me to buy a iPhone Xs. LOL

From what I've read it seems iOS 12 is the last update for the iPhone 6s. I'd probably be fine with that. I prefer the physical home button. Is there any way to totally disable the haptic feedback on the 7 home button? (I know the intensity can be set at 3 different levels) I just really dislike haptic feedback and tend to disable it immediately in every new phone I get.

The 7 will definitely get iOS 13.
There is no option to disable the haptic feedback on the capacitive home button as it’s not a button physically. Without the haptic feedback it would be like pressing on a piece of glass.

 

[FFR]

I have no idea if it's an issue. Just thought I'd ask here. The article indeed seems to indicate this is a non-issue, and it's unlikely I would be doing any processor intense stuff on it often anyway.

Regarding iOS support, I was asking at the Apple store yesterday, and the sales rep was offering no promises that the iPhone 7 would even get iOS 13. Then again, he was trying his best to get me to buy a iPhone Xs. LOL

From what I've read it seems iOS 12 is the last update for the iPhone 6s. I'd probably be fine with that. I prefer the physical home button. Is there any way to totally disable the haptic feedback on the 7 home button? (I know the intensity can be set at 3 different levels) I just really dislike haptic feedback and tend to disable it immediately in every new phone I get.

The Taptic Engine on the iPhone 7 makes it feel like your actually pressing a button, it isn’t really comparable to haptic feed back on other devices, those versions just kind of buzz.

I would get a 7 over the 6s.

The 7 series had two different black models, one was glossy and the other was matte.

 

[one more]

Tracfone is apparently dropping service for two of my old phones because they are not VoLTE compatible. As reparation they are offering discounts on new phones.
Among the offerings are:
Space Gray iPhone 6s 32GB for $100
Rose Gold iPhone 7 32GB for $250
Black iPhone 7 32GB for $325

Is it worth the extra $ for the iPhone 7? What about "buzzgate"? Is that still an issue on the 7? Also I don't really like the home button on the 7.

Definitely worth it: 7 is water-friendly, has a more advanced chip, so longer updates vs 6S and a non-physical home button is its best feature, imo, as it is less likely to fail with day to day use.

 

[toronado455]

Definitely worth it: 7 is water-friendly, has a more advanced chip, so longer updates vs 6S and a non-physical home button is its best feature, imo, as it is less likely to fail with day to day use.

I get that, but do the physical home buttons in iPhones really have that many failures? I mean did Apple switch to non-physical home buttons to address an actual hardware failure issue on physical home buttons, or for other reasons?

 

[one more]

I get that, but do the physical home buttons in iPhones really have that many failures? I mean did Apple switch to non-physical home buttons to address an actual hardware failure issue on physical home buttons, or for other reasons?

I don’t have the statistics, but know from my own experience with iPhone SE that its home button went loose after 8-9 months of a normal use. I also remember reading about it on these forums.

On iPhone 7-8, you can select three different levels of feedback (vibration strength) for the virtual home button, so it really feels as if you were clicking it, which is quite amazing.

 

[617660]

I have no idea if it's an issue. Just thought I'd ask here. The article indeed seems to indicate this is a non-issue, and it's unlikely I would be doing any processor intense stuff on it often anyway.

Regarding iOS support, I was asking at the Apple store yesterday, and the sales rep was offering no promises that the iPhone 7 would even get iOS 13. Then again, he was trying his best to get me to buy a iPhone Xs. LOL

From what I've read it seems iOS 12 is the last update for the iPhone 6s. I'd probably be fine with that. I prefer the physical home button. Is there any way to totally disable the haptic feedback on the 7 home button? (I know the intensity can be set at 3 different levels) I just really dislike haptic feedback and tend to disable it immediately in every new phone I get.

iOS 12 will not be the last update for 6s. It will get up to iOS 14 if the historic trend persists.

 

[maerz001]

I get that, but do the physical home buttons in iPhones really have that many failures? I mean did Apple switch to non-physical home buttons to address an actual hardware failure issue on physical home buttons, or for other reasons?

No. I didn’t see here a bigger issue. Definitely not worth to make your decision cos of that.

i don’t like the 7 home button cos it doesn’t work even with capacitive gloves. I bike a lot and when i need maps to find a trail i have to put the gloves of constantly.

I had the feeling that Apple introduced it on the way to under screen finger print reader. Before they came up with face id.

Anyway i think the 6s is fine. The speed and camera is in my eyes just a tiny bit less refined. And the headphone jack is also a plus

 

[pika2000]

Tracfone is apparently dropping service for two of my old phones because they are not VoLTE compatible. As reparation they are offering discounts on new phones.
Among the offerings are:
Space Gray iPhone 6s 32GB for $100
Rose Gold iPhone 7 32GB for $250
Black iPhone 7 32GB for $325

Is it worth the extra $ for the iPhone 7? What about "buzzgate"? Is that still an issue on the 7? Also I don't really like the home button on the 7.

My two cents:
6S: cheaper, has headphone jack, but smaller battery, no OIS on camera, doesn’t support HEIF encoding.

7:no headphone jack, but larger battery, IP67 rated, has camera with OIS, solid state home button (less likely to break imo).

Depending on the age of the 6S, be prepared to replace the battery as well. Both phones highly likely will be supported in iOS 13 and 14.

Personally, I would get the iPhone 7 due to IP67 and being “newer” (thus will get supported at least one year more than the 6S, probably till iOS 15). Then again if you’re looking for cost savings, the 6S is still a decent phone (still using one myself) and you’ll still get at least 2 years of iOS support. Not bad for $100.

 

[toronado455]

I've made an edit to my OP because the price of the Black iPhone 7 is actually the same as the Rose Gold ($250). There is bug on the webpage that removed the discount when changing color, but after adding it to the shopping cart it showed at the discounted price of $250 no matter which color you choose.

I ordered the Black iPhone 7 mainly for the better waterproofing/dustproofing. I am considering also getting the 6s to replace another phone since I have one more discount offer remaining (for another line).

Depending on the age of the 6S, be prepared to replace the battery as well.

What do you mean? That the battery on a 6s will be DOA, or??? I don't like the idea of trying to open up an iPhone.

 

[pika2000]

What do you mean? That the battery on a 6s will be DOA, or??? I don't like the idea of trying to open up an iPhone.

Lithium ion batter in general degraded through age. Depending on how long the 6S has been sitting on the shelves, its battery might not be on top shape.

 

[toronado455]

Lithium ion batter in general degraded through age. Depending on how long the 6S has been sitting on the shelves, its battery might not be on top shape.

Well, it might not be that old. According to everymac the 6s was discontinued Sept 12, 2018. So perhaps the stock they are selling is from 2018 rather than from 2016. If I were to get one, would I be able to determine the date of manufacture by looking at something on the box?

 

[jeyf]

i have a iPhone7; it still has an earphone connector but there is a bug it locks up with a screen "Voice Control"
don't know if any other phones have this issue
apple says its the earphones i use
so you KNOW they locked out the connector