iPhone 7 Reviews: 'Terrific Phones' That Offer a 'Foundation' for the Future, But Not an Essential Upgrade

[OllyW]

watch some $50 headphones that are lightning have some nice features to them like noise cancellation, EQ adjustment and built in DAC

They've already got a built in DAC and wouldn't play anything without one.

 

[MH01]

What is the barrier for sound quality supposed to be? Analog sound is possible regardless of whether the phone has a standard jack built-in or not. All you need is a DAC, either in the adapter or the headphones themselves.

When I get the $9 adapter, going to plug it into my 6S and see if the 6S internal DAC or $9 adapter DAC sounds better. Will satisfy which phone sounds better out of the box

 

[BlueMoon63]

Why do people always say they're not "essential upgrades"? Do they think everyone upgrades yearly?

This is a fantastic upgrade for anyone NOT on a 6S.

They reported the 6s was not a necessary update either. The iPhone 6 had record sales and now the 7 is selling better than the 6 if you believe T-Mobile.

You hit the key point. You upgrade every two years normally and the record sales of the original 6 is time to upgrade.
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Verge review sums up my thoughts exactly, iPhone 6.5S

Just nothing exciting or worth upgrading for

Isn't the Verge the Apple hater website?

 

[baryon]

I think phones and computers both have finally reached a point where you can buy one and have it for as long as you like. We have come to a point where an object you buy is now useful for more than 2 years! Things are no longer going obsolete at an ever increasing pace! This is great! If only Apple didn't ruin them with their scammy permanent iOS updates. Now is the time to stop making stupid new features and just start to slow the hell down and enjoy the tech we now have.

Water resistance is a small feature - the vast majority of people have no trouble keeping their phone out of water. We would, however, benefit from true drop resistance instead. Dropping your phone in general is more common than dropping it into water. And a much improved battery life would be nice too, not sure why Apple isn't working on that. But that's about it, I can't think of any other way an iPhone can be made significantly better.

Oh no the iPhone 7 doesn't have many new features -> So what? What more did you want? Were you already getting bored with your pocket supercomputer that cost you a fortune? What exactly happened to it between now and 2-3 years ago, when it was still totally awesome and cool? Be glad you don't have to spend more money, and get to work less.

PS: But oh and that that cheesy fake bokeh, oh god Apple why? Soon shallow depth of field will be classed as a cheesy, cheap effect you get on your phone. Let's ruin bokeh for everyone!

 

[macduke]

This sounds about right, and why I'm getting an iPhone 7 and the next iPhone and the one after that. They get better every year. Compare any two years and it's kinda like "Ok, that's cool I guess."

The Jet Black model I ordered is giving me some real nostalgia for the iPhone 3g.

My biggest takeaway from this is how easily people brush aside the fact that the iPhone can be submerged in water now and be completely fine. This would have been crazy to think about back in the day, and is something that many of us have talked about wanting for years but have seemingly forgotten about it.

What I'm really looking forward to next year is whether or not Apple will work with SolidEnergy's new Gen 3 Lithium batteries that last twice as long.

 

[doelcm82]

You're missing perhaps the most important improvement- the move away from the stupid glass back that became the world's most scratched surface. I know it was a popular phone overall, but the iPhone 4 is what drove me to Android. I absolutely loathed the thing. Oddly enough the iPhone 7 is probably going to make me switch back to Apple again.

I loved the iPhone 4 and managed to get through two years without significant scratches or breakage. But if you dropped in and didn't have it in a case or, like mine, in a bumper, you were pretty much guaranteed to land on glass.

 

[Volatileagent]

that dual camera feels somewhat redundant, i hope one day we'll have optical zoom in smartphone cameras.
but this is a good start for sure, i don't like the 28mm fov that every smartphone has.

The telephoto part of the "dual lens" system is true OPTICAL zoom.

 

[Jakexb]

And yet pre-orders are up 4x

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Funny you mention the imore crowd. They always seem left out when it comes to VIP status. Although they've really upped the koolaid bias along with dumbed down how to's in recent years so much that it's no longer worth reading. But then there's others like Jim Dalrymple or whoever who do get them so it's really not really a criteria of being a "journalist." I guess Apple doesn't like sites who spilled the beans in the past or has sources.

Rene Ritchie has ultra VIP status in Cupertino. He's humbled bragged about his inability to talk about upcoming Apple products many times. But I agree who Apple "journalist" qualification is made with great liberties, but just the same I think anyone who follows Apple as closely as us here understand's who's who's and where they are on the objective spectrum. I also don't think those who's hobby doesn't include following Apple or tech also don't know who the heck people like Dalrymple are anymore than I could list one starter on the Manchester United.

 

[1041958]

But you don't need remove 3.5mm jack.

The thing is though, you won't able to hear difference between 30 dollars lightning headphone with 30 dollar headphone using 3.5mm. You won't get better DAC on 30 dollar headphone.

You could get better audio quality when you have expensive headphone. Where better DAC is build into headphone, but unless you are audiophile, who is going to buy couple hundred dollars headphone?

Point is: removing 3.5mm headphone jack does by automatically mean you get better audio quality. And you can still get better audio quality when you including better DAC. If you love ok at ZTE Axon phone, it might provide better audio experience than iPhone 7, because it includes a AK4490 DAC.

Look at the article at Android Authority:

http://www.androidauthority.com/axon-phone-hi-fi-audio-626925/

So it is all about DAC. And you can achieve all of the objective of improving audio experience without removing headphone jack.

DAC is useless without a proper amplifier circuit to go with it. Who cares what DAC someone puts in a phone when the amplifier can't drive quality headphones?

The Audeze Cipher is how to do Lightning headphones right. Quality DAC, quality amplifier matched to the headphone drivers and DSP specifically tuned for the headphones. This is why they sound better than using the 3.5mm jack.

 

[talkybear]

I wonder how many people didn't read the small print before ordering the jet black version, and only to discover that their phone has been scratched, complaining on the internet or having to buy a case to cover that premium back-cover...

 

[0098386]

I agree with that. But it's a common message now. Ever since the iPhone 5s all these phones have been "not essential" to upgrade. Hitting the plateau now where each upgrade is just minor new points.

 

[MH01]

I know more people with >$99 headphones than with cheap headphones. People are starting to buy quality, especially headphones like the Jaybirds. So before you talk nonsense, do some research. Good quality headphones have been selling a lot more in the last year which is why companies can drop $10 every generation as more people buy them. Cheap headphones are starting to fall off because people realize they break fast, they are built to break and you end up spending more replacing cheap headphones regularly then you doing buying a nice $50 pair of headphones. By spring next year, watch some $50 headphones that are lightning have some nice features to them like noise cancellation, EQ adjustment and built in DAC

You may want to read what he wrote. Cause it's exactly the scenario you are experiencing with your dragonfly DAC plugged into your iPhone via limiting port.

All lightening audio cables have a built in DAC, they cannot function without out, it's not a feature. Your dragonfly is a DAC....

 

[Ntombi]

On the specific issue i have - None of them seem to actually go for the jugular with the fact that Apple's supposed IP67 rating was done by  themselves (they said so ON stage) -not an independent third party - and that in any case, if you did respect the rating, and the phone WAS damaged, Apple oesn't help you as they specifically exclude it from Warranty. So in otherwise: the claim is worthless!

so does Samsung, and so do many (most?) other smartphone manufacturers. It's a pretty standard exclusion.

The ORIGINAL iPhone has the stuff needed at that time and more compared to competitors at that period. I have to admit 3G is the only missing, but then at that time 3G coverage is spotty during the time of release of the ORIGINAL iPhone.

Not true.

I had a Palm Treo before the iPhone came out, and stuck with it for the first year, precisely because the OG iPhone didn't have things like apps, MMS, and copy/paste, in addition to the 3G I was accustomed to. Granted, I live in a major metropolitan area, but 3G wasn't new, and I wasn't willing to go backwards, despite the fact that I was already deeply entrenched in Apple infrastructure and salivating over the iPhone.

When the 3G was released, the App Store and 3G were enough for me to jump ship, despite the fact that it still took a while for other things to catch up.

The iPhone was hugely innovative, but it wasn't perfect.

 

[6836838]

What is the barrier for sound quality supposed to be? Analog sound is possible regardless of whether the phone has a standard jack built-in or not. All you need is a DAC, either in the adapter or the headphones themselves.

Yep. Every pair of headphones has to have a DAC, unless they added Lightning pass-through.

 

[CrownVic]

Seems like massive is the word .

True

 

[1041958]

Not really. iPhone does not support a file system, so unless you are an audiophile happy with apple's lossless format, it's going to be your choice.

Say what? What does a file system have to do with getting lossless music on my iPhone?

 

[OllyW]

And yet pre-orders are up 4x

So far it's only been confirmed by one network in one country.

 

[Kiwikat88]

The Audeze Cipher is how to do Lightning headphones right. Quality DAC, quality amplifier matched to the headphone drivers and DSP specifically tuned for the headphones. This is why they sound better than using the 3.5mm jack.

I looooove my Sines! They sound almost as good as my Schiit stack/LCD-X combo at like 1/8th the price.

 

[citysnaps]

that dual camera feels somewhat redundant, i hope one day we'll have optical zoom in smartphone cameras.
but this is a good start for sure, i don't like the 28mm fov that every smartphone has.

For me it's perfect. The wide angle is perfect for street photos with people where I want a decent amount of environmental context to establish narrative.

The 56mm will be good for posed portraits where the wide-angle lens could exaggerate a subject's nose, hands, etc due to perspective distortion.

Also, many times when shooting on the street I'll see something where I just can't get closer. Having a 2x lens available will solve a lot of problems.

Still expect to use the 28mm 90% of the time though.

 

[Mactendo]

 

[MH01]

Say what? What does a file system have to do with getting lossless music on my iPhone?

I was referring to flac and DSD , but see now that apps like VLC allow you to transfer these files to the app folder.

 

[Tycho24]

Sorry but a Milanese loop is .....not manly. Looks nice on females.

Lol, that pudgy little spoiled brat is ANYTHING but manly!
Weird that you thought that you needed to "come to the rescue" of someone that's manly, by the way... that seems counterintuitive.

 

[Retired Cat]

If the people using phrases like 'if Steve Jobs were alive......', 'this would never happen under Steve Jobs...', realised how juvenile they sound, they would stop.

Steve Jobs is dead - accept it. He's never coming back. No one EVER will be like Steve Jobs. What he WOULD have done is totally irrelevant at this point. Please move on to something actually pertinent to discussions here.

If Steve Jobs were alive, I wouldn't be writing this post. We will never move on. Accept it.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I hope the EMPHASIS makes it easier for you to UNDERSTAND the reason for CHANGE to the decrepit crappy analog 3.5mm jack

Over the top to say analog jacks are "decrepit." Cheap speakers, whether digital or analog are decrepit. Poorly mastered audio, whether digital or analog is decrepit. Well mastered analog audio on good headphones or speakers via a good amp can be just a great sounding to the human ear as anything coming out of an all digital jack. In some cases analog can actually sound richer and more honest than digital recording.

Apple's excuse for ripping out the headphone jack is lame. But not going to a standard other CE makers can follow is what is so annoying. Maybe if Apple gave Lighting to a 3rd party standards group, but that's isn't their objective. Going digital is fine, not going universal is not.