iPhone 7 to Include Five Colors, IPX7 Water Resistance, Dual 12MP Cameras on Plus Model

[absolutic]

I wonder what the tele camera focal length will be. I currently carry an advance point-and-shoot camera to concerts with me (they won't let you in with any interchangeable lens cameras to concerts here in the US anymore at any major venue, unless you have a press pass).. However, if my phone had a tele lens, not the 32mm lens in my 6+, I might consider leaving the point-and-shoot camera at home, as image quality would be not great on either, and they definitely let everyone with their phones into concerts. If they can manage to somehow include 100mm lens in there, it would be awesome!

 

[Cole Slaw]

That camera on the Plus model looks interesting, but I bet it's going to cost an arm and a leg outside the U.S.

 

[shady25]

I have tried Android OS, although is has been a while. I couldn't get used to the OS. Maybe it has changed.

Have you used their latest update? What is it like?

I will take the good with the bad and stick with iOS. Can't and won't switch after 9 years.

I'm using it right now. I broke my iPhone 6 and bought the nexus 6 to hold me over until the iPhone 7 is released. It really isn't that bad. It's definitely gotten more polished over the years. As good as it is I'm still going back to ios out of personal preference.

 

[dampfnudel]

Piano black... my body is ready.

And so are your fingerprints.

 

[Evan_F]

I have tried Android OS, although is has been a while. I couldn't get used to the OS. Maybe it has changed.

Have you used their latest update? What is it like?

I will take the good with the bad and stick with iOS. Can't and won't switch after 9 years.

So

I have tried Android OS, although is has been a while. I couldn't get used to the OS. Maybe it has changed.

Have you used their latest update? What is it like?

I will take the good with the bad and stick with iOS. Can't and won't switch after 9 years.

Sometimes I think about switching to android but after being in the apple ecosystem for 7+ years I imagine it would be a bad move

 

[Karma*Police]

Sounds like a pretty solid upgrade overall!

Depending on each person's perspective. These upgrades will amount to a better experience in day to day use. I'm in!

3D Touch combined with iOS 10 alone will make a big difference in UX for everyone who don't have 6s/plus.

 

[rGiskard]

Nobody else is stoked over the dual cam? That's the only new thing that could get me to upgrade. We'll see how IQ is, if it blows away the competition then I'm in. If it's only incrementally better than the 6 series cam then I'll be surprised.

Huge fail on the 4.7" display remaining at such a low resolution. It should definitely be at 1920x1080 and the 5.5" should probably be at 4K for pixel perfect viewing of 4K video. Some will argue that it doesn't matter because at x inches away the human eye blah blah blah. So view it closer or use it in a VR kit like Google cardboard.

Conversely, awesome news about the wider color gamut. It's unfortunate that they are going with odd standards instead of just adopting Adobe RGB. Without a universal standard it's hard to see wide gamut content become ubiquitous anytime soon. Still...I'm always in favor of broader color gamuts. With capable content they look incredible.

Will the image processor be capable of 4K 60fps video? Or is it even practical given how little storage there is?

A10 will probably stun, as it seems every new Apple SOC does, but I don't believe the cited frequency. We'll see.

The dummy speaker grill is a huge fail, a schlocky design shortcut, really just a way to make people think there is some benefit to removal of the audio jack. Obviously there is no audio jack because Apple own Beats and can cash in on Lightning headphone sales. It wasn't long ago that such a sleazy move would have been beneath Apple.

Water resistance is another huge feature, bigger than a new case design IMO and worthy of a new number series designation. For active users it's enough to justify an upgrade. Now make the iPhone 2017 physically durable and we won't have to handle our pocket computers like delicate flowers.

 

[Tompkinson]

That's it. That's the reality.
I don't get the arguing when clearly, both sides are partially correct.

Perhaps because most discourse nowadays veers towards ignoring complexity and ignores the shades between polar opposites?
People want to have one view and argue it, despite the obvious fact that most issues - whether headphone jacks or world politics - are complex, full of opposing truths and full of ambivalence.
PS
Reminds me of the nature of light itself: light is both a wave and a particle ;-)

 

[yesjam]

Sometimes I think about switching to android but after being in the apple ecosystem for 7+ years I imagine it would be a bad move

I've given this some thought and while it would pose SOME inconveniences (I've been fully within the ecosystem since 2010,) it would just be a matter of installing a number of non-native software to my devices to enable de facto iCloud integration. I think the transitionary period would be like a week or two at most. But my personal compulsions mean that I would kind of dislike moving away from Apple's native stuff for intangible reasons.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Highly unlikely (not to mention undesirable to have yet another proprietary system that doesn't work anywhere else).

And that's exactly why they'll do it. It's Apples MO for decades. I don't like it either but it's the most likely scenario.

 

[BlueMoon63]

I might be the only person who gave up using wired headphones. I hated how they got knocked out of my ear when my arm caught them or they came out of my ear as they got stuck in my shirt or jacket or whatever when I moved my head. I switched to bluetooth (Bose) and never looked back. You can't workout with wired headphones without them getting in the way or your phone flying off. They are always getting in the way while bluetooth allows me to workout with just in-ear buds and movies and more with Bose QC35's in silence.

Anyone who likes wired "only" has every right to want this feature and will either switch to another brand, stay on the old one or use the dongle. Face it, Bluetooth is now outselling wired, but I don't blame anyone for wanting the 3.5mm.

 

[rGiskard]

A 32GB base model (though at least three years overdue) is probably my favorite news about the iPhone 7. I was originally thinking about waiting and getting a 64GB 6S once the prices dropped but now I may as well go for the base model 7.

Meh, three years ago 32GB would have been great. Now with higher photo and video resolutions/framerates it's the new 16GB. 64GB FTW.

 

[BootsWalking]

I have tried Android OS, although is has been a while. I couldn't get used to the OS. Maybe it has changed.

Have you used their latest update? What is it like?

I will take the good with the bad and stick with iOS. Can't and won't switch after 9 years.

I use both Android and iOS on a daily basis. Both have copied from each other to the point where the look 'n feel and functionality are interchangeable for the majority of things most use their phones for. Android still has a significant edge in customizability (different UI skins, widgets, sheer number of configurable options) and the ability to disable time-robbing UI animations. Apple/iOS still has the edge in fluidity, raw performance, security, and messaging.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I was a bit torn, but the reports about a lacking upgrade were incorrect. This is enough for me to happily buy an iPhone 7 Plus .

 

[Chacocliff]

Because Apple cripples old models with lackluster iOS updates. My 6+ runs WAY slower now than it did when I bought it.

F**k Apple. I'd rather take my chances with Note 7.

See ya!

 

[BvizioN]

3.5mm will definitely stay in use for many years in high end audio, while consumable audio (cheap headphones, etc) will continue to trend more towards wireless or whatever "flavor of the week" connection.
That's it. That's the reality.

I respectfully disagree. I think 3.5mm will go away and really fast pretty soon. Just like Vinil, which I think we agree that does have superior audio quality. Honestly, it is pretty ridiculous as it is having wires tangling around to listen audio. Wireless should be the way.

 

[Nramos33]

There have been numerous articles posted over the past few months talking about the rumor of Apple removing the 3.5mm jack. If you look back at those articles, the numbers of responses are astounding and the vast majority of responses are from people furious about the potential (probably imminent) 3.5mm jack removal.

The 3.5mm jack is a universal standard across laptops, automobiles, desktops, music players, stereos, mobile phones, tablets, even in-seat audio jacks on most passenger airlines. Removing this standard is a complete slap in the face to millions of consumers who have spent a lot of money on high quality headphones, earbuds, speakers, etc. that all use the 3.5mm standard.

I know people love to compare removing the 3.5mm jack to eliminating the old floppy or CD, but those were upgrades to new standards embraced by the entire computer industry as a move forward in technology and convenience.

If removed, Apple will have taken away a reliable open standard, replacing it with their proprietary standard, and I'm confident virtually no other equipment manufacture will ever embrace Lightning (I'm not talking about headset/earbud manufactures, I'm talking about other desktop, laptop, tablet, stereo, phone, automobile, music player, and aircraft manufactures). You are never going to see widespread acceptance of Lightning on other devices.

With this potential bonehead decision Apple does not move us forward, they lock us into a standard they control/own and move us away from the mainstream into a segregated solution that is not even available on Apple’s own computer line ... which coincidently uses the 3.5mm audio jack.

So what might Apple give us in return, maybe they shave a faction of a millimeter (bid deal) from the phone's thickness, and/or maybe we get a second (or better) speaker because they want us to believe we need some kind of so-called “stereo sound”. It’s pathetic!

Give us back the 3.5mm jack and keep your second/improved speaker. We don’t need a so-called stereo in our pockets.

Based on reviews I've read of lightening headphones, the benefit of lightening headphones is the audio driver.

Due to cost and quality, most manufacturers use cheap audio drivers for the 3.5mm jack. However, lightening jacks are digital instead of analog and have the driver built into the headphones. This allows for premium headphones to perform significantly better through lightening vs 3.5mm jack. Apparently, the difference is pretty noticeable.

I get where you're coming from in regards to the universality of the 3.5mm jack. However, the 3.5mm jack is analog and we are in a digital age. It's due for an upgrade. Basically this will suck for 1-2 years while you upgrade stuff, but after that, it's fine.

I had tons of 30-pin cables and when they switched to lightening it sucked. But after 2 years I had cables a plenty. If they have an adaptor and upgrade laptops to accept lightening headphones, it'll all be ok within a few years.

People bitch, but it all works out in time.

 

[calzon65]

Huge fail on the 4.7" display remaining at such a low resolution. It should definitely be at 1920x1080 and the 5.5" should probably be at 4K for pixel perfect viewing of 4K video. Some will argue that it doesn't matter because at x inches away the human eye blah blah blah. So view it closer or use it in a VR kit like Google cardboard.

I thought increasing pixel count would require more powerful graphics and decrease battery life. So I have not been able to come up with an answer to why is it important to increase the pixel count. What am I missing?

 

[Tompkinson]

it could only truly be "replaced" w/ a technology that could last another 70 years, like the last one.
A nice set of headphones or other audio equipment can last DECADES.

I agree with your post, but I think you might agree that no new technology of this function is going to last 70 years... 7 years would be pushing in this age.
And I seriously doubt that any audio equipment bought today will be in use in decades.
Eg. We bought a lot of UMatic video equipment, then Betacam etc. Now videotape is all but forgotten. etc etc.

 

[Lepton]

Really wish wireless charging was included this go-around. Oh well.
Guess we'll have to wait until the 8.

I think while they could have put wireless charging in, they are waiting until they can do wireless charging at a distance. iPhone 8, I hope.

Apple is working the phone towards a solid slab with no jacks, no buttons, waterproof, everything wireless. With charging at at a distance (one meter), you put a charge block on your desktop or nightstand and it will charge your phone and iPad while you work or sleep without you thinking about it, and you can wear your watch 24 hours a day as it charges while you sleep and tops up while you work.

 

[dampfnudel]

Changing Space Gray to Deep Black AND adding another glossy black variant makes no sense imo.

To give some people who don't want one of the white colors a way to prevent people from saying that looks like my 6/6s (at least when viewed from the back).

 

[now i see it]

I'm all for Lightening Audio with a small dongle if it improves the non-Hi-Fi audio quality that currently comes out of the iPhone 3.5 mm headphone jack.

I've never heard really great sound from an iPhone...using very good headphones with uncompressed AIFF files...to the point that I don't like listening to music on an iPhone at all. It's fatiguing to me. If Lightening audio fixes that, it'll be a huge upgrade (for me).

 

[Tompkinson]

This might be the first time rocking a phone without a case. Got to show off that piano black!

Do you seriously believe that people notice the model of phone you use?
Not being sarcastic, a serious question.
I never notice or care what kind of phone other people use, and I'd hope nobody cares what kind of phone I use.
I do however care very much how well it functions and how elegant it is to use.

 

[calzon65]

I respectfully disagree. I think 3.5mm will go away and really fast pretty soon. Just like Vinil, which I think we agree that does have superior audio quality. Honestly, it is pretty ridiculous as it is having wires tangling around to listen audio. Wireless should be the way.

I'm sure we will see the 3.5mm jack for many decades. There are plenty of examples, here is one. Boeing and Airbus install 3.5mm in-seat audio jacks for many airlines all over the world. There is no way in hell that will be changed anytime soon to wireless. The government bureaucracy between different governmental airline safety boards across multiple countries will alone take decades to agree on a new standard. There are countless other examples of the widespread use and impact of the 3.5mm jack.

 

[SuperCachetes]

How many people truly use the 3.5 jack AND the lighting port at the same time?

I do it every day. All of my work calls (everything from quick chats to marathon teleconferences) go through my iPhone. For a few different reasons, I prefer the corded headphones over Bluetooth. So if I'm sitting somewhere with access to a charger, I'm using it, because I don't know how long it'll be before I'll be in motion and away form a power source.

Likewise I am sure there will be y adapters out there to allow for charging and 3.5 jack. Even on the android side they are moving away from the 3.5 port and going over to USB-C.... The 3.5 jack is a dying tech standard. The new standard will be USB-C/Bluetooth.

I'm sure there will be "Y" adapters, too - and if Apple includes one in the box, I'll be happy. But if I have to shell out $30 just to have the same functionality with their provided phone and headphones that I've had with every previous generation, that will really be pretty crappy.

And I agree that USB-C will be the new standard. The irksome thing is that Apple is giving us this cobbled-up half-arsed solution as a sortof "interim" upgrade.