As we all know, the iPhone 7 came out in September. Everyone went crazy because the headphone jack had been removed, but other than that not too much was said about the new model. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the iPhone 7 just a couple of weeks after its release. As I have been using the phone for over a month now, I have come up with some pros and cons that may help you if you are contemplating on upgrading.
Pro: The New Camera
In my opinion, the new camera on the iPhone 7 is undoubtedly nicer than the camera on the iPhone 6. My photos look much more clear, and light adjustments are made faster. The pictures even have better color. The front facing camera takes nicer photos too, as my selfies on Instagram prove to show. The Apple website boasts the camera has optical image stabilization, a six-element lens, and a Quad-LED True Tone flash. The new camera should definitely be considered when you're contemplating buying the iPhone 7.
Con: The Headphone Jack
The removal of the headphone jack is not optimal, but it's not horrible either. The iPhone 7 comes with an adapter that you plug into the charging port and it allows you to use your regular headphones. The phone also comes with the traditional Apple headphones that don't need an adapter, you just plug them straight into the charging jack. I have not run into any problems with the adapter or with the headphones that came with the phone. The iPhone also works great with my wireless Bluetooth headphones. Basically, the missing headphone jack seems like more of a nuisance than it actually is. As time moves on and we move away from wire headphones, the iPhone 7 will just be considered ahead of its time.
Pro: The Phone is Waterproof
I tested it out, and yes you can take your iPhone 7 into the shower without any complications. Why you would need to shower with your phone is beyond me, but everyone seems excited about this feature. I am more excited that my clumsy hands can drop my phone into the sink or spill my water glass on my phone without putting me $700 in the hole.
Con: The Home Button
The home button on the iPhone 7 is different from past iPhones. Instead of it being a normal push button, it is more like a fake button. The circle does not press in like usual, but instead there is a Taptic engine. Basically, there is only an illusion of a button press. You can even switch the intensity of the press in the settings of your phone. This weird modification on the phone is hard to get used to, and I accidentally turn on the voice-over feature at least three times every day. This modification also means that you cannot use the home-button with gloves on, or tap it with your fingernail. You have to fully put your finger pad onto the button and press.
Pro: The Speakers
Whenever I am home alone, I play my music right off of my phone speakers. What is awesome about the iPhone 7 is that, since there is no headphone jack, there are now two spots for speakers. This makes the phone have a louder and better sound quality when you play your music out loud. This also means that the bottom of the iPhone is symmetrical, which makes it just that much more beautiful.
Con: You Need a New Case
The iPhone 7 is the exact same size as the iPhone 6. This made me excited at first, because I thought that I could keep my extensive phone case collection. However, the new camera is bigger and placed slightly off from the iPhone 6, which means that the iPhone 6 cases do not work with the iPhone 7.
At the end of the day, the iPhone 7 is not too far off from the iPhone 6. If you are debating on purchasing the iPhone 7, I would say to weigh these pros and cons. If a nice camera is a big deal for you, definitely upgrade to the new iPhone. If you are expecting life-changing upgrades from this new model, don't get your hopes up. It's always nice to have a new phone, but really think about it before you purchase this $700 phone.
