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The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Review: Iterating on a Flagship

95 points by chetangole 10y ago

dovdov 10y ago
Let's be honest, it's a 6SS (Plus). And thank god, since I only got my 6S Plus a few months ago. :) I hope they are planning some fireworks (you'll recover Samsung ;) for the iPhone's 10th year anniversary next year.
- rimantas 10y ago
  The only thing that's the same is design. Yet some think that's the most important part…
  - NetStrikeForce 10y ago
    > Yet some think that's the most important part… Steve Jobs definitely didn't play down that part, to the point of being as important as any other part.
    - NetStrikeForce 10y ago
      Ok, I usually don't do this, but it would be good to understand why I'm being downvoted here. Therefore it makes sense to talk about design and not downplay its importance with a comment like "Yet some think that's the most important part..."; because one of those "some" was Steve Jobs and I don't think Apple has changed its policy much in that regard. I'm not judging if he would have released this iPhone 7 or not, I'm just saying what I've said.
      - dkonofalski 10y ago
        I think the reason you were getting eaten alive was because your comment somehow confused the design being similar with that somehow being bad. Steve Jobs was always about refining and, when he found a design he liked, he stuck with it. For nearly the entire iPhone's existence, Jony Ive has been the one that has decided the design of the phone. I would imagine that if he's happy with it, Steve would have been too. You're totally right with your comment but I think that the context of the other posts made it seem like you were suggesting something you weren't.
        NetStrikeForce 10y ago
        Got it. I can see where the confusion comes from. Thank you for your comment :-)
wodenokoto 10y ago
> The default maps application didn’t offer that kind of functionality and Google Maps was completely absent, as was YouTube I don't remember ever not using Google maps on an iPhone. When was this impossible? I got the 3GS in 2009 and moved to the 4S in early 2012
- rwc 10y ago
  Between the iOS 6 launch in fall 2012 and December 2012 Google Maps was unavailable on iOS. "In June 2012, Apple announced that they would replace Google Maps with their own maps service from iOS 6. However, on December 13, 2012, Google announced the availability of Google Maps in the Apple App Store, starting with the iPhone version. Just hours after the Google Maps iOS app was released, it became the top free app in the App Store." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps
- phn 10y ago
  IIRC there was a migration period when apple and google "divorced" on iOS, and the standalone google apps were in the making. Cannot pinpoint the year by memory.
- mtgx 10y ago
  When Apple replaced the first-party Google Maps app with its own Apple Maps, and then Google had to release a new third-party Maps app for iOS quickly.
nextos 10y ago
A bit offtopic but I am very disappointed only Apple seems to have a clear plan, and makes continuous progress in careful iterations. I quit Apple precisely when the iPhone 1 was released due to ideological reasons, as I realised the whole ecosystem would become a walled garden. But I concede they have good products. I was looking forward to the new Pixel and Pixel XL. Google devices are the only ones that have a sane code/update policy within Android, and thus allow me to run Copperhead OS (which is the only free mobile OS I find realistic to run). However, they are insanely expensive, which IMHO risks making Copperhead a really niche option. Samsung makes decent hardware, Note fiasco aside, but their Android mods are a joke. Same for most Androids. Jolla is stuck. And fringe options like Pyra are cool but inconvenient on a daily basis...
- jorgemf 10y ago
  > Google devices are the only ones that have a sane code/update policy within Android They have 2 years update policy, the same as any other Android device. They sign it by contract.
  - danieldk 10y ago
    They have 2 years update policy, the same as any other Android device. What do you mean? There are many Android devices that never receive an update at all.
    - coldtea 10y ago
      I think parent means updating the device with a new one, when the subscription contract renews every 2 years. Which is something else entirely.
- Angostura 10y ago
  > I quit Apple precisely when the iPhone 1 was released due to ideological reasons, as I realised the whole ecosystem would become a walled garden. And yet the Mac really hasn't. So why quit Apple?
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
rayiner 10y ago
On several of the tests, Apple has basically lapped the competition with the 6s and 7 both beating the Snapdragon/Exynos-powered devices. In Jetstream and Kraken, which additionally take the JS engine into account, three generations of Apple devices are beating the latest flagship android devices. Really a phenomenal showing by Apple's CPU and compiler teams, especially considering that everyone uses the same fabs.
- kyrra 10y ago
  Owning the chip design, compilers and OS let you get out lots and lots of extra performance. There is a reason Intel has so many driver and software developers (they are one of the largest employers of software devs out there). Getting a chip working well takes a lot of effort of a lot of people. Qualcomm is trying to do what apple does here, but they are spread across many more phones, OS versions and the like. They are trying to be more general purpose, which makes them not as great in most cases.
Steko 10y ago
I've always wondered what it is that Anand Lal Shimpi, Brian Klug (also formerly Anandtech) and (now) Chris Ziegler (formerly The Verge) do at Apple (or did if they've moved on). At first I thought they might be involved in PR and media outreach but that doesn't seem to be the case. Now I'd guess maybe they just painstakingly review devices just like they did before except now they do internal only reviews of Apple's prototypes and maybe the competition.
- madeofpalk 10y ago
  > Chris Ziegler (formerly The Verge) I do wonder if he is _still_ at Apple after whatever was happening was made public (and possibly known to Apple as well)
  - samstave 10y ago
    can you expand, i am out of the loop
    - dpark 10y ago
      He took a job at Apple and didn't actually quit at The Verge. Just stopped communicating with them but kept collecting a check. http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/23/13036012/a-note-from-the-editor-in-chief-about-chris-ziegler http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/23/13036012/a-note-from-the-e... Apparently there was about a month where he actively worked for both, too.
      - eridius 10y ago
        http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/09/23/ziegler-verge-apple http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/09/23/ziegler-verge-ap... suggests that he may not even be at Apple anymore.
- camillomiller 10y ago
  My hypothesis: Apple News curation
throwaway_45 10y ago
I am surprised cell phones are still selling for 650 bucks. You can get a Chinese cell phone for 200 dollars which will do 90% of what latest apple or Samsung will do. Maybe it will be a little bit slower, but not 450 dollars slower.
- nixy 10y ago
  For me I'm paying the premium for a number of reasons, mainly Apple's stance on privacy and security. You'll be hard pressed to find the same security and privacy commitment from any manufacturer of Android or other competing devices.
  - samfisher83 10y ago
    Apple was more than willing to give up one of their users when it benefited them: https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/ https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-fa... Android is open source. You can get rid of all the google bits if you really want to.
    - eridius 10y ago
      I don't know how you're reading that article, but to me, it sounds like Apple was likely complying with a legal court order for the information. And it really wasn't very much information, seems to be just the IP address that was used to make an iTunes purchase on a particular day. Not particularly privacy-invading, since this is something that falls well within the information that courts can order Apple to turn over.
- op00to 10y ago
  When the $200 phone bursts into flames, are you able to sue the Chinese manufacturer for damages? When your $200 phone breaks, do you have to simply buy a new one rather than get it replaced? When there are security holes in your $200 phone, will the cheap skin over Android get patched? I buy Apple phones for one reason, and that's the fact that my business lives and dies through communication. With my $800 phone, I can walk into any Apple store in the world and get support, a repair, or replacement. When I had a Nexus phone, all I got was runaround and BS from whoever support was contracted out to.
WhitneyLand 10y ago
Is anyone making different decisions based on the headphone jack? After a steady upgrade cadence since iPhone 1, this is the first time I've postponed my decision, still deciding how to proceed. Google is making the right moves but I'm not sure how much it can help them. Pixel is an excellent product, but you need a crowbar to pry people out of a well worn and comfortable habits.
- Angostura 10y ago
  I am - I'm hanging on to my 6 asap
  - wojt_eu 10y ago
    Did you mean ALAP (as long as possible)? My 4s became really sluggish after upgrade to (I think) iOS 7. I wonder at which point I should stop upgrading iPhone 7 to extend its life a bit.
- nixy 10y ago
  Headphone jack doesn't matter to me at all. Headphones work perfectly with the adapter that comes with the 7. The lightning ear pods also work perfectly fine. It's really a non-issue.
  - toomuchtodo 10y ago
    Can you charge and use the headphones at the same time?
    - gempir 10y ago
      Are you really that often in that situation though? I see that happen maybe like once a month or so. Sure a bit inconvenient but not a deal breaker
      - wtetzner 10y ago
        I suppose people who listen to music on their phone at work might want to charge the phone while listening. I dunno.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
Yhippa 10y ago
> At the start of this review I said it was important to consider perspective because at the end of the day, I use Android devices. Doing the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus review is important, but also deeply disillusioning. With the iPhone 6s review I showed a number of clear and present issues in Android devices relative to the iPhone, and these issues continue to appear time and time again. More than ever it’s obvious to me that most companies in the Android ecosystem don’t really care about the details as an organization. I would love to hear more about the disillusioning part. As an Android user I want to stay with them but after playing around with the 7 and reading this review I'm actually much more impressed with this phone than when it initially came out. Especially after the release of the Google Pixel which was very underwhelming to me. I can't believe I'd say this but the iPhone 7 seems to provide a better value than the Pixel.
- gtk40 10y ago
  To be fair, the Pixel is a horrible value, as it doesn't seem to be as significantly better than what it's replacing relative to the significant increase in price.
  - criddell 10y ago
    Is the price difference that significant? To me, the difference between a $1000 phone and a $400 is less than $1 per day (I keep my phones for 24 months). A buck a day is something I can afford and am willing to pay it for even a modestly better phone. I would guess a lot of HN readers are in a similar position. I wish Google would have come out with something much better even if it would have been more expensive than an iPhone.
    - unethical_ban 10y ago
      $600 is a vacation, or more than a week's pay after taxes for me. Why would I pay $600 extra for a phone that isn't that much better? Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Hell, $600 can feed a family of four for several weeks.
tluyben2 10y ago
> Apps like WeChat are fairly notorious for holding wakelocks on Android and never really stopping background resource usage I thought everyone went mad when they said this as I never encountered this issue, but I see it everywhere... The app that drains my Android is always Skype. That is also the app the drains my laptop and the reason I started using the web version but when that is on, Chrome drains my laptop. Wechat seriously does not come close and I use it a lot more...
nikon 10y ago
I returned my 7+ as it's barely any different to the 6S+, and at £719 here in the UK for the 32GB model it was hard to stomach. £819 for 128GB model is now almost Macbook territory in my mind. I had barely any free space on the 32GB model, and using an adaptor for my headphones was annoying. The camera was good though. A 64GB 6S+ is a much better proposition to me and will be my daily driver until I find something better. I've not noticed any difference since swapping.
- samstave 10y ago
  6S+ is my favorite phone I have ever had, but the only feature I want is the waterproofing...
- eridius 10y ago
  The price points between the 7+ now and the 6S+ last year are virtually identical (I found a reference that suggests the 64GB 6S+ was $849, and the 128GB 7+ is $869 now). Would I be correct in assuming that this price point is now considered too expensive because of Brexit (causing the pound to fall)?
davidf18 10y ago
Hardware feature table mentions WiFi, but not the LTE modem and radio which is far more important as LTE has to deal with skyscrapers and buildings with stone and steel which conveniently block LTE signals, population density, and spectrum consumption has been dramatically increasing year to year. The unit has the Qualcomm X12 modem but that modem doesn't cover AWS-3 (Band 66) which is a very large swath of spectrum, making the phone already obsolete for dense markets (e.g., large cities). So, it would be very helpful to see 1) signal improvement, 2) download speed improvement, 3) improvement in voice quality when listening, 4) improvement on voice quality when speaking including background cancellation. For example, something I rarely saw in iPhone 6s(+) reviews was the addition of a 4th microphone for noise cancellation. I also rarely saw any talk of the H.265 compression (2 x H.264) for FaceTime Video over cell networks in the 6s. Last Sat, I was in a Starbucks speaking with a friend who was in a different Starbucks. I was on the 7+ he on the 5S. I could hear annoying background noise, he could hear no background noise. These things are critically important, but it seems as if the reviewers are not using these units in real world situations. I think this is because the people doing the reviews don't really have technical backgrounds. Otherwise, they'd be testing this issues. EDIT: The modem specs (for Verizon/Sprint). AT&T, T-mobile use a lesser Intel Modem. https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/modems/x12 https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/modems/x12
- jpalomaki 10y ago
  Or maybe they are not testing these kind of things, because proper testing of important aspects like signal reception and voice quality would require complicated test setups and expensive equipment.
  - davidf18 10y ago
    One could do a "subjective" review by carrying around both a iPhone 6s+ and 7+ on Verizon Network (best case conditions) in NYC or other city with skyscrapers and population density and comparing signal, making voice calls, checking download speeds, etc.
- antisthenes 10y ago
kpga 10y ago
I am buying iphone 7 plus for my wife, yet I believe this review is quite biased towards iphone 7 and at times reads more like a PR piece. Quite a disappointement from anandtech.
saturdaysaint 10y ago
I really don't understand the calls for higher pixel density - there are clear performance costs, and the only use case where it makes a meaningful difference is VR, where I'm more and more skeptical that mobile will be relevant for a while. I've noticed with TV's, tech reviewers have almost unanimously yawned at 4K for normal viewing, and are much more excited about HDR - this just sounds like specs for the sake of specs.
PTRFRLL 10y ago
>It’s hard to actually think about the user experience of the headphone jack and to design wireless earbuds that don't have all of the friction points that we've come to expect. What are the 'friction points' of traditional 3.5mm headphones? The fact that they're wired?
mark-r 10y ago
There's a lot of moaning about the resolution of 326ppi, but does anybody find that to be an actual limitation in practice? Just because other devices get a higher figure doesn't mean you get any practical value from those higher figures.
- eridius 10y ago
  I came here to ask the same question. What's the point of a higher resolution? 326ppi is already good enough that I don't see individual pixels, so it's hard to imagine why I would want something denser. And speaking as a developer, I'm really glad Apple has stuck with their 2x and 3x scales. I really don't want to have to add 4x versions of all my images too.
haikuginger 10y ago
>[The home button] doesn't actually depress so it isn't quite as accurate as something like the Macbook trackpad in replicating the feel of a real button You guys know that the MacBook trackpads don't actually depress either, right?

95 points by chetangole 10y ago

Let's be honest, it's a 6SS (Plus). And thank god, since I only got my 6S Plus a few months ago. :) I hope they are planning some fireworks (you'll recover Samsung ;) for the iPhone's 10th year anniversary next year.

rimantas 10y ago
The only thing that's the same is design. Yet some think that's the most important part…
- NetStrikeForce 10y ago
  > Yet some think that's the most important part… Steve Jobs definitely didn't play down that part, to the point of being as important as any other part.
  - NetStrikeForce 10y ago
    Ok, I usually don't do this, but it would be good to understand why I'm being downvoted here. Therefore it makes sense to talk about design and not downplay its importance with a comment like "Yet some think that's the most important part..."; because one of those "some" was Steve Jobs and I don't think Apple has changed its policy much in that regard. I'm not judging if he would have released this iPhone 7 or not, I'm just saying what I've said.
    - dkonofalski 10y ago
      I think the reason you were getting eaten alive was because your comment somehow confused the design being similar with that somehow being bad. Steve Jobs was always about refining and, when he found a design he liked, he stuck with it. For nearly the entire iPhone's existence, Jony Ive has been the one that has decided the design of the phone. I would imagine that if he's happy with it, Steve would have been too. You're totally right with your comment but I think that the context of the other posts made it seem like you were suggesting something you weren't.
      - NetStrikeForce 10y ago
        Got it. I can see where the confusion comes from. Thank you for your comment :-)

wodenokoto 10y ago

> The default maps application didn’t offer that kind of functionality and Google Maps was completely absent, as was YouTube I don't remember ever not using Google maps on an iPhone. When was this impossible? I got the 3GS in 2009 and moved to the 4S in early 2012

rwc 10y ago
Between the iOS 6 launch in fall 2012 and December 2012 Google Maps was unavailable on iOS. "In June 2012, Apple announced that they would replace Google Maps with their own maps service from iOS 6. However, on December 13, 2012, Google announced the availability of Google Maps in the Apple App Store, starting with the iPhone version. Just hours after the Google Maps iOS app was released, it became the top free app in the App Store." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps
phn 10y ago
IIRC there was a migration period when apple and google "divorced" on iOS, and the standalone google apps were in the making. Cannot pinpoint the year by memory.
mtgx 10y ago
When Apple replaced the first-party Google Maps app with its own Apple Maps, and then Google had to release a new third-party Maps app for iOS quickly.

nextos 10y ago

A bit offtopic but I am very disappointed only Apple seems to have a clear plan, and makes continuous progress in careful iterations. I quit Apple precisely when the iPhone 1 was released due to ideological reasons, as I realised the whole ecosystem would become a walled garden. But I concede they have good products. I was looking forward to the new Pixel and Pixel XL. Google devices are the only ones that have a sane code/update policy within Android, and thus allow me to run Copperhead OS (which is the only free mobile OS I find realistic to run). However, they are insanely expensive, which IMHO risks making Copperhead a really niche option. Samsung makes decent hardware, Note fiasco aside, but their Android mods are a joke. Same for most Androids. Jolla is stuck. And fringe options like Pyra are cool but inconvenient on a daily basis...

jorgemf 10y ago
> Google devices are the only ones that have a sane code/update policy within Android They have 2 years update policy, the same as any other Android device. They sign it by contract.
- danieldk 10y ago
  They have 2 years update policy, the same as any other Android device. What do you mean? There are many Android devices that never receive an update at all.
  - coldtea 10y ago
    I think parent means updating the device with a new one, when the subscription contract renews every 2 years. Which is something else entirely.
Angostura 10y ago
> I quit Apple precisely when the iPhone 1 was released due to ideological reasons, as I realised the whole ecosystem would become a walled garden. And yet the Mac really hasn't. So why quit Apple?

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

rayiner 10y ago

On several of the tests, Apple has basically lapped the competition with the 6s and 7 both beating the Snapdragon/Exynos-powered devices. In Jetstream and Kraken, which additionally take the JS engine into account, three generations of Apple devices are beating the latest flagship android devices. Really a phenomenal showing by Apple's CPU and compiler teams, especially considering that everyone uses the same fabs.

kyrra 10y ago
Owning the chip design, compilers and OS let you get out lots and lots of extra performance. There is a reason Intel has so many driver and software developers (they are one of the largest employers of software devs out there). Getting a chip working well takes a lot of effort of a lot of people. Qualcomm is trying to do what apple does here, but they are spread across many more phones, OS versions and the like. They are trying to be more general purpose, which makes them not as great in most cases.

Steko 10y ago

I've always wondered what it is that Anand Lal Shimpi, Brian Klug (also formerly Anandtech) and (now) Chris Ziegler (formerly The Verge) do at Apple (or did if they've moved on). At first I thought they might be involved in PR and media outreach but that doesn't seem to be the case. Now I'd guess maybe they just painstakingly review devices just like they did before except now they do internal only reviews of Apple's prototypes and maybe the competition.

madeofpalk 10y ago
> Chris Ziegler (formerly The Verge) I do wonder if he is _still_ at Apple after whatever was happening was made public (and possibly known to Apple as well)
- samstave 10y ago
  can you expand, i am out of the loop
  - dpark 10y ago
    He took a job at Apple and didn't actually quit at The Verge. Just stopped communicating with them but kept collecting a check. http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/23/13036012/a-note-from-the-editor-in-chief-about-chris-ziegler http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/23/13036012/a-note-from-the-e... Apparently there was about a month where he actively worked for both, too.
    - eridius 10y ago
      http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/09/23/ziegler-verge-apple http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/09/23/ziegler-verge-ap... suggests that he may not even be at Apple anymore.
camillomiller 10y ago
My hypothesis: Apple News curation

throwaway_45 10y ago

I am surprised cell phones are still selling for 650 bucks. You can get a Chinese cell phone for 200 dollars which will do 90% of what latest apple or Samsung will do. Maybe it will be a little bit slower, but not 450 dollars slower.

nixy 10y ago
For me I'm paying the premium for a number of reasons, mainly Apple's stance on privacy and security. You'll be hard pressed to find the same security and privacy commitment from any manufacturer of Android or other competing devices.
- samfisher83 10y ago
  Apple was more than willing to give up one of their users when it benefited them: https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/ https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-fa... Android is open source. You can get rid of all the google bits if you really want to.
  - eridius 10y ago
    I don't know how you're reading that article, but to me, it sounds like Apple was likely complying with a legal court order for the information. And it really wasn't very much information, seems to be just the IP address that was used to make an iTunes purchase on a particular day. Not particularly privacy-invading, since this is something that falls well within the information that courts can order Apple to turn over.
op00to 10y ago
When the $200 phone bursts into flames, are you able to sue the Chinese manufacturer for damages? When your $200 phone breaks, do you have to simply buy a new one rather than get it replaced? When there are security holes in your $200 phone, will the cheap skin over Android get patched? I buy Apple phones for one reason, and that's the fact that my business lives and dies through communication. With my $800 phone, I can walk into any Apple store in the world and get support, a repair, or replacement. When I had a Nexus phone, all I got was runaround and BS from whoever support was contracted out to.

WhitneyLand 10y ago

Is anyone making different decisions based on the headphone jack? After a steady upgrade cadence since iPhone 1, this is the first time I've postponed my decision, still deciding how to proceed. Google is making the right moves but I'm not sure how much it can help them. Pixel is an excellent product, but you need a crowbar to pry people out of a well worn and comfortable habits.

Angostura 10y ago
I am - I'm hanging on to my 6 asap
- wojt_eu 10y ago
  Did you mean ALAP (as long as possible)? My 4s became really sluggish after upgrade to (I think) iOS 7. I wonder at which point I should stop upgrading iPhone 7 to extend its life a bit.
nixy 10y ago
Headphone jack doesn't matter to me at all. Headphones work perfectly with the adapter that comes with the 7. The lightning ear pods also work perfectly fine. It's really a non-issue.
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  Can you charge and use the headphones at the same time?
  - gempir 10y ago
    Are you really that often in that situation though? I see that happen maybe like once a month or so. Sure a bit inconvenient but not a deal breaker
    - wtetzner 10y ago
      I suppose people who listen to music on their phone at work might want to charge the phone while listening. I dunno.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

Yhippa 10y ago

> At the start of this review I said it was important to consider perspective because at the end of the day, I use Android devices. Doing the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus review is important, but also deeply disillusioning. With the iPhone 6s review I showed a number of clear and present issues in Android devices relative to the iPhone, and these issues continue to appear time and time again. More than ever it’s obvious to me that most companies in the Android ecosystem don’t really care about the details as an organization. I would love to hear more about the disillusioning part. As an Android user I want to stay with them but after playing around with the 7 and reading this review I'm actually much more impressed with this phone than when it initially came out. Especially after the release of the Google Pixel which was very underwhelming to me. I can't believe I'd say this but the iPhone 7 seems to provide a better value than the Pixel.

gtk40 10y ago
To be fair, the Pixel is a horrible value, as it doesn't seem to be as significantly better than what it's replacing relative to the significant increase in price.
- criddell 10y ago
  Is the price difference that significant? To me, the difference between a $1000 phone and a $400 is less than $1 per day (I keep my phones for 24 months). A buck a day is something I can afford and am willing to pay it for even a modestly better phone. I would guess a lot of HN readers are in a similar position. I wish Google would have come out with something much better even if it would have been more expensive than an iPhone.
  - unethical_ban 10y ago
    $600 is a vacation, or more than a week's pay after taxes for me. Why would I pay $600 extra for a phone that isn't that much better? Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Hell, $600 can feed a family of four for several weeks.

tluyben2 10y ago

> Apps like WeChat are fairly notorious for holding wakelocks on Android and never really stopping background resource usage I thought everyone went mad when they said this as I never encountered this issue, but I see it everywhere... The app that drains my Android is always Skype. That is also the app the drains my laptop and the reason I started using the web version but when that is on, Chrome drains my laptop. Wechat seriously does not come close and I use it a lot more...

nikon 10y ago

I returned my 7+ as it's barely any different to the 6S+, and at £719 here in the UK for the 32GB model it was hard to stomach. £819 for 128GB model is now almost Macbook territory in my mind. I had barely any free space on the 32GB model, and using an adaptor for my headphones was annoying. The camera was good though. A 64GB 6S+ is a much better proposition to me and will be my daily driver until I find something better. I've not noticed any difference since swapping.

samstave 10y ago
6S+ is my favorite phone I have ever had, but the only feature I want is the waterproofing...
eridius 10y ago
The price points between the 7+ now and the 6S+ last year are virtually identical (I found a reference that suggests the 64GB 6S+ was $849, and the 128GB 7+ is $869 now). Would I be correct in assuming that this price point is now considered too expensive because of Brexit (causing the pound to fall)?

davidf18 10y ago

Hardware feature table mentions WiFi, but not the LTE modem and radio which is far more important as LTE has to deal with skyscrapers and buildings with stone and steel which conveniently block LTE signals, population density, and spectrum consumption has been dramatically increasing year to year. The unit has the Qualcomm X12 modem but that modem doesn't cover AWS-3 (Band 66) which is a very large swath of spectrum, making the phone already obsolete for dense markets (e.g., large cities). So, it would be very helpful to see 1) signal improvement, 2) download speed improvement, 3) improvement in voice quality when listening, 4) improvement on voice quality when speaking including background cancellation. For example, something I rarely saw in iPhone 6s(+) reviews was the addition of a 4th microphone for noise cancellation. I also rarely saw any talk of the H.265 compression (2 x H.264) for FaceTime Video over cell networks in the 6s. Last Sat, I was in a Starbucks speaking with a friend who was in a different Starbucks. I was on the 7+ he on the 5S. I could hear annoying background noise, he could hear no background noise. These things are critically important, but it seems as if the reviewers are not using these units in real world situations. I think this is because the people doing the reviews don't really have technical backgrounds. Otherwise, they'd be testing this issues. EDIT: The modem specs (for Verizon/Sprint). AT&T, T-mobile use a lesser Intel Modem. https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/modems/x12 https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/modems/x12

jpalomaki 10y ago
Or maybe they are not testing these kind of things, because proper testing of important aspects like signal reception and voice quality would require complicated test setups and expensive equipment.
- davidf18 10y ago
  One could do a "subjective" review by carrying around both a iPhone 6s+ and 7+ on Verizon Network (best case conditions) in NYC or other city with skyscrapers and population density and comparing signal, making voice calls, checking download speeds, etc.
antisthenes 10y ago

kpga 10y ago

I am buying iphone 7 plus for my wife, yet I believe this review is quite biased towards iphone 7 and at times reads more like a PR piece. Quite a disappointement from anandtech.

saturdaysaint 10y ago

I really don't understand the calls for higher pixel density - there are clear performance costs, and the only use case where it makes a meaningful difference is VR, where I'm more and more skeptical that mobile will be relevant for a while. I've noticed with TV's, tech reviewers have almost unanimously yawned at 4K for normal viewing, and are much more excited about HDR - this just sounds like specs for the sake of specs.

PTRFRLL 10y ago

>It’s hard to actually think about the user experience of the headphone jack and to design wireless earbuds that don't have all of the friction points that we've come to expect. What are the 'friction points' of traditional 3.5mm headphones? The fact that they're wired?

mark-r 10y ago

There's a lot of moaning about the resolution of 326ppi, but does anybody find that to be an actual limitation in practice? Just because other devices get a higher figure doesn't mean you get any practical value from those higher figures.

eridius 10y ago
I came here to ask the same question. What's the point of a higher resolution? 326ppi is already good enough that I don't see individual pixels, so it's hard to imagine why I would want something denser. And speaking as a developer, I'm really glad Apple has stuck with their 2x and 3x scales. I really don't want to have to add 4x versions of all my images too.

haikuginger 10y ago

>[The home button] doesn't actually depress so it isn't quite as accurate as something like the Macbook trackpad in replicating the feel of a real button You guys know that the MacBook trackpads don't actually depress either, right?