Not long ago the only thing you had to decide when buying an iPhone was the storage capacity and exterior finish. Today, there’s another important decision consumers have to make. Should you go with the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 Plus?
To answer that question you have to consider all of the differences between the two latest iPhone models:
Size
Size is the most obvious difference between the iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus. The dimensions and weights are:
- iPhone 7 – 4.7 inch screen / 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches / 138g (4.87oz)
- iPhone 7 Plus – 5.5 inch screen / 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches / 188g (6.63oz)
Right away you can tell the 7 Plus is going to give you a larger view, and it also provides 401 PPI compared to the standard iPhone 7’s 326 PPI. But does that bigger screen outweigh carrying around a super-sized device?
For some people, the iPhone 7 Plus is more difficult to operate with one hand. The larger size also makes the 7 Plus more difficult to carry around in your pocket.
Cases and Accessories
Of course, the difference in size also means there are different iPhone cases for each new model. No matter which one you select, a protective case is a must to safeguard these very expensive devices from damage, especially if you get the Jet Black version. More on the durability differences in a moment.
You’ll be happy to know that most other accessories are interchangeable. Both new iPhones also have no headphone jack. It’s the most controversial move Apple has made by far, but it could prove to be one of the coolest tech features with the new wireless earbuds. But don’t worry. The phone also comes with an adapter so you can still use wired headphones.
Durability
Apple is promoting the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus as its most durable devices yet. However, Forbes recently reported that the 7 Plus might be a little more rugged. The sapphire glass makes both phones less likely to shatter compared to previous models, but a test by JerryRigEverything found a weakness in the iPhone 7. It appears that the home button and camera lens aren’t made out of sapphire glass.
When TabTimes put both iPhones through a drop test up to seven feet high, they both kept working. Without a case, they got scratched, of course, but the functionality wasn’t harmed.
Camera
The camera is where many people will notice the biggest performance differences between the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. In previous models, only the Plus had OIS for better stabilization and low-light picture taking. Now the iPhone 7 has it as well. But that doesn’t mean it’s on the same level as the iPhone 7 Plus.
The Plus model comes with both a wide-angle and telephoto camera. This dual-camera definitely sets it apart from the iPhone 7. The telephoto camera has a ’/2.8 aperture for higher quality low light photos. The photo and video zoom feature is also better with the iPhone 7 Plus.
For photos, it has optical zoom at 2x (non-existent in the iPhone 7) and has digital zoom up to 10x compared to the iPhone 7’s 5x digital zoom. For video recording, you’ll get the 2x optical zoom and a digital zoom up to 6x with the iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 doesn’t have optical zoom and has a digital zoom up to 3x.
Performance
Apple is known for making the fastest smartphones on the planet. However, that didn’t stop them from stepping up their game with the newest models. If RAM is important you should know the iPhone 7 Plus is the clear winner. The iPhone 7 Plus has 3G RAM, whereas the iPhone 7 has 2G RAM.
Battery Life
A larger screen means that the iPhone 7 Plus uses more battery power (just like the 6 Plus and 6S Plus models), but it also has a bigger battery. And the new A10 Fusion battery does increase battery life in both, but it’s more noticeable in the iPhone 7. That model has an extended battery life of about two hours while the iPhone 7 Plus gets about one additional hour of use compared to previous models.
Currently, you could talk on the iPhone 7 using 3G for up to 14 hours, and you could chat on the iPhone 7 Plus for 21 hours straight. The difference between the Internet and video use is a little less stark at just one more hour of use on the iPhone 7 Plus.
Storage
Just like previous 6S models, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus both have the same storage capacities, with one larger addition: 32G, 128G, and 256GB. However, it’s worth noting that both phones start with more storage than the 6 models that were released in 2014.
Once upon a time, the difference between the two types of the same model smartphone was a matter of size and speed. These days, the distinction between the two is much more. The latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are clear indicators of this welcomed trend.
