App Army Assemble: iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 just launched to mixed reviews, most of which revolve around the bizarre removal of features like the headphone jack. I guess we're just not brave enough to appreciate it.

There are plenty of places you can go to get the critic's opinions, but we wanted to know what you guys, our readers, thought. So we reached out to our hardened batch of mobile games and tech experts in the App Army to get their thoughts.

First up is those that did end up getting an iPhone 7, then following are the reasons why a few have decided not to make the upgrade.

Laura Egri

I already had a phone that does all the things I wanted it to do very well, so when I chose to adopt a new model I expect it to bring a lot to the table. Does the iPhone 7 achieve that?

For a start, it's a bit faster, and has an extra hour of battery according to claims. The specs are almost identical to my previous handset though, at: 3.82V * 2.900Ah = 11.078Wh for the iPhone 7 plus, and 3.80V * 2.915Ah = 11.077Wh for the iPhone 6 plus.

The screen is bright and the camera is bit better but it's still not a particularly good ratio, and is nothing more than “tourist range” quality.

It's nice that it's dust resistance and waterproof, but the absence of the headphone jack is a big deal for me. Not because I’m against the Apple headset but because I want the freedom to use whatever headset I want.

The lack of USB 3.0 is also pretty disappointing at this stage. Overall, there are some positives to upgrading to this but simply not enough to justify the purchase.

Chanandler

I've been on a bit of a roller coaster about the iPhone 7 since watching the keynote the other week, when I was generally underwhelmed and couldn't see any real incentive to upgrade from the 6s. Apart from water resistance and the improved camera, there isn't really anything that made me want one. The cost was also a limiting factor, that extra £100 Apple are charging didn't help the case one bit.

My wife did want one though. We had a contract that was up for renewal and she had an iPhone 6 so it seemed like a good opportunity to upgrade her, hence how I have managed to get my hands on one for some in depth investigation.

So I brought this brand new 128GB iPhone 7 home and begin to set it up. Right away the quality shines. Apple has really got the whole manufacturing process spot on. The materials and the way it is put together, there is nothing else on the market that comes anywhere near to feeling as premium as an iPhone. I can say that with some assurance as I also own an S7 Edge and my Son has just recently obtained a Huawei P9.

Apple seems to have played it safe with the 7, it really doesn't look that different from a 6, and most of the innovation and improvements are under the hood. Water resistance is probably one of the most useful and long overdue upgrades that needed to be added.

Removing the headphone jack is a controversial move. Personally, I applaud them for doing it but I don't like the way it was explained. I also firmly believe that they should have switched from lightning to USB C. This proprietary connector they decided was for the good of all iPhone owners only really benefits Apple.

But the headphone jack is gone and Apple is not going back so we all need to deal with it and move on. There are plenty of options available to get around the issue and I for one am happy to use Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth audio in the car. I am tempted to try the AirPods as well when they come out, just to see if they are as good as Apple say.

I have yet to see the benefits of the wide colour display. To me, it doesn't look any different to my 6s. I've tried a number of new apps and taken loads of photos and I just can't see any difference at all. Maybe this feature will become more apparent as more apps appear to make the most of it.

The same goes with the audio. The 7 may have stereo speakers but when I loaded up a tune on both the 7 and the 6s and played them side by side, I thought the 6s sounded much richer and had far better bass. Weird I know, but there you go. Having the second speaker at the top of screen probably doesn't help!

The extra battery life is very noticeable. I left the 6s and 7 running Oz: Broken Kingdom side by side with both phones at 100% battery. The 6s managed 2 hours, while the 7 went 4 and a half which was very impressive. My wife has been using it today and, with normal use, the battery is at 83% and she has been up since around 7am. My 6s is at 46%!

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I am definitely in a dilemma at the moment as to whether to get one or not. If I had another mobile contract up for renewal then I would go for it. A 128GB black 7 for sure. As it is, I would have to buy one off contract which in the UK will cost me £700 which seems a bit steep for a phone.

Tony Teulan

Though the upgrades are mostly under the hood, the iPhone 7 Plus doesn't disappoint - even if it feels a little like an iPhone 6S2 (6SS?).

There's more memory, stereo sound, a second camera - you've got the gist from the previous comments.

It's also much more powerful than before, with benchmarks demonstrating it outperforming any Android phone and several MacBooks.

There are some negatives though, bullet-pointed below:

For a start, there's a noticeable shift in white balance when zooming between 1x (normal) and 2x (the new Plus-exclusive telephoto). The wallpaper isn't as vibrant either, and you notice this more so when you apply your own image. This means while the screen is brighter there is less background pop.

There's also no portrait mode yet, so Instagram fans will be wringing their hands at that and the fact that zooming beyond 5x shows noise. Unavoidable but makes me wish they had designed an actual zoom lens into the design.

Lastly, it kind of just feels like the exact same design as the iPhone 6 and 6s.

Apple continues to brings things to the table later than Android. Hopefully 2017 sees more innovation. Still, if you can swing it it's a fair upgrade - just don't expect much of an evolution.

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Oksana Ryan - on why she has no plans to upgrade to the iPhone 7

There aren't enough upgrades on the new phone compared to the iPhone 6 Plus to warrant me spending a big chunk of money. True, the camera has been enhanced but the pictures I take with my iPhone 6 Plus are quality enough for my own needs at the moment.

There's extra battery life but I think I can live without an extra hour or so for now. And though I see the waterproof feature being handy for those with children, I don't see myself dropping my phone down the loo in the near future, so I won't need that either.

But my main reason for holding back is the iPhone 8. With next year being the 10th anniversary of the iPhone it's got to be the year that Apple gives you a load of cool goodies.
There's talk of an OLED screen and an iris scanner. How cool would that be?

There are also rumours of a change in design and an inventive way to deter theft.

With the anniversary coming up there have to be some great innovations planned that are being kept under wraps, and that's why I've decided to keep my money for another twelve months.