TechTheDay

Image by Chris Davies / slashgear.com

Apple has had their fair share of losses at the start of 2016. With the decline in iPhone sales and other Apple products, tech consumers were predicting its eventual decline. But with the major launch of iPhone 7 last Sept. 7, 2016, Apple seems determined to turn around its fate. The latest phone model was announced alongside Apple Watch 2, tie ups with Nintendo, and Apple’s wireless version of earphones, the AirPods.

The last major iPhone launch was in 2014 with the iPhone 6 and a half-step upgrade to iPhone 6S last year. Rumors spread like wildfire as Apple fans speculated what new features the Apple iPhone 7 will have. And with the new iPhone out, it seems to be sending mixed reactions from tech fans.

Image from theweek.co.uk

Some of the major changes in iPhone included the following:

• A splash and water resistant aluminum case
• New home button with taptic feedback
• New iPhone Jet black finish
• f/1.8 aperture camera lens at 12 mp (back) and 7 mp (front)
• Dual camera option for iPhone Plus (wide angle and telephoto dual lens)
• Optical image stabilization and true tone flash
• Removal of 3.5 mm jack with launch of Airpods

Overall, the physical appearance of the iPhone still stayed pretty much the same and most of the upgrades were done under the hood. It’s got some water and splash resistance like the new Samsung Galaxy phones. It has a dual-lens camera like the Huawei P9. And the most controversial of all, it no longer has the standard 3.5 mm audio jack.

Image from theweek.co.uk

Tech reviews weigh in

Top website reviewers were quick to issue their verdicts online and the feedback on the iPhone 7 have been quite interesting. Here are some of them:

The Verge – Based on their review on the iPhone 7, they basically admired the clearer and more colorful gamut display, the dual telephoto and wide-angle lens on the iPhone 7 Plus and the faster, more responsive interface thanks to the A10 Fusion chip. There was slight appreciation for the design (as it was much the same as iPhone 6) and mixed feedback on the Airpods.

Forbes.com – Based on their review, the iPhone 7 Plus had a good and solid build with a nice jet black color addition. It commended its fast processing power, naming it one of the fastest devices out in the market now. It also appreciated its long battery life. However, the review cited the dual camera’s feature lacking image clarity when zoomed. In sum, the review recommended for tech buyers to defer paying for an iPhone 7 until the iPhone 8 is released. According to rumors, major upgrades will be done on the next release.

The Guardian – Based on their review, the iPhone 7 only got a verdict of 3 out of 5 stars. They did appreciate the water-resistant body and its fast processing. They also noted the good performance of the camera though not able to outdo the Samsung Galaxy S7. The review however was highly disappointed with its battery performance citing that it could not even last a day given average use of the phone. It also criticized the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack which bumped out the use of analog earphones which generally had better stereo quality in comparison to the Apple Airpods.

What’s next for Apple?

With the official announcement of the iPhone 7, Apple seems optimistic that its fans would enjoy the new features and additions to one of the most loved phones in the world. But if rumors were to be believed, some buyers may indeed hold back on purchasing the 7th iPhone version to favor the release of the newer iPhone which might include revolutionary upgrades.

But for now, the iPhone 7 may be a more favorable upgrade for those who own lower iPhone versions. For those who own an iPhone 6, better wait for iPhone 8.