Apple has released yet another iPhone models. The new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come with several improvements over last year’s iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. There were also some surprises. Apple fans must be feeling an urge to upgrade. There aren’t many major differences between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, except the size and the camera. Let’s see which model fairs better on paper. Here’s Apple iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 7 Plus Comparison:
Design
The new iPhones sport the similar design pattern as their predecessors. However, Apple has removed the visible antenna lines from the body. The company has also removed the 3.5mm jack. Both iPhones are now water- and dust-resistant. A new Force Touch home button has been added, that uses haptic feedback. Both models come in rose gold, gold, silver, black, and a high-gloss jet black colour options.
While the iPhone 7 measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm and weighs 138 grams, the iPhone 7 Plus measures 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm and weighs 188 grams. There is barely any difference in the thickness here. Apart from size, the major design difference is the camera panel. While the iPhone 7 sports the usual single rear camera, the iPhone 7 Plus comes with a new dual-camera system. The dual camera adds an interesting element in the design section.
With a larger body and an interesting camera set-up, the iPhone 7 Plus gets an edge here. However, if you are looking for a single-hand navigation, the compact iPhone 7 might be the way to go.
Display
The iPhone 7 sports a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels and pixel density of 326ppi. While the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus comes with full-HD resolution and a pixel density of 401ppi. Both smartphones feature Retina HD LED display. Apple claims the new displays are 25 percent brighter and offer a wider color gamut. So, the screen size is the only deciding factor here. While the bigger screen on iPhone 7 Plus does offer more functionality, it comes down to your preference.
Performance
Both iPhones are powered by new A10 Fusion chip. Apple claims that the 64-bit CPU is 40 percent faster than the A9. Both have a quad-core processor – two cores are for high-performance actions, and the two are for efficiency. Also, both feature a new GPU, which is up to 50 percent faster than the A9. Even the storage options are same. Both smartphones come with 32, 128, and 256GB options. So, both iPhones are equal on the basic performance level.
However, as usual, Apple has not revealed the RAM on both devices. But the iPhone 7 is expected to sport 2GB of RAM, while the iPhone 7 Plus model might be sporting 3GB. This might give Plus model a little edge. Additionally, iPhone 7 Plus sports a slightly larger battery, which can give you extra usage time, despite a larger display.
Camera
This is the biggest difference between the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. And with its dual-camera set-up, the iPhone 7 Plus easily wins in terms of photography. While the iPhone 7 sports a great camera, the 7 Plus offers a better camera experience.
The iPhone 7 sports a 12-megapixel rear camera with a 28-mm wide-angle lens, an f/1.8 aperture, and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Apple claims that it is 60 percent faster than the camera on the iPhone 6S. It is also supposed to be 30 percent more energy efficient. The accompanying True Tone flash also offers up to 50 percent more light. It can identify faces and bodies. The camera even supports RAW image format.
The iPhone 7 Plus sports the same camera plus more. There is another 12-megapixel rear camera, which is a 56mm telephoto lens with a f/2.8 aperture. The second camera allows you to zoom in on images, up to 10 times. The 7 Plus offers up to 2X optical zoom. Software features include bokeh, which allows you to add more depth to images.
Both iPhones sport a 7MP front camera with a f/2.2 aperture and automatic image stabilization.
Pricing
The iPhone 7 has been priced at $649 for the 32GB model. There are also 128GB and 256GB storage options. The jet black color variant comes only in a 128GB and 256GB storage option. While the iPhone 7 Plus will set you back by $769 for the 32GB model. When it comes to price, the iPhone 7 wins.
Conclusion
Overall, the iPhone 7 Plus seems like a better choice, but barely. Both smartphones are similar in most ways. The only major difference being size, camera, and the price. If you are a photography enthusiast, the iPhone 7 Plus is the iPhone for you. But the iPhone 7 offers a great camera experience in a compact form, at a cheaper price. While iPhone 7 Plus is a better choice with a better battery, the iPhone 7 seems to be a smart choice.