Should i buy the iphone 7 or 7 plus?

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iPhone Q&A

Update Published September 21, 2021

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What are all the differences between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models? How many are there around the world?

Please note that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with the lathử nghiệm iOS compatibility details & more and can be quite helpful khổng lồ anyone buying or selling one of these devices on the used market.

It would be tempting lớn take a quick glance at the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus next khổng lồ one another and determine that the iPhone 7 Plus simply is a bigger version of the iPhone 7.

Although the kích thước is an important difference between these devices, there are other differences that are less obvious and that still are important. In fact, the difference between these models is more substantial than earlier iPhone models released at the same time.

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Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 7 - Front, iPhone 7 Plus - Rear, Airpods)

It also is worth noting that there actually are four iPhone 7 & four iPhone 7 Plus models sold around the world. Specifically, there is the iPhone 7 (Verizon/Sprint/China), iPhone 7 (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global), iPhone 7 (Japan), and iPhone 7 (China Mobile) as well as the iPhone 7 Plus (Verizon/Sprint/China), iPhone 7 Plus (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global), iPhone 7 Plus (Japan), and iPhone 7 Plus (Trung Quốc Mobile). On March 21, 2017, Apple added a (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition version of each Model.

There are carrier tư vấn and other differences between these models that are important to understvà. The similarities of each model are useful to know, also.

External Differences & Similarities

Both the iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus models use all aluminum cases with softly rounded sides and are splash, water, and dust-resistant (IP67), but they are not water-proof.

Both lines have sầu stereo speakers and a Lightning port, as well as a taptic-engine powered solid state "clickless" trang chủ button with integrated "cảm biến ID" fingerprint capabilities, but they vị not have a traditional tai nghe jachồng.

Both lines also have a multitouch "Retimãng cầu HD" display with tư vấn for a "wide color" gamut (DCI-P3), dual domain pixels for wider viewing angles, 625 cd/mét vuông maximum brightness, và 3 chiều touch capabilities, as well.

However, the 4.7" (1334x750) display in the iPhone 7 has a modestly better typical contrast ratio (1400:1) compared to the 5.5" (1920x1080) display in the iPhone 7 Plus, which has a 1300:1 typical contrast ratio. On the other hand, the iPhone 7 Plus has a higher pixel mật độ trùng lặp từ khóa, 401 ppi compared lớn 326 ppi for the iPhone 7.You would have lớn have sầu particularly sharp vision khổng lồ differentiate the higher px mật độ trùng lặp từ khóa of the iPhone 7 Plus, but it is worth noting nevertheless.

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Phokhổng lồ Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus Original Màu sắc Options)

Both models originally were available in five sầu color options, more than any previous iPhone Mã Sản Phẩm. These color options are (1) a pink hued "Rose Gold," (2) Gold, và (3) Silver, all of which have a white glass front, as well as (4) Black, which has a blachồng glass front và a matte finish black aluminum baông xã, và (5) "Jet Blaông xã," which has a blachồng glass front & a high gloss blaông xã anodized and polished blachồng aluminum baông chồng.

Apple disclaims that the "Jet Black" finish may show scratches with use và perhaps is best either avoided by those who are particularly concerned by scuffs or alternately held securely within a protective case.

On March 21, 2017, Apple added a (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition mã sản phẩm which has a trắng glass front and a matte finish red aluminum baông xã.

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Photo lớn Credit: Apple, Inc. (PRODUCT RED iPhone 7 Plus)

Other than its color difference, the (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPhone 7 is identical to lớn its corresponding "regular" Mã Sản Phẩm, but Apple contributed a small amount of money to lớn HIV/AIDS research for each sale. Apple discontinued this mã sản phẩm on September 12, 2017.

Camera Differences

The iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus each have an identical "FaceTime HD" camera on their respective sầu fronts. This camera has a 7 megapixel sensor, an f/2.2 aperture, và records 1080p HD video clip.

The rear cameras, though, are substantially different from one another.

The iPhone 7 has a rear camera with a 12 megapixel sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and digital zoom up to lớn 5x for still photos and up khổng lồ 3x for đoạn phim recording. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand has two rear cameras -- a 12 megapx wide-angle camera with a an f/1.8 aperture and a 12 megapixel telepholớn camera with a f/2.8 aperture. Collectively, these two cameras provide an effective sầu optical zoom at 2x as well as digital zoom up to lớn 10x for still photos & up to 6x for đoạn Clip recording.

Both models have optical image stabilization & the rear cameras are capable of recording 4K đoạn Clip (3840x2160) at 30 fps, 1080p video clip at 30 fps or 60 fps (as well as 1đôi mươi fps for 1080p slo-mo & 240 fps for 720p video).

Identification Differences

It is simple lớn differentiate between the iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus when both are side-by-side based on kích cỡ alone, but identifying the specific iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus requires more precision. Likewise, it can be easy to confuse these iPhone models with earlier or later ones.

Each iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus can be uniquely identified by Model Number, which is listed on the bachồng of each device in tiny type:

iPhone

Model No

iPhone 7 (Verizon/Sprint/China)

A1660

iPhone 7 (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global)

A1778

iPhone 7 (Japan)

A1779

iPhone 7 (China Mobile)

A1780

iPhone 7 Plus (Verizon/Sprint/China)

A1661

iPhone 7 Plus (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global)

A1784

iPhone 7 Plus (Japan)

A1785

iPhone 7 Plus (Đài Loan Trung Quốc Mobile)

A1786

Although the Model Numbers are sufficient, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 models also can be pinpointed by other identifiers.

Specifically, EveryiPhone.com"s Ultimate iLookup feature -- as well as the kemhamysophie.com app for iOS 5 or later -- can precisely identify these iPhone models by Order Number (referred to lớn as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" phầm mềm under General > About), và their Serial Numbers, as well.

Battery Life Differences

Battery life is another significant point of differentiation between the iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus. The larger iPhone 7 Plus holds a physically larger battery, & it delivers more runtime accordingly:

iPhone 7iPhone 7 Plus
Talk Time (3G)14 Hours21 Hours
Internet Use (3G)12 Hours13 Hours
Internet Use (4G/LTE)12 Hours13 Hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi)14 Hours15 Hours
Video Playback13 Hours14 Hours
Audio Playback40 Hours60 Hours

The iPhone 7 Plus also provides longer standby time -- up khổng lồ 16 days -- compared to just 10 days for the smaller iPhone 7.

Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences

For most users, the most important connectivity difference is that the iPhone 7 (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global) A1778 and iPhone 7 Plus (AT&T/T-Mobile/Global) A1784 vị not tư vấn CDMA connectivity whereas all other models do.

All iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus models tư vấn FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, trăng tròn, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30); TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); và GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz).

However, the other iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus models also support TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A) và CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900, 2100 MHz).

All iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with MIMO as well as Bluetooth không dây 4.2.

Internal Differences và Similarities

In terms of specific parts, there are many internal differences between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The displays, cameras, và batteries are different as are a number of other internal components. One notable difference is that the iPhone 7 has 2 GB of RAM whereas the iPhone 7 Plus has 3 GB of RAM.

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Otherwise, in basic terms, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have quite a bit in common. Both use a 2.3 GHz "A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture" as well as paông chồng an "embedded M10 motion coprocessor." The A10 Fusion is a quad core processor, with two high performance cores và two high efficiency cores.

Both the iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus originally were offered with 32 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB of storage, although the glossy "Jet Black" color option only originally was available in 128 GB or 256 GB capacities. On September 12, 2017, Apple discontinued the 256 GB capađô thị in all colors and introduced a 32 GB capađô thị in Jet Blaông chồng.

Both devices also have an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip khổng lồ allow digital payments in conjunction with "Apple Pay" software, too.

The Japan-specific models -- the iPhone 7 (Japan) A1779 và iPhone 7 Plus (Japan) A1785 -- additionally are advertised lớn support for Sony"s FeliCa for contactless payments on iD and QuicPay as well as Suica tư vấn on JR East.

iOS Support Similarities

The iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus both originally shipped pre-installed with iOS 10 và fully support the operating system. They are fully compatible with iOS 11 as well as the iOS 12 with the exception of the minor Memoji feature.

The iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus also are compatible with iOS 13, but they bởi vì not support the Adjust Portrait Lighting & High-Key Mono photgraphy features, Dolby Atmos playbachồng, & modest AR features (Motion Capture & People Occlusion).

The iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus support iOS 14, as well. However, neither support the minor Car Keys, Spatial Audio, App Clips, Location Anchors, Exposure Compensation, Burst Photos, QuickTake Video, và On-Device Dictation features.

Finally, the iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus tư vấn the current version of the iOS, iOS 15, but they vày not support a large number of advanced features including Spatial Audio, Portrait Mode, Immersive sầu Walking Instructions, Live Text in Photos, Live sầu Text Translation, Visual Look Up, 3 chiều Landmarks, Home Keys, and more.

iPhone 7 và iPhone 7 Plus Comparison Chart

These differences -- displays, cameras, battery life, và dimensions -- as well as other details và pricing information are summarized below:

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iPhone 7
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iPhone 7 PlusDisplay Size:Display Resolution: Pixel Density:Contrast Ratio:RAM:Front Camera:Rear Camera(s):Rear Zoom:Rear Zoom (Video): Talk Time (3G): 3G Battery Life: 4G Battery Life: Wi-Fi Battery Life: Video Playback: Audio Playback:Standby Time:Connector Type:SIM Card: Apple Pay (NFC):cảm ứng ID:FeliCa:Dimensions: Weight: Orig. Price (US†): Orig. Price (UK†): Orig. Price (CA†): Orig. Price (AU†): Orig. Price (JP†): Orig. Price (CN†):
4.7"5.5"
1334x7501920x1080
326 ppi401 ppi
1400:11300:1
2 GB3 GB
7 Megapixels7 Megapixels
12 Megapixels12 Megapixels x 2
5x Digital2x Optical, 10x Digital
3x Digital2x Optical, 6x Digital
14 Hours 21 Hours
12 Hours 13 Hours
12 Hours13 Hours
14 Hours 15 Hours
13 Hours 14 Hours
40 Hours 60 Hours
10 Days16 Days
LightningLightning
NanoNano
YesYes
YesYes
Japan Only (A1779)Japan Only (A1785)
5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28*6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29*
4.87 oz. (138 g)6.63 oz. (188 g)
US$649, US$749, US$849US$769, US$869, US$969
£599, £699, £799£719, £819, £919
C$899, C$1029, C$1159C$1049, C$1179, C$1309
A$1079, A$1229, A$1379A$1269, A$1419, A$1569
¥72,800, ¥83,800, ¥94,800¥85,800, ¥96,800, ¥107,800
RMB 5,388, 6,188, 6,988RMB 6,388, 7,188, 7,988

* In inches, height x width x depth.

† These prices were unlocked and contract-free. Carrier subsidized và lease options were & are available also. On September 12, 2018, Apple lowered the US prices for these models with 32 GB & 128 GB of storage to lớn US$449 and US$549 for the iPhone 7 & US$569 and US$669 for the iPhone 7 Plus. On September 10, 2019, Apple discontinued the iPhone 7 lineup entirely.

So, should I buy an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus? Which is best for me?

At this point, most users should by a more recent iPhone mã sản phẩm, but the iPhone 7 models still support the current version of the iOS & remain quite capable. They are affordable on the used market, as well. Of course, because much of the cost of an iPhone is its cost of cellular service, be sure that what you will need to pay the phone company also is within your budget.

Ignoring the option of later models, the decision between the iPhone 7 & the iPhone 7 Plus is a bit more difficult than it is for the earlier iPhone 6 và iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models.

Although the earlier "Plus" models had a better camera than their smaller counterparts, the most important differentiating factor was form size. For the iPhone 7 Plus, the inclusion of the second rear camera -- essentially making a modest optical zoom possible -- is a substantial difference between it and the smaller iPhone 7 for those who care about photography (of coruse, all later iPhone models have better cameras).

Consequently, you will have sầu khổng lồ decide if you would prefer to have a fast, capable di động device with a solid camera that is easy khổng lồ use with one hand. If so, you should purchase an iPhone 7.

Alternately, if you don"t mind using your Mobile device with two hands -- and you don"t mind transporting it mostly in a bag or purse (as it is typically too large to lớn fit in the front pocket of many jeans & pants) -- the iPhone 7 Plus provides (1) a higher resolution & larger display, (2) a much better camera, & (3) longer battery life.

If you are on a tight budget and want an iPhone with a larger screen, it would be worth considering a used iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, which are even cheaper, but likely will not have current iOS tư vấn much longer.

In the US, site sponsor OWC sells used iPhone models to lớn individuals và Evertek sells used iPhone models khổng lồ business customers (and ships bulk orders lớn wholesale customers worldwide).

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used iPhone models sold at low prices và available with a không lấy phí warranty & fast shipping across nước Australia.

Please also see EveryiPhone.com"s Ultimate iComparison feature to lớn dynamically compare any iPhone Model khổng lồ any other iPod, iPhone, or máy tính bảng ipad.