iPhone 7 review
Welcome to our iPhone 7 review. If you'd rather read about its bigger-screen sibling, try our iPhone 7 Plus review.
Apple announced the iPhone 7 on 7 September 2016, alongside the larger iPhone 7 Plus. The new iPhone handsets feature better cameras, new, super-speedy processors, two new colour options and improved water resistance. The iPhone 7 is available to buy in the UK now, via the Apple Store and UK carriers. (Read our roundup of the best cheap iPhone 7 deals UK.)
If you're still debating whether or not to buy an iPhone 7, our review is sure to help. We test and rate the iPhone 7's design and build quality, features, tech specs, speed, camera capabilities and value for money. And we'd like to give a special mention to Mobile Fun for lending us the iPhone 7 we used to write this review!
If you're interested in the full current iPhone range, meanwhile, take a look at our iPhone buying guide and best iPhone deals. Or if you're more interested in future iPhones, read about iPhone 7s rumours, iPhone 8 rumours and iPhone 9 rumours.
The iPhone 7 looks gorgeous, there's no doubt about that, boasting an aluminium unibody with curved edges and 2.5D glass that helps make the phone sit in your hand much more comfortably, while also providing a nicer experience when swiping from the side of the display. It isn't just standard aluminium like the material used by its competitors, either - the iPhone 7 features 7000 Series aluminium, making the iPhone more durable without adding much weight and giving the device more of a premium feel.
The iPhone 7 is, physically, the same size and shape as its predecessors, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6, measuring in at 128.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm, but with a few notable differences. The rear-facing camera and TrueTone flash are bigger, and the eagle-eyed among you will spot that the antenna lines are gone from the back of the iPhone. Well, not gone, but repositioned to the top and bottom of the smartphone to make them less noticeable and provide a cleaner look.
Read next: iPhone 7 vs iPhone 6s | iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus | iPhone 7 vs Samsung Galaxy S7
While the iPhone 7 is similar to the iPhone 6s in many ways, weight isn't one of them. It isn't heavier to compensate for the larger battery and additional tech; in fact, it's actually 5g lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 138g. While 5g doesn't sound like a lot, we were surprised at just how noticeable the weight difference was in the hand when comparing the two smartphones, with the iPhone 7 feeling lighter and more comfortable to hold than the iPhone 6s.
Thanks to a black display and black body, there's no visible border between display and body, providing an almost completely uniform look that definitely works in Apple's favour. We've shown the black iPhone 7 to a number of people over the course of a week or so, all commenting that it looks different to any other iPhone - in a good way.
Left to right: iPhone 7 & 7 Plus models in Rose Gold, gold, silver, black, Jet Black
The second new colour option is Jet Black, which has a high-gloss finish that Apple is showing off in most of its promotional material. While the Jet Black model looks great in photos, we can't help but worry about smudges and scratches. In fact, even Apple has suggested using a case with the Jet Black model if you're worried about imperfections. On its iPhone 7 page, Apple writes: "Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use."
However, despite Apple warning users about possible "micro-abrasions", nobody fully understood how easily it scratched until it started appearing in the wild. As you can see in the below tweet, it can go from gorgeous, high-end device to "ew" in a matter of minutes, and users should bear this in mind when thinking about purchasing it:
Oh, and we forgot to mention the most important part: the Jet Black finish is only available on the 128GB and 256GB storage options: there are no (comparatively) budget 32GB models in that colour. Of course, if black isn't your colour, you can also buy the iPhone 7 in the standard gold, silver and Rose Gold colour options. These, along with the matt black, are available across all three storage options.
Apple announced the iPhone 7 on 7 September 2016, alongside the larger iPhone 7 Plus. The new iPhone handsets feature better cameras, new, super-speedy processors, two new colour options and improved water resistance. The iPhone 7 is available to buy in the UK now, via the Apple Store and UK carriers. (Read our roundup of the best cheap iPhone 7 deals UK.)
If you're still debating whether or not to buy an iPhone 7, our review is sure to help. We test and rate the iPhone 7's design and build quality, features, tech specs, speed, camera capabilities and value for money. And we'd like to give a special mention to Mobile Fun for lending us the iPhone 7 we used to write this review!
If you're interested in the full current iPhone range, meanwhile, take a look at our iPhone buying guide and best iPhone deals. Or if you're more interested in future iPhones, read about iPhone 7s rumours, iPhone 8 rumours and iPhone 9 rumours.
Design & build quality
Let's address the elephant in the room before we go any further. While previous Apple releases, and the usual 'tick-tock' pattern of iPhone updates, led us to expect the iPhone 7 would be a completely redesigned iPhone, in fact it features essentially the same design of the iPhone 6 and 6s. That's the third year now with the same design. Many will say that's a bad thing - but it isn't quite so simple.The iPhone 7 looks gorgeous, there's no doubt about that, boasting an aluminium unibody with curved edges and 2.5D glass that helps make the phone sit in your hand much more comfortably, while also providing a nicer experience when swiping from the side of the display. It isn't just standard aluminium like the material used by its competitors, either - the iPhone 7 features 7000 Series aluminium, making the iPhone more durable without adding much weight and giving the device more of a premium feel.
The iPhone 7 is, physically, the same size and shape as its predecessors, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6, measuring in at 128.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm, but with a few notable differences. The rear-facing camera and TrueTone flash are bigger, and the eagle-eyed among you will spot that the antenna lines are gone from the back of the iPhone. Well, not gone, but repositioned to the top and bottom of the smartphone to make them less noticeable and provide a cleaner look.
Read next: iPhone 7 vs iPhone 6s | iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus | iPhone 7 vs Samsung Galaxy S7
While the iPhone 7 is similar to the iPhone 6s in many ways, weight isn't one of them. It isn't heavier to compensate for the larger battery and additional tech; in fact, it's actually 5g lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 138g. While 5g doesn't sound like a lot, we were surprised at just how noticeable the weight difference was in the hand when comparing the two smartphones, with the iPhone 7 feeling lighter and more comfortable to hold than the iPhone 6s.
Colour options
At launch, there were two new colours available: Black and Jet Black. The first is a direct replacement of the Space Grey that came before it, but uses a darker shade of aluminium, which we definitely prefer, and is quickly becoming our favourite colour option.Thanks to a black display and black body, there's no visible border between display and body, providing an almost completely uniform look that definitely works in Apple's favour. We've shown the black iPhone 7 to a number of people over the course of a week or so, all commenting that it looks different to any other iPhone - in a good way.
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Left to right: iPhone 7 & 7 Plus models in Rose Gold, gold, silver, black, Jet Black
The second new colour option is Jet Black, which has a high-gloss finish that Apple is showing off in most of its promotional material. While the Jet Black model looks great in photos, we can't help but worry about smudges and scratches. In fact, even Apple has suggested using a case with the Jet Black model if you're worried about imperfections. On its iPhone 7 page, Apple writes: "Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use."
However, despite Apple warning users about possible "micro-abrasions", nobody fully understood how easily it scratched until it started appearing in the wild. As you can see in the below tweet, it can go from gorgeous, high-end device to "ew" in a matter of minutes, and users should bear this in mind when thinking about purchasing it:
Oh, and we forgot to mention the most important part: the Jet Black finish is only available on the 128GB and 256GB storage options: there are no (comparatively) budget 32GB models in that colour. Of course, if black isn't your colour, you can also buy the iPhone 7 in the standard gold, silver and Rose Gold colour options. These, along with the matt black, are available across all three storage options.
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