In my in-depth iPhone 6s review last year, I explained why the “S” update for Apple’s popular iPhone 6 was actually the company’s biggest iPhone upgrade ever. People seem to be under the impression that just because a new phone looks like its predecessor, it’s not a major update. That notion really couldn’t be any more misguided — judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, especially when it comes to consumer electronics.
Apple’s iPhone 6s was a massive upgrade compared to the iPhone 6. And explosions aside, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 is perhaps the most impressive Android upgrade ever even though it looks a great deal like the Galaxy S7 edge and Galaxy S6 edge+. But the iPhone 7, despite its striking resemblance to its predecessors, is shaping up to be an even bigger upgrade than either of those industry-leading smartphones.
DON’T MISS: The 5 biggest takeaways from the early hands-on iPhone 7 preview that ran today
Look, nobody is suggesting that Apple’s upcoming new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are marvels of modern design. They look… like iPhones. If it wasn’t for the new cameras on the back and the modified antenna design, no one would be able to tell an iPhone 6 or 6s from an iPhone 7. But since when does the story end there?
I’ve penned a couple of posts over the past few months that have challenged the notion that Apple’s upcoming new iPhones are going to be “boring.” Now that we’re just one day away from Apple’s big launch event though, let’s revisit these boring new iPhones one last time before they’re made official.
Okay… let’s run down the list:
First up, Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are going to be the most powerful iPhones ever. By a big margin. They’ll also be the fastest smartphones money can buy come launch day, especially in real-world scenarios where iPhones always trounce rival Android flagships.
Speaking of ways that Apple’s new iPhone 7 models will improve upon their predecessors, they’re going to directly address two of the three biggest problems people have with iPhones. First, Apple is going to double the storage capacity on each model. So instead of 16GB, 64GB and 128GB iPhones, you’ll get 32GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options. That’s a huge deal.
Beyond that, Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will feature IP-rated water resistance. That means a quick accidental dunk will no longer fry your iPhone instantly.
A few changes will be made in order to assist with Apple’s waterproofing, and yes, the removal of the standard headphone jack will be among them. Don’t worry, there will be an adapter that ships in the box with the new iPhones, and we’ll probably see whining dissipate a few weeks after the iPhone 7 launches.
Another change we can attribute in part to waterproofing is a completely redesigned home button. Apple’s home button on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus won’t be a button you click, but will instead be a capacitive button with 3D Touch support and haptic feedback that simulates the sensation of a button press. It’s a nifty change that could support some new software features, and it paves the way for next year’s big iPhone refresh that will completely eliminate the home button.
All that is just the beginning. We’re also looking at two new cameras, with an improved single-lens shooter on the iPhone 7 that will add OIS, and a dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus that should offer some terrific new features. Both phones will reportedly sport new True Tone displays like the iPad Pro, and we’re looking at not one but two brand new color options to help spice things up.
And those are just the things we know about. It’s entirely possible — likely, even — that Apple managed to keep a few things secret ahead of its big Apple event and we won’t learn about them until after the show kicks off on Wednesday.
Once the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus make their way into consumers’ hands following their expected launch on September 16th, you’ll think back to this article and chuckle. The reviews will start rolling in, the performance tests will trickle out, the comparisons will wash over the web, and we’ll wonder how anyone ever thought the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus would be anything but massive upgrades.
