by If you’re contemplating getting a new iPhone, then you’re most likely looking at getting an iPhone 7. But, the question is, which one do you get? The regular iPhone 7 or the larger iPhone 7 Plus?
iPhone 7 Vs. iPhone 7 Plus
Here are the key differences between the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:
| Feature | iPhone 7 | iPhone 7 Plus |
| Display | 4.7-inch | 5.5-inch |
| Battery | 1960mAh | 2900mAh |
| Camera | 12MP wide angle lens | 12MP wide angle and telephoto lens |
| Storage | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB | 32GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 158.2mm x 77.9mm x 7.3mm |
| Weight | 138g | 188g |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
| Cost * | 32GB = R12 999
128GB = R14 999 256GB = R16 999 |
32GB =R15 499
128GB =R17 499 256GB =R19 499 |
In terms of design, both iPhones share the same design language that Apple has used for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6S. The antenna lines, however, have been moved and no longer run directly across the back of the handset.
The iPhone 7 Plus is clearly the more powerful of the two handsets, thanks to the increased RAM and larger battery. But, not only is the 7 Plus larger than the iPhone 7, it also weighs more and the large bezels are more noticeable.
Both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are IP67 rated, which means that both are splash, water, and dust resistant.
The most noticeable difference is that the iPhone 7 Plus has a dual rear-facing camera setup, which is a first for Apple. The dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus feature a 12MPƒ/1.8 aperture wide-angle lens and aƒ/2.8 aperture telephoto lens. The iPhone 7 Plus also has 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom.
The second rear-facing camera enables what Apple calls “Portrait Mode”. When using this mode, you can create images with a bokeh depth effect. This looks great in many images but, unfortunately, this is all that the additional rear-facing lens can do and, unlike the second rear-facing camera on Huawei’s P9 and Mate 9, you cannot adjust the bokeh depth effect on the image.
Another first for Apple is that both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have stereo speakers and both handsets do not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, they rely on lightning adaptor headphones or bluetooth earbuds such as Apple’s AirPods.
Ultimately, deciding between the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus comes down to two questions:
- Do you like larger phones?
- Do you need the dual-camera setup on the iPhone 7 Plus?
If the answer to those questions is no, then the iPhone 7 is the best option for you. Not only do you still get a great mobile camera, IP67 rating, and the same colours as the iPhone 7 Plus, you get all of this for slightly less.
*Prices taken from myistore.co.za.
