[TECH UNBOXING] IPHONE 7 PLUS

A few months after the release of the latest version of Apple’s famous mobile phone, the iPhone 7, I am now able to get my hands on these babies and I think they’re the best yet. 

I have been an iPhone user since Apple launched the 1st generation almost a decade ago. Honestly, I have not looked at other phone brands ever since. I usually upgrade my phone every 2 years since it is the most economical way as I get my phone for a low price as part of my postpaid plan. Besides, there is also not much of an upgrade if you are just coming from a generation prior to the latest version. In my case, the previous iPhone I used was the iPhone 6 PLUS. 

Here they are: iPhone 7 PLUS - “Matte” Black 256 GB and iPhone 7 PLUS - Rose Gold 32 GB. I will be unboxing these and will be giving my first impressions. 

If you look closely, I have applied tempered glass screen protectors on both units to preserve the integrity of their screens. They don’t actually come out of the box. I prefer my phones to be protected right before handling and using them.

 

 

 

Included inside the box are the following: power cable and adapter, EarPods with Lightning plug, and 3.5 mm to Lighting adapter 

 

 

What’s new with the latest PLUS unit is their dual 12 MP camera, a wide-angle (like the non-PLUS iPhone 7) and additional telephoto. With this telephoto camera, you can get better quality images even if you are far away. There is also a Portrait mode which give a “bokeh” or blurred background effect to your portrait shots. Below are some close and far sample shots. 

 

Now let us inspect the bottom of the phone. In place of the headphone jack that Apple famously removed, you can now see symmetrical holes for audio on both sides of the lightning port. A new feature that Apple added to this phone was stereo output when watching videos or playing games. However, these doesn’t necessarily translate into stereo output since it is achieved by using both the holes above and the ear receiver as the LEFT and RIGHT speakers. 

 

 

There is nothing really new with regards to the volume controls and the power button. However, as you can see, the antenna lines are also colored black in the “Matte” Black iPhone which almost perfectly hides it from the naked eye. This is more of an aesthetic change rather than a functional change though. 

  

Internally, the processor has been upgraded and is now sporting the new A10 fusion chip. This is a quad-core CPU where there is 2 high performance core for demanding applications (games) and 2 high efficiency cores for basic smartphone functions. These translate into a very energy efficient phone with a long battery life and without sacrificing speed. 

 

The screen has also been improved. Apple claims that it has a wider color gamut and 25% brighter. However, I don’t personally see a big difference compared to my old iPhone 6. 

There is also an all-new Home button. Technically, there is actually no more button. It is basically a solid piece that is pressure sensitive. Once you push onto it, with the use of the Taptic Engine, a tactile feedback (vibration) will fool your brain into thinking that a button was just pressed. It is the same technology first introduced in the 2015 12” Macbook’s Touchpad and is also currently used in the new Macbook Pro. 

I would also like to add that this new iPhone is now water resistant. I, however, won’t be testing out this feature unless an accident happens. 

 

Thank to Smart Infinity for giving me the phones for cheap after renewing our phone plans. I won’t go into details regarding our plan but you can always check out their website for more information. 

 

Inside the welcome box is a main and spare sim card, as well as, a small welcome booklet showing some of the benefits of being an Infinity subscriber. 

Below are some shots of the phones with their protective cases. Not bad, right? 

 

 

Overall, the new iPhone 7 PLUS is a great addition to the Apple lineup with its stunning new features. It may be the last phone using the current design but it is certainly the best version and is a worthy upgrade for anyone looking for a new iPhone.