one of the chapters in the development of the Apple smartphone (Released on September 16, 2016)
Apple finally came out to announce iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus as special edition on September 16, 2016, under a new most significant redesign for iPhones after the 2014 6 and 6 Plus series. It was the best innovation for Apple in terms of going above several lines and adding particular features and changes that were supposed to shape the future of smartphones. Whether you are a fan of the bold changes or hated them, iPhone 7 marked Apple’s milestone and paved the future of the iPhone line.
In this article, we will discuss the essentials and innovations that iPhone 7 brought to light, how it impacted the smartphone market, and its after-effects.
Design and build:
The bold move away from the headphone jack
The design of the iPhone 7 was anything but something not recognizable. In addition, it had a smooth aluminum unibody that was thinner and more refined compared to its predecessors. Apple continued sticking to minimalist design and the iPhone 7 had a 4.7 -inch display on the base model and a 5.5 -inch display on the iPhone 7 Plus. And it came in several colors including Jet Black, Black, Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold. It also allows the user to set their color.
This, however, was the most contentious design change-since the removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 caused quite a polarized effect among users and sent shockwaves through the tech industry. Although Apple argued that this helped achieve a more water-resistant design and opened doors to more advanced wireless technologies, for many it was shocking, especially for consumers who had invested heavily into their wired headphones and their accessories.
To make up for the loss of the head phone jack, Apple threw in a lightning-fast 3.5mm adapter with the iPhone 7 and began hawking its Air Pods wireless earbuds as the audio future. The Air Pods, introduced alongside the iPhone 7, will go on to be one of the company’s top sellers, which speaks volumes for the faith vested in the wireless future.
Display:
Retina HD and boosted color resolution.
The display of iPhone 7 uses Retina HD technology. Both the standard iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus have a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels (326 pixels per inch) and 1920 x 1080 pixels (401 pixels per inch), respectively. Apple had improved color accuracy with the support of a wider color gamut, allowing this display to be able to render colors more naturally.
Although the screen was absolutely the same as other iPhone editions, But it was very bright. It provides better visibility to the outside environment. The 3D Touch enabled users to interact with the display in some new ways – from shortcut access and previewing messages, for example, to activating various functions of apps with different levels of pressure. Later, this innovation went further; however, in 2016, it highlighted a difference that distinguished the iPhone 7 series.
Performance:
A10 Fusion chip and better power efficiency
The powerful heart of the iPhone 7 is a powerful A10 Fusion chip. Which was, as expected, significantly a better performance in comparison to the A9 chip in the case of iPhone 6s. Apples’ A10 Fusion was a quad-core processor including two high-performance cores and two high-performance cores. Thus, the iPhone 7 performed faster and more efficiently with power.
The chip was designed to handle demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing, augmented reality, but also at the same time that day-to-day activities like browsing and email would consume as little power as possible. This means that the iPhone 7 is fast and lasts longer on battery life. So, Apple offered the 2-hour battery life more than iPhone 6S. That was actually great for a user who plans to run the machine continuously daylong without periodically recharging the device.
The A10 Fusion improved on the performance of the iPhone 7, not only in processing but also in graphics, making it hold its own with the flagships of that time. It was also the first quad-core iPhone. And that set up an even bigger performance wallop for later models.
Camera:
Mobile photography would never be the same again.
One of the key highlights is the camera system of the iPhone 7. This is a real improvement over earlier series. The rear camera is a 12-megapixel model with an f / 1.8 aperture, thereby ensuring better performance in low light and fast autofocus. Apple’s Optical Image Stabilization feature further ensured that photos and videos would be sharper even in unsteady conditions. This helps to improve low light performance.
It was designed for all demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, or augmented reality. However, simultaneously, it should provide for everyday operations such as browsing and using e-mail with minimal power. This results in the fact that iPhone 7, being highly faster, also provides better battery life. The new model claimed to have 2 hours more battery life than the iPhone 6S, which made this device a big plus for users who needed their device running all day without having to recharge it repeatedly.
The A10 Fusion made the iPhone 7 a faster device for processing and graphics too, putting it more or less on the same level with all the other flagship heavy hitters in the business during that time. It was also the first quad-core iPhone, paving the way for even more powerful chips in later models.
Camera:
The giant leap for mobile photography.
One feature was that the iPhone 7 had an improved camera system. The update from generations looks impressive. The phone has a 12-megapixel rear camera with f / 1.8 aperture. This enhances low-light performance and faster autofocus. The new Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) by Apple also made sure photos and videos will come sharp in shaky conditions. This will further enhance low light performance.
The quad-LED True Tone flash on the camera produced more consistent lighting for photos, mostly in challenging lighting environments. It introduced its capacity for recording 4K video at 30 frames per second. That offers dramatically higher video resolution than you might find on other earlier models. That was an important step for mobile videography. That made the iPhone 7 a perfect tool for creators and casual videographers alike.
The iPhone 7 Plus elevated the photography game a notch further with an upgraded dual camera system, featuring a wide-angle lens along with a telephoto lens. Optical zoom up to 2x and digital zoom up to 10x was thereby achievable-very much a feature that made the iPhone 7 Plus one of the best photography-gadgets smartphones of the time. A dual camera allowed for Portrait Mode, one feature that was flaunted to encourage an incredible bokeh effect by blurring the background while holding the subject sharp like a professional DSLR shot.
Water resistant for iPhone for the first time.
The iPhone 7 was the first water and dust resistant phone from Apple. It carries an IP67 rating based on international safety standards. This actually means that an iPhone 7 would survive 1-meter deep water for 30 minutes without being damaged. That was a big upgrade because iPhones were known to be prone to water damage before.
Water resistance was also included. It added another dimension to the device, especially in people at a risk of water splashes or sudden rain showers.
The water resistance helped the iPhone 7 remain a competitive flagship next to similar others that also featured the same ability.
iOS 10:
better software and new features
The iPhone 7 came with iOS 10, which introduced various improvements on the device and enhanced user experience. The major update was on the new design for the messaging app iMessage, which featured fun elements like stickers, emojis, and writing messages through your finger. Further, Apple also designed the notification feature, hence to interact with it was easier, giving a preview of the app without opening the actual app.
Cupertino did not rest on laurels, further perfecting Apple Music and Apple Maps with brand-new settings, more features, and deeper integration throughout the system. Siri received one of the more interesting updates about it. Which became much more feasible thanks to the app integration and the vast smart voice recognition.
Legacy and Impact:
The Long-Term Impact of iPhone 7
The history of iPhone has marked the iPhone 7 at a different level from others. Unprecedented to say the least, it was the elimination of the headphone jack that led to more debates on the use of the wired attachments with regard to the future of the smartphone. Nevertheless, change over time became a way to popularize trends for other manufacturers to eliminate the headphone jack for other innovations such as a larger battery and better waterproofing.
The iPhone 7 further conceptualized the idea that a smartphone could be more than merely a tool to connect and communicate with people-but, indeed, become a serious tool in photography, entertainment, and productivity. Through improved cameras, improved performance, and higher water resistance, the iPhone 7 is the most versatile and durable device ever, just enough for it to become strong against other high-class smartphones.
Although the iPhone 7 is generations old, the idea lives in the new iPhone models with a design and features. It was indeed with the iPhone 7 that Apple focused more on wireless audio, added dual camera systems on the iPhone 7 Plus, and kept on with IP67 water resistance that impacts the iPhone lineup up to date.