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Getting to know the iPhone 7 Plus

Design

The iPhone 7 Plus features a design that bears a strong resemblance to the 6 Plus and 6s Plus, but there are some subtle yet significant improvements. Overall, the design newer version is noticeably cleaner; the antenna lines that were on the back of the previous models are more discreet, and are built into the handset. There's still a camera bump though, which keeps it from sitting flat on a table, like the iPhone 6 and 6s before it. The iPhone 7 Plus comes in 5 colours: Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, Black and a shiny, glossy Jet Black. Apple has warned that the Jet Black version may be especially prone to scratches, so may want to get a case if you want to keep it in optimal condition.

Cameras

The camera of the iPhone 7 Plus is one of its standout features, with two lenses on the back of the phone.

This isn't the first device with a two-lens setup (notable examples include the LG G5 and Huawei's P9), but its how the lenses are used to take good photos that matters. The iPhone 7 Plus features the same 12-megapixel wide angle lens as the iPhone 7, and adds a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. When combined, thay allow for a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom.

The dual lens setup will also allow for 'portrait' photos with a depth-of-field effect - the differences in the lenses are used to create an out-of-focus blur in the background behind the subject (this effect is also known as bokkeh). This mode will be available through a software update in late 2016.

Like the iPhone 7, the larger f/1.8 aperture of the lenses enable more light to be captured, which means better photos in dark, poorly lit conditions. The front camera has been updated to 7 megapixels, which means better selfies. Apple also claims that its new image processor will use machine learning to enable better autofocusing, exposure, and color-correction.

Audio and Headphone Jack

The iPhone 7 Plus no longer has a traditional 3.5mm headphone socket. Instead, the headphones supplied with the iPhone connect to the Lightning port (the same one you use for charging). This will inevitably frustrate many people, especially if they have invested large amounts of money in high-end headphones. It also means you can't easily charge and listen to music at the same time. To ease the transition, Apple is providing a free adaptor when you buy the new iPhone so you can use your own headphones. In the long term, Apple is trying to encourage users to use wireless audio, and to that end will be releasing wireless AirPods soon. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have stereo speakers, providing sound twice as loud as that on the iPhone 6s.

Home Button

A subtle change to the home button is that it no longer clicks in. The new button will be pressure-sensitive, and use haptic feedback to make it feel like you're pushing it in, even though it doesn't actually move. Apple has used a similar trick for the trackpads on MacBooks that simulate a mechanical click when you tap on it.

Water Resistance

One of the big improvements of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus compared to older iPhones is water and dust resistance. The device is IP67 certified, which means that it's resistant to dust, and can survive being submerged in about a metre of water for up to 30 minutes. This has been a feature of various Android phones over the last few years, and is a welcome added feature for the iPhone.

Storage Options

For the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, Apple has finally updated the storage options and increased the size of the smallest option from 16GB to 32GB - a welcome (and somewhat belated) improvement, meaning that even the most basic version will allow for room to shoot and store larger video files. Both the 7 and 7 Plus are available with 32GB, 128GB or 256GB (the Jet Black is only available with 128GB and 256GB).

Battery life

Apple is claiming an incremental improvement on battery life compare to last year's models; iPhone 7 Plus users should get on average 1 hour extra battery life compared to the iPhone 6s Plus.

Screen

In terms of screen size and resolution, nothing has changed compared to the last couple of iterations. The iPhone 7 has a 1334x750 4.7 inch screen, whereas the 5.5 inch 7 Plus has a screen resolution of 1920x1080 (Full HD). However, the displays are 25 percent brighter, with a wider color gamut for better color management and reproduction.

Release Date and Price

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are available for purchase. Click on the Best Deals tab to find the best prices.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus cost more than their predecessors. While the cheapest iPhone 6s was priced at £539 when released in 2015, the cheapest iPhone 7 will set customers back £599 instead. The price bump for the cheapest Plus model is even larger - from £619 for the iPhone 6s Plus to £719 for the iPhone 7 Plus. It's worth pointing out that the new models start with 32GB storage as opposed to previous models with 16GB, but in the US, Apple isn't charging more for the newer model - the 16GB iPhone 6s cost $649 when it was released, and the 32GB iPhone 7 is being offered at the same price.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	What Hi-Fi? The Plus range has finally grown into its own – if you can handle the size, the 7 Plus is the iPhone to have. If you can handle the Plus size and the price, this is the iPhone to have... Read full review
100	Digital Spy | Luke Johnson The iPhone 7 Plus is no longer just a larger version of the iPhone 7, it's a full-on better phone. Read full review
100	Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti The iPhone 7 Plus has the biggest batteries of all of Apple's phones. It has an incredible screen and force-touch comes into its own on the large amount of real estate you get on the handset. Read full review
100	Stuff | Elissa Loi The camera has always been one of the iPhone's greatest weapons against the encroaching army of rapidly improving Android handsets, and the substantial upgrade Apple has squeezed into the iPhone 7 Plus makes it a no-brainer for mobile photographers. Read full review
95	Mashable | Lance Ulanoff If you like your phones big and want to get twice as close to the action as everyone else, the iPhone 7 Plus is what you want. Read full review
93	ZDNet | Matthew Miller The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is an excellent phone that provides users with a fast, reliable platform. The hardware may not visibly be revolutionary, but the internal improvements and the continued advancement of iOS 10 make it an amazing smartphone. Read full review
93	phoneArena | Stephen S The iPhone 7 Plus is evidence of an Apple that's not afraid to take risks, to change things up in the goal of further perfecting its best-equipped smartphone option. And while some of those changes are touched by controversy, and others feel like they haven't quite realized their full potential, the iPhone 7 Plus dares to take Apple's smartphones to a fascinating new place Read full review
92	TechAeris | Alex Hernandez Apple made a nice phone here. The two key features that may entice you to upgrade are the Taptic Engine experience and the Dual Lens camera... otherwise, if you're happy with your iPhone 6 or 6s Plus then keep them. Read full review
92	Engadget | Chris Velazco [The iPhone 7 Plus] takes the foundational improvements made to the iPhone 7 and packs them into a body with a crisper screen and beefier battery. While it might seem weird at first, the "zooming" afforded by the dual 12-megapixel cameras around back is handy too, though you'll wind up paying more for it. Read full review
90	Recombu | Chris Barraclough ...if you want a spacious screen for enjoying media on the move, the iPhone 7 Plus is undeniably excellent. Read full review
90	TechRadar | John McCann It may not be the upgrade we were hoping for, but the iPhone 7 Plus is still an excellent phone with improved cameras, super slick performance and a handy waterproof, yet familiar design. Read full review
90	NDTV Gadgets | Kunal Dua All in all, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus set the foundation for some fundamental technology like wide-gamut displays and wireless audio that will form a key part of Apple's ecosystem going forward, and they do that while being compelling offerings in the present. Read full review
90	Neowin | Rich Woods If you really care about the camera, then the iPhone 7 Plus is totally worth it. If you really care about that headphone jack, or your the type to only buy an iPhone when there are major design changes, maybe this isn't the phone for you. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Evan Kypreos It's not revolutionary, but the iPhone 7 Plus is great phone. Read full review
90	AnandTech | Joshua Ho & Brandon Chester If you're upgrading from the iPhone 6s Plus you probably won't find a ton of differences, but it's still a significant step up in display, camera, speaker quality, battery life, and system performance. Read full review
90	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman The iPhone 7 Plus may be the best iPhone Apple has made, but it's not the best iPhone that Apple can make. It's the disparity between these two points that bugs me so much. Read full review
90	PC Mag | Sascha Segan The iPhone 7 Plus, with its new dual cameras, gives Apple fans a reason to pick the big phone... That makes the iPhone 7 Plus, with its fast processor, high-quality display, and dual cameras, your best bet-and our Editors' Choice-for large phones. Read full review
90	Tom's Guide The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus may not look new, but their better cameras, longer battery life and faster performance make them awesome upgrades, especially the dual-camera Plus. Read full review
90	Mobile Syrup | Patrick O'Rourke Whether or not the iPhone 7 is for you will depend on your expectations and which current iOS device you're using. If you're still rocking a 6 or 5, the 40 percent increase in hardware power over the 6s with with the iPhone 7, could be reason alone to warrant an upgrade. Subtle new features like the home button's new Taptic Engine and Stereo speakers, breathe new life into the aging overall design. Read full review
90	The Verge | Nilay Patel The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are legitimately among the most interesting, opinionated, powerful phones Apple has ever shipped, and the most confident expressions of the company's vision in a long time. iOS 10 is excellent, the cameras are better, and the performance is phenomenal. And the batteries last longer. These are terrific phones. Read full review
89	pocketnow | Jaime Rivera I guess the last question left on the table is if it's really worth it to get the iPhone 7 Plus. This is one expensive piece of hardware, and as useful as some of the features like the zoom lens in the camera can be, the early compromise of basics like a headphone jack is enough to cause controversy. Read full review
88	Brighthand | Ed Hardy Although just an updated version of its predecessor, the iPhone 7 Plus is the top-of-line iOS phone with excellent performance and battery life, and an innovative camera too. Read full review
85	TechSpot | Shawn Knight The iPhone 7 Plus is the best iPhone to date as it relates to design aesthetics, features, and performance, but that doesn't mean you should go out and grab one ASAP. Read full review
85	The Verge | Walt Mossberg The iPhone remains an outstanding smartphone, and this latest model makes it even better in many ways ... But the whole audio jack thing makes choosing the iPhone 7 more difficult than it might have been. Read full review
80	Gadgets Now | Salabh Puri So does it make a mostly Android user like me want to switch to the new Apple iPhone 7 Plus? In all likelihood, yes and agreed, what the new Apple iPhone 7 Plus has, are features, which people have already seen on other devices and made them even better. Read full review
80	Australian PC World | Nick Ross A lightly-flawed flagship. But it's fast and well-appointed and if Apple's ecosystem is important to you, value is less of an issue. Read full review
80	Firstpost | Nimish Sawant All things considered, the Apple iPhone 7 Plus is a great device. It excels in departments such as battery life, performance, display among other things. Read full review
80	Eurogamer | Damien McFerran While the design might not have altered a great deal, it's clear that some big strides are made with this year's iPhones. However, there's no denying that in some key areas, Apple's phones continue to lag behind the competition. Read full review
80	Know Your Mobile | Damien McFerran More RAM, a bigger battery and a serious impressive dual-camera setup makes the iPhone 7 Plus a much better purchase than the standard model - assuming you have no issue with the increased cost and larger size Read full review
80	Wired UK | Victoria Woollaston We're not sure the boost in battery is proportionate with the amount you'll pay for the device, but couple it with the improved camera and overall sturdiness of the device and it comes increasingly close. Brilliant battery life is almost worth the money alone. Read full review
80	Pocket-lint | Stuart Miles It's a big and heavy device that will divide opinion because of its wide body. Equally, it's an incredibly well-built device that won't disappoint - especially on the power and battery life fronts - because you'll be hard pushed to find a smartphone as capable and well-rounded elsewhere. Read full review
80	Alphr | Jonathan Bray and David Court Apple has packed an awful lot of great technology into a phone that cries out for a redesigned look. But it's still a great phone, and if you're a committed iPhone user you'll want it. Read full review
80	NotebookCheck | Jonathan Bray Apple has packed an awful lot of great technology into a phone that cries out for a redesigned look. But it's still a great phone, and if you're a committed iPhone user you'll want it. Read full review
80	Expert Reviews | David Court Of the two new iPhones, the Plus is the better handset. It has that dual-camera, better battery life and a bigger screen. If you have no aversion to its pocket-stretching dimensions and you absolutely must have an iPhone then the iPhone 7 Plus is the handset to go for. Read full review
77	MobileTechTalk | Chris Wallace To round up, the iPhone 7 Plus is a great phone if you're into the Apple ecosystem or if you fancy a change from Android's implementation. The camera, performance and battery are all on point... The main problem I have is the price. Read full review
60	The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs The iPhone 7 Plus will tick a lot of boxes for many iPhone buyers but it's not a great phablet compared to the competition. Read full review

Compare Apple iPhone 7 Plus specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 in) Weight: 188 g (6.63 oz)
Screen	Size: 5.5 inches diagonal Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Screen Density: 401 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 67.7 % Display Type: LED-backlit IPS LCD
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Apple A10 Fusion CPU: Quad-core 2.23 GHz GPU: (six-core graphics) RAM: 3GB
Camera	Main Camera: Dual 12 megapixel lenses with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS),2x Optical Zoom, Shallow Depth of Field 'Portrait' Mode, and Quad LED True Tone flash Secondary Camera: 7 megapixels
Storage	Built-in Storage: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB Expandable Storage: Not Available
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 2900 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: No
SIM standard	Micro SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	IP67 Rating: Protection from contact with harmful dust, and protection from immersion in water up to a depth of 1m for up to 30 minutes
Fingerprint Reader	Front
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Apple iPhone 7 Plus

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Apple iPhone 7 Plus camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.