Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are amazing. They're fast. They have cool new cameras. They're available in a sleek jet black finish. And they're even water-resistant. But they're not perfect, so before you shell out $650 or more for a new phone, be sure to consider some of the things that aren't quite perfect about Apple's latest models. Here are some of the worst things about the iPhone 7.
- No headphone jack. We knew this was coming, but it still comes as something of a shock. The venerable headphone jack is gone. Apple is including both a set of earbuds that work with the iPhone 7's Lightning port, as well as a dongle that will let you connect your existing headphones to the phone, but the company really wants you to switch to wireless headphones, something that was emphasized repeatedly in the iPhone 7 launch event (and if you want to charge your phone while also wearing headphones, that's your only option). Which leads us to buy AirPods.
- AirPods aren't included. Apple's new wireless earbuds do look awesome. They'll work with Siri. And the Apple Watch. And automatically pair with all of your Apple devices over iCloud. But they're $159, and won't be available until late October. So, be sure not to lose that dongle before then.
- It's not waterproof. You may see references to the iPhone 7 being waterproof, but it's not. Apple refers to it as being "splash, water and dust resistant," and warns that its resistance level could "decrease as a result of normal wear." The company also warns that the phone's warranty doesn't cover liquid damage, so you may want to avoid any temptation to take your new iPhone into the shower with you.
- Boring design. Apple explained during the show how it improved on the design of last year’s handset. And it’s definitely not a bad thing to see the iPhone getting an even better, more polished version of Apple’s design from the past two years. But some people will still make a fuss over it, which is certainly understandable.
- Same Screen Resolution. The display is getting better compared to last year’s model, as Apple has brought over the iPad Pro’s True Tone display technology to the iPhone. However, we’re still looking at HD and Full HD resolutions for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which aren’t on par with what the competition is offering. Not that Apple has ever tried to match the competition’s hardware, of course.
If you're planning to buy a new iPhone. Buy the iPhone 6/6s (Plus) then wait for iPhone 8. iPhone 7/7s (Plus) is not worth it after all.