It may be hard to distinguish the iPhone 6S Plus vs. the iPhone 7 Plus at first glance. The two have nearly identical exteriors. Apple stuck with a tried and true design when they released the iPhone 7 line of smartphones. So how do you decide on which iPhone to buy? Let’s walk through a quick breakdown in the differences to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Aesthetics
As we mentioned, the two phones look remarkably similar, at least as far as their exteriors are concerned. Both are made with a resilient aluminum backing and have nearly identical measurements. Perhaps the biggest change is in removal of the so-called “antenna lines” from the back of the phone on the newer models. These horizontal plastic lines on the iPhone 6S Plus are believed to be related to allowing the signal to escape the phone’s exterior, though Apple has never confirmed that theory. Although the lines have been removed from the back of the iPhone 7 Plus, they haven’t been deleted altogether. Rather, they have been repositioned on the top of the phone and are much more subtle as a design element.
Color
Though the iPhone 7 Plus initially came in a wider range of colors vs. the iPhone 6S Plus, that no longer appears to be the case. You can get both phones in silver, rose or rose gold. The only major difference in color is that while the iPhone 7 Plus comes in black, the iPhone 6S Plus is available in space gray. But that’s all cosmetic anyway. What are the more substantive changes?
Headphone Jack
The most controversial of the changes on the iPhone 7 Plus vs. the iPhone 6S Plus is, perhaps, the removal of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7. Instead there is only the propriety lighting jack, which now controls both charging and audio capabilities. That means in order to use headphones, you will either need to invest in a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones or use an adapter for headphones that include a cord. The extra space that the headphone jack used to occupy is now devoted to a larger battery and improved mechanics for the home button. This trade-off means that you get slightly more battery time and that the home button on the face of the phone is less prone to breaking.
Camera & Music
Other improvements that the iPhone 7 Plus includes are dual speakers for a stereo listening experience, a more advanced chip, more RAM for smoother processing and for the first time ever an iPhone has been certified as water resistant. The biggest improvement you are likely to notice in your day-to-day, however, is improved cameras on both the front and the back of the phone. The main camera on the back of the phone has been upgraded to a dual-lens setup, one wide-angle and one telephoto lens. That means better pictures and zoom capabilities. The camera on the front of the phone has also been improved with more megapixels for richer photo detail and the ability to record video at an improved definition, 1080p on the iPhone 7 vs. 720p on the iPhone 6S Plus.
You will pay a bit more for the iPhone 7 Plus, but for some users it may be worth the extra expenditure when they’re deciding which iPhone to buy. If you love taking photos with your phone or find yourself out in wet weather occasionally, you may benefit heavily from the iPhone 7 Plus. However, both smartphones are reliable; these are sturdy devices that should serve you well for a long time to come.
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