6 Reasons to Buy an iPhone 7 Instead of iPhone 8
Image via EverythingApplePro
If you’re like many Apple aficionados, you’re likely — and justifiably — excited for the company’s new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. And you’re probably even more excited for the upcoming iPhone X. But if you’re in the market for a new iPhone this year, there are a variety of reasons to opt for the year-old iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, instead. Press the right arrow to discover 6 reasons to buy an iPhone 7 right now (instead of an iPhone 8).
6 Similar Cameras
While Apple regularly updates the cameras on its devices, some year-to-year upgrades might seem a bit more incremental than not. Compare the cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X — while the latter two devices have “better cameras,” it’s arguably not that huge of a leap forward (with the exception of the iPhone X's TrueDepth Camera, of course).
The iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X have optical image stabilization for both of their lenses and True Tone flash. The iPhone X has a slightly wider aperture. But other than that, they all still sport similar camera hardware: namely, 12-megapixel wide-angle and telephoto cameras. For the price, the iPhone 7 Plus is still capable of shooting amazing photos.
5 More Color Options
There’s no argument here: the iPhone 8 and iPhone X are available in fewer colors than their predecessor. It might not be the biggest deal, but it’s still something to take into account if you’re in the market for a new iPhone — particularly for the fashion- or color-conscious among us.
The iPhone 8 is available in Silver, Gold and Space Gray, while the iPhone X is available in just Black or White. With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, on the other hand, you have the option of Jet Black, Matte Black, Silver, Gold or Rose gold. And, let’s be real, some of us are going to miss Matte Black as an option on this year’s iPhones.
4 Metal Backs
Apple says the glass back on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X lineup is the strongest ever in a smartphone. Apple made the switch to facilitate the addition of inductive wireless charging to its new smartphones. But, despite what Apple says, a glass back is still glass.
Compared to the aluminum unibody on the iPhone 7 lineup, the new iPhones with glass backs are going to be more prone to cracking or damage when dropped. On a less destructive note, glass is going to be more susceptible to fingerprints and smudges, too. If you're deadset on wireless charging, there's no way around it. But if not, it's something to consider.
3 Wireless and Fast Charging Sold Separately
In a recent survey, about 46 percent of people polled said that wireless charging is the most attractive new feature of Apple’s 2017 iPhone lineup. Unfortunately for them, wireless (and fast) charging doesn’t technically “come in the box” with the new iPhones.
To be clear, the new iPhones will support wireless and fast charging right out of the box — but they’ll require separately sold accessories to access. For wireless charging, that (currently) means a third-party wireless charging pad. For fast charging, it means consumers will need to buy a new power adapter and USB-C cable.
2 Price Point
For most of us (without an unlimited budget), price is an important consideration when we’re in the market for a new device. In many cases, it can be the ultimate deal-breaker. And there’s no way around it: the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are much friendlier on the wallet than Apple’s new 2017 iPhones.
The iPhone X retails for $999 — the most expensive iPhone to date. The iPhone 8 starts at a more typical $699. But the iPhone 7 starts at $549. That’s basically half the price of the top-tier handset for a device that’s still extremely capable. The iPhone 7 still isn’t quite budget-priced, but for an iPhone, it’s extremely affordable.
1 You’re Still Running iOS 11
At the end of the day, no matter which iPhone you end up opting for, you’re still going to be running iOS. While there are minute differences in the way the iPhone X version of iOS operates, it’s still the same general experience across all of Apple’s current iPhones. Really, iOS is what makes an iPhone an iPhone.
iOS is undoubtedly a top-tier OS with regular security and bug updates (since it’s a first-party platform, unlike Android). More than that, it comes with the most extensive and carefully curated App Store in the world. Indeed, no matter which iPhone you go for, you still get — arguably — the best feature of an iPhone.