- [Michael] The new iPhone is a lot like the old iPhone.
This is a phone of old ideas repackaged.
The water resistance,
the little conveniences,
even the assassination of the noble headphone jack,
none of it is truly new.
But Apple, as always, is less about novelty
than about repackaging what already exists
in a new and interesting way.
The iPhone 7 lives up to that legacy,
you just need to be able to see past the boring bits
to realize it.
I'm Michael Fisher, and this is the iPhone 7 review
from Mr. Mobile.
(enthusiastic instrumental music)
(moves into energetic instrumental music)
Let me lay something out here.
In the past few months
I've criticized a great many Android manufacturers
for derivative industrial design,
and by no means does Apple get a pass.
In the hand the iPhone 7 feels nearly identical
to the two generations of iPhone that came before it.
Unless you get the incredibly scratch-prone,
jet-black version instead of the matte-black finish
on my review device.
Yes, the minimized antenna inlays are welcome,
and the new casting around the camera lens is impressive,
but these are details
that only the discerning eye can appreciate.
And upfront, you've got a display
whose resolution hasn't changed since 2014.
Stuff like this is part of the reason phone nerds get
up in arms about people spending so much money on iPhones.
On the surface Apple seems
to be selling yesterday's leftovers to a gullible populace.
But that's not true.
The truth is you don't need crazy high resolution
on a display this small,
and what is lacks in pixel density, it makes up for
in color balance.
While the 7 is just as thin as and slightly lighter than
last-year's iPhone, it is water and dust resistant.
This is something I've confirmed with the help
of several fountains and several stupid shower selfies.
And the single speaker has been split into two,
now placed above and below the display
for more immersive sound than any iPhone to date.
♫ Where the hell my phone, hey
♫ Where the hell my phone
♫ Where the hell my, where the hell my phone, huh
(iPhone music continues)
Speaking of sound,
let's talk about that headphone jack for a second.
Yes, it's gone.
And, no, I don't really miss it.
Bluetooth headphones have become a big part of my life
since using the Moto Z earlier this year,
which also didn't offer a headphone jack.
If you're an audiophile and use the kind of fidelity
only an analog wired connection can deliver,
or if your car doesn't have Bluetooth,
obviously, this isn't the phone for you.
Everyone else will either learn to live
with the Lightning EarPods in the box,
or use their existing headphones
with Apple's included adapter,
or use Bluetooth.
The point is, you've got options.
The space Apple saved by axing the headphone jack
it filled back up with an improved Taptic Engine,
the linear motor that gives the iPhone its good vibrations.
Taptic response is everywhere on the iPhone 7.
From the little bump when the notification shade bounces
off the bottom of the screen,
to the subtle clicks that tick off bearing marks
in the compass and slots on click wheels
to the artificial buzz of 3D touch.
The iPhone feels more alive in the hand than ever before.
And Taptic response is more important than ever
to sell the illusion of the new Home button,
which is actually a capacitive touch pad
whose click is produced entirely by the Taptic engine.
It feels so futuristic that the spring loaded buttons
on older iPhones already feel clunky and dated to me.
If your hands are wet or gloved, the button won't work,
but Apple borrowed a page from Motorola and Nokia here
with Raised Wake.
The iPhone 7 will turn on its screen
when you pull it from a pocket or pluck it from a tabletop.
And it works pretty well in practice.
From there it's just a firm press on the fingerprint scanner
to jump into iOS 10.
Now, personally, I still hate being locked into Apple's idea
of a home screen.
This astatic grid of icons
that I only have the barest control over.
And some of the precedence iOS established
with the first iPhone are now woefully out of date.
Like putting the back button in the least accessible corner
of the screen.
That said, I do like the new coat of paint
on iOS 10.
The Control Center keeps a lot of handy toggles
within a thumb's reach.
Widgets and frequently used apps have been broken out
into a separate panel off to the left.
Swiping down still lets you search for pretty much anything
right from the home screen.
And when you just don't want to be bothered,
the palm inspired mute switch is still the simplest way
to silence a phone.
In other words, iOS 10 on the iPhone 7
is a really nice mix of old and new.
Phone calls on the iPhone 7 are outstanding.
I tested it on T-Mobile, and whenever I was talking
to another T-Mobile customer with HD Voice,
or doing a VoIP call over Wi-Fi,
the sound quality was tremendous.
Apple uses active noise cancellation in the ear piece
which makes me feel...well tell them, Wesley.
- I feel strange but also good.
- What I mean is, it's a little disorienting in a loud room
because it's actively removing noise from only
one side of your head.
But it does a phenomenal job of isolating the caller's voice
so you can hear him or her.
Back on software,
day-to-day responsiveness
is Apple's typical slick and quick.
Though I found a few more minor hiccups
than I expected in gaming.
I also had one instance where the phone refused to unlock
despite recognizing my thumb print.
I figure these are teething issues
with either the new A-10 Processor or iOS 10,
but I mention them mainly to remind folks that, yes,
even the iPhone is susceptible to the occasional bug.
Finally, there's the camera
which has seen almost every major component upgraded
this year.
By far the most notable of these is optical stabilization
which smooths video in walking shots
and allows for clearer long exposures in low light.
Thanks to this,
and probably thanks to the new larger aperture as well,
the new iPhone delivered well in dim conditions.
And photos taken everywhere else were fine.
I say fine because while in a vacuum they're excellent,
when you put them up against the closest competition
from Samsung, the Galaxy S7,
I actually tend to prefer the S7's pictures.
Part of that is because I like Samsung's
slightly larger-than-life saturation.
But the S7's photos are also crisper, sharper
in most conditions.
The iPhone has a tendency to go soft.
The iPhone 7 is still one of the fastest,
most forgiving cameras out there.
And while you're taking in a few more samples,
let's talk endurance.
You'll probably get through a day of moderate use
with the iPhone 7.
But step it up to heavy
with even a little streaming radio or tethering
and you should expect a low-battery warning
before dinnertime.
The nerdy side of me wants to lash out at the iPhone 7,
to whine about the familiar design,
to join the chorus of voices who say,
"This phone is too expensive."
But the people buying iPhones don't need me to tell them
that Apple's an expensive company.
You should know that by now.
And, more importantly, Apple doesn't deserve
to be beaten down just for making an excellent product
that's only marginally more excellent than last year's.
Because, make no mistake,
the iPhone 7 is an excellent smartphone,
one of the best you can buy in 2016.
Even if it's not the head turner it once was.
Don't forget the iPhone 7's bigger sibling, folks.
I'll be reviewing the 7 Plus shortly
and the Apple Watch Series 2 as well.
So make sure you're subscribed to Mr. Mobile on YouTube,
so you don't miss it.
Until next time, thanks for watching,
and stay mobile, my friends.