iPhone 7 Plus Review: Key Features and Innovations

iPhone 7 Plus

Product Overview: The iPhone 7 Plus is a premium smartphone developed and marketed by Apple Inc., unveiled alongside the iPhone 7 on September 7, 2016, and released on September 16, 2016. Positioned as the larger-screen variant of the iPhone 7 lineup, it introduced several groundbreaking hardware upgrades—most notably the dual-camera system—and marked Apple’s transition away from the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a controversial shift that reshaped the mobile audio ecosystem. The device launched with iOS 10 and supported software updates up to iOS 15, delivering a 6-year support cycle that set a new standard for Apple’s smartphone longevity.

Key Hardware Specifications

Component	Details
Display	5.5-inch Retina HD IPS LCD, 1920×1080 resolution (401 ppi), 625 nits max brightness, 1300:1 contrast ratio, 3D Touch support
Processor	Apple A10 Fusion chip (quad-core: 2 high-performance cores + 2 energy-efficient cores), 64-bit architecture, PowerVR GT7600 GPU
Memory & Storage	3 GB RAM; 32 GB/128 GB/256 GB internal flash storage (non-expandable; 32 GB variant added later to replace the 16 GB base model)
Cellular Connectivity	4G LTE Advanced (up to 450 Mbps), UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE; supports 20 LTE bands for global compatibility
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (MIMO), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC (for Apple Pay), GPS/GNSS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS)
Dual-Camera System (Rear)	12 MP wide-angle lens (f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, 1.22 μm pixels) + 12 MP telephoto lens (f/2.8 aperture, 2× optical zoom, 10× digital zoom); supports portrait mode, portrait lighting (via software update)
Front Camera	7 MP FaceTime HD camera (f/2.2 aperture), Retina Flash (screen-based flash for low-light selfies)
Battery	2900 mAh lithium-ion battery; up to 21 hours of 3G talk time, 13 hours of LTE web browsing, 60 hours of audio playback; supports 5 W wired charging, 7.5 W Qi wireless charging (added via iOS 11.2 update)
Design & Dimensions	158.2 × 77.9 × 7.3 mm, 188 g; available in Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, (Product)RED (special edition); sealed aluminum unibody (IP67 water and dust resistance: up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes)
Other Features	Taptic Engine (replaces physical home button with haptic feedback), IP67 water/dust resistance, stereo speakers (louder than iPhone 6s Plus), no 3.5 mm headphone jack (includes Lightning-to-3.5 mm adapter in-box)

Core Feature Upgrades & Innovations

Dual-Camera System & Portrait ModeThe iPhone 7 Plus’s dual-lens setup was its flagship feature: the wide-angle lens captured sharp, bright photos in low light, while the telephoto lens enabled 2× optical zoom (a first for iPhones) without quality loss. The accompanying Portrait Mode used computational photography to create a shallow depth-of-field effect, blurring the background and focusing on the subject—mimicking the look of DSLR cameras. Later iOS updates added Portrait Lighting, allowing users to adjust the intensity and direction of light in portrait photos.
A10 Fusion Chip: Performance & EfficiencyThe A10 Fusion was Apple’s first quad-core smartphone chip, splitting tasks between high-performance cores (for gaming, video editing) and energy-efficient cores (for everyday tasks like texting and web browsing). This hybrid design delivered 40% faster CPU performance and 50% faster GPU performance than the A9 chip in the iPhone 6s Plus, while improving battery efficiency for longer usage times.
IP67 Water & Dust ResistanceA first for the iPhone lineup, the IP67 rating made the iPhone 7 Plus resistant to dust ingress and temporary submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. This addressed a long-standing criticism of Apple’s smartphones and made the device more durable for everyday use.
Taptic Engine & Haptic FeedbackThe physical home button was replaced with a pressure-sensitive, static button that relied on the Taptic Engine to simulate click feedback. This design was more durable and water-resistant than traditional mechanical buttons, and the haptic feedback was later expanded to support 3D Touch gestures in apps and the iOS interface.
Removal of the 3.5 mm Headphone JackApple eliminated the 3.5 mm headphone jack to make the device slimmer and enable the Taptic Engine and dual-camera system. The company bundled a Lightning-to-3.5 mm adapter and promoted its AirPods (released the same year) as the wireless alternative. This move sparked industry-wide adoption of wireless audio, though it was initially met with consumer backlash.

Software & User Experience (iOS 10)

The iPhone 7 Plus launched with iOS 10, which introduced several key software features:

iMessage Enhancements: Animoji (later expanded to Memoji), bubble effects, and Digital Touch for richer messaging.
Raise to Wake: The screen automatically turns on when the user lifts the device, displaying notifications without needing to press a button.
Home App & Siri Intelligence: Integration with smart home devices (via HomeKit) and improved Siri voice commands for third-party apps.
Camera App Overhaul: A simplified interface with quick access to Portrait Mode, zoom controls, and live photo editing.

Market Impact & Legacy

Sales Dominance: The iPhone 7 Plus was a commercial success, with the dual-camera system driving strong demand for the larger variant. The (Product)RED special edition, released in 2017, raised millions for HIV/AIDS research and awareness.
Camera Innovation Benchmark: The dual-camera and Portrait Mode setup set a new standard for smartphone photography, pushing competitors to adopt similar lens configurations.
Wireless Audio Catalyst: The removal of the headphone jack accelerated the adoption of Bluetooth earbuds, with Apple’s AirPods becoming the best-selling wireless audio device globally.
Long Software Support: With updates up to iOS 15 (2021), the iPhone 7 Plus demonstrated Apple’s commitment to long-term device support, a key selling point for its premium smartphones.

Limitations

No headphone jack, requiring adapters for wired audio devices (the included adapter was prone to loss).

Non-expandable storage, forcing users to choose higher-priced models for more space.

Slow wired charging (5 W standard); fast charging was supported but required a separate USB-C power adapter and cable.

Portrait Mode had early limitations (e.g., difficulty recognizing complex subjects like pets, edge detection inaccuracies) that were gradually fixed via software updates.