Almost like clockwork, Apple unveiled its iPhone and iPhone 7 Plus at yet another September event last week. While the event was not all about the smartphone, it was the reason most watched and attended. As such, we now have two Plus-sized iPhones to compare: the iPhone 6s Plus and 7 Plus.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus: design
While initial thoughts may lead you to think the designs of these two handsets are remarkably similar, there are differences. To start with, the iPhone 7 Plus has no headphone jack. Apple decided to leave this 50-year old tech out and instead has opted to use the lightning port. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use your old headphones. Both new iPhone 7 variants ship with a 3.5mm-to-Lightning port adapter.
The other difference between the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 Plus is water resistance. Apple has stated in various publications, that the 7 Plus is water-resistant up to one meter and can sustain this depth for 30 minutes. This feature alone gives the latest iPhone a leg up over the older model, which does not have a water-resistant body.
Moving to size, there’s no surprise in the fact that these devices have identical dimensions. Both are 6.23 inches in height and 3.07 inches wide with a depth of 0.29-inches. The size of their displays is also identical at 5.5 inches with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolutions. The only measurable change is in weight, with the iPhone 7 Plus coming in at 6.63 ounces and the iPhone 6s at 6.77 ounces. However, that’s such a small difference that it will not be noticeable in the hand.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus: power
Beyond design, it is the power of the iPhone 7 Plus where we start to see obvious differences. The first thing users of this new iPhone will see is how powerful it is, and that is thanks to the A10 Fusion processor running the show.
Built with two high-performance cores, the A10 was developed to provide more power than that of the A9 in the 6s Plus. In fact, Apple clearly stated at its event on September 7 that this chip is 40% faster than the A9. However, that is not where the power differences end, as the A10 also has a hexa-core GPU. This GPU is capable of making visually demanding games and apps run much more smoothly on the iPhone 7 Plus.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus: RAM and storage
Regarding RAM, both handsets pack 2GB, but there are internal storage capacity differences. To start with, the 6s Plus started at 16GB, whereas this storage tier is gone for the 7 and 7 Plus.
The latest handsets come with the following options: 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB, while the older model comes in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB variations.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus: camera
The camera on the iPhone 7 Plus is, without a doubt, the most superior ever seen on an iPhone. This handset is the first Apple handset to feature a dual-lens camera, and it is this which is the major difference between the two handsets. With two lenses which allow for wide-angle images to be shot and optical zoom, it is a great improvement.
However, that is not where the differences end. The inclusion of a telephoto lens with a f/2.8 aperture is an accomplishment for Apple. The lens itself offers a manual 2x zoom; however, with software, this can be pushed up to 10x.
All of the upgrades added to the iPhone 7 Plus mean that compared to the single 12MP camera on the 6s Plus, it’s a serious improvement.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus: price
The iPhone 7 Plus will hit store shelves in less than 24 hours and will cost $770 for the base 32GB model. The 128GB and 256GB will set you back $870 and $970 respectively.
If you’re interested in how much others around the world will have to pay for their iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, click here. Alternatively, if you want to know how to get your hands on one without a preorder, click here.
