iphone7

iphone 7

THE GOOD Improved front and rear cameras -- now with optical image stabilization -- deliver much improved photos, especially in low light. Water resistant. A faster processor, plus slightly better battery life. More onboard storage than last year's models for the same price.

THE BAD No headphone jack (but there's a dongle and compatible wired headphones in the box). Click-free home button takes getting used to. Only the larger 7 Plus has the cool dual camera. Shiny jet-black version scratches easily.

THE BOTTOM LINE The iPhone 7's notable camera, battery and water resistance improvements are worthwhile upgrades to a familiar phone design. But ask yourself if you really need an upgrade... and if the Plus might be a better choice.

rved wraparound screen? Nope. Wireless charging? Not yet. Are you bothered that the new iPhone looks the same as last year's iPhone? If you are, I understand the feeling. The iPhone 7 doesn't feel like the "whole new thing." Does that bother you? Maybe. But is it better? Yeah, it is. Except for one small 3.5-millimeter thing.

The iPhone 7 was released in September, so you've certainly heard by now that it has no headphone jack and it looks almost identical to the 2014 iPhone 6 and 2015 iPhone 6S. It's faster, it's better.

There are plenty of good or even great Android phones to choose from now, from the Samsung Galaxy S7 (wait for Galaxy S8, though, early next year) to the Google Pixel, to the OnePlus 3T. The iPhone 7 beats these on speed, but not on battery life. Its size, performance and camera are unique features -- along with being a way to use iOS, of course -- but the iPhone's unique qualities are, this time, improved in many subtle ways.

But there are still compelling reasons to consider an iPhone 7, even if you own one of those recent iPhone models...provided you have an affordable way to upgrade.

• The iPhone 7 is now fully water-resistant (it can take a shallow dunking).
• The camera takes notably better photos, especially in low light, and adds the optical image stabilization feature previously restricted to the 5.5-inch Plus model.
• The battery lasts a little bit longer -- sometimes it's notable, other times it feels just slightly better than the iPhone 6S.
• The processor is definitely faster, although keep in mind that last year's iPhone 6S has more than enough speed for most people's needs.

It's also got a "wide color gamut" screen with enhanced color accuracy, and enhanced stereo speakers, though I didn't find those improvements as critical as the ones above. And the home button isn't "clickable" anymore -- it uses the same pressure sensitivity and vibration feedback found on the 3D Touch screen. It works perfectly well, but takes some getting used to because there's no mechanical click when you press the home button.

8.7

OVERALL

• DESIGN9.0
• FEATURES8.0
• PERFORMANCE9.0
• CAMERA9.0
• BATTERY7.0