Device Advice – iPhone 7
Welcome to the latest edition in our ‘Device Advice’ blog series, sharing our thoughts and insights into the most recent devices releases.
iPhone 7
With people queuing for days to purchase the iPhone 7 after its official launch last Friday, we took a closer look at Apple’s latest flagship.
When we look at the specifications, then compare to the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 7 is unsurprisingly a clear upgrade across the board. The device’s display is 25 per cent brighter, meaning the screen is clearly visible in any light – and its processor is claimed to be 40 per cent faster than its predecessor. Apple’s new ‘performance controller’ also directs tasks, such as email receipt, to designated high-efficiency processors, – lowering battery demand for these jobs.
In terms of its battery capabilities, the iPhone 7 boasts the “best battery life ever seen by an iPhone”, meaning you can stay connected for longer than ever before. It also claims to be water and dust resistant – although can’t claim to be entirely waterproof, unlike rival Android devices. Although the device lacks the removable storage capabilities of some non-Apple devices, with a starting size of 32GB this isn’t a necessity.
The iPhone 7 runs on iOS 10, meaning all devices will be protected from numerous threats – such as the recently discovered ‘Trident’ – securing your business data. Also part of the iOS 10 package is an update to Siri, which opens the tool up to third party developers; this means you may soon be able to send a Whatsapp message or book an Uber without even touching the device.
An improved camera is always a key feature with each iPhone release, and the iPhone 7’s camera is no exception. Its 12-megapixel camera offers three times longer exposure than its predecessor, and an upgrade to the forward facing camera means your Skype or Facetime calls will be even clearer.
Perhaps the most talked about feature of this new generation of iPhone is the somewhat controversial removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. As many prefer to make and receive calls using earphones – leaving your hands free to type or write notes – this change is something to bear in mind, and bluetooth headphones give you yet another thing to plug in and charge.
But is there value in investing in the iPhone 7 over previous models? That depends on what you need from a device. With a starting price of £500 (after you have claimed back the VAT) for a base model iPhone 7 with 32GB of storage, it’s certainly a model you may hold back for senior management rather than the entire device estate.
One of the great things about Apple is that it is very good at supporting devices for a long time with OS updates, which means you don’t always need to buy the latest hardware to enjoy many of the benefits. For example, the iPhone SE which launched at the beginning of 2016 will get iOS 10 (and will be supported with future updates for at least two years – a typical mobile contract cycle). And, with a 16GB iPhone SE now costing around £316 (16GB capacity), and £358 (64GB capacity) after claiming the VAT, you can buy a great Apple device for your fleet that will stand the test of time, while ensuring the health of your technology fund.
