Nobody likes spending $1,000+ on a new iPhone. Whether you’re looking to upgrade an older device, or you’re in need of a cheap replacement, the iPhone 7 Plus is a great, low-cost option for first-time smartphone users, or anyone who requires a larger sized display for easier readability.
In this post we’ll be giving you a quick overview of the phone, telling you everything you need to know about the iPhone 7 Plus, so you can decide whether it’s worth buying in 2021.
iPhone 7 Plus release date
The iPhone 7 Plus was originally released in September 2016, alongside the much smaller iPhone 7. Both phones were officially discontinued by Apple in 2019 with the release of the iPhone 11.
Despite no longer being offered at the Apple Store, the iPhone 7 Plus is still supported by Apple, meaning it receives regular security updates and is currently running the latest version of iOS. Yet another reason why the phone comes highly recommended and why it’s still a popular seller on Swappa.
iPhone 7 Plus specs
Overall, the design of the iPhone 7 Plus wasn’t a big change from the previous generation iPhone 6S Plus, but more of a refinement. Today, the iPhone 7 Plus does look a bit dated. Newer models like the iPhone XS have significantly larger screen sizes while carrying a smaller footprint to boot.
When compared to the regular iPhone 7, the iPhone 7 Plus is obviously the bigger of the two models, but there are more “pluses” than just the overall size. The 7 Plus has extra bonus specs like a larger battery, higher resolution display, and an extra camera lens for Portrait mode shots. Here’s how the two phones match up.
| iPhone 7 | iPhone 7 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.7-inch LCD (1334 × 750) | 5.5-inch LCD (1920 × 1080) |
| Rear camera | 12MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12MP, f/1.8, OIS (Slow Sync) |
| Processor | A10 Fusion | A10 Fusion |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 32/128/256GB | 32/128/256GB |
| Battery | 1,960mAh | 2,900mAh |
| Water resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Size (dimensions) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm |
| Weight | 138g | 188g |
When it comes to other new hardware additions, the iPhone 7 Plus adds IP67 water resistance (a first for the iPhone), VoLTE, WiFi calling, NFC for Apple Pay, but removes the 3.5mm headphone jack which means you’ll need to a dongle when using wired headphones.
One of the best — and most underrated — new features is the insanely fast second generation fingerprint reader. It reads your fingerprint almost instantly, and when combined with the new taptic engine, simulates a “click” despite the absence of an actual physical button.
Read more: iPhone 7 Plus Buyer’s Guide and our iPhone 7 Plus Upgrade/Comparison Guide
iPhone 7 Plus screen size
The iPhone 7 Plus has a screen size of 5.5-inches. It’s the same size as the previous year’s iPhone 6S, but the screen quality has improved with support for wider colors for more color saturation and accuracy. This makes the screen great for watching videos, playing video games, or editing photos.
- 5.5 inch Retina HD display (IPS)
- 1920 × 1080 resolution
- 401 ppi
- 1300:1 contrast ratio
- Wide color display (P3)
- 625 nits max brightness (typical)
IPS isn’t the best display tech out there, and you can find larger versions of this in the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 which feature all-screen designs. Apple would eventually make the move to superior OLED display technology on newer iPhone models like the iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro, and larger Max counterparts which feature higher resolutions, more vibrant colors, and even deeper blacks.
iPhone 7 Plus size and colors
The size of your phone is an important detail when shopping for a new device. Some people prefer smaller, one-handed phones, while others value larger screened phones for easier readability. The iPhone 7 Plus is definitely on the larger end, measuring in at 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm and weighing in at 188g. It’s a hefty phone for sure, and the overall size is even larger than newer models like the iPhone XS which have significantly larger displays.
The iPhone 7 Plus also comes in a handful of standard colors like gold, silver, black, and red, along with fan favorite rose gold. This was also the first and last model year that Apple introduced a glossy jet black color with a ceramic coating that unfortunately, was much more susceptible to scratches.
iPhone 7 Plus camera
There have been several advancements in mobile camera technology over the years, and while the iPhone 7 Plus camera may not offer the best photos or videos, it should meet the needs of those who don’t want to spend an arm-and-a-leg just to snap an occasional photo.
That’s not to say the iPhone 7 Plus camera is bad by any means. At the time of its release, the iPhone 7 Plus was easily one of the best smartphone cameras of its day. The primary camera is a 12MP sensor with a fast f/1.8 aperture. The iPhone 7 also adds a telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and both cameras feature optical image stabilization. Here are the rest of the camera specs:
Dual rear cameras
- 12MP wide-angle: ƒ/1.8 aperture
- 12MP telephoto: ƒ/2.8 aperture (2x optical zoom)
- Portrait mode
- Optical image stabilization
- Six‑element lens
- Sapphire crystal lens cover
- Quad-LED True Tone flash
- Wide color capture
- Improved local tone mapping
Front facing selfie camera
- 7MP f/2.2 aperture
- 1080p / 30fps
On the video front, the iPhone 7 Plus is capable of shooting crisp 4K / 30fps, and slo-mo 1080p / 120fps videos.
Camera features missing from the iPhone 7 Plus that you’ll find on newer models include Smart HDR (iPhone XR, XS), additional wide angle lens (iPhone 11 series), Deep Fusion and Night Mode (iPhone 11 series).
iPhone 7 Plus battery life
The iPhone 7 Plus is the year that Apple made huge strides in the battery life department. This mostly had to do with the more power efficient A10 Fusion chip that featured four cores — two high-performance cores, and two high-efficiency cores — that simultaneously provide more speed, and sip power when the phone isn’t in use.
Apple rates the iPhone 7 Plus for 14 hours of video playback. While that may not sound like a huge improvement over the previous gen model, standby time is vastly improved thanks to those high-efficiency cores. Of course, your results will vary depending on your own personal use.
How much does the iPhone 7 Plus cost?
When it was first introduced, the iPhone 7 Plus was priced at $749 which is fairly modest pricing by today’s standards — especially considering how well the iPhone 7 Plus stacks up to newer iPhones. While the iPhone 7 Plus is no longer available from Apple, you can still find gently used models on Swappa. And since iPhone 7 Plus prices have gone down quite a bit, it’s the perfect time to buy.
Whether it’s in California or anywhere else, the starting price for an unlocked iPhone 7 Plus 32GB on Swappa is $159, while the average price is around $221.
If you’re looking for more features, check out the iPhone 8 Plus which adds wireless charging, fast charging, and an improved camera. If you want the cheapest iPhone that features Apple’s all-screen design, the iPhone XR is another great phone for the money.
Snag the best deals on used iPhones wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!
