TL;DR: Is it worth buying an iPhone 7 in 2023? You should consider buying an iPhone 7 in 2023 if you’re looking for the absolute bare essentials or you are on a very tight budget.
We’re well into 2023, and Apple’s latest iPhones are still as expensive as ever. Some folks have no problem spending an amount equal to a month’s rent to get the latest and greatest features, but lots of others prefer to save their money and buy a gently used previous-generation iPhone instead. In this post, we’ll outline the pros and cons of buying an iPhone 7 in 2023.
Is it worth buying an iPhone 7 in 2023?
Pros:
- The iPhone 7 is affordable, and you can easily find an iPhone 7 for under $100
- The iPhone 7 is reliable, and while it may not have all the features of a modern iPhone, it can still handle the basics with ease
Cons:
- The iPhone 7 is a nearly 7-year-old phone, and it no longer gets regular iOS updates
- The iPhone 7 does not have a high-resolution display, Face ID, a 5G modem, and other modern features
The bottom line is simple: If you want (or only need) a phone for very basic use such as telephone calls, text messages, and some basic app usage, or are on a very tight budget, you should consider an iPhone 7. But that said, you’d likely be better served spending a little more and getting a newer phone that will last longer into the future.
Read more: Swappa’s iPhone Buyers Guide
iPhone 7: Overview & Specs Comparison
The iPhone 7 was originally released in September 2016, which means it was released nearly 7 years ago, and as such, Apple no longer provides yearly iOS updates for the iPhone 7. Though to clarify, while the iPhone 7 did not receive the iOS 16 update in late 2022, and will not be updated to iOS 17 in late 2023, it may get an occasional security update. The iPhone 7 is currently running iOS 15.7.5.
The iPhone has changed dramatically since the iPhone 7 was released. Most modern iPhones have a larger (and higher-resolution) display and more modern features such as Face ID. Not to mention, improved hardware and software features, such as the camera hardware and camera feature set.
As we noted in the TL;DR, one of the most attractive aspects of buying a used iPhone 7 is the low price.
The table below compares the iPhone 7 specs against the iPhone Xr and the iPhone 11. The comparison also includes the 2nd-gen iPhone SE (2020) and the 3rd-gen iPhone SE (2022), which are worthy of consideration if you happen to be looking for an iPhone with a smaller form factor, or for an iPhone with a Touch ID and a home button.
| iPhone 7 | iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 | iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone SE (2022) | |
| Display | 4.7″ Retina HD (1344 x 750, 326 ppi) | 6.1″ Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828, 326ppi) | 6.1″ Liquid Retina HD (1792 x 828, 326ppi) | 4.7″ Retina HD (1334 x 750, 326 ppi) | 4.7″ Retina HD (1334 x 750, 326 ppi) |
| Front Camera | 7MP FaceTime HD | 7MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth | 7MP FaceTime HD | 7MP FaceTime HD |
| Rear Camera | Single 12MP wide camera | Single 12MP wide camera | Dual 12MP ultra-wide and wide cameras | Single 12MP wide camera | Single 12MP wide camera |
| Processor | Apple A10 Fusion chip | Apple A12 Bionic chip with Second-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic chip with Third-generation Neural Engine | Apple A13 Bionic chip with 8-core Neural Engine | Apple A15 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB | 4GB | 3GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB, 128GB, or 256GB | 64GB or 128GB | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB |
| Battery | 1,960 mAh | 2,942 mAh | 3,110 mAh | 1,821 mAh | 2,018 mAh |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes (Qi) | Yes (Qi) | Yes (Qi) | Yes (Qi) |
| Fast Charging | No | Yes (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with an Apple 20W power adapter) | Yes (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with an Apple 20W power adapter) | Yes (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with an Apple 20W power adapter) | Yes (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with an Apple 20W power adapter) |
| Size & Weight | 5.44 (H) x 2.64 (W) x 0.28 (D) (in inches) / 4.87 ounces | 5.94 (H) x 2.98 (W) x 0.33 (D) (in inches) / 6.84 ounces | 5.94 (H) x 2.98 (W) x 0.33 (D) (in inches) / 6.84 ounces | 5.45 (H) x 2.65 (W) x 0.29 (D) (in inches) / 5.22 ounces | 5.45 (H) x 2.65 (W) x 0.29 (D) (in inches) / 5.09 ounces |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 | IP68 | IP67 | IP67 |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, or Rose Gold | Blue, White, Black, Yellow, Coral, PRODUCT(RED) | Purple, Yellow, Green, Black, White, PRODUCT(RED) | Black, White, PRODUCT(RED) | Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED) |
| Buy Now | iPhone 7 | iPhone Xr | iPhone 11 | iPhone SE (2020) | iPhone SE (2022) |
iPhone 7 in 2023: What you will get
- A cheap iPhone for basic usage needs
- A small iPhone with Touch ID and a home button
iPhone 7 in 2023: What you will not get
Put simply, the iPhone 7 is going to be missing quite a bit when you compare it to newer, more modern iPhones. Some of the missing features include:
- Ultra-wide camera
- Wireless charging
- True Tone display
- Portrait Mode
- Fast Charging
- Face ID
If these features are important to you, consider upgrading to something slightly newer such as an iPhone SE 2020 or iPhone SE 2022.
Read more: Swappa’s iPhone Buyer Guide
