Buy an Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Over 47,000 reviewers gave the iPhone 7 Plus 4.5 stars!
Some cool facts about the 7 Plus:
- The iPhone 7 Plus was released in September 2016 and by the end of the first sales quarter in 2018, the model had sold 17.4 million units worldwide
- A used iPhone 7 Plus’ price averages around R8,000. A new one averages around R12,000, making a used model approximately 30% cheaper
- It has a good resale value depending on its condition, it’s able to maintain 60% of its value if its sold within a year to two years
Camera
12MP Main Camera
7MP Selfie Camera
Portrait Mode
Time Lapse
Slow Motion
Optical Zoom
Video
Augmented Reality and your Camera
Flash
Tap-to-Focus
Screen and Display
- The display features a 1920×1080 pixel resolution HD screen
- The screen makes use of True Tone, which automatically adjusts and matches the surrounding light and color balance for a more natural viewing experience.
- The screen has fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating so a simple rub against your shirt will remove the day’s finger marks
- The screen has 401 pixels-per-inch (ppi) density, which means more clarity and detail on your screen
- 3D Touch is integrated, which is a pressure-sensitive feature that can pick up three different kinds of pressure applied by your fingers for various tasks. The device responds differently according to each degree of pressure.
- The 7 Plus has wide colour display, which means you more colour for your photos and videos. This leads to better colour reproduction than any other iPhone that came before it.
- The screen is made of Gorilla Glass 5
Battery Performance
- Battery capacity of 1960 mAh
- Wireless talk time: Up to 21 hours on 3G
- Internet use up to 15 hours on Wi-Fi
- Video playback: Up to 14 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 60 hours
- On standby: Up to 16 days
- USB Charging
Dimensions
- The iPhone 7 Plus weighs 188 grams
- It's height is 15.8 cm
- It's length is 7.7 cm
- It's width is 0.73 cm
Chip Set
We like chips - The iPhone 7 Plus A10 Fusion Chip, that is.
This iPhone 7 Plus features the A10 Fusion chip. The chip has four cores - two for energy-efficiency and two for performance. It has a 50% faster graphics processor and a 40% faster CPU than previous iPhones.
The A10 chip is smart. Depending on the kind of task you’re performing on your phone, it will decide in the moment which core needs to be used. This is all because the A10 chip is dedicated to faster performance and a better battery life.
Durability Test
The iPhone 7 Plus was tested for its durability in real-life situations such as being submerged in water or having excess pressure applied to the screen.
In the US, smartphone insurer SquareTrade conducted a pressure and bend test on the iPhone 7 Plus and found that it only bent when 180 pounds of pressure - approximately 90 kg’s - were applied. However, we would still recommend you not sitting on your phone!
All in all, we’ll give the iPhone 7 Plus an 8/10 for durability.
Specifications
Display
OS
Connectivity
Primary Camera
Camera effects
CPU
Resolution
Battery
Dimensions
Sim Type
Chip set
Secondary camera
Video
RAM
Accessibility Features
VoiceOver
This feature allows users to type a message on their screen and have the iPhone read the text out aloud.
Zoom
Zoom allows users to magnify their screen making text and the overall appearance larger and easier to read. One can magnify the screen up to 15 times its original size.
RTT
Real-time text (RTT) allows users with hearing impairments to type and send a conversational text while on the phone
Dictation
The dictation feature allows a user to verbally relay a message while the iPhone types it out. This may be helpful for users who have impairments with their hands or fingers.
Type to Siri
Type to Siri is useful for people unable to speak. One can type a query to Siri instead of saying it.
Switch Control
Switch Control is for users who have very little mobility and allows them to control their iPhone or iPad using moves as small as a blowing, blinking or clicking a button. Other devices such as a joystick can work with Switch Control.
Closed Captions
Closed captions were created for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closed captions are also known as subtitles for video or audio material.
Assistive Touch
Assistive Touch helps users who have difficulty pressing buttons, applying 3D Touch and pinch-to-zoom on an iPhone or iPad. The feature provides an onscreen button which can be tapped instead of having to physically press it on the side.
Speak Screen
Speak Screen reads anything that’s being displayed on your phone.
iOS Features
Created by Apple Inc in 2007 specifically for touchscreen devices, iOS has earned the title of the most robust and advanced operating system on the market. iOS has maintained exclusivity for its users as it is only available for Apple’s mobile devices. Since inception, it’s undergone 12 major updates and is currently on version 12.2. iOS is so much more than an operating system - it’s part of the way you live your digital life. Let's see what iOS offers you...
App Store
The App Store allows iPhone and iPad users to browse and download apps to their device. From games to fitness to music to photo editing to load shedding schedules, the App Store offers millions of fun, helpful and informative apps for your everyday life.
iCloud
Apple iCloud is a storage service that comes free for anyone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac to store, save and sync your data and settings across all of your Apple devices. You can also save and sync photos, videos, music, documents and more. Up to 5GB is free and you can pay a monthly fee if you want more storage space.
Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is a location-tracking service for all Apple devices, including Macs. If your device has been stolen or lost, you can pinpoint the exact location of your phone via Find My iPhone. Just use another computer or a friend’s iPhone to locate your phone by logging into iCloud and selecting “Find My iPhone”. The app must be activated in your settings for it to locate your device.
Siri
Siri is like a knowledgeable, witty friend in your pocket. Siri can answer questions, make recommendations to restaurants and action tasks like playing your favorite playlist just by saying, “Hey Siri.”
iMessage
iOS is taking texting to a new level. You can animate your conversations with sounds like ‘slam’, ‘loud’ or ‘gentle’ as well as full screen effects like balloons.
Photos
iOS can store thousands of your memories and allows you to categorise into albums. Your phone is also able to pick up if multiple photos were taken on a particular day as well as places, grouping them into an album. The same goes for photos and videos sent via WhatsApp and content posted on Instagram. Live Photos transforms still photos into moving images by filming a few seconds of video before you take your photo. The photos app is also capable of facial recognition, so if you have multiple photos of the same person, the app will offer an album suggestion for them.
iMovie
iMovie is a video editing app created by Apple for iPhones and iPads. You can create and edit high-definition videos straight from your phone! The app allows you to share your videos straight to Youtube, MMS or email.
3D Touch
3D Touch uses capacitive sensors incorporated into the smartphone's display to sense three degrees of pressure in a user's touch and responds according to the amount of pressure used.
Record Your Screen
You can now record the process of something done on your iPhone or iPad. For example, you can record how to take and edit photos, record how to upload an Instagram story, send an email - the list is endless.
Drag and Drop
Drag and Drop allows text, links, photos, files, and more to be transferred from one app to another without needing to use in-app share sheets.Tap and hold the file, then drag it. Using another finger, access another app to drop the file into.
Do Not Disturb While Driving
This feature is dedicated to decreasing distractions while driving. Once activated, your device mutes all incoming notifications when its connected to the car’s Bluetooth or WiFi, except for emergency texts. The feature also responds to incoming messages with a short notification that you are in the car and unable to answer the phone.
QR Code Scanner
Point the camera at a QR code and it will automatically detect it and give you the option to open it. Use it to register for things or pay your restaurant bill via Snap Scan.
QuickType One-Handed Keyboard
You can select a one-handed keyboard if your other hand is occupied and unable to type. You can choose the keyboard to shift all of the keys to the left or right side. You can even simply use your thumb using the QuickType feature.
Apple Wallet
Apple Wallet safely and easily stores your coupons, boarding passes, student ID cards, event tickets, movie tickets and store card, credit cards and debit cards.
Control Centre
Control Centre is a collection of the most important and frequently used functions and settings such as WiFi, calculator, screen brightness or sound consolidated into one place. Easily accessed by swiping up from the bottom of your screen, Control Centre helps you do things quickly without having to unlock your phone.
Emergency SOS
You can alert the police or an emergency contact by pressing the sleep button five times.
Apple Maps
Traveling in a new city? Going away for the weekend? iOS gives you Maps for free! Type in your end address and simply follow the route. You can also save specific locations such as ‘home’, ‘work’ and ‘second home’.
Lock Screen Notifications
The Lock Screen shows you the time and date as well as any notifications for messages without you having to unlock your phone. You can see older notifications by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
Automatic Setup
When buying a device operating on iOS, it is easy and quick to set it up. Automatic Setup transfers all of your personal settings, preferences and iCloud Keychain passwords to your new device just by holding your new and used devices close together.
Notes App
Use the Notes app to take meeting minutes, jot down your thoughts, save shopping lists, links to articles and so much more. It’s a notepad in your phone!
Podcast
It may not be safe to read a book while driving to work, but now you don’t have to. The Podcasts app in iOS offers thousands of fun, informative and stimulating shows to listen to in a variety of genres while you’re driving, exercising or lying on the beach. Subscribe to your favourite shows and get notifications when new episodes are up!
Health App
The health app gathers data from your iPhone, Apple Watch and other apps that you use so that you can view your progress in one place. The app tracks sleep, activity, nutrition, your walking steps, running distances and other factors. The information collected can also be kept private with a password in the case of snooping friends or family members!
iTunes
Listen to your favourite music, watch the best TV shows and movies straight from your iPhone via iTunes. iTunes lets you create playlists choosing from 50 million based on your mood, location or time of year - it’s perfectly curated to you.
iOS also comes with…
Reminders
Voice Memos
Emojis
Weather
Safari web browser
Apple Mail
iBooks
iOS 12
Improved performance
With iOS 12, everything is faster! Simply opening an app is now 40% percent faster, even when you’re jumping between multiple apps at on time. Using multiple apps at the same time is twice as fast as it was in iOS 11!
Speed and performance also extends to opening the camera app from the lock screen so that you can take that all-important selfie even faster - 70% faster, that is. The keyboard is now faster than ever with a 50% improvement in speed when appearing on the screen. Typing is now more responsive too.
Swiping while multitasking, scrolling through an app and selecting the Share sheet are all actions that are faster and smoother too. The Share sheet appears 2x faster than in iOS 11, even if there are many sharing options loaded.
Screen Time
Everyday, you will receive a short and easy-to-understand report showing you how many hours you have physically looked at your phone and which apps take up your time.
Knowing just how much time you spend on your phone doesn’t have to send you on a guilt trip. With Screen Time, you can set time limits on how much time you or your kids spend on a particular app. If your kids have their own smartphones, set up your family’s Apple IDs to their phones and if would like more time for a particular app, they can request it from you to approve.
Do your kids have smartphones? Or are you actively trying to spend less time looking at your phone? Apple is catering to these needs with Screen Time. This is a new feature dedicated to showing you how much time you spend on websites and apps, including social media and instant messaging. Downtime is a cool feature within Screen Time. You can set a bedtime for your apps and notifications so that you won’t be bothered by anyone or anything!
Notifications
iOS 12 has even improved the notifications experience.
One of the new features includes Grouped Notifications: When the family group chat is going crazy, your iPhone now groups them in a neatly formatted grouping on your home screen.
With Instant Tuning, iOS has also catered for vital notifications such as a doctor’s report as well as notifications that don’t need any sound at all. For example, in the notification settings, if you’re toggled to receive notifications for Instagram comments on your posts, you can choose to have these delivered silently. Vital notifications will still be sent to you even if your phone is in Do Not Disturb mode.
In a rush? Reply with a simple emoji. Tapbacks allow you to reply to a message via your home screen by simply touching and holding the notification. Emoji options may be a heart, a thumbs up or a thumbs down.
Memojis and Animojis
Emojis that look like you! You can create an emoji based on your facial features as well as the ability to customise. The newer, longer animojis allow you to record up to 30 seconds as a T-rex, a ghost, a koala and a tiger.
Chat with up to 32 people at one time! You can add text on your screen, use your memoji or animoji while you chat and add interesting filters.With focus view, you can tap the person who’s talking to make them the central figure of the chat. You can also add people to the chat or join at any time!
Photos
The Photos app in iOS 12 can pick up when you have taken multiple photos in one location with multiple people. The app will create an album as well as offer sharing suggestions to send to the people you were with. You can now search through photos using keywords like “holiday” or “surf”.
Stocks App
Keep your finger on the pulse of the stock market. The new Stocks app lets you choose which stocks you’d like to watch at a glance. If you’d like to get more detail, simply select any ticker to view price changes and charts.
Shortcuts App
When you download the app, you will see that it has already given possible shortcuts you’d often use such as “heading to work”. In this shortcut, you can populate it with a number of steps: Entering the route to your offices, checking the traffic and adding a playlist or audio book. Tap “Done” and then “Add to Siri”. From now on, you can say: “Hey Siri, heading to work,” and the app will implement all those actions for you.
Shortcuts also connects to third-party apps such as a travel planner app like TripIt. You can pull up your travel plans by simply saying “Hey Siri, travel plans.”
Privacy and Security
iOS 12 has advanced tracking prevention which stops websites, share buttons and comment widgets from tracking you without your permission in Safari. Safari also stops brands from collecting data from your iPhone’s settings so that you can be targeted with ads. iOS 12 can also create and safely store strong passwords for you which are stored in the iCloud Keychain. You can also sign into your Apple ID using your fingerprint instead of remembering a log in.
Augmented Reality
iOS 12 has taken augmented reality to the next level.
The Measure app can now recognise objects in 3D. Your phone will recognise objects and orient itself to them. As you walk around your room or office, the Measure app will pick up and measure each object. If you turn your phone horizontally, it will activate its Level feature. You will be told how many degrees off-centre you are. These features can be used to incorporate objects into AR experiences.
Face tracking which can see where you are looking and can pick up if you are winking or sticking your tongue out. Scene reflection is another innovative feature in AR. Using your camera app, you can enable virtual objects to reflect life-like scenes that you see through your camera.
Content creators of AR will also be happy to know that the new 3D USDZ file format (like a PNG for 3D) will help content creators design animations and other forms of content for mobile devices. Sharing AR experiences is easier too. You can share it to someone in a different time zone and/or a different location.
FAQs
How much does the iPhone 7 Plus cost in South Africa?
A brand new iPhone 7 32GB costs start at R12,000 and goes all the way up to R15,500 for the 256GB. A second-hand 7 Plus in excellent condition and a 12-month warranty ranges from R7,000 to R8,500 on Phonetradr.
What is the best deal on a used iPhone 7 Plus in South Africa?
- On Phonetradr, you can get one for between R7,000 - R8,500 with a 12-month warranty
- On trading platforms, the 7 Plus ranges from R5,000 - R8,000, however, these phones come straight from the seller, meaning they have not been certified or tested and have no warranty. In other words, you have no true reflection of the quality of the phone.
- On Gumtree, you can get one for between R5,500 - R8,000, but again you’ll also have to contend with an unknown seller, with no guarantees of what you’re getting and a possibility of getting scammed.
What are the dimensions of the iPhone 7 Plus?
From top to bottom, the 7 Plus is 15.8 cm x 7.7 cm x 0.73 cm.
What colours does the iPhone 7 Plus come in?
You can get it in black, silver, space grey, gold and rose gold.
What is the difference between the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus?
The iPhone 7 has a 4.7-inch retina display and single-lens camera, whereas the iPhone 7 Plus has a 5.5-inch retina display and dual-lens camera system.
How strong is the screen on the iPhone 7 Plus?
The phone comes protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and, according to a durability test conducted by SquareTrade, the phone can take 90 kg’s of pressure before bending.
Is the iPhone 7 Plus water resistant?
The rating for the 7 Plus is “IP67” which means it can handle being under freshwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 metre.
What processor does the iPhone 7 Plus have?
The 7 Plus has the A10 Fusion processor. The chip has four cores - two for energy-efficiency and two for performance. It has a 50% faster graphics processor and a 40% faster CPU than previous iPhones.
How much capacity (GB) does the iPhone 7 Plus have?
You can get the iPhone 7 Plus with 32, 128 or 256GB of space. For a better picture on how much 256GB is, it equates to an average amount of 73,224 photos!
How much RAM does the iPhone 7 Plus come with?
The phone comes with 3G of RAM.
How many megapixels does the iPhone 7 Plus have?
It has a 12-megapixel dual camera at the back and a 7-megapixel selfie camera at the front. The dual camera means you get more range in your photos.
Does the iPhone 7 Plus camera have portrait mode?
Yes, portrait mode is available on the iPhone 7 Plus. Portrait mode focuses on the subject of the photo and blurs the background, providing more depth. For photography enthusiasts, portrait mode makes use of the phone’s 56mm-equivalent "telephoto" lens.
How do you take a photo with bokeh effects on the 7 Plus?
Open your Camera app, then select ‘Portrait” on the right side. Your lighting options will appear on your screen such as Natural Light, Studio, Contour and Stage Light. After selecting your lighting, hold up your phone and focus on the person you’d like to photograph.
How to use optical zoom on an iPhone 7 Plus
When taking a photo, there is a 2x zoom option on the screen. Taping this will give you 2X optical zoom. If you hold the 2x button, it will expand to give you further digital zoom options. In other words, anytime you use zoom up to 2x, it will automatically be optical zoom.
How to use the screen recording feature in the iPhone 7 Plus
You can easily record a demonstration of something from your phone using the built-in screen recorder.
- Make sure your phone is updated with iOS 12
- Go to your Settings, then select Control Centre. Tap into ‘Customise Controls’ then add “Screen Recording” to the list
- Exit your settings and then head to your homescreen. Swipe up the Control Centre and select the little white circle in the square icon. This is the Screen Recording icon.
- The recorder will count down from 3 and then whatever actions you take on your iPhone will be recorded.
- Once you’re done, tap the red recording timer at the top of your screen to stop the recording. You can find your recording in your camera roll and edit it just like a standard video such as trimming the start and end of it. Or, you can edit it in iMovie which comes free with your iPhone.
Does the iPhone 7 Plus need an a case or cover?
We would recommend that you invest in a case or cover. A good cover can protect your phone from cracked screens, from drops, dents, dirt, scratches and help keep it looking like new for when you’d like to sell it.
How long does the battery last in the iPhone 7 Plus?
Regular use of your iPhone 7 Plus gives you about 15 hours of battery life while it’s connected to Wi-Fi.
How heavy is the iPhone 7 Plus?
It weighs 188 grams, which is slightly less than a can of tinned tomato and onion mix.