Now that the iPhone 7 is available, many people are wondering if they should take the plunge and upgrade from their 6s to the latest generation. With questions of whether or not it’s worth the extra money, tech-savvy people may wonder if there’s any true benefit of ditching the 6s. That decision is ultimately up to you, but here’s a breakdown according to the biggest features, so you can make a better choice.
We’re starting off easy by focusing on the phones’ looks. Save for a few changes in color, there isn’t much difference between the two generations. They’re both 5.44 x 2.64 inches, though the 7 has managed to shave off 5 whole grams to weigh in at 138 grams. Because they’re the same size, they both offer a 4.7-inch LED-backlit widescreen Multi-Touch display. The 7, however, is outfitted with gamut and the latest Taptic Engine.
The biggest difference is the choice of color, but don’t get too excited. Whereas the 6s comes in Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold, the 7 has replaced the Space Gray with Jet Black and Black varieties. Neither addition brings much individual style to the newest generation, which is why a lot of the first people to pre-order the 7 have also ordered skins from companies like dbrand. An iPhone 7 skin comes in enough colors to put Apple to shame, allowing its owners to revolutionize its look. The iPhone 7 skins at dbrand.com come in finishes like carbon fiber, mahogany, leather, and stone.
As you examine the curves and corners of the 7, you’ll also notice that it’s missing one key feature: a headphone jack. Unlike the 6s, there’s no port to plug your old ear pods into, which means you’ll have to invest in Apple’s wireless EarPods that can link to the Lightning connector port.
Looks aren’t everything, so let’s move onto its processing power. The 6s only has an A9 chip with 64-bit architecture and M9 motion coprocessor. The 7’s A10 Fusion chip with M10 motion coprocessor means the newest generation is the faster and more efficient model. It’s also paired with a battery that last as much as 2 hours longer than the 6s.
Next up are the cameras. Apple’s most proud about the upgrades they’ve made to the front-facing FaceTime HD Camera that boasts an additional 2-megapixels more than the 6s. Meanwhile the 7’s main camera lens has an f/1.8 aperture (versus the 6s’ f/2.2) with a six-element lens (versus the 6s’ five-element lens). In layman’s terms, that means the newest generation has a faster, more responsive camera that can take bright, clear pics and videos even when in low-light conditions.
Do these difference sound like it’s worth it in the long run? Only your need for new tech and your bank account can make that decision, so go over the differences and tally up the price. Even if you stay with the old 6s, you can find an inexpensive skin iPhone lovers can trust to mix up its look, whatever model you may have, so you’re not stuck with Apple’s boring design choices just because you don’t have the bank to afford a new cell.