Iphone 7 review: water resistant design and more battery life

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS The iPhone 7 is the best smartphone Apple has ever created, but it could've been better * _PROS – Blisteringly Fast A10 Fusion Processor, Water Resistant Design,

Extra Battery Life, Improved Cameras, More Memory_ * _CONS – Death Of Headphone Port Might Be Premature, Fiddly £9 Headphone Adapter, Design Feels Tired, Screen Resolution Falls Behind The

Competition _ The wait for iPhone fans is almost over. Apple unveiled its latest smartphone at a major event in San Francisco last week and its all-new iPhone 7 will finally land in shops

this Friday. With sales of the world’s most popular smartphone in decline, Apple will be hoping its refreshed handset can capture the imagination of iPhone users who are due an upgrade. And

there’s certainly plenty to be excited about if your old iPhone is starting to feel a bit tired. Although this new gadget from Cupertino may look almost identical to its previous

smartphones, there’s a number of neat extras tucked inside which make this the best iPhone Apple has ever made. But is it really worth your cash? _Express.co.uk_ has been lucky enough to get

our hands on Apple’s new iPhone 7 a week ahead of its launch and here’s our full exclusive review. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS The industry-standard 3.5mm headphone port might be gone, but not a lot

else has changed HEADPHONE PORT Let’s start with the news that everyone is talking about – the end of the headphone port. Yes, all the rumours were true and if you buy an iPhone 7 you’ll

find there is nowhere to plug in your standard headphones. Instead, Apple wants you to attach your favourite cans via the lightning port – the same on used for charging since the iPhone 5 –

or wireless Bluetooth connection. There’s two reasons why you shouldn’t panic about the US firm taking this "courageous" move. Firstly, when you buy the iPhone 7 you’ll find a pair

of updated EarPods in the box which have a new lightning connection. Secondly, you’ll also discover a bundled adaptor which enables standard headphones to be plugged in to the same port.

Apple is so confident about its decision to dump this 100-year-old tech that it has even produced a pair of wireless in-ear headphones called AirPods. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS Apple's new

wireless headphones are called AirPods and are (unfortunately) sold separately EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS Yes, the rumours were true – Apple has killed the 3.5mm headphone port Sadly, these don’t

ship with the new phone and, when they go on sale in October, they will set you back a hefty £159 – we’ll be bringing you a full AirPod review soon. We really don’t have a problem with the

end of the headphone port as it frees up space inside the phone and produces a much richer audio experience, including noise-cancelling without the need for a bulky battery pack. However, we

do understand why some people will hate the decision Apple has made. Although the supplied adaptor allows for a standard 3.5mm connection, it looks horrible and will no doubt get lost at

the bottom of your bag – oh, and it’s £9 to replace by the way. Lightning-connected headphones and Bluetooth are the future of mobile audio but you’ll probably rather be stuck in the past if

you’ve just purchased an expensive pair of 3.5mm wired cans. CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY BELOW TO CHECK OUT THE BEAUTIFUL NEW JET BLACK IPHONE 7 – DESIGN The headphone port might be gone, but

not a lot else has changed. Other than the antenna lines, which now curve gracefully around the top and bottom of the device and a slightly larger camera bump, the iPhone 7 has stuck with

its classic styling. But Apple aren’t daft and they know fans of this famous phone will want the rest of the world to know they’ve got the latest and greatest device in their hands. So,

Apple’s design team have added two stunning new shades of black to the already extensive range. One model boasts an anodised matte look, while the other has an innovative jet black finish

that includes a deep, high-gloss appearance. Both look incredible but we’re totally smitten with the shiny looks of the Jet Black colour scheme. This device oozes class and it’s hardly

surprising there’s a 4-6 week wait to own one. However, before you rush to buy the high-gloss black model, we did notice that it’s a magnet for fingerprints and Apple is also warning it can

suffer from minor scratches – something we’ve already discovered is true. The new finishes and removal of the antenna lines certainly make the iPhone 7 look more appealing than its

predecessors but we can’t help thinking it’s a shame there’s not more innovation with this two-year-old design. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS We gave the Apple iPhone 7 a thorough soaking, and it

survived without any soggy circuit boards WATER RESISTANT  From the outside it might not look as though Apple has pushed the boundaries of design but there’s some very good news for anyone

who has ever dropped their iPhones down the loo. The US tech giant has finally made its new smartphone water resistant, which certainly makes it feel far more robust than previous models. We

gave our review device a thorough soaking and it survived without suffering any soggy circuit boards. iPhone 7 is rated IP67, which means it is completely protected against dust, and is

capable of surviving half an hour in no more than one metre of water. It’s a very nice bonus feature and could be one of the biggest reasons to upgrade, especially if you’re prone to the odd

accident. However, it’s worth noting that, like all water resistant smartphones, while it can cope with fresh water this hasn’t turned the iPhone 7 into a GoPro action cam. EXPRESS

NEWSPAPERS Apple has improved the 12MP rear camera on the iPhone 7, adding OIS and a larger ƒ/1.8 aperture EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS iPhone 7 also features optical image stabilisation, something

only the 6s Plus got last year CAMERA Speaking of photography, the iPhone has a new 12-megapixel rear snapper and an upgraded seven-megapixel front-facing selfie camera. The iPhone has

always led the field when it comes to smartphone cameras and the iPhone 7 appears to stick firmly with this tradition. Apple has included a larger ƒ/1.8 aperture and new six-element lens,

plus there’s a new Quad-LED True Tone flash which is 50 per cent brighter than the flash on iPhone 6s. All this tech means you get much better images in all different types of lighting

conditions. The iPhone 7 also features optical image stabilisation, something only the 6s Plus got last year. This helps to produce wobble-free video and better low-light pictures – a

welcome addition to the smaller handset. As you’d expect from the world’s most popular smartphone camera, the pictures you get from the iPhone 7 are first-class with good colours and a sharp

image quality. There’s also the ability to shoot video in 4K Ultra HD, plus slow motion, time lapse and panorama modes keep their deserved place in the camera settings. Although this is a

great camera there is one big missing feature. Apple announced at its iPhone launch that the larger 7 Plus will include a dual-lens camera that features a 2x optical zoom and ability to

shoot images with depth-of-field. Sadly the iPhone 7 doesn’t include this major upgrade which is a huge disappointment for anyone who doesn’t want a phablet-style phone. DISPLAY If you were

hoping for a new edge-to-edge or curved display you’re going to be disappointed. From the outside the iPhone 7’s screen looks identical to the 6s with the same bezel surrounding the 4.7inch

display, which two years on, is starting to show its age. Luckily, things do get more interesting when you switch it on as this is the best iPhone display Apple has ever made. The Retina HD

screen is now up to 25 per cent brighter and comes with a cinema standard wide colour gamut, so you can see more vibrant true-to-life colours. This new display is certainly an improvement

over the 6s and when placed side-by-side you really notice a difference. However, we’d have liked to have seen this screen go bezel-free, and with the same 720p resolution as its

predecessor, it's certainly not as crisp as the competition either. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS Apple has tweaked the rear camera bump, making it a little less unsightly STEREO SPEAKERS When

Apple launched its iPad Pro last year we were left totally blown away but its four stereo speakers. This audio experience is, without doubt, the best you’ll find on any tablet and now Apple

is attempting to bring something similar to the iPhone. Clearly, with the iPhone 7 being a much smaller device, the firm hasn’t been able to cram in four speakers. However, it has managed to

squeeze two separate boom boxes inside. One is in the usual place under the home button while the other sits underneath the speaker at the top of the phone. > It’s clever stuff from 

Apple and the sort of innovation that sets > them apart from the rest The new audio experience is loud, clear and good enough to annoy most passengers on the bus journey home but it’s not

quite up there with what the iPad Pro is capable of. And for anyone who still uses their phone for calls, we've noticed a pleasing jump in call quality thanks to the new sound system

too. HOME BUTTON It’s all change for the iconic round button that has sat at the bottom of the iPhone since its launch in 2007. Although it still looks the same, it’s very different from

anything Apple has done before. Instead of a physical button, Apple has replaced the moving parts with a Taptic engine that makes it feel like you’re pushing on something. It does take a bit

of getting used to but we’ve actually grown to like it and the lack of moving parts should help to make the home button less likely to fail after years of use. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS The

brand-new glossy Jet Black finish is gorgeous EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS The blisteringly fast A10 Fusion chip and brighter display offer the best iOS 10 experience The Taptic engine also brings

some new interactive features to gaming so as you shoot zombies or race around a track you’ll feel a sensation in your fingers. And it also supplies a stronger tap when you receive messages

and calls meaning you shouldn’t miss anyone trying to get in touch. It’s clever stuff from Apple and this is the sort of innovation that sets them apart from the rest. SPEED AND MEMORY

Tucked inside the iPhone 7 is Apple’s new A10 Fusion chip. This beast can run 50 per cent faster than the firm’s previous A9 chip which currently powers the iPhone 6s. These new big brains

bring a slick feel to everything you do on the phone and it’s unlikely to struggle with even the most memory-hungry apps. The processor is also much more efficient at chewing through tasks

which means you get a bit of extra battery life thrown in for good measure. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS iPhone 7 is rated IP67, which means it's capable of surviving half an hour one metre of

water Along with the A10 Fusion chip there’s some other good news buried deep inside the aluminium chassis. Apple has finally rid the world of the 16GB base model which has now been doubled

to 32GB. There’s also 128GB and whopping 256GB versions for power users. This memory upgrade is something we’ve been wanting for a while and it’s great to see Apple has finally boosted the

storage inside. BATTERY LIFE Battery life has always been an issue for smartphone users with most people only managing a day’s life without going near a plug. With the new A10 Fusion chip

powering the iPhone 7 you do get a little extra. It’s not the week-long power most of us dream off but it will keep Apple’s next generation phone going for around an extra hour. If things

are running low, Apple’s Low Power Mode will reduce consumption until you find some electricity. If you are a power user and want the best battery life in an iPhone you’re probably best

avoiding the 7 and going straight for a 7 Plus. _Express.co.uk_ will be conducting more battery tests over the coming days, comparing the new phone against the 7 Plus. EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Unfortunately the new glossy finish is a magnet for fingerprints EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS And like Apple warns on its website, the glossy Jet Black finish is susceptible to scratches PRICE The

iPhone has never been cheap and these latest upgrades make the iPhone 7 one of the most expensive smartphones Apple has ever made. Prices start from £599 with 32GB of memory and rise to £799

if you want the full-monty 256GB version. Contract deals aren’t much better with most operators wanting more than £38 per month with an upfront fee. Meanwhile, the older iPhone 6s has been

dropped in price to £499 making it £100 cheaper than Apple’s new flagship and that’s a bit of a bargain. IPHONE 7 UNBOXING - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW EXTRAS AND IOS 10 The iPhone 7 comes

with all the usual bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from Apple. There’s an incredibly fast and accurate fingerprint scanner which still puts all of its competitors security efforts to

shame and the device features the 3D Touch display that was launched last year. You’ll also get access to Apple Pay which allows you to pay at the till with a simple tap of your phone. The

device ships with Apple’s latest operating system which certainly brings a fresh feel to what’s on the screen. iOS 10 features a host of improvements including new ways to message, better

Maps and a simplified version of Apple Music. DX FINAL VERDICT The iPhone 7 is, without doubt, the best smartphone Apple has ever created. It is fast, incredibly powerful, has a

much-improved camera and is now water resistant. The new Jet Black colour scheme is also irresistible and we guarantee the first time you see it you’ll want to pop it straight in your

pocket. This is all positive news for iPhone fans desperate for the latest and greatest smartphone from Apple, but we can’t help feeling this device could have been made even better. The

design hasn’t changed dramatically in the last two years and, unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, it doesn’t feature the brilliant dual-camera system. There’s also another issue as, while we have no

problem with the demise of the headphone port, there will be plenty of people who are going to find using the tiny adaptor hugely irritating. This pill would have been made easier to swallow

if Apple had upgraded its own headphones to include noise-cancelling. If these niggles don’t worry you, you’re certainly in for treat if you decide to upgrade to the iPhone 7. It might not

have a new ground-breaking design but the useful updates and ultimate iOS 10 experience make this a worthy upgrade. * _Express.co.uk_ will publish a full in-depth review of the iPhone 7 Plus

in the coming days