As usual, there were plenty of rumors before the annual iPhone launch event. Also as usual, there were still a couple surprises.
iPhone 7 is Faster, Prettier
Apple is a design company, and spent a good deal of time showing off the complicated manufacturing process behind the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It still looks like an iPhone, though, so what about performance improvements?
Inside, the A10 Fusion chip is supposed to be twice as fast as an iPhone 6. The 4G LTE connection, three times faster (assuming your carrier can go that fast). Dual speakers at the top and bottom of the phone produce stereo sound in landscape mode.
The 3.5mm headphone jack has been eliminated, so the included earbuds click into the Lightning connector; there’s a dongle for old-fashioned headphones, but Apple really would prefer that you buy their accessory wireless ones. The whole thing has been made water- and dust-resistant to the IP67 standard.
The real upgrades are concentrated in the visual input and output: the camera and the display.
Both models feature optical image stabilization for their 12-megapixel shooters, as well as an f/1.8 aperture lens for low-light photography. The iPhone 7 Plus actually has a second camera for 2x telephoto shots at f/2.8. The front cameras are improved as well, jumping from 5 megapixels to 7 megapixels. Both front and rear cameras record 1080p full HD video, with 4K for the rear ones.
The displays feature a wider color gamut and higher brightness than the iPhone 6s generation. That makes photos and videos “pop” a bit more, as well as making the screen more readable in the sun. The rear cameras support the same wide color gamut.
Apple Watch Series 2 is More Independent
Apple Watch arguably received a more significant upgrade than iPhone this time around. Not entirely surprising, since the watch hasn’t been around nearly as long.
Like iPhone 7, Apple Watch Series 2 is water-resistant to 50 meters. The display is twice as bright as the first generation, and there’s a tiny dual-core processor inside.
Most significantly for developers, there’s now a GPS chip built into the watch. It’s available for use by third-party apps, which means that any location-based app can run purely on the watch without the need for a paired iPhone nearby.
How will you take advantage of the new iPhone and Apple Watch features in your apps?
