What material is iPhone 7 made of? Which color should you choose? Apple's Sapphire Detour

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Apple's journey to adopt zirconia ceramic as a core material can be described as an epic movie plot. We will start from the end and first of all focus on the scientific and technical side of the issue.

What is zirconium?

Zirconium ceramics have the highest mechanical strength and hardness at room temperature. Zirconium dioxide has a high crack resistance (fracture toughness) compared to any technically advanced ceramic. Its hardness level, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance make it ideal for high pressure applications.

Currently, zirconium dioxide has found industrial applications in press stamping, in long-distance wires and pipelines, in guides and various rollers subject to wear, pressure valves and materials involved in the production of bearings. Its coefficient of thermal expansion is very close to that of steel, a feature that makes zirconium ceramic an ideal piston for use in drilling applications. Zirconium has excellent wear resistance, chemical resistance and corrosion resistance, as well as low thermal conductivity.

Compared to most other materials, zirconia ceramics is highly scratch resistant. Unlike aluminum, which in almost all forms is susceptible to scratches and scuffs. In this case, zirconium ceramics can have any color without the use of external paint.

Rocket Science: How NASA Uses Ceramics

Zirconium ceramic is also particularly effective at dissipating heat, perhaps better than any other material. Heat dissipation is vital to protecting electronics. The space shuttle uses Li900 silicon ceramics as a thermal protection system, a barrier that protects the space shuttle upon re-entry (NASA also has a more advanced version of the Li-2200 - approx. translator), dissipating ~1650°C of accumulated heat, in comparison, an aluminum casing protects against temperature gradients no higher than 177°C. NASA began research using ceramics on thermal layers (reusable, high-temperature insulation) in the early 1960s. for entry-level spacecraft. Research conducted by NASA became the basis for all modern techniques, including the idea of ​​​​using zirconium ceramics.

Zirconium + aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride = thermal conductivity

Li900 silicon ceramics have one side effect that could be useful in the most modern electronic devices ah, mainly for heat removal. In its pure form, it is a very weak thermal conductor, but this can be corrected. In electronics, it is common practice to use aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride, which can surpass pure aluminum in thermal conductivity. True, this can make zirconium ceramics brittle, but this issue can be resolved with the help of an effective balance.

Transparent zirconia ceramic

Zirconium ceramics can also be transparent. In 2012, the Tokyo Research Laboratory published a landmark paper entitled: “Creation of Highly Transparent Zirconium Ceramics.” Transparent, it can serve as material for a new, very durable screen.

Apple's materials science odyssey

Apple is constantly looking for the most advanced components for its devices. Throughout its history, the company has revolutionized the use of aluminum, from smelting to micro-millimeter precision CNC machines. Apple has advanced the use of aluminum so far that it has achieved the highest possible results, up to "transparent aluminum" (aluminum oxynitride).

The company's desire to push the boundaries of materials science may have been fueled by the Bendgate crisis. As the iPhone got thinner, it became easier to bend, which is something some users have experienced. There are corrective ways to use components inside the iPhone to maintain structural integrity, but Apple appears to have reached its limit.

Apple's Sapphire Detour

On October 1, 2013, Apple entered into a unique agreement with GT Advanced Technologies to produce sapphire glass for screens and new iPhone cases made primarily from sapphire. The press release was optimistic, but at the same time, the Quora writer was deeply concerned that Apple did not acquire the company, instead creating a unique manufacturing relationship:

October 31, 2013 GTAT ( subsidiary GT Advanced Technologies and Apple have entered into a master development and supply agreement under which GTAT will supply sapphire materials exclusively for consumer electronics Apple. GTAT also provided Apple certain rights intellectual property related to sapphire growing technologies.

This unique relationship was required to enable GT Advanced Technologies to produce optically clear and flawless crystals on an industrial scale, special conditions were provided to GTAT at Apple's Arizona plant. But the relationship quickly fell apart: the quality and volume of production were far from planned, at a cost several times higher than all expectations. Apple Company terminated the relationship and in October 2014, GT Advanced Technologies began bankruptcy proceedings.

The sapphire screen was supposed to be the main highlight of the iPhone 6 and significantly increase its durability. Apple had about 5 months left before the announcement new iPhone so the company had to look for a compromise design. This was a tragic turn of events that hit Apple hard and is still reflected in the design of the iPhone 7. Apple typically takes 2 years to design an iPhone. The collapse of the project with GT Advanced Technologies forced the company to turn its attention to other materials. Apple has decided to never rely on outside suppliers for mission-critical technologies in the future. There was nothing left to do but go back to the drawing board and start over from scratch.

Back to the drawing board or Apple's patent trail

After unsuccessful attempt to establish mass production of high-quality sapphires, Apple decided to take a closer look at the periodic table in search of materials that can be reproduced in very large quantities, and at the same time have properties similar to aluminum and sapphire. Apple tested hundreds of ideas, but ultimately settled on zirconium ceramic because it was closest to the desired result. Apple's patent history states that the company's first introduction to ceramics dates back to 2006, so it was a natural path to their next big step in materials science.

Ideally, the material used to manufacture the iPhone should be radio-transparent, allowing the device to transmit a wide spectrum of radio frequencies unimpeded. Currently iPhone time has lines for antennas, even the iPhone 7 has a minimal amount of them, although they are built into the all-metal case. Aluminum successfully blocks almost all short radio frequencies and the thinner the devices, the more noticeable the effect on the radio frequency range becomes.

iPhone becomes radio transparent

About 6 months before the iPhone was announced by Steve Jobs (January 9, 2007), in August 2006, Apple materials scientists Stephen Zadesky and Stephen Lynch filed patent applications for a “portable computing device.” , which includes a body and has structural walls formed from radiotransparent ceramic material."

The explanatory note of the patent says very little.

The invention, in one embodiment, relates to portable computing devices capable of wireless communication. Such a portable computing device includes a housing that surrounds and protects its internal components. The housing contains structured walls formed from a ceramic material that allows wireless communications to pass through. Wireless communications could include radio frequency communications, for example, and in the future, ceramic material could become radio-transparent, allowing RF waves to pass through it unimpeded.

When original author Brian Rommel first read this patent application in 2006, he knew for certain that zirconia ceramics would at some point become one of Apple's next fundamental materials development trends. – editor's note).

Radio transparency makes a difference great amount problems. iPhone is required to transmit and/or receive signals through five major radio systems, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, have support for NFC, GPS technologies, etc. This is the huge advantage of using a one-piece body, which is also radio transparent.

In February 2014, Apple continued to patent improvements in the production of zirconia ceramics with "mold casting from ceramic components". The patent application describes technology that significantly improves product quality by eliminating processes that cause defects.

Apple's Landmark Patent for Zirconium Ceramic iPhone, MacBook and Apple Watch

On August 3, 2015, the company filed a landmark patent document with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) showing the future direction of Apple products, titled "CO-MOLDED CERAMIC AND POLYMER STRUCTURE." September 8, 2016, a day after the official announcement of the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, the patent became public. The USTPO placed a publication ban on it from August 2015 until the day after the presentation to prevent competitors from repurposing the idea in the future.

The patent refers to the following basics:

As one specific example, ceramic materials have numerous qualities that make them useful for use in electronic device housings. For example, they can be highly scratch resistant, making them particularly suitable for electronic devices that frequently suffer from impacts, chips and scratches, such as wearable electronic devices (e.g. smart watches, glasses, etc.), mechanical watches and other consumer products (including, but not limited to, media players, mobile computers, tablets computing devices etc.). As a specific example, the high hardness and optical clarity of sapphire glass (a transparent ceramic material) is very suitable as protective glass for touch screen wearable electronic device. Ceramic materials can also be relatively lightweight, making it easier storing, carrying and using portable or wearable electronic devices. Moreover, ceramic materials can achieve a high degree of surface polishing, making them extremely aesthetically pleasing.

However, as a rule, from ceramic materials compared to plastic, it is more difficult to create complex geometric figures . Accordingly, the production of housing parts from ceramic materials may be more difficult than from other materials. According to the above, the described (product) may contain a solid polymer material with a ceramic component to form body components, including ceramic and polymer materials in certain proportions. (As used herein, the terms “polymer” and “polymer material” include natural and synthetic polymers, plastics, rubber, etc., etc.).

In line with the above, parts that include both ceramic and polymer components can be produced in less time and with more high accuracy than this is achieved if the components must be manufactured separately and then joined together using an adhesive. In some embodiments, a polymeric material is injected onto the ceramic component. In some compounds, the polymeric material is formed on the surface of the ceramic components using methods other than injection molding, such as gravity casting or any other suitable co-molding. Where this discussion relates to the injection molding method, it should be understood that other casting methods may be used in such cases instead of or in addition to casting.

Apple has created a technique whereby injection molding can be used to create a unibody body and effective connection it with the screen. Some features of this technology are already present in Apple Watch Series 2 in a ceramic case.

The description on the company's website for Apple Watch fully corresponds to the descriptive part of this patent and our history:

Uniquely elegant. Ideally scratch resistant.

Sleek, lightweight and extremely durable, ceramic is more than 4 times harder than stainless steel, with a pearlescent, shiny surface that does not scratch or fade.

Apple case creation process Watch Edition begin with high strength zirconium powder, and connecting with aluminum oxide, reaches a rich white color. Each case is then formed by pressing, sintering and polished with a diamond slurry, resulting in an incredibly smooth surface and exquisite shine. With this level of precision craftsmanship, each Apple Watch Edition case takes several days to produce.

Based on this information, it can be judged that Apple uses zirconium powder with aluminum oxide. For perfect color as well as heat transfer. As mentioned earlier, this coincides with what was said above about the increase in thermal conductivity of zirconia ceramics.

Apple Watch Series 2 for $1,200 in a ceramic case has been replaced in the line Apple model first generation with a solid gold case for $17,000, and now they are being promoted as the premium version of smartwatches.

What does all of this mean?

One thing is for sure: the premium price sends a clear signal that an iPhone made from zirconia ceramic will be much more expensive, based on this example. However, after the analysis, the author came to the conclusion that the relatively low cost of producing zirconium ceramics in sufficient quantities will lead to the fact that one-piece cases in the form factor of the current iPhone 7 on an industrial scale will be less expensive than in the current production cycle at machine manufacturing of solid aluminum cases for iPhone 7.

Thus, we have the basis not only for the following iPhone generation, but perhaps for everyone Apple devices, including iPad, MacBook laptops and so on and so forth. This is very simple to judge - the advantages of zirconium ceramics are great for any modern computer device.

What pushes Apple to use zirconia ceramics?

1. Strength
2. Radio transparency
3. Thermal Conductivity/Heat Dissipation (Aluminum Oxide/Aluminum Nitride Added)
4. Scratch resistance
5. Ease of production

It's clear that Apple has pushed aluminum production as far as it can go and has reached the limits of what it can be used for future iPhones. One of the obstacles is that devices are becoming thinner, and the lateral bending strength is already at its limit. According to Apple, the new, more advanced chips will generate much more heat, which must be effectively dissipated. This problem also affects iPad and MacBook. Strength and heat transfer are no less important for them. As noted above, NASA chose silicon (due to its weight, but it remains very brittle) ceramics for the 24,000 LI-900 tiles in thermal protection systems to effectively dissipate heat. This works very well, but it's not perfect. With zirconium ceramic and the introduction of aluminum oxide and/or aluminum nitride, the heat transfer coefficient will be superior to aluminum, thus making the iPhone the best heat transfer coefficient device.

The iPhone case is one large, solid battery. Meet lithium ceramic batteries

There is an intriguing possibility that, with new lithium-ceramic manufacturing technology, the battery could be part of the body of a future iPhone. This new technology allows for a completely new and unique way to refuse separate battery and implement it into the current iPhone structure. Unfortunately, lithium-ceramic batteries are not as efficient as we would like.

Lithium ceramic battery, as a component iPhone cases the next generation will be able to have a significantly higher capacity, which will compensate for the reduced efficiency. This production method will be revolutionary and will make the iPhone thinner and lighter.

Lithium ceramic batteries are so flexible that you can bend them in half and still work. At the same time, they are much safer and easier to recycle. Security is currently a serious concern: after the incident with Samsung Galaxy The Note7 device has been banned for use on airlines, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has listed it as a flammable and explosive material. Lithium ceramic batteries will be one of the safest batteries to use.

Anniversary iPhone 8, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary

In September 2017, Apple will release the anniversary iPhone 8. According to the author, Apple will definitely take advantage of this moment to fully introduce new design An iPhone that will be revolutionary in many ways. The author is convinced that the design language will be based on more organic forms and aesthetics. The smooth lines of the body will flow into the new AMOLED display, powered by graphics chip, which simply would not be able to perform thermally in such a small space without highly efficient heat transfer zirconium ceramics.

iPhone 8 will not only be water-resistant, but water and dust resistance will rise to levels never before seen in a smartphone. The Lightning port will be similar to the MagSafe system used on MacBook Pro devices and the main one will be inductive charging. Of course, it also won't have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

But I really hope that somehow Apple will always find a reason to make something out of aluminum. You, me and the rest of the world will miss it when Jony Ive says the word “aluminum.”

This year, Apple spoiled its fans with a definitely worthwhile product. iPhone 7, indeed, received a lot of new features and was far ahead of its predecessors in almost all respects. The main improvements affected performance, system shell, camera, sound, etc.

Although purely externally, the smartphones have practically not changed (except for two new colors - instead of Space gray, which has sunk into oblivion).
For the third year in a row, we have been seeing the same rounded edges and button placement. On the other hand, this is even good - users will not have to adapt and relearn to new standards - all gestures are familiar, brought to the point of automatism.

As it turned out, the dimensions of the “seven” are completely identical to the predecessor models of the 6S (6 S Plus). Except that they weigh a few grams less.
But, despite the fact that the dimensions of the device seem to have remained unchanged, in fact many transformations have occurred with the shining panels. What will the user get with the new generation of iPhones?

Waterproof

Hurray, it's done - new flagship line Apple has become waterproof and dustproof. How long have users waited for this, how many tears have been shed over irretrievably lost drowned smartphones. Therefore, despite the fact that there seems to be nothing sensational about the tightness, many users will be ready to change their current gadget to the “seven” just because of this.

Sealed joints can be seen in any material with crash tests of new iPhones, which are now abundant on the Internet.

The slot for the nano-SIM card is also equipped with a sealing border - a plug that prevents water from penetrating inside the case. This makes the tray fit in and out of the nest much more difficult. In order not to “loose” the seals, we recommend that you pull it back and forth less often - this will negatively affect the level of tightness.

And, for your information, it is under the card slot that there is a special chemical indicator sensor - LCI, which shows whether moisture has entered the internal boards. Therefore, protect it like the apple of your eye and always inspect the slot when buying a used iPhone.
It's the first thing employees notice service centers– redness of the indicator “mark” is a clear reason for refusing free warranty service(in standard condition it is white or silver).

By the way, this rule also applies even to the sealed iPhone 7. If the user somehow manages to wet the internal components, he will be denied repair or free replacement.

This is explained by the fact that water resistance does not mean that the iPhone has become “waterfowl”. In fact, he can simply stay only for a while in aggressive environment. Usually - no longer than half an hour - at a depth of no more than 1 meter under water. And company representatives cannot be sure that you have not exceeded these limits, and, accordingly, they are not obliged to cover these risks. So we do not recommend conducting experiments with long swims of the gadget, testing its strength.

The company also warns that during operation the level of tightness may decrease (due to falls and deformations, exposure to too high or low temperatures, at which the characteristics of the seals change, as well as after unauthorized opening of the case).

The declared protection index (IP) of the new iPhone is 67. This means that it is also very reliably protected from the penetration of small dust particles. Now you don’t have to worry that small debris in your pockets can damage your delicate electronics.

Composition of the "seven" corps

Apple traditionally pays Special attention choosing only high-quality and safe for environment(and, therefore, for the user) materials. One thing is for sure - the new line is the most durable of all iPhones recent years release. The company decided to forestall in advance all the rumors that took place with the first models of the “sixes”. So you can safely carry iPhone 7 in any place convenient for you – even in your jeans pockets.

The body of the “seven” itself is made of a single piece of aluminum (7000 series), just like its predecessor. All technical holes are machine drilled, i.e. This is not a stamping at all, but practically a piece product.

After molding, the frame is carefully polished and subjected to repeated anodizing. It simultaneously “heals” all micro-scratches on the surface - from grinding and polishing, and also allows you to paint the metal with high quality so that it does not lose its color during use.
There is good news for those who did not like the plastic strips above the antenna units on the back of iPhones. Now they have moved closer to the ends, and have become much less noticeable. In the new “lacquered black” version they are practically invisible.
On the screen, as usual, there is Gorilla Glass with an oleophobic coating. The area covering the Home touch button and the protective glass on the main camera window are made of sapphire. Despite the fact that this information is not included in the official release, according to Phil Schiller (chief marketing officer at Apple), this is exactly the case.

A little confusing is the fact that the protective glass on the camera lens is installed flush with the ring surrounding it, i.e. there is no reinforcing side. And this, theoretically, means that in case of any falls, the camera’s “face” will take the brunt of the impact. Let's see how it turns out in practice.

New connector

Another significant change in the case is the removal of the standard audio jack from the bottom panel of the smartphone. This simultaneously made it possible to ensure the iPhone is airtight and also to introduce a touch button for controlling the home menu.

Part of the freed up space was taken up by the Taptic engine, which made it possible to “touch” pressing the virtual Home. The other part was used for a more capacious battery pack (performance increased by 14%). And also another speaker was placed there, which gave the “seven” stereo sound.
You may ask, how can you listen to music now? From now on, everything will happen through the lightning port. The standard package already includes redesigned EarPods and a special adapter. As promised, this will improve the sound quality (but, according to those who have already tried it, there is not much difference with its predecessors).

All this, of course, is good, but it is not known how such increased loads will affect the “life” of the connector. Since through lightning you will not only listen to songs, but also charge your smartphone, as well as pair it with other devices.

New colors

We were also pleased with the new colors presented this year - matte black and glossy, which were added to the already existing models(except for the mentioned Space grey).

The glossy “black onyx” model looks especially impressive. The feeling when you hold the gadget in your hand is simply amazing. It seems that the alloy from which it is created is able to flow and transform like a robot from the Terminator, while remaining solid and strong. It’s difficult to describe, but we highly recommend seeing it with your own eyes.

Its luxurious gloss is ensured by a special method of anodizing and polishing, which takes place in nine stages - it’s something incredible! Thanks to this, the antenna pads on the “onyx” are practically invisible, the body looks completely monolithic - like an alien from another time.
You can forgive him everything - the tendency to get “stained” with handprints, and the rapid appearance of abrasions on the ends - even in this situation, he looks great. However, the company immediately honestly warned about this feature, limiting itself to the wording that the body itself in the “JetBlack” model is as durable as in all other color options.

But with a florid clause that any damage is simply much more noticeable on it, so “use a cover.” Agree, it’s somehow illogical to buy a smartphone with a mega-spectacular exterior, which will then need to be covered with a case so that, God forbid, it doesn’t get scratched.

As an alternative, the company offered a less “stainable”, but no less impressive matte version “in black” - just for lovers of the classics.
Now it will be much more difficult for users to decide on the color of their iPhone, because all options have their own flavor. But it’s clear that at first, the greatest demand will be for the new versions - black “sevens” are still very difficult to get.

The release of a new iPhone always comes with great excitement. It’s just been presented, but everyone has already started discussing new colors, the abandonment of the minijack and other innovations. Immediately there are experts saying that the device is not worth the money, fans declaring that they are ready to upgrade right now, and many other people.

Equipment

• Smartphone
• Lightning cable
• Charger
• EarPods with Lightning
• Lightning to minijack adapter
• SIM eject tool

Apple has changed the packaging technology in the new iPhones; now, to remove the packaging film from the box, you just need to pull a special tab. The top cover is now also a little easier to remove.

Among the innovations, it is worth highlighting EarPods with Lightning and a 3.5 mm adapter. Please note that the adapter wire is very thin, so I still recommend getting separate headphones with Lightning support or using the included headphones. I myself don’t really like EarPods, because when I wear them I can’t shake the (misleading) feeling that the headphones are about to fall out of my ears. Plus, they play “outside,” so if someone wearing these headphones listens to music at high volume, then you can find out everything about your neighbor’s musical preferences.

On the other hand, I see a lot positive feedback about these headphones from ordinary users, it is clear that the owners like them. If we talk about the sound, it has become a little more voluminous, the difference compared to the previous generation is audible.

Last modified connected with the headphone box. The plastic case was replaced with paper packaging, it looks simpler and is harder to open. However, for me, it would be better if the box looked like this, but included an adapter, rather than a plastic case, but without an adapter.

Appearance, body materials

In the new iPhones, the plastic strips for the antennas have been changed, they are hidden at the ends, thanks to this appearance models became more accurate.

Two new colors have appeared on sale: matte black and glossy “black onyx” (Jet Black). The latter is sold only in 128 and 256 GB versions. I tested the matte version, it looks great: strict, practical, and the antenna strips are practically invisible.

An important innovation that for some reason few people remember. The new iPhones slip much less in the hand, and this is very cool, because carrying the “sixes” without cases was simply scary. The tactile sensations have also changed; if the previous versions were very smooth and because of this they slipped out, the new generation has become rougher and more velvety. The material is perceived differently, and it is also more practical.

The camera eye has changed a little, now it looks neater and doesn’t cling to your pants pockets if you wear your iPhone without a case.

The device is waterproof according to the IP67 standard. That is, you can drop it into water without any consequences. However, here I agree with Sergei Kuzmin, if the manufacturer guarantees water resistance, this does not mean that you need to swim with the phone every day, dip it in cola, splash it in a glass, etc.

Control elements

Apple decided to abandon the 3.5 mm headphone jack, and at the presentation they did not hesitate to use the phrase “we had the courage to do it.” We had a separate article from Eldar Murtazin, in which he talks in detail about the reasons for such a step.

This is not the first time the company has rebuilt the industry to suit itself, let us at least remember different standards SIM cards, which all manufacturers eventually came to, or a laptop with a single port - this idea was also repeated by other companies. So, I’m sure that the abandonment of 3.5 mm will be repeated by other vendors in their flagships. Someone will immediately remember that Apple were not the first in their decision, but this does not matter. The important thing is how widespread this approach will become after its application in the iPhone.

Another change is the transition to a touch-sensitive Home button with haptic feedback. Uses the same Force Touch technology as new MacBooks company, however, some observers wrote that the implementation in the iPhone is still worse.

For my part, I can note that the sensations from pressing are now different, but I cannot say that it has become worse - it has become different. Now, when you “press” a button, it feels as if not only it is being pressed, but the entire bottom panel. Moreover, depending on the choice of intensity, these sensations change greatly; it seems most natural to me average level recoil.

The mechanism for removing the SIM card tray has changed slightly. Now when you insert a paperclip, it feels like it won't go in any further, and the tray itself is a little harder to pull out. This is due to the appearance of moisture resistance, as I understand, a special plug is used inside to prevent water from entering. By the way, when connecting Lightning cable I also feel that it is harder to enter.

The device has stereo speakers, although they are implemented in a slightly unusual way. The right speaker is in its place, and the left one also doubles as a conversation speaker. In terms of volume and spaciousness, the sound has gotten better, but it's still not level portable speakers, keep in mind.

Dimensions

I've been using an iPhone 6 as my main phone for almost two years. What does it mean? This means that during the time that I am not using test devices, the main SIM card is inserted into the iPhone. I'm used to its dimensions, and it's always very inconvenient for me to switch to devices with a larger diagonal. They have large width or thickness, they are uncomfortable to hold in your hands. I've tested a lot of smartphones over two years, and in my opinion, the iPhone 6 (and, accordingly, its more later versions) ideal dimensions. It fits well in the hand, thin and light, and, unlike the SE, it is comfortable to type with two hands.

Screen

Despite the fact that formally the characteristics have not changed, I would like to draw your attention to two important features of the screen in the iPhone 7. Firstly, it has an expanded color gamut; in photographs this is manifested in the fact that the image looks more voluminous. Secondly, if you compare the screen head-on with the iPhone 7, then the “seven” display has more warm colors.

I strongly support Apple's reluctance to increase display resolution. This doesn’t make much sense, and it would be a lot of hassle. Just remember the transition to new resolutions in the sixth iPhones; some developers needed a whole year to update their programs. It is also important to note that the fonts in iOS are selected in such a way as to minimize the disadvantages of “low” resolution.

Another plus of Apple screens is great work automatic adjustment brightness These are the only devices on which I use this function.

operating system

The smartphone runs iOS 10, which we have already described in detail in a separate article.

In the video introduction to the smartphone, I said that new system unlocking has become less convenient. You first need to turn on the smartphone screen, then hold your finger to unlock, and then press the Home button again. Commentators rightly noted that for more convenient unlocking, it is enough to hold your finger on the scanner literally half a second longer. But this is only required on older iPhones, since in the same “seven” the scanner works at lightning speed.

By the way, this new unlock works great in conjunction with the Raise to Wake function - when you take the smartphone in your hand, the screen automatically turns on, and then just touch your finger to unlock it.

I didn't really like the new messages. If earlier you could lower the window with a message down and then swipe up and this was enough to mark it as read, now you need to specifically go to the notification line.

Performance

I switched to the “seven” from an old iPhone 6, and for me the increase in performance and the difference in operating speed looked noticeable. Desktops scrolled smoother, applications launched faster, the browser worked faster. However, upon closer acquaintance with the device, one could notice jerky animations when minimizing applications or switching between them. I have seen similar complaints from colleagues from other publications. I believe that all this will be corrected in more recent iOS releases 10 and the problem here is clearly a software one, because on the hardware side of the iPhone 7 everything is great.

As for toys and benchmarks, there are no complaints; after all, all games in the App Store are optimized to run as quickly as possible on iPhones.

I would like to talk separately about memory. Recently I was asked to help sell a couple of used iPhone 6 16 GB, and in the comments to the ad people asked how people survived with such a small memory capacity. Personally, this volume was quite enough for me: I rarely take photographs, I don’t play heavy games, and my media library fits perfectly into 3-4 GB. In this scenario, 16 GB was more than enough. Nevertheless, Apple solution I can only praise the doubling of the memory capacity of all models. After all, videos are now shot in 4k, and live photos weigh quite a bit.

Regarding the clicking sound that some articles keep talking about: if you put your ear close to back cover, you will hear a quiet ticking, like a clockwork. If you move your smartphone one or two centimeters away from your ear, you can no longer hear it. In my opinion, the problem is overblown.

Autonomous operation

I had the new product in my hands for just a few days, but even this use was enough to understand that the iPhone 7 does not work much longer than previous generations. Accordingly, you can count on about three to four hours of screen time.

Camera

To describe the camera's capabilities, I asked Roman Belykh to look at photographs of the iPhone 7 in comparison with the iPhone 6; below is his comment:

"Front-camera. Due to higher resolution and the new module, photographs during the day differ greatly, naturally, in favor Apple iPhone 7. Under insufficient lighting conditions, the difference is minimal, basically 6 exaggerates the colors and slightly less details.

Main cameras. Surprisingly, during the day the iPhone 6 often takes better photographs: less sharpness, nicer colors (they are more accurate and more saturated). Under normal lighting again better than iPhone 6 – oddly enough, but fewer artifacts. At night, the Apple iPhone 7 is the leader due to its faster optics and optical stabilizer: it is possible to set a lower ISO value and a longer shutter speed. In addition, background blur is better on the iPhone 7, after all, f=1.8. In general, the result of the new product from Apple is somewhat disappointing when compared with the “old man” iPhone 6.”

I, unlike Roma, am not such a fan of photography, but in all iPhones I was captivated by the ease of getting a great shot: point and shoot - that’s it, a good photo is ready. Their cameras are great for untrained amateurs or just those who don't like to bother with taking pictures. It is logical that Apple worked on the weak point of the camera - shooting in the dark. Plus added optical stabilization and increased the focusing speed. As for the difference in good lighting with the previous generation, I didn’t really notice it. Plus, some people like to enlarge photos by x4 and look at what’s going on with the detail, etc. It seems to me that the average consumer will not do this; it is important for him that the picture looks good on the smartphone screen and on the PC screen, and the iPhone 7 has no problems with this.

iPhone 6	iPhone 7

Wireless interfaces

The set of wireless interfaces has remained virtually unchanged: the latest Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth, fast GPS and NFC that works with Apple Pay.

Conclusion

I had no complaints about the quality of speech transmission; you and your interlocutor can hear each other perfectly.

• iPhone 7 32 GB - 57,000 rubles
• iPhone 7 128 GB - 66,000 rubles
• iPhone 7 256 GB - 75,000 rubles

The device in black onyx color is available only in 128 and 256 GB variants.

I know that some of our visitors only read the conclusion, so once again let's briefly go over the main innovations of the iPhone 7:

• Refusal of minijack and adapter included
• New colors: matte black and black onyx
• Changing the Home button, switching to a feedback sensor
• The advent of stereo speakers
• Expanded color gamut
• Optical stabilization in camera
• Changed design of antenna inserts
• Waterproof according to IP67 standard
• Double the memory capacity in all versions

I liked that Apple is working on weak points their smartphones. Judge for yourself: minimum volume The memory was doubled, optical stabilization was added, the case materials were changed to more practical ones (Jet Black is still a different story), the antennas were hidden, and stereo speakers were added. Abandoning 3.5 mm for headphones looks like a great move from a business point of view, and the changed Home button due to the desire to make more reliable moisture protection.

You'll definitely feel the difference if you upgrade to the 7 from the iPhone 6, and the move will be worth it. I don’t recommend rushing to 6s owners; you have an excellent device that can serve you well for at least another year.

The excitement caused by the new iPhone 7 plus going on official sale in September 2016 subsided two months later. Ardent Apple fans managed to evaluate the performance of the new smartphone in “ field conditions", and now we can talk about its advantages and differences thoughtfully.

Camera catching up with the pros

The main 12-megapixel camera in the iPhone 7 plus is equipped with two lenses, the characteristics of which have greatly pleased users. These lenses are perhaps the main difference that avid Apple experts appreciate.

One of the lenses is an f/1.8 aperture lens with a focal length of 28mm, while the second has an f/2.8 aperture and a focal length of 56mm. This means that the first will allow you to shoot panoramas and take high-quality photographs in the dark, and the second, with enough light, will provide, for example, the now popular bokeh - background blur. The first lens is practically no different from the lens in the main camera previous iPhone. And the second is that very innovation. A telephoto camera (it is declared as a telephoto lens) in a smartphone is a rare phenomenon and one step closer to the moment when several pieces of professional equipment will be built into one device.

In addition, the camera has a 2x optical zoom and a 10x digital zoom. That is, thanks to the focal length, it will be able to bring the object closer by two times, and enlarge the image by ten. Other useful features include:

• Optical stabilizer allows you to take clear pictures low speed or photograph moving objects.
• Flash True Tone Quad-LED, automatically adjusting to the color temperature of the environment. Thanks to it, photographs are not dominated by blue or yellow tints, which were common in cameras with other flashes.
• Autofocus, which still allows you to not worry about the clarity of the photographed subject.
• Face and figure recognition is one of the most popular “intelligent” functions.
• Noise suppression.

I have an opportunity burst shooting, shooting from a distance using a timer. Photos taken can be linked to geographic objects.

The front camera has not changed: the same 7 megapixels as in the seventh iPhone, the same aperture - f/2.2.

It is possible to record HD video - 1080p (p - progressive format) and 720p with a frequency of up to 60 frames per second. When shooting video, you can also use the flash, stabilizer, noise reduction, autofocus, as well as focus tracking a moving object, and 2x optical zoom.

iPhone 7 plus - a smartphone for travel

iPhone 7 Plus has one more an undeniable advantage: he is the most “long-lasting” among all Apple smartphones. Compared to the former leader (we're talking about the iPhone 6s plus), the operating time has been increased by an hour. And if you compare it with the usual seventh, the reason becomes clear: the iPhone 7 plus is 2900 mAh, while its predecessor has only 1960 mAh.

What does this capacity provide? The manufacturers promised the following:

• up to 21 hours of talk time on a 3G network;
• about 13 hours of Internet browsing on 3G and 4G LTE networks;
• about 15 hours of work on a Wi-Fi network;
• up to 14 hours of video playback;
• approximately 60 hours of audio playback;
• almost 16 days on standby.

If we take into account that the network periodically works intermittently and the smartphone has to spend additional energy searching for it, we can say that the developers did not deceive the users: this is approximately what the last seven can withstand.

What are other news?

What made the iPhone 7 plus different was its screen, the description of which prompted lovers of large and bright displays to buy an expensive device.

operating system standard - iOS 10. The device runs on the previous quad-core 64-bit Apple processor A10 Fusion.

One SIM card, standard GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, VoLTE communication, GPS/GLONASS navigation and, of course, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, voice dialing - everything necessary functions did not undergo any noticeable changes to the user.

The disadvantages of this iPhone include the weight, which has increased due to innovations - 188 g. For dimensions 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm, it is quite normal, but after 158 g of its predecessor, it disappointed some Apple fans. There is a possibility that over time the developers will be able to reduce it, keeping everything that appeared in the iPhone 7 plus functions, but we will probably only wait until 2017-2018.