The iPhone 7 (and 7 Plus) are here – just in time to revive Apple’s slumping sales and first annual revenue decline in 15 years. The new devices hit stores on September 7 and feature wireless AirPods (earbuds which connect to the phone via Bluetooth because there is no headphone jack on the new phone), a powerful new camera, the best battery life of any iPhone, and a reengineered enclosure that makes it the first water-resistant iPhone.

Other features include black matte and jet black finishes, a faster processor (the A10 chip makes the device two times faster than the iPhone 6), a more robust battery, a new stereo speaker system, and a new pressure-sensitive home button. The iPhone 7 also has a bigger and more improved camera (the 7 Plus has dual cameras on the rear – the first Apple phone to possess such a feature). According to Apple’s website, “[The] iPhone is the most popular camera in the world. Now we’ve reengineered that beloved camera, adding optical image stabilization, a ƒ/1.8 aperture, and a six-element lens to make it even better for shooting photos and videos in low light. And with advanced new features like wide color capture, your photos and Live Photos will look even more vibrant.”

In terms of the differences between the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the Plus version offers a bigger screen (5.5 inches as opposed to 4.7), full HD quality resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels vs. 1,334 x 750), and the aforementioned dual camera on the back which packs a more powerful punch in terms of photography and zooming features. In addition, APple has discarded its 16GB model and now only offers 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB versions.

The home button of the iPhone 7 is also completely different. “The first thing you’ll likely do when you get your hands on the new phone is fiddle around with the new home button,” wrote Brian Heater of TechCrunch, a leading online publisher of technology industry news. “It’ll take some getting used to. It’s not a bad sensation, but it’s certainly different. And (the Taptic Engine) is decidedly less satisfying than an honest-to-goodness physical button,” he wrote. “It’s also one of those tradeoffs that probably brings more good than bad, with the button less prone to breaking and helping the handset achieve its long-awaited IP67 (waterproofing) rating.” The certified IP67 rating means that it is fully protected from dust and can also withstand being submerged in 1m (about 3.3 feet) of static water for up to 30 mins.

Some students at TBS already have the new iteration and like the new features. “I like the home button because it has a good feel to it, and I like the feedback it gives you when you click it,” said seventh grader Jenny Maciejko. “It feels almost like a vibration or something like that.

“I have the iPhone 7,” added fellow seventh grader Cameron Salehi, “and at first when you get it, it feels really soft and then you eventually get used to it.”
Both students prefer it over the iPhone 6. “It’s better than the iPhone 6s because it has more features, and it is more clear and visual,” said Maciejko. “And also the new [Lightning charge port] isn’t a problem because it comes with earbuds [and an adapter] that fit into the port.”

The Lightning charge port is meant for charging the phone, but, with the adapter that comes with the phone, users can still use traditional headphones with the iPhone7 (at least for now).
“My favorite thing about the iPhone 7 is the camera because when you zoom in on the iPhone 6, it’s super blurry, but now when you zoom in on the iPhone 7, it’s clear,” said Salehi.

Another new thing about the iPhone 7 is its water resistant feature. According to Mr. Roger Fingas of the popular news and rumor website appleinsider.com, he said, “Unlike the Apple Watch Series 2, the iPhone 7 isn’t truly waterproof —if you go swimming with it, you’re liable to end up with a very expensive paperweight.”

Apple also just released it’s new MacBook Pro on October 27, 2016. One would think the two would be compatible, especially as Apple products. However, that isn’t the case. According to Roberto Baldwin, a writer for www.engadget.com, a site that reviews cutting edge technology, he writes, “Sadly, your fancy new iPhone 7 won’t directly connect to your new MacBook Pro. Think about that for a second. Two flagship devices from a company that prides itself on its ecosystem won’t connect to each other without a special converter.” He continued, “Plus, Apple doesn’t include the needed dongle in the box with the new MacBook Pros. You have to buy it separately.”

Perhaps such missteps are why Apple has experienced its first revenue drop in a decade-and-a-half. However, excitement over the new iPhone 7 should drive up sales and put the company back in the black. It will be interesting to see how many TBS students have the new phone after the holidays, which may be an indication, albeit a small one, that Apple is back on track.