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What’s the best iPhone 7 to buy?

With the release of the iPhone 7, customers have a lot of choice when it comes to purchasing the best iPhone for their personal circumstances. If you’re in the market for a new iPhone 7, which new iPhone should you consider buying? Have a look as we break down the possibilities inside.

Storage Space

Now that 32GB is the base amount of storage space in the iPhone 7, users can get away with virtually any storage variety without encountering an extreme storage space conundrum. That said, 32GB is still a small amount of space for anyone who plans on getting the most out of their new iPhone.

After some thinking, I’m convinced that the new sweet spot for storage space is the 128GB version of the iPhone. 128GB lends users a high storage ceiling. Only the most prolific storage users might look into the 256GB models of the iPhone 7. But if money is no issue, it certainly can’t hurt to opt for that much storage.

128 GB is the new storage sweet spot

Another thing that you’ll want to consider is resell value. In the resell market, I imagine that 128GB will be the most sought after model. With 256 GB, you’re reaching a level of diminishing returns as far as resell value goes. I don’t picture most buyers being in the market for a 256GB iPhone 7, and for that reason, it may be hard to recoup the extra money paid for the additional storage.

Conclusion: Easy. Get 128GB.

Video walkthrough

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Color

Color is highly subjective, but there are some definite things to consider here as well. Do you want to make it obvious that you have the latest and greatest? If so, then Black and Jet Black are your best options.

Do scratches and micro abrasions make you freak out? Then you’ll want to avoid the Jet Black version of the iPhone 7.

Do you use your iPhone naked, i.e. without a case? If so, and you aren’t worried about scratches and micro abrasions, then the Jet Black iPhone is by far the best feeling iPhone from a tactile perspective. I’ve long held the opinion that the plastic iPhone 5c was the best handling iPhone up until this moment in time, but the Jet Black model easily dethrones it.

As far as tactile feel goes, the Jet Black finish is by far the best

If you want to play it safe with regard to potential resell value and durability, then the regular matte Black iPhone 7 is probably the safest bet. It looks good too, but it’s just not as pretty or as grippy as the Jet Black iPhone 7. Of course, you could also opt for an iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case or one of Apple’s Silicone or Leather cases.

Something you’ll also want to consider is availability. There’s way more Gold, Rose Gold, and Silver iPhone 7s available than there are Black and Jet Black iPhone 7s.

Black (matte) looks great as well, and is less prone to scratches

Conclusion: Most people should get Black, but if you can handle scratches and abrasions and are willing to go naked, Jet Black is the hands-down winner from a tactile standpoint. If availability is the deciding factor, then you might have to choose Gold, Silver, or Rose Gold instead.

Size

Should you buy the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 Plus? This is a question that many of you have no doubt pondered over. I’ve been in the regular-sized iPhone camp for some time now, but the Plus model, with its new iSight Duo camera is quite the compelling option.

Yet, even with such a wanted feature, the Plus model is simply too big for some users. If you’ve tried a Plus before and hated the experience, then the presence of the iSight Duo camera isn’t enough to make up for that in my opinion.

The iPhone 7 Plus isn’t for everyone, but features distinct advantages

However, if you’re comfortable with the Plus model, or even if it’s just a satisfactory experience, the extra camera features are a big draw. This is especially true if you take iPhone photography seriously.

The all new Portrait mode allows users to get that highly desirable depth of field effect in portrait shots with virtually no effort. The presence of the extra 56mm telephoto lens is also wonderful for close up shots and macro photography.

Portrait mode is an iPhone 7 Plus exclusive

But don’t forget that the regular iPhone 7 is no slouch when it comes to camera optics. It features the same ƒ/1.8 28mm wide angle lens that’s found on the iPhone 7 Plus, and it also features optical image stabilization, something previous 4.7″ iPhones lacked.

The iPhone 7 Plus has another big advantage, though, and that’s screen size. The Full HD display allows you to see more content on screen at once, and many apps are designed to take advantage of the extra real estate in exciting ways.

You’ll find many apps that take advantage of the iPhone 7 Plus’ extra real estate

Conclusion: This is by far the hardest decision of the three, but if you can handle the large size, and iPhone photography is of the utmost importance to you, get the iPhone 7 Plus. If you dislike large phones or find them uncomfortable to use, or if the new camera options don’t move the needle for you, you should consider opting for the iPhone 7.

Final answer

First Option Secondary Option
Storage 128GB You should really get 128…

(…unless you’re an extreme prolific/anemic storage user.)

Color Black (Matte) Jet Black

(If going caseless and you don’t care about scratches)

Size iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 7

(If you dislike large phones, and photos take a back seat)

Which iPhone did you end up ordering? Do you agree with most of these points, or do you recommend a different configuration? Sound off down below in the comments section.

If you’d like to see more of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus’ top features? Be sure to watch our full overview video below:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Jeff Benjamin

Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He initially joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.


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