Apple introduced the new iPhone XS this week. The phone is Apple’s latest flagship device. And as with all new iPhones, once it comes out, it pushes previous iPhones down the rung. Now Apple’s cheapest iPhone offering is the iPhone 7–which first debuted two years ago.
While the iPhone 7 is a great phone for the price, it really can’t compete with the iPhone XS. But just how are the two phones different? Let’s take a look to find out.
iPhone XS vs iPhone 7: Specs
Here’s the specs for the iPhone XS:
- Display: 5.8-inch OLED display with a 2436x1125-pixel resolution at 458ppi
- Dimensions: 143.6mm x 70.9mm x 7.7mm
- Weight: 177 grams
- Storage: 64, 256, or 512GB
- Processors: A12 Bionic
- Front camera: 7 MP photos and 1080p HD video.
- Rear camera: Dual lens 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras, Dual optical image stabilisation, Optical zoom, 4K video
- Battery: Up to 12.5 hours battery life mixed usage
- Other: Face ID, NFC, Wireless charging, 3D Touch, IP68 waterproof
And here’s the specs for the iPhone 7:
- Display: 4.7in display with 1334x750 resolution at 326ppi
- Dimensions: 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1 mm
- Weight: 138 grams
- Storage: 32 or 128GB
- Processors: A10 Fusion
- Front camera: 7 MP photos and 1080p HD video
- Rear camera: 12MP camera, 4K video.
- Battery: Up to 12 hours battery life mixed usage
- Other: Touch ID, NFC, 3D Touch, IP67 waterproof
The iPhone XS’s 5.8in display is almost an inch larger than the 4.7in display found in the iPhone 7. However, what’s even more impressive is that because the iPhone XS has an edge-to-edge display, the overall physical size of the iPhone XS isn’t much larger than the iPhone 7, despite the much larger display. When we get to the CPUs, the A12 Bionic chip found inside the iPhone XS is almost 100% faster than the A10 Fusion chip found in the iPhone 7. And then there are the storage options. The iPhone X comes in larger storage sizes: 64GB, 256GB or 512GB versus the 32GB or 128GB found in the iPhone 7.
iPhone XS vs iPhone 7: Display & Design
The resolution of the iPhone XS’s screen is an astonishing 5.8in 2436x1125-pixels at 458ppi edge-to-edge display. Compare that to the iPhone 7 4.7in display with a 1334x750-pixel resolution at 326ppi and you’ll see just how much better the display on the XS is. Then of course, there’s the fact that the iPhone XS has that edge-to-edge display, and you can see how it really takes the lead over the display found in the iPhone 7.
Another big difference in design, of course, is that the iPhone XS lacks a Home button. The iPhone 7 still has the Home button, and thus, Touch ID. The iPhone XS lacks Touch ID and replaces it with Apple’s Face ID facial recognition system. Both the iPhones feature a 3D Touch display and NFC.
And while both phones are waterproof, the iPhone XS is rated IP68, which means it can stay submerged for 30 minutes up to two meters deep. The iPhone 7 is rated IP67, which means it can stay submerged for 30 minutes up to one meter deep.
iPhone XS vs iPhone 7: Battery
The iPhone XS has just a much larger battery than the iPhone 7. And here the battery can actually get you more life out of your device before a recharge. Talk time, the iPhone XS can go for 20 hours versus 14 for the iPhone 7. And it can last 50% longer for music playback. Another major difference in the power department is that the iPhone XS features wireless charging–something the iPhone 7 does not have. Here’s how the battery life compares between the two in Talk Time, Standby Time, Internet Use, Video Playback, and Audio Playback:
- Talk time: iPhone X – 20 hours. iPhone 7 – 14 hours.
- Internet use: iPhone X – Up to 12 hours. iPhone 7 – Up to 13 hours.
- Video playback: iPhone X – Up to 14 hours. iPhone 7 – Up to 13 hours.
- Audio playback: iPhone X – Up to 60 hours. iPhone 7 – Up to 40 hours.
iPhone XS vs iPhone 7: Camera
As far as cameras are concerned, the iPhone 7 should just call it a day. The iPhone XS features a larger 7MP front facing camera (as does the iPhone 7). But the killer benefit is in the rear camera. The iPhone XS features a dual lens 12MP rear camera complete with a wide angle and telephoto lens and dual optical zoom. The 7 is limited to a single lens 12 MP camera.
iPhone XS vs iPhone 7: Cost & Verdict
Unlocked the 4.7in iPhone 7 costs £449 (32GB) and £549 (128GB). The iPhone XS will be available on September 21 and cost £999 (64GB), £1149 (256GB), or £1349 (512GB). That £450 and £600 premium for the iPhone XS does get you a massive amount of more stuff including a bigger display and a sexy new design, wireless charging, a processor twice as fast, an MASSIVELY better camera on the front and back, and more storage.
