⭐ Reason for Purchase

My ancient flip phone finally died, and I needed something for parent emails and grading apps.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted something simple, durable, and with good battery life for all-day use.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got a cheap Android, but my tech-savvy daughter insisted on iPhone for longevity.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Apple Store—figured I’d need help setting it up, and the staff was patient with my questions.

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Felt fancy unboxing it! Setup took forever because I’d never used an Apple ID before.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Solid build, but the screen seemed small compared to other phones I’d seen.

⭐ First Week Usage

Struggled with typing at first (so many typos!), but loved how easy it was to organize my calendar.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for emails and Google Classroom. The fingerprint login saves me time during hectic school days.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Touch ID, Reminders app, and the speaker—louder than expected for playing podcasts during lunch.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

iCloud storage confused me, and I accidentally deleted photos trying to free up space.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like upgrading from a bicycle to a car—way more efficient, but the learning curve was steep.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Parents respond faster to my emails now that they come from a "real" email address (not my flip phone).

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

My students think I’m "cool" now, and I finally joined a family group chat.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Got an OtterBox case after dropping it once (survived, thankfully!).

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8/10—great for work, but I still miss physical buttons sometimes.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My old Android phone was lagging badly, and I needed a reliable device for work.

📌 Purchase Motivation

I wanted a phone with a great camera for capturing design inspirations and smooth performance for Adobe apps.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

I compared the iPhone 7 with the Samsung Galaxy S7 but liked iOS better for its stability.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Best Buy, because they had a good trade-in deal for my old phone.

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

The unboxing felt premium! Setting it up was super easy with iCloud backup from my iPad.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Loved the sleek rose gold color and how lightweight it was. The home button felt satisfying to press.

⭐ First Week Usage

Took some getting used to iOS, but the camera blew me away—photos looked crisp even in low light.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Perfect for my workflow. I use it to quickly snap pics of color palettes and textures for projects.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

The camera, Touch ID, and seamless integration with my MacBook for file transfers.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Missed the back button from Android at first, and the battery drained fast when using design apps.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Way smoother than my old laggy Android, but I wish it had wireless charging.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

A game-changer for work—I can edit photos on the go now. Social media also looks sharper.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Friends noticed my Instagram pics improved, and I feel more professional showing clients my portfolio on it.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Bought a Spigen case and a tempered glass screen protector. Wish I’d gotten a battery case too.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10—would recommend to creatives, but heavy users might need to charge it often.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

My iPhone 6’s battery swelled, and I needed an affordable upgrade for finals season.

📌 Purchase Motivation

Needed something with better performance for multitasking between lectures and part-time gig apps.

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared refurbished iPhone 7 vs. SE—chose the 7 for the better camera and water resistance.

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Amazon Renewed—got a "like new" one for $200, which fit my tight budget.

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Was nervous about refurbished quality, but it looked pristine! Restored from iCloud in minutes.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Jet black looked sleek, and the size was perfect for one-handed use on crowded buses.

⭐ First Week Usage

Battery life was decent, but I had to turn off background app refresh to make it last all day.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Handles my 10+ tabs of research, Spotify, and Uber apps without freezing—a lifesaver.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

3D Touch for quick actions, Night Shift for late-night studying, and the headphone jack (RIP dongles!).

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Storage filled up fast with lecture recordings—had to upgrade to iCloud+.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Much faster than my dying iPhone 6, though I miss the lighter weight of the older model.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Scanning textbooks with Notes app is clutch, and FaceTime calls with mom are clearer.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Snapchat filters look smoother, and I can finally use Venmo without crashes during split bills.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

PopSocket for grip and a cheap Walmart charger for my dorm.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10—best budget iPhone for students, but get the 32GB+ model if you can.

Benchmark Scores

In 2024, the iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion chip scores about 40% lower than the iPhone SE (2020) in Geekbench. Real-world impact? Apps like Snapchat take 2-3 seconds longer to open compared to newer iPhones. Not terrible, but you’ll notice the lag.

Build Quality & Materials

The matte black version hides wear better than jet black, but both feel sturdy. After three years, my unit’s aluminum edges had minor dings, but no bending issues like some Android phones. The tactile home button is a relic I oddly miss.

Display Quality

The 625-nit brightness is solid outdoors—I could read texts under direct sunlight at the beach. Colors lack the vibrancy of OLED, though. Watching Netflix side-by-side with an iPhone 13, the difference in contrast is obvious but not deal-breaking.

Camera System & Performance

The camera’s OIS (optical image stabilization) still impresses—my handheld sunset shots were sharper than newer budget Androids. Video tops out at 4K/30fps, and the lack of Night Mode means dark scenes require steady hands or editing.

Software & User Experience

iOS updates have kept it feeling fresh, but some newer features (like Live Text) don’t work here. Siri responses are slower, and keyboard lag appears when typing quickly. Fine for grandparents, frustrating for power users.

Battery Life & Charging

A 100% charge got me through a workday (emails, Spotify, light browsing), but gaming drained it in 3 hours. Apple’s $49 battery replacement is worth it if you plan to keep it longer—my refurbished unit’s battery health was at 78%.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

Pokémon GO runs flawlessly, but Asphalt 9 requires low graphics settings to avoid stutters. The GPU shows its age—graphics-heavy games look dated, and the small screen doesn’t help. Stick to casual titles or cloud gaming.

Connectivity & Ports

Bluetooth 4.2 means occasional AirPod disconnections in crowded spaces. LTE speeds averaged 25Mbps in NYC—usable but not stellar. The Lightning port is a pain when all your friends have USB-C cables now.

Durability & Protection

Survived multiple drops on pavement (with a case), but the screen cracked on the fourth tumble. Apple’s repair cost ($149) is steep—third-party shops charge $80 but risk Touch ID functionality. Water resistance is a lifesaver for coffee spills.

Price & Value Proposition

At $120-$180 used, it’s cheaper than an iPod Touch and makes calls. Ideal as a kid’s first phone or for iOS app testing. Just avoid carrier-locked models—they’re harder to resell.

Benchmark Scores

The iPhone 7 still holds up decently in benchmarks for its age, scoring around 1700 single-core and 3000 multi-core in Geekbench 5. While it's no match for modern iPhones, it handles daily tasks smoothly. For light users, it's perfectly adequate, but heavy multitaskers might notice slowdowns.

Build Quality & Materials

The aluminum unibody design feels premium even today, with a solid heft and seamless curves. The jet black variant scratches easily though—I learned that the hard way after a month in my pocket with keys. Still, it’s one of the last iPhones with a durable metal back.

Display Quality

The 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD is crisp and color-accurate, but the lack of True Tone or HDR shows its age. Side-by-side with newer iPhones, whites look cooler, and blacks aren’t as deep. That said, it’s perfectly fine for browsing and videos if you’re not picky.

Camera System & Performance

The single 12MP shooter surprises with great daylight shots—dynamic range is decent, and colors pop. Low-light performance is where it struggles; my evening city shots often came out grainy. No portrait mode hurts, but for casual snaps, it’s still capable.

Software & User Experience

iOS 15 runs surprisingly well, but app load times are slower than newer models. I miss features like Dark Mode auto-switching, and some apps (like Instagram) stutter occasionally. Still, for calls, messages, and light apps, it’s a reliable daily driver.

Battery Life & Charging

The 1960mAh battery is the Achilles’ heel—my unit barely lasts a full day with moderate use. Fast charging helps (with a separate adapter), but wireless charging isn’t an option here. Heavy users will need a battery case or frequent top-ups.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The A10 Fusion chip handles casual games like Candy Crush fine, but demanding titles (e.g., Genshin Impact) chug at low settings. After 20 minutes, the back gets warm, and frame drops become noticeable. Not a gamer’s pick in 2024.

Connectivity & Ports

The lack of a headphone jack still stings—I had to dig up my old Lightning earbuds. LTE speeds are decent (if your carrier supports it), but no 5G means slower downloads in crowded areas. The single Lightning port feels limiting now.

Durability & Protection

IP67 rating means it survives spills and dust, but my unit’s home button gave out after two years. Screen replacements are pricey ($149 at Apple), and third-party repairs often lose Touch ID functionality. A case is a must.

Price & Value Proposition

At around $100-$150 used, it’s a budget entry into iOS. Just know you’re trading longevity for savings—Apple may drop support soon. Great for kids or as a backup phone, but power users should stretch for an iPhone SE (2022).