Is The iPhone 7 / 7 Plus Worth Buying In 2022? Let’s Find Out…
How much is the iPhone 7 in 2022? Is it – or the iPhone 7 Plus – still worth buying? Here’s everything you need to know…
If you’re looking at picking up an iPhone 7 (or iPhone 7 Plus) in 2022, you’re probably wondering how much the iPhone 7 costs, right? The good news is the iPhone 7 is now very cheap, as you can see below:
iPhone 7 Price In 2022 (What You Should Expect To Pay):
- Gazelle (USA) – Gazelle, as noted earlier, sell refurbished iPhones. And it does all major models, including the iPhone 7 range but also newer models like the iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS range. Have a look at what’s on offer; I think you’ll really dig just how cheap the iPhones are; especially the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which can both be had for less than $300.
- REBOXED (UK) – If you’re in the UK and are looking at picking up an iPhone 7, REBOXED sells them with prices starting as low as £149 quid. If you want more storage, say 256GB, it’ll cost you £199.99. You also get a 30-day returns policy and all phones sold have been through a 70-point testing and vetting process to ensure they work perfectly.
Is The iPhone 7 / iPhone 7 Plus Worth Buying?
It is now 2022, the iPhone 14 will launch later this year. If you do the maths, that’s SEVEN generations on from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which begs the question: is the iPhone 7 still worth buying in 2022? I’d argue, no – you’ll be far better off with something more contemporary – something like the iPhone 11.
Why’s that? Apple does provide excellent support to its older iPhones, including the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but seven generations of iPhone and six years time is a lot of time in the world of phones, things have progressed A LOT since 2016 (when the iPhone 7 got its release date).
Case in point: my aging iPhone 7 Plus was recently updated to iOS 15 and while the update was certainly welcome – getting updates six years after a phone’s release is incredible – the update did cause havoc with the phone; its internal components, the CPU and RAM, just aren’t good enough for Apple’s latest iteration of iOS. And I do feel like iOS 15 will be the iPhone 7’s latest update from Apple.
The phone will still function, of course, but it no longer feels snappy. The camera module is also now REALLY showing its age, on both models, though, mostly the iPhone 7. For this reason – and a whole bunch more, like the iPhone 7’s battery life – you’re going to be far better off, both in the short and long term, going with a newer, more modern iPhone.
The iPhone 11 is now very reasonably priced, and so too is the iPhone 12. If you cannot go that expensive, the iPhone XS Max is still a very potent handset that will be able to handle everything 2022 can throw at it – and the iPhone XS Max is now VERY cheap. Me? I’d go with the iPhone 11 or if you want 5G, the iPhone 12. These phones will be more expensive than the iPhone XS Max but they’ll last much longer and perform a lot better while you’re using them.
- 30-Point Test on ALL Products
- 40% Cheaper Than Buying New
- Sells Phones, Tablets, MacBooks & More
- Excellent Warranty, Prices & Delivery Times
- 70-Point Test on ALL Products
- 40% Cheaper Than Buying New
- Sells Phones, Tablets, Headphones & More
- Excellent Delivery Times & Packaging
iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus: An Overview of Their Specs, Features & Performance
You can no longer officially buy the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus handsets via Apple; both were discontinued years ago, so you’re left with either buying one second-hand via someone online or going the refurbished route. As always, you’re 100% better off going the refurbished route, as refurbished iPhones have been fully tested and re-optimized for sale.
They basically look and function as good as new, whereas an iPhone bought online via eBay or Facebook Marketplace will have a degraded battery, scratches, and potential issues with the hardware. And you wouldn’t know until you bought it. For this reason, we ALWAYS recommend that our readers buy refurbished.
In addition to this, when you buy refurbished you’ll save a fortune (the phones are 40-50% cheaper), so you can usually move up to higher storage models all while keeping inside a fairly modest budget. As noted above, the two places we recommend the most often for refurbished iPhones (and other tech gear as well) are Gazelle for our USA readers and Music Magpie for our UK brethren.
Crazily, this is how much iPhone 7 handsets are worth these days (less than $350) which is great news for anyone that is looking for a bargain. Why? Simple: the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are still plenty powerful, so you can 100% get away with using one in 2020. Hell, millions of people all over the world are still running the iPhone 7 – it’s one of Apple’s most popular iPhone releases.
Should You Buy The iPhone 7 or The iPhone 7 Plus?
For me, there is no question about which phone you should get: the iPhone 7 Plus is the superior handset in nearly every way – from the camera to the display and battery life. The iPhone 7 Plus is a vastly better option than the smaller iPhone 7 model.
Battery life is important, right? The iPhone 7 Plus has a 30-40% better battery life than the iPhone 7, thanks to its larger battery cell. What about the camera? That’s important too. Well, the iPhone 7 Plus is better here as well. Even its display, though larger at 5.5in, is better – it’s a 1080p panel versus the iPhone 7’s barely-HD 720p display.
And because the iPhone 7 Plus is larger, it is kind of more useful in everyday life – whether you’re talking about reading a post online or watching a video. Having a larger display at a higher resolution just makes the web and content look better. And the iPhone 7 Plus’ display is still really good, even today (and that’s down to Apple’s Retina Display tech).
iPhone 7 Plus Performance – Still Good Enough For 2022?
I know, I know – you’re worried the iPhone 7’s specs won’t cut the mustard in 2020. And, as of 2022, your concerns are warranted – back in 2019, the iPhone 7 was an OK option. Nowadays, in the era of iOS 15 and iOS 16, the iPhone 7 is now showing its age.
Why The iPhone 7 Specs
You have 3GB of RAM under the hood, Apple’s A10 Fusion chip, a CPU that broke all the records when it launched, a 12MP dual-lens camera on the rear (the iPhone XR doesn’t even have that), and to top things off nicely, both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are 100% water-proof (IP67, in case you’re wondering).
And, yes, all of the above was more than enough for 99.9% of users in 2019. You didn’t need OLED panels and triple-lens cameras and 6GB of RAM to browse the web back then, nor did you need to spend $1000 on a phone. You still don’t in 2022, but the iPhone 7 is now not quick enough, from a performance perspective, to adequately run modern apps and iOS 15.
The iPhone 7 Plus is, of course, the better option out of the two – it has a bigger battery, a larger display, and a more advanced camera. But even the iPhone 7 Plus is now showing its age. It too feels sluggish running iOS 15 and I do not think it will get iOS 16 later on this year, either.
Your best option, if you’re looking for an older, cheaper iPhone, is to buy a newer iPhone model refurbished. Buying refurbished iPhones can save you an additional 40% on the handset’s usual RRP. Again, if you’re shopping with value for money in mind, it’s kind of impossible not to love refurbished iPhones – it’s the cheapest way to buy iPhones on the market.
The iPhone 7 Plus Has A Better Camera Than The iPhone XR
The iPhone XR came out in 2018, a full two years after the iPhone 7 Plus. But it is the iPhone 7 Plus that has the superior camera; it features a 12MP dual-lens setup on the rear that includes both a telephoto and wide-angle lens, whereas the iPhone XR’s is merely a single-lens camera.
And lest we forget: the iPhone XR retails for around double the price of the iPhone 7 Plus. Given all of the above, it’s easy to see why millions of people still use and look for iPhone 7 handsets – even in 2020. The iPhone 7 range is one of Apple’s classics. It sold in record numbers and it has aged beautifully. And the fact that it is still a viable option today tells you pretty much everything you need to know about this phone.
OK, But Where’s The Best Place To Buy iPhone 7?
The best place to buy an iPhone 7 kind of depends where you live. No carriers or phone networks sell the phone anymore, so you’re only way to buy an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus in 2022 is via a refurbished phone specialist like Gazelle or REBOXED.
- 30-Point Test on ALL Products
- 40% Cheaper Than Buying New
- Sells Phones, Tablets, MacBooks & More
- Excellent Warranty, Prices & Delivery Times
- 70-Point Test on ALL Products
- 40% Cheaper Than Buying New
- Sells Phones, Tablets, Headphones & More
- Excellent Delivery Times & Packaging
My advice? Avoid the iPhone 7 in 2022. Go with a newer model, something like the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone XS Max. That way, you’ll be able to use the phone for longer, get longer support from Apple, and your phone will perform significantly better in the short, medium, and long term.
And check out What Apple Products To Expect At WWDC 2022!
Richard Goodwin
Richard Goodwin has been working as a tech journalist for over 10 years. He is the editor and owner of KnowYourMobile.
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