# IPhone 7
The **iPhone 7** is a smartphone developed and marketed by [Apple Inc.](https://www.edgepedia.org/apple-inc), announced on September 7, 2016 and released on September 16, 2016 in more than 25 countries. It introduced the first water- and dust-resistant iPhone design, removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack, and brought optical image stabilization to the standard-sized iPhone for the first time.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) • [2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) • [3](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/how-far-has-iphone-photography-come-in-10-years-i-compared-the-iphone-7-and-iphone-air-and-the-results-speak-for-themselves) It shipped alongside a larger sibling, the iPhone 7 Plus, which added a dual-camera system.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced / released | September 7, 2016; on sale September 16, 2016 in more than 25 countries[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) |
| Water resistance | First water- and dust-resistant iPhone, rated IP67 (maximum depth 1 meter up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529[2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) |
| Chip | A10 Fusion, four cores: two high-performance cores up to two times faster than iPhone 6, two high-efficiency cores running at one-fifth their power[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) |
| Camera | 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture, six-element lens, optical image stabilization; 4K video at 30 fps[2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) |
| iPhone 7 Plus camera | Adds a 12 MP telephoto camera for 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom for photos[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) |
| Headphone jack | Removed; all models included EarPods with Lightning connector and a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) |
| Battery | 3.8 V, 1960 mAh, 7.45 Wh, up from 6.55 Wh in the iPhone 6s[5](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382) |
| Software support | Shipped with iOS 10; supported through iOS 15; discontinued in 2019 and added to Apple's vintage list in May 2025[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) • [6](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html) |
## Design and the headphone jack
The iPhone 7 kept the exterior dimensions of its predecessor, the iPhone 6s, at 138.3 mm × 67.1 mm × 7.1 mm, while dropping from 143 grams to 138 grams.[5](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382) Apple offered it in silver, gold, rose gold, and two new black finishes: a matte black and a high-gloss jet black produced through a nine-step anodization and polish process.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) Storage options moved to 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB, with prices starting at $649 in the United States; the jet black finish was exclusive to the 128 GB and 256 GB models.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/)
**The headphone jack removal** was the most discussed change. Apple deleted the 3.5 mm jack and instead bundled EarPods with a [Lightning](https://www.edgepedia.org/lightning) connector, plus a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter for older wired headphones; the adapter was also sold separately for $9, and the new wireless AirPods, built around Apple's W1 chip, launched at $159 in late October.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) • [4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) Reviewers noted the practical cost: users could not charge the phone and listen through wired headphones at the same time without an optional dock, and a lost adapter meant another purchase.[7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/) The removal remained standard on every iPhone that followed.[8](https://www.ifixit.com/News/55943/iphone-headphone-jack-removal-port-replacement-damage-bluetooth)
The space where the jack sat was not simply left empty. iFixit's teardown found a plastic component that Apple identified as a barometric vent, which equalizes internal and atmospheric pressure through the watertight seal so the phone's altimeter reads accurately.[5](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382)
The Home button also changed from mechanical to solid state: it does not physically depress, and the Taptic Engine produces a clicking sensation to mimic a press, with feedback that users could customize.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) • [7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/)
## Camera
Both models carry a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, a larger ƒ/1.8 aperture, and a six-element lens; Apple described the combination as enabling brighter, more detailed photos and videos, with wide color capture added across camera and display.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) • [2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) [Optical image stabilization](https://www.edgepedia.org/optical-image-stabilization) had previously been reserved for Plus models, making the iPhone 7 the first standard-sized iPhone to include it.[3](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/how-far-has-iphone-photography-come-in-10-years-i-compared-the-iphone-7-and-iphone-air-and-the-results-speak-for-themselves) Supporting hardware included a Quad-LED True Tone flash 50 percent brighter than the iPhone 6s with a sensor that detects flickering lights and compensates for them, and a new Apple-designed image signal processor that Apple said processes over 100 billion operations on a single photo in as little as 25 milliseconds.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) The front camera rose to 7 megapixels with auto image stabilization.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/)
**The iPhone 7 Plus** added a second 12-megapixel telephoto camera alongside the same wide-angle unit, giving 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom for photos, a first for the iPhone. Later in 2016, software updates enabled a depth-of-field portrait effect that used both cameras with machine learning to separate foreground from background.[1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) Video recording reached 4K at 30 fps, with 2x optical zoom for video on the Plus model.[2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943)
## Performance and battery
The A10 Fusion was Apple's first four-core smartphone chip: two high-performance cores that Apple said ran up to two times faster than the iPhone 6's A8, and two high-efficiency cores capable of running at one-fifth the power of the performance cores, with the phone switching between them to manage battery use. Graphics ran up to three times faster than iPhone 6 at as little as half the power.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) Apple claimed up to two hours more battery life than the iPhone 6s, which TIME's reviewer found roughly accurate in daily use.[7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/) The physical battery is a 3.8 V, 1960 mAh cell rated at 7.45 Wh, up from 6.55 Wh in the iPhone 6s.[5](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382) Charging speed, however, did not improve, and the review noted rival Android phones of the time supported faster quick charging.[7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/)
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus were also the first iPhones with stereo speakers, which Apple rated at two times the loudness of the iPhone 6s.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) • [7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/) Connectivity included [LTE Advanced](https://www.edgepedia.org/lte-advanced) at up to 450 Mbps across 25 [LTE bands](https://www.edgepedia.org/lte-frequency-bands), and, for Japan, support for FeliCa contactless cards including the Suica transit card.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/)
## Water resistance
The reengineered enclosure earned an IP67 rating under IEC standard 60529, meaning the phone survived up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes in laboratory testing, a first for the iPhone.[2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) • [1](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/) Apple qualified the rating: resistance is not permanent and can decrease with normal wear, liquid damage is not covered by warranty, and users are told not to charge a wet iPhone.[2](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943) TIME's reviewer dunked the phone repeatedly in about a foot of water without harm, while noting Samsung's Galaxy S7 of the same year carried a higher tolerance, five feet for 30 minutes.[7](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/)
## Repairability and teardown
iFixit, a repair-guide publisher known for teardowns of consumer devices, opened the iPhone 7 in Tokyo alongside the 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2. Its teardown documented tri-point screws on the cable bracket, a battery held by adhesive strips with pull tabs, and a speaker duct fitted over a rubber gasket with fine mesh as part of the ingress protection.[5](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382) The phone scored 7 out of 10 on iFixit's repairability scale.[9](https://ifixit-guide-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/ifixit/guide_67382_en.pdf)
## Service life and the "No Service" program
The iPhone 7 shipped with iOS 10 and received major iOS updates through iOS 15 before being discontinued in 2019.[4](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/) • [6](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html) Apple classifies a product as vintage when it stopped distributing it for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years earlier, limiting repair to parts availability; the iPhone 7 reached vintage status in May 2025, and the iPhone 7 Plus joined the vintage list later that year.[10](https://support.apple.com/en-ie/102772) • [6](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html) • [11](https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/21/apple-vintage-products-list-iphone-7-plus-iphone-8/)
In February 2018, well over a year after users first reported the problem, Apple launched a repair program for iPhone 7 models that could not connect to cellular service, covering the American models A1660, A1779, and A1780 with free exchange.[12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiKGOfY0GjU) • [13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMce7EwGas)
## References
1. [Apple introduces iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus, Apple Newsroom (September 7, 2016)](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-introduces-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus/)
2. [iPhone 7 – Technical Specifications, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-la/111943)
3. [How far has iPhone photography come in 10 years? TechRadar (2026)](https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/how-far-has-iphone-photography-come-in-10-years-i-compared-the-iphone-7-and-iphone-air-and-the-results-speak-for-themselves)
4. [Apple Introduces iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus, Apple Newsroom UK (September 7, 2016)](https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2016/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPhone-7-iPhone-7-Plus-The-Best-Most-Advanced-iPhone-Ever/)
5. [iPhone 7 Teardown, iFixit](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone%2B7%2BTeardown/67382)
6. [How long does Apple support iPhones with updates? Macworld](https://www.macworld.com/article/675021/how-long-does-apple-support-iphones.html)
7. [iPhone 7 Review: Apple's Best iPhone Ever, But Just Barely, TIME (2016)](https://time.com/4487993/apple-iphone-7-review/)
8. [Did Removing the iPhone's Headphone Jack Increase Lightning Port Damage? iFixit](https://www.ifixit.com/News/55943/iphone-headphone-jack-removal-port-replacement-damage-bluetooth)
9. [iPhone 7 Teardown (PDF), iFixit](https://ifixit-guide-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/ifixit/guide_67382_en.pdf)
10. [Getting a service for your Apple product after its warranty has expired, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-ie/102772)
11. [Apple adds iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 to vintage products list, 9to5Mac (2025)](https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/21/apple-vintage-products-list-iphone-7-plus-iphone-8/)
12. [New iPhone 7 "No Service" Repair Program, AppleTrack (YouTube, 2018)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiKGOfY0GjU)
13. [iPhone 7 No Service repair program details, Apple Tech (YouTube, 2018)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMce7EwGas)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Computing and digital systems › Computer hardware › Mobile & handheld devices*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license