I have now had the iPhone 7 for just over a month, and have definitely formed some thoughts and opinions. There is so much h negative press online these days. People love to complain, and yes, Apple has definitely made some 'brave' decisions recently, but one this is for certain, the sky is not falling.

First off, the headphone jack. I seem to be in the vocal minority on this issue, but it really hasn't been a problem for me at all. It is an adjustment for sure, but think about it for a moment. How often do you actually use a different set of wired headphones with your iPhone? If you're like most people, and you're being honest, almost never. The majority of people these days have a wired set, and then a wireless set for the gym. A simple solution, is just to leave the adapter connected to your wired set of headphones. Problem solved.

I have only missed the headphone jack once, and that was while playing on a session in a recording studio. I needed to quickly reference a demo track, and went to go plug my in-ears into the phone for a listen. Obviously, that didn't work, and I didn't try and drill a hole into the phone in order to 'fix the problem' . I simply used the much improved speakers on the iPhone 7 to listen. The sound quality and volume level have been majorly upgraded in this version of the iPhone. Call me crazy, but it's really not a huge deal.

With the improvements in Bluetooth devices, and battery life over the last 2-3 years, the world is going wireless. Deal with it. 'But I can't charge and listen,' you say. Well, that is a problem, and Apple dropped the ball on that one. With the improved battery life, plethora of wireless devices, and USB integrations like CarPlay and Android Auto, this is less of a problem now than it was a couple years ago. In a year or two, these integrations will be standard in most cars, and the charging your phone while listening to things while driving, will be safer and easier than ever. You'll also be able to arrived at your destination with a charged device. I have CarPlay in my car, and life has never been simpler in that aspect.

Moving on from all that, the home button doesn't exist anymore. It does, but it doesn't. I have heard the outcries, the weeping, and read the tears of those that fight change, but you'll lose every time. The clean design still feels the same (for the most part), doesn't trap dirt, and Touch ID seems to work better. Apple still lets you force restart the phone, for all those out there that have ended up mad with lots of screen shots on their phone. The new key combo is holding the volume down and power button at the same time. Change is tough. #firstworldproblems

iPhone 7 Plus Depth Effect Photo Credit: Carlos Santiago

On the wireless front, the new cell chipset has improved my T-Mobile signal and service all over the country, except for in Montana. T-Mobile, you suck in Montana. Sorry Sprint customers, you are still on the worst network in the US.

Now, let's talk cameras. They are amazing! The image stabilization on both the 7 and 7 Plus is flawless. The color depth and crisp image quality are excellent. On the 7 Plus, the depth effect is still in beta, but makes for some incredible photos. The 4K video quality is also great. These cameras, in my opinion, have ended the point and shoot camera market for those that can afford the phones.

In conclusion, the iPhone 7 is really just a fully realized 6 Series iPhone. It has the same form factor, better battery, faster processing, and an amazing camera. The build quality is superb, mine is case-less, and has survived a month of travel without a scratch. If sources are to be believed, next year's iPhone 8 will shake things up a bit since it is the 10th Anniversary of the iPhone. It will probably be a complete redesign, possibly a ceramic housing eliminating the need for antennas, and bring us wireless charging and a USB-C connector. Until then, we will have to deal with some transitions and dongles. But that, will be for another post. The industry is in a state of change, and regardless what you read, the PC world is going through it just as much as Apple. If it helps, reflect on the NelsonWerks motto, 'Never Let The Machine Win', and soldier on through the changes. No one wants to hear your tears ;)

- H

iPhone 7 Review