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Here’s What Reviews Say About Apple’s iPhone 7

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
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By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 15, 2016, 9:40 AM ET

Apple’s iPhone 7 will finally hit store shelves on Friday, even if the bigger model won’t be available due to widespread demand.

Although many have already preordered the iPhone 7, many others are deciding whether it makes sense to go to a store to buy Apple’s (AAPL) handset on launch day. To help folks make that determination, Fortune has compiled a roundup of iPhone 7 reviews.

In general, the reviews are mixed, though the final conclusion seems to be that Apple got many things right with its latest smartphone. Here’s a brief rundown of iPhone 7 reviews, including excerpts from each:

Lisa Eadicicco, TIME: “It doesn’t ‘wow’ like so many Apple products have. But then again, maybe it doesn’t need to. It’s not a huge upgrade, but it helps Apple’s smartphone remain one of the best around.” (Link to Review)

Nilay Patel, The Verge: “The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are deeply unusual devices. They are full of aggressive breaks from convention while wrapped in cases that look almost exactly like their two direct predecessors.” (Link to Review)

Brian X. Chen, The New York Times: “The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are tremendously fast—more than double the speed of the two-year-old iPhone 6—and their cameras produce superb, vivid photos. The battery life is improved, and the iPhones survived water torture tests.” (Link to Review)

David Pierce, Wired: “The iPhone 7 might not be a revolution, but it might be the catalyst for lots of them. Your phone will be better in a few months, and even better a few months after that. And wouldn’t that be exciting?” (Link to Review)

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Scott Stein, CNET: “The iPhone 7’s notable camera, battery and water resistance improvements are a worthwhile upgrades to a familiar phone design, but ask yourself if you really need an upgrade…and if the Plus might be a better choice.” (Link to Review)

Jim Dalrymple, The Loop: “What strikes me about the new devices is how Apple is so meticulous with the details of its products. These devices, in conjunction with the software they’re running, truly show Apple’s commitment to the user experience.” (Link to Review)

Nicole Nguyen, BuzzFeed: “Don’t get me wrong: The iPhone is perhaps the least rugged piece of technology ever made. But the 7 and 7 Plus are more life-proof, klutz-proof than any iPhone we’ve seen” (Link to Review)

For more about the iPhone, watch:

Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Wall Street Journal: “You’ve heard the bad news: Apple removed the headphone jack from the new iPhone. Here’s the good news: They filled that space with precious, life-sustaining battery and other practical stuff.” (Link to Review)

Edward C. Baig, USA Today: “After nearly a week of using the iPhone 7 Plus, what stands out to me is its excellent camera and the fact that we finally have an iPhone that can get wet. The funky-looking optional wireless AirPods aren’t bad either.” (Link to Review)

David Pogue, Yahoo: “This year, once again, some of the best new features are just catching up to rival phones: water resistance, image stabilization, stereo speakers.” (Link to Review)

John Gruber, Daring Fireball: “If I didn’t have these review units, I think I would have pre-ordered a regular black iPhone 7. Now that I’ve spent time with them, however, I think I want a jet black iPhone 7.” (Link to Review)

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