4.0 out of 5 stars
6 Months Later - An Infrequent Phone Buyer's Review
Reviewed in India on March 26, 2018
An iphone, especially the latest iphone, isn't something most of us buy without putting a lot of thought into it, and here's my review about whether or not it lived up to my expectations. I'm not from a tech background, thought I am a tech enthusiast, so I'm going to list the aspects that are most important to me as a non-technical tech person. With each category, I am listing one or more key questions that I want answers to when choosing a phone, and that I hope will be instrumental in helping you obtain clarity with making a decision regarding this phone.
1. CONSISTENCY - I live in the city, and as much for safety as for convenience, it's very important for me that my phone not get hanged at crucial moments, like when I need to make emergency phone calls, or when I'm navigating using maps. So, my key questions for this aspect is:
Does it make calls quickly and efficiently when I need it to?
-Yes, about 90% of the time. 3 times in 6 months, it rebooted on its own, and once it got hanged badly enough that I had to restart it. Compared to all of the other phones I have handled, that's by far the best performance.
Do Google maps work seamlessly, even with low battery?
-Yes, even when battery goes down to 2%. With other apps being used, the phone can handle this effortlessly.
Battery life - Lasts all day, sometimes upto 24 hours with making calls, messaging, taking photos, and navigating.
My Rating: 9/10
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2. CAMERA - In a cinch, it's instagram-worthy, not DSLR level. Takes good natural light photos, but there isn't much clarity when zooming in, even with the secondary camera. The camera of Samsung galaxy note 8 is better by comparison.
Key Questions:
Are photos good enough for social media purposes?
-Yes
Are they good enough for documenting important memories?
-Not for me.
My Rating: 7/10
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3. OVERALL USER-EXPERIENCE - Great.
Key Question: Is it fun using the phone?
-Yes, definitely.
9/10
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MY SOLUTIONS TO SOME COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PHONE:
1. The glass back - This was my biggest worry, but I solved it by purchasing a rose-gold spigen phone case. It's preserved the look of the phone, has been no inconvenience in terms of charging or button-press, and has provided good protection. Here's the link to the cover I have:
Spigen Ultra Hybrid 2 Case for iPhone 7 Plus (2016) / iPhone 8 Plus (2017) - Rose Crystal 043CS21136
2. The size - I'm switching from a Nexus 6 to this, so this isn't really a concern for me. I find it quite easy to operate with one hand, and the large display is definitely a worthwhile tradeoff.
3. Price - I like to use phones for a long period of time, so I prefer to invest in a good one rather than switch every so often.
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If you're looking to buy an iphone, this is clearly the best one available right now. The 256 GB model has been found to have slightly better performance compared to the 64 GB variant.
If you're undecided between the 7 or 7 plus and the 8 plus, I would say, go for this one because it's better value for money. The next one will come out soon and you don't want to waste your money on a phone that is that much closer to being obsolete.
If you're undecided between the 8 and the 8 plus, I would say go for this one unless you really, vehemently dislike the size from personal experience, because a few people I know who never thought they'd be ok with larger size phones actually ended up finding it pretty easy to use.
If you're undecided between a similar tier Android phone and this one, it depends on your usage, because an iphone doesn't have some important features, including my personal complaint - App store. Google Play store has far more variety of free apps. Most iphone apps have some important features paid, and that's been a major inconvenience to me.
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If you're wondering whether it's worthwhile spending this much money on a phone, ask yourself this:
Is it very important to you for it to function correctly, without lag or without getting hanged, any time and every time?
-If yes, then go for this one. If no, you could probably find a cheaper alternative.
A word of caution when it comes to buying this phone on Amazon: You can't return this phone. If you need a replacement, they will schedule a home visit to verify.
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If you found my review helpful in making your decision, I would really appreciate it if you let me know by giving it a thumbs up. If you have any questions, please ask me by commenting.
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