Iphone 7 Vs 7 Plus Camera Is The Plus Really Worth It For Photos

When Apple released the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 2016, it marked a turning point in smartphone photography. While both models brought significant upgrades over their predecessors, the real surprise came with the 7 Plus: a dual-camera system. For the first time on an iPhone, users could access optical zoom and portrait effects. But nearly a decade later, with both models still in use by many, the question remains—was the extra cost of the 7 Plus justified purely for its camera capabilities?

The answer depends on how you use your phone to take pictures. Casual shooters may not notice a dramatic difference, but photographers who value composition, detail, and creative control might find the 7 Plus a worthwhile upgrade.

Camera Hardware: The Core Differences

The most fundamental distinction between the two phones lies in their rear camera setups. The iPhone 7 features a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a six-element lens. It was one of the best smartphone cameras of its time, delivering sharp images with accurate colors and excellent low-light performance.

In contrast, the iPhone 7 Plus introduced a dual-lens system:

• Wide-angle lens: 12MP, f/1.8 aperture, OIS — identical to the iPhone 7.
• Telephoto lens: 12MP, f/2.8 aperture, no OIS — a second lens offering 2x optical zoom.

This telephoto lens allowed the 7 Plus to capture tighter shots without losing quality—a game-changer for portraits, distant subjects, and framing flexibility. Additionally, Apple leveraged both lenses to introduce Portrait Mode, which simulated depth-of-field effects using software and sensor data.

Tip: Use the 2x zoom button in the Camera app to switch instantly to the telephoto lens and avoid digital zoom degradation.

Photo Quality Comparison: Real-World Performance

In everyday lighting, both phones produce remarkably similar results when using the wide-angle lens. Dynamic range, color accuracy, and detail retention are nearly indistinguishable. However, differences emerge in specific scenarios:

1. Zoom capability: The 7 Plus’s 2x optical zoom means you can get physically closer to a subject without moving. Digital zoom on the iPhone 7 quickly degrades image quality beyond 1.5x.
2. Portrait photography: The dual cameras enable depth mapping, allowing for natural-looking background blur. The effect isn’t perfect—hair edges or complex textures sometimes confuse the algorithm—but it adds a professional touch absent on the 7.
3. Low-light performance: While the wide-angle lens performs equally well on both devices, the telephoto lens on the 7 Plus lacks OIS and has a smaller aperture. As a result, zoomed shots in dim conditions are noticeably noisier and less stable.

For travel, events, or candid photography where stepping closer isn’t possible, the 7 Plus offers tangible advantages. Capturing a child on stage, wildlife at a distance, or architectural details becomes more viable.

Table: iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus Camera Specs

Feature	iPhone 7	iPhone 7 Plus
Rear Cameras	Single 12MP wide-angle	Dual 12MP (wide + telephoto)
Aperture (Wide)	f/1.8	f/1.8
Aperture (Tele)	N/A	f/2.8
Optical Zoom	1x only	2x optical, up to 10x digital
Portrait Mode	No	Yes (iOS 10.1+)
Optical Image Stabilization	Wide-angle only	Wide-angle only
Flash	True Tone Flash	Quad-LED True Tone Flash

Expert Insight: What Photographers Say

“Even with modest megapixel counts, the iPhone 7 Plus’s dual-camera system laid the foundation for computational photography we now take for granted. The ability to switch lenses changed how people composed shots.” — David Lin, Mobile Photography Instructor at SF Media Academy

Lin notes that while hardware has evolved significantly since 2016, the 7 Plus represented a conceptual shift: smartphones could now mimic DSLR-style focal length choices. “It wasn’t just about better pixels—it was about creative choice,” he adds.

A Real-World Example: Concert Photography

Consider Sarah, a music enthusiast who regularly attends small live shows. With her iPhone 7, she struggled to capture clear shots of performers from the back of a crowded venue. Even at 1.5x digital zoom, faces blurred and noise crept in under stage lighting.

After upgrading to the iPhone 7 Plus, she began using the 2x optical zoom to frame mid-stage artists without cropping. Though flash was disabled, the combination of stabilized wide shots and judicious telephoto use gave her usable images 70% of the time—up from roughly 30%. She also experimented with Portrait Mode during backstage meetups, achieving soft-background portraits that felt distinct from standard snapshots.

Was it DSLR quality? No. But for social sharing and personal archives, the improvement was meaningful.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Either Camera

Whether you own the 7 or 7 Plus, these techniques will improve your results:

Tip: Tap to focus and slide the sun icon to manually adjust exposure—especially useful in backlit scenes.

• Keep lenses clean with a microfiber cloth; smudges degrade clarity.
• Avoid digital zoom on the iPhone 7—crop in post instead for slightly better control.
• Use third-party apps like ProCamera or Halide for manual settings (ISO, shutter speed).
• Enable HDR (Auto) in Settings > Camera to improve dynamic range in high-contrast scenes.
• Shoot in Portrait Mode on the 7 Plus even if you plan to edit later—the depth map is saved separately.

Checklist: Getting the Most From Your iPhone 7/7 Plus Camera

1. ✅ Clean the lens before important shots
2. ✅ Use 2x zoom on 7 Plus instead of digital zoom
3. ✅ Enable Smart HDR and Auto-Advance in Camera settings
4. ✅ Shoot in good light whenever possible
5. ✅ Edit photos using native tools or apps like Snapseed
6. ✅ Avoid excessive digital zoom on iPhone 7
7. ✅ Use tripod or stable surface for low-light shots

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the iPhone 7 use Portrait Mode?

No, Portrait Mode requires depth data from the dual-camera system, which the iPhone 7 lacks. Some third-party apps simulate the effect using software, but results are inconsistent and lack true edge detection.

Is the telephoto lens worse in low light?

Yes. The telephoto lens on the 7 Plus has a narrower f/2.8 aperture and no optical image stabilization, making it less effective in dim environments. For night photography, stick to the wide-angle lens and avoid zooming.

Does the iPhone 7 Plus take better regular photos than the 7?

When using the wide-angle lens and shooting at 1x zoom, photo quality is virtually identical. The advantage of the 7 Plus comes in versatility—not base image quality.

Final Verdict: Is the Plus Really Worth It for Photos?

If your priority is photographic flexibility, the iPhone 7 Plus delivers value the standard 7 cannot match. The 2x optical zoom opens compositional possibilities, and Portrait Mode adds a creative layer for portraits. For enthusiasts, event photographers, or those who frequently shoot distant subjects, the upgrade is justified.

However, if you mostly take close-range photos in daylight, share casually on social media, or prefer simplicity, the iPhone 7’s camera is more than sufficient. You won’t miss much in typical use cases.

The decision ultimately hinges on how much you value having multiple lenses. In 2016, the 7 Plus was Apple’s first step toward a modular camera philosophy—one that continues today across its lineup. Even now, that extra lens provides a tangible benefit, especially when framing matters as much as resolution.

🚀 Ready to make the most of your iPhone camera? Revisit your old photos, try switching lenses (if you have a 7 Plus), and experiment with manual exposure. Small changes can lead to dramatically better shots—even on older hardware.