iPhone 7: Hidden secrets about warranty, design, features

Apple released its latest iPhone 7 series last week and claimed that the new devices were far better than its previous flagships. Despite several new additions, there are some areas where the smartphones fails to impress.

For instance, the new Jet Black finish variant — the new iPhone 7 is set to come in two new colour variants Jet Black and Matte Black, apart from the usual Rose Gold, Silver and Gold. However, a statement from Apple's fine print said the Jet Black colour is prone to “fine micro-abrasions.”

The statement on Apple's product page said, “The high-gloss finish on the Jet Black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodisation and polishing process. Its surface is equally as hard as other anodised Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with regular use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.”

Also the model is only available in 128GB and 256GB. There's no 32GB iPhone 7 in Jet Black — so you could be stuck with an expensive piece of hardware that can easily get tarnished over time. Battery life Apple claims the new iPhone will last two hours more than its previous iPhone flagship. However, Apple has dropped the talk-time from 24 hours on 3G on the iPhone 6s Plus to 21 hours on the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple says in its iPhone comparison section on its website. It is only the newer fusion A10 SoC that will enhance battery life and use less battery, but we are not sure if it will be able to serve the talk-time purpose. Simultaneous music and charging One of the biggest setbacks on Apple’s new iPhones is the absence of the 3.5mm headphone jack. The new design will allow users to the new Lightning plug earbuds into the Lightning port (which is basically used to charge iPhone) instead of a headphone jack. This means users can not listen to music at the same time unless they own a pair of wireless headphones.

In addition, though Apple is bundling a 3.5mm jack to the Lightning port adapter, enabling users to connect standard 3.5mm auxiliary headphones with the iPhone, the adapter will cost you $9 (approximately Rs 600) in case you it.

Alongside the launch of iPhone 7, Apple introduced its AirPods. According to Apple 'the real innovation' involves no cord at all. However, they do come with a hefty price tag of around USD 159. Durability quotient While the new iPhone 7 variants are IP67 certified, making them entirely water and dust resistant, but surprisingly they are not covered under warranty.

Also, under a precautionary note, the company has also warned users against charging the iPhone 7 when wet, \"Liquid damage is not covered under warranty,\" Apple said. The fine print mentions that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models will not be covered under warranty as the device may result in decrease of 'resistance' under 'normal wear'.

\"iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are splash, water, and dust resistant and were tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty,” mentions Apple on its website.

Though the devices may excel in performance and in the photography segment, the consumer could be frustrated with the additional burden of taking care of the device, holding on to additional accessories and its cost.