Apple Introduces iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition

Apple today announced iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition in a vibrant red aluminum finish, in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and (RED). This gives customers an unprecedented way to contribute to the Global Fund and bring the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation. The special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning Friday, March 24.

Pricing and Availability 

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition will be available in 128GB and 256GB models starting at $749 (US) from apple.com and Apple Stores, and from Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary). The special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone joins iPhone 7 finishes in jet black, black, silver, gold and rose gold.

Both special edition models are available worldwide beginning Friday, March 24 and start shipping to customers by the end of March in the US and more than 40 countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK and United Arab Emirates. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Turkey and other countries will follow in April.

The special edition iPhone joins the current (PRODUCT)RED lineup, which is available for customers to purchase year-round, including the full iPod line of products, Beats Solo 3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, Beats Pill+ Portable Speaker, the iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case and a range of accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

iPhone SE, the most powerful phone with a four-inch display, will be available beginning Friday, March 24, in 32GB and 128GB models, doubling the current capacity and replacing 16GB and 64GB models, all at the same starting price of $399 (US) at apple.com and Apple Stores.

New colors of Apple-designed iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus silicone cases in azure, camellia and pebble, and leather cases in taupe, sapphire and berry will also be available at apple.com and Apple Stores starting at $35 (US).

Through Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program, customers in the US, UK and China can get an unlocked iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition, with the protection of AppleCare+, choose their carrier and have the opportunity to upgrade to a new iPhone every year. The iPhone Upgrade Program is available at apple.com and Apple Stores in the US, with monthly payments starting at $37 (US) for the 128GB model. With iPhone Trade-Up, customers can trade in their eligible smartphone and use the credit toward the cost of a new iPhone.*

Every customer who buys iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition or iPhone SE from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online*, to help them customize their iPhone by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more.

Anyone who wants to learn the basics or go further with their new iPhone can register for a free workshop at every Apple Store.

Source: Apple Newsroom

iPhone 7 Plus vs Google Pixel Speed Tests

YouTube channel SuperSaf TV posted a video recently that shows the Pixel and the iPhone 7 Plus facing off in two key performance tests. Why the smaller Pixel and the larger iPhone? Because both phones have 1080p displays, so this is the best way to level the playing field.

Where raw benchmark scores are concerned, the Pixel was obliterated by the iPhone phablet. Google’s new phone rang up a 1565 on Geekbench’s single-core test while the iPhone 7 Plus more than doubled that score at 3488. The Pixel’s 4103 on the multi-core test was a bit more competitive, but the iPhone registered a 5590.


Real-world speed tests were a different story. The narrator compared the phones by opening the same app on both devices to see how quickly they load, and the Pixel definitely held its own when opening simple, lightweight apps. But then when it came to more complex apps like games with 3D graphics, Google’s new smartphone was no match for the iPhone 7 Plus.  (Source: BGR)

The Apple iPhone 7 Rumors

Two photos spotted by Nowhere Else shows the three models side by side. As expected, the iPhone 7 Plus looks like a bigger version of the iPhone 7. And the iPhone 7 Pro could be a more powerful iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus with a regular camera and an iPhone 7 Pro with an improved camera.

You can also spot a smart connector at the back of the iPhone 7 Pro. Apple introduced these magnetic smart connectors with the iPad Pro as a way to expand your devices with accessories, such as keyboards. With the iPhone 7 Pro, Apple might take advantage of this connector for a battery case.

The images in question appear to show a rose gold iPhone 7. They were originally posted to Weibo and then republished by anonymous Twitter user The Malignant. There are four photos in total, and they’re all included below.