Released in 2016, the iPhone 7 still holds its own as a midrange smartphone. The camera is a great performer, there are dual speakers, and it was the first flagship Apple device to have an IP67 rating for water resistance. If you’ve managed to get your hands on one, then you’re likely still enjoying it, but sometimes a single issue can kill the fun. We’ve been filtering feedback to isolate the main iPhone 7 problems that users are still running into even now, and we’ve got some potential fixes and workarounds to put the smile back on your face.
Is your iPhone 7 not charging? Don’t worry! It happens. Here’s what to do to get it started again.
On some iPhone 7 models, the speaker icon is grayed out when making phone calls. This issue, acknowledged by Apple, affected a small number of users. The company is no longer offering free out-of-warranty repairs for internal speakers.
Apple’s decision to kill the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 was controversial. Having to use the Lightning port to plug in headphones means that you can’t charge your iPhone 7 while you’re using headphones. Here are two viable workarounds, as there is no solution to a new design.
Many iPhone 7 owners complained about a hissing sound coming from the back of the device. It’s louder when the iPhone is running a demanding app or game, which suggests that it’s related to the processor. Put your ear next to the Apple logo and run something that requires a lot of processing power to test for yourself.
Battery life for the iPhone 7, although pretty good for the most part, did get various complaints about rapid battery drain. These complaints often coincide with an OS update, and get solved with a later update.
The iPhone 7 is several years old, but people are still buying and selling secondhand or refurbished units. Here’s what to do if you’re having problems activating your new phone.
This is one of the most widely reported iPhone 7 problems — with multiple threads on the Apple discussion forums. Problems range from incoming audio that’s distant or too low to hear. Apple has updated a support page to help people with sound issues.
When in the middle of a voice call and using either speakerphone or the handset, the mic cuts out, resulting in static and unintelligible sounds. The problem is intermittent. Often, after hanging up and calling again, the static is gone, but the caller is still hard to hear or muted completely.
Many users took to the Apple discussion forums to report that the Phone app will crash or lock up when in the Phone app’s settings, in the Recent Calls list, and while making calls using Bluetooth headsets. Soft and hard resets have not fixed the problem, and those who have tried a factory reset have not experienced any changes either.
3D Touch was an integral part of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, making it easier to interact with apps and access their deep settings and features. While 3D Touch is technically still available in hardware, the feature has been deprecated in later versions of the iOS where Haptic Touch has largely replaced 3D Touch and functions similarly. If you find the press and hold feature is not working as you expect, here are some things you can try.
People on the Apple forums have been having trouble with Touch ID. The feature either stopped working completely or was not functioning optimally, with some users reporting that they can’t use Touch ID while the iPhone is plugged in and charging.
As with other smartphones, people have been having trouble maintaining a Bluetooth connection, either with 3rd party wireless headphones, or when trying to connect their iPhone to a car. Some users have also noticed a much larger drain on the battery when using it.
This issue affects users with the iPhone 7 Plus. Users on the Apple discussion forums and Reddit complained that their iPhone 7 Plus shows a black — or sometimes a green or purple — screen when they use their camera. Sometimes an error also appears that says “Emergency iPhone needs to cool down.” Other users reported that the Camera app doesn’t load.
Apple’s support pages report on the likelihood of micro-abrasions on the glossy finish of the jet black iPhone 7, which was prone to scratching. However, a thread that reached epic proportions on Apple’s discussion forums shows the regular black finish on the iPhone 7 is also prone to chipping and peeling, even when encased.
Over the years, many iPhone 7 users have complained that the phone can get uncomfortably hot. While it’s normal for smartphones to heat up when performing certain CPU-intensive tasks like broadcasting live video, using Snapchat, or playing games, your iPhone should return to a normal operating temperature when you’re done.
In 2016, Apple acknowledged a bug that caused the iPhone 7 to lose cellular service after coming off Airplane Mode. The company resolved the issue and also launched a repair program dedicated to it — discontinued in 2018. However, we include this older problem in case you encounter it.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.