Ever since the move from black to the Apple-invented shade “Space Gray,” iPhone lovers have been lusting after a new, true black iPhone. We now have it with the iPhone 7, but its glossy good looks come with some big drawbacks.
Mike Wehner
For starters, Apple has chosen to make the Jet Black iPhone 7 available in a minimum storage capacity of 128GB, rather than the 32GB option that is available for the other colors. This puts an instant $100 premium on the new glossy finish, which might be a little too much to stomach for some cost-conscious smartphone shoppers.
With this pricing structure, the minimum cost of a Jet Black iPhone 7 is $749, while a Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus will run you $849.
In addition to the pricing tweak, Apple is warning users that the Jet Black color is probably best kept in a case. A note on the Apple Store page for the Jet Black iPhone 7 includes the following alert:
The high-gloss finish of the Jet Black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process. Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.
In short, Apple is advising users who want to keep their shiny iPhone shiny to cover up the shiny part completely, which somewhat defeats the purpose of launching such a unique color option. In fact, it’s a bit like buying a painting whose artist warns you that you should only view it in the dark.