The iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone XR are pretty similar in size and shape. Is the newer XR a better phone? Is it what you need? Let’s see how they shape up.

The iPhone 7 Plus was Apple’s second large phone and a huge hit when it came out. It measures 158.2 x 77.9 mm and weighs 188 g. It has a 5.5-inch HD LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. So far so good. The iPhone 7 Plus runs on the A10 processor, which some people might feel is getting a little outdated. It also still has the original Apple home button setup with Touch ID. One major difference between the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone XR is the cameras: you get a dual 12 MP rear camera with a telephoto lens and a wide lens, plus a 7 MP front camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, and a single 12 MP wide-angle lens at the rear and 7 MP at the front on the XR. The iPhone 7 Plus also has 3D Touch which is gone in the newer iPhone XR. Battery-wise you can expect this phone to last the day.

The iPhone XR is around 8 mm smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus at 150.9 x 75.7 mm, a touch heavier at 194 g and it has a bigger screen (6.1 inches). That’s because, with the introduction of the X range, Apple got rid of the home button and created edge-to-edge screens. This gives the whole phone a much sleeker more modern appearance. It also means you get Face ID instead of Touch ID. The iPhone XR is also faster than the iPhone 7 Plus as it has a newer processor. Add to that a slightly longer battery life and more storage, and you start to see the benefits of a newer phone. Both the iPhone XR and the iPhone 7 Plus retailed around the £749 mark when they were released, but you can save a third or more when you buy a refurbished phone.

The iPhone XR has the edge in terms of processing speed, screen size, and definition, but the dual camera on the iPhone 7 Plus might just convince you it’s a better phone for you. Home button or no home button, Face ID or Touch ID? The choice is yours.