Apple did the world a big favour when it scrapped the 16GB storage tier for the iPhone 7, but it seems the 32GB option that replaced it isn’t all that much of an improvement.
New tests appear to show the 32GB model of the iPhone 7 to be significantly slower than the 128GB or 256GB versions.
Of course, larger capacity storage will usually run much faster than smaller capacity offerings, but the discrepancy between the various models is quite stark according to the results that have appeared in the last week.
Testing carried out by GSMArena, using the Basemark OS II benchmark, resulted in the 32GB model never scoring more than around 800 points, as opposed to the 1,300-1,700 points that the 128GB iPhone 7 and 64GB iPhone 6S managed.
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What’s more, a separate test performed using Pass Mark revealed the iPhone 7 Plus 32GB struggles when it comes to write speed, with only a 39.6Mbps score, as opposed to the iPhone 7 128GB’s 308Mbps and the 6S Plus’ 200.6Mbps.
In the Read test, however, performance was somewhat equal to the iPhone 6s Plus, though still a good 200Mbps slower than the 128GB iPhone 7.
Of course, GSMArena might have got their hands on a dodgy unit, but Unbox Therapy (video below) has also carried out its own test, with similar results.
The video shows how a series of speed tests confirm the 32GB iPhone is roughly eight times slower than the models that come with increased storage capacity.
The tests included using the PerformanceTest app, which, again, showed only a small difference between the read speeds of the 32GB and 128GB models, but a big difference in write speeds.
The 32GB iPhone 7 managed a write speed of 42Mbps, while the 128GB model came in with a much more impressive score of 341Mbps.
The ‘real-world speed test’, which involved using a USB cable to transfer movies from a MacBook to the handset, also showed the 32GB iPhone to be lagging behind.
Apple’s 256GB phone took two minutes and 34 seconds to transfer 4.2GB, while the 32GB model took three minutes and 40 seconds to perform the same transfer.
Again, larger capacity storage will usually result in faster performance, but it’s worth knowing just what the difference is if you’re considering which storage option to go for.
WATCH: iPhone 7 review
Let us know your thoughts on the results in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
