Why my iPhone 7 Plus have the same housing as iPhone 8 Plus?

1. Economic Efficiency: Replicating the housing design minimizes production costs. By using the same machinery and assembly lines, Apple can save on manufacturing expenses and pass on the benefits of economies of scale.
2. Supply Chain Simplification: Using identical cases simplifies logistics and inventory management. Apple can more efficiently manage parts and streamline the repair processes for these devices, offering a coherent service experience.
3. Market Positioning: Apple might have assessed that the existing design still resonated well with their customer base at that period. With the focus on internal hardware upgrades, the company perceived no immediate need for an external redesign.
4. Accessory Compatibility: The repetition in design also ensures that accessories like cases, screen protectors, and other attachments remain compatible across models, thereby enhancing the overall user convenience.
   These perspectives show the multifaceted reasons behind Apple’s design choices beyond simple aesthetics.

Your observation is correct about the uncanny resemblance between the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus in terms of external design. Apple intended to create a sense of continuity with the design of their devices. By using the same housing, they ensured consistency in aesthetics, which might appeal to users who appreciate the familiarity of the form factor. Moreover, standardizing certain components, such as the housing, might have allowed Apple to optimize their manufacturing process and reduce costs. This strategic similarity might also lead to easier production scaling and inventory management.

One possible reason why your iPhone 7 Plus has the same housing as the iPhone 8 Plus is due to Apple’s focus on incremental improvements rather than drastic design changes. The company might have chosen to maintain the outer design to emphasize the internal upgrades and performance enhancements that define the 8 Plus. This approach highlights Apple’s commitment to refining user experience through technology and performance enhancements without disrupting the established and successful design elements users already love.

The similarity in housing between your iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus can be attributed to Apple’s philosophy of evolving technology within a stable, trusted framework. The external design might remain unchanged, but the internal components and performance capabilities signify the leap forward. Apple often opts for significant, under-the-hood improvements – better processing chips, upgraded cameras, enhanced battery life – rather than frequent radical design overhauls. This approach makes sure that a user’s experience of holding the phone remains consistent, emphasizing Apple’s unwavering focus on user experience.

When looking at the design similarities between the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus, one can view it from a practical production standpoint. Maintaining the same housing allows Apple to streamline their assembly line, which results in the cost-effectiveness of producing both devices. This design strategy can improve efficiency and reduce production complexity. Additionally, it means that accessories and parts for one model are more likely to be compatible with the other, reducing waste and fostering a sustainable production model.

Interestingly, Apple’s decision to keep the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus housed identically may pivot around brand consistency and user familiarity. Apple users associate certain designs with reliability and performance. By keeping the familiar housing, Apple ensures users do not need to adjust to new dimensions, thus retaining user comfort and satisfaction. Moreover, this strategy could help in reducing the learning curve for users transitioning from an older model like the 7 Plus to a newer model like the 8 Plus.