iPhone 7: Clearest look yet at possible 4.7ins handset
Online leak backs up previous design rumours but adds fresh insight into potential camera changes
iPhone 7: Clearest look yet at possible 4.7ins handset
A new leak has strengthened claims that the iPhone 7 won’t come with many big changes.
The report, which claims to show a design sketch of the base 4.7ins display handset, was picked up by NowhereElse, a site Forbes says has a reliable track record and “famously attained designs ahead of the Galaxy S6, S7, Note 5, iPhone 6S and iPhone SE”. It has also been at the forefront of some of the most revealing iPhone 7 leaks so far.
Here’s what the leaked renders tell us:
No design change from the iPhone 6S
The schematics come complete with measurements and, if true, they show that Apple’s next smartphone will have the exact same footprint as the iPhone 6S, backing up predictions that the iPhone 7 won’t look very different.
It claims the new handset is 2.6ins wide – a fraction more than the 6S – and 5.4ins tall. While not mentioned on the drawings, NowhereElse says it expects the handset to be 0.28ins thick, so no change there.
The renderings don’t show antenna bands and it’s rumoured that Apple will reposition them, although it is possible that the renders only convey dimensions rather than final design. Nor are there images of the bottom of the handset, so no new headphone jack removal news.
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Dual cameras reserved for iPhone 7 Plus
While much of the focus has been on the highly rumoured dual camera said to be in the works for a 5.5ins iPhone 7 – either in the form of exclusive hardware for the iPhone 7 Plus or an entirely new “Pro” line – this is one of our best looks yet at a possible standard, single-lens iPhone 7.
The camera cut-out appears to be much larger than the bumped one found on the iPhone 6S, indicating that a larger sensor is on the way. Forbes adds that an increase from the 12-megapixel Apple currently uses is unlikely, considering rivals have reduced pixel count to this on many of their 2016 flagships. Instead, the company may go the way of Samsung and introduce larger pixels and a wider aperture.
What else?
Similar looking renders were posted online in March and also leaked by NowhereElse. However, 9 to 5 Mac points out that regardless of the leak’s background, it still cannot be confirmed – it’s a “basic sketch” that would be very easy to create.
iPhone 7: iPad Pro feature set to be dropped
09 May
Photographic leaks of the upcoming iPhone 7 have been thin on the ground and now a new report suggests that one of the most prominent designs touted so far could be inaccurate.
An alleged casing leak from March claimed to show Apple’s next flagship smartphone with a dual-camera system, repositioned antenna bands and an Apple Smart Connector, as used on the iPad Pro.
This design was picked up by Japanese magazine MacFan, which published full schematics drawings, complete with dimensions, leading some to believe the leak was a good indicator of what’s coming in September.
However, the usually reliable Japanese blog Macokatara now reports the Smart Connector will not make it on to the iPhone 7.
According to Forbes, the feature is “something potentially rather exciting” and while it is unclear just how it would work on an iPhone, it’s reported omission means Apple could be missing out on introducing some interesting new features on the iPhone 7.
The connector attaches keyboards to the iPad Pro and can deliver both power and data simultaneously, meaning external accessories require no batteries or charging to work.
On the iPhone 7, Forbes imagines “sleek wireless headphones, mini keyboards, and ‘smart’ protective cases” could have made for a much more modular and customisable platform.
9 to 5 Mac says the omission is no great surprise, given that leaks so far have placed the connector on a less-than-ideal position on the handset – users would likely have to hold attached accessories in place.
The site does pick out other rumours which remain consistent with the recent images, though. The iPhone 7 looks set to retain the iPhone 6’s casing, while no information has yet cast doubt over the dual camera supposedly coming the iPhone’s way.
iPhone 7: ‘You’ll wonder how lived without it’
06 May
Tim Cook has come out all guns blazing after the fall in Apple’s earnings.
The tech giant’s chief executive says there has been a “huge over-reaction” to the dip in sales and that the exciting developments planned for the iPhone will make people think, “How did I live without this?”, he told CNBC‘s Mad Money.
Apple is widely tipped to launch the iPhone 7 this September and rumours have been brewing about it for several months.
However, those reports have turned sour over the past few weeks, with analysts warning that the handset won’t differ too much from the current iPhone 6S.
Hardware rumours range from the addition of a dual camera – possibly only available on the iPhone 7 Plus or a third “Pro” model – or that Apple will remove the headphone jack, a prospect that has frustrated many prospective iPhone buyers.
But when asked about the firm’s iPhone plans, Cook promised fans they wouldn’t be disappointed.
“We have great innovation in the pipeline, like new iPhones that will incent you and other people that have iPhones today to upgrade to new iPhones,” he said. “We are going to give you things that you can’t live without, that you just don’t even know you need today. You will look back and wonder, ‘How did I live without this?'”
9 to 5 Mac wonders if these “must have” features have already been speculated on and passed over as not particularly groundbreaking, such the dual camera – many of Apple’s rivals are already offering handsets with two camera sensors.
It’s also possible to funnel Cook’s claims into the iPhone 8 rumour mill, which has already kicked off by way of a research note from Ming Chi-Kuo.
The respected analyst says Apple won’t release an iPhone 7S in 2017 but instead, launch an iPhone 8 next year, featuring an all-glass form factor and much-awaited OLED displays.
iPhone 7: Critics split over headphone jack leak
04 May
Despite a constant stream of leaks and rumours to the contrary, a new report claims the iPhone 7 will have a headphone jack after all.
First posted on Chinese microblogging website Weibo and picked up by several on the iPhone 7 trail, the leak claims to be an image of a Lightning cable assembly allegedly destined for Apple’s handset and complete with a hole for headphones.
Possible iPhone 7 Headphone Jack Depicted in New Imageshttp://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/03/iphone-7-headphone-jack-depicted-in-new-images/ … by @waxeditorial
While many may be relieved to hear of a possible U-turn, MacRumors weighs up how likely it is to be legitimate against what has been a deluge of leaks suggesting the opposite.
First of all, the validity of the image cannot be confirmed – it was submitted anonymously – and secondly, though the component resembles one found in the iPhone 6S, it could be a part used by either a Chinese rival or counterfeit manufacturer.
Writing for Mashable, Raymond Wong is equally sceptical, singling out numerous ways to debunk the leak. He also notes that the image cannot be verified and brings up past leaks with similar shady origins which have proved to be false.
Earlier in the year, a handset ticking all the iPhone 7 boxes appeared on the web. It wasn’t an Apple handset, but one made by a small Chinese rival – who could have possibly “leaked” the image themselves to drum up interest in their own products.
“Nothing is official until Apple makes it so,”
says Wong, warning iPhone fans to be cautious around rumours and leaks. While it’s not unheard of for parts to leak ahead of a device’s launch, he says, “these parts don’t guarantee anything”.
TechRadar is a little more swayed, though. Saying it cannot see the benefit of Apple removing the feature this time round, now a component which fits the bill has been pictured, a headphone jack could now be “likely” to appear on the iPhone 7.
The evidence has still to get past one of the most reliable leakers in the business. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously hinted that the iPhone 7 won’t have a headphone jack and many will likely take his word for it over the pictured component.
Know Your Mobile picks up on Kuo’s comments, but adds that potentially, they could fit in with what’s pictured here. The most recent angle suggests Apple won’t be radically overhauling the iPhone 7 and that an iPhone 8 in 2017 will be the next handset to come with serious form-factor changes.
Kuo’s leaks could morph into iPhone 8 rumours instead, they say, though the latest information should be taken with a grain of salt.
Opinion is divided over the leak, but the first doubts that Apple intends to kill the headphone jack appear to be creeping in. It could be great news for consumers not wanting to buy new headphones, or a cruel twist ahead of what many still believe is the inevitable.
Why would Apple drop the headphone jack?
Initial suggestions as to why Apple may want to drop the headphone jack pointed to the desire to deliver a thinner iPhone. Removing the port would open up space inside the phone and with it, room for future handsets to become slimmer.
Now, though, rumours suggest the iPhone 7 might not be a game-changer compared to the 6S and the two phones could have highly similar form factors. As such, some have suggested the space could be used for hardware additions, such as a second speaker or a larger battery.
Regardless of the rumours, CNET reckons the headphone jack is “not long for this world”.
iPhone 7: Minor battery boost will lag behind Galaxy S7
03 May
Apple looks certain to introduce a bigger battery on its next iPhone, according to a leak posted on Chinese social media.
The rumour, reported on 9 to 5 Mac, says Apple will use a battery with a 1735mAH capacity on its standard handset and will notch it up to 2810mAH on the expected iPhone 7 Plus.
However, this represent modest upgrades compared to the iPhone 6S handsets, which have 1715mAH and 2750mAH cells, and they’re not likely to worry those over at Samsung. Apple’s South Korean rival introduced its Galaxy S7 flagship with a 3000mAH battery pack, which, according to Know Your Mobile‘s testing, means it comfortably outperforms the iPhone 6S – and is likely to best the iPhone 7, too.
A bigger battery isn’t a guarantee of better overall performance, however. The efficiency of hardware and components play a large part and a lot of the iPhone 7’s battery life will be determined by how frugal its A10 processor chip is.
Extending the single charge life isn’t exactly Apple’s thing, neither. The company has typically used battery gains to make devices thinner or improve performance and the iPhone has shipped with roughly the same charge life across several versions now, including the form factor change to the larger iPhone 6 handsets in 2014.
This could be more evident than ever in the iPhone 7. Apple looks set to drop the headphone jack from its next handset, freeing up plenty of internal space within the device – although not much of this looks to be heading towards a larger battery.
According to Forbes, as it would be a strange to invent a rumour based on such a small upgrade, the leak is most likely legit.
It’s an important leak, too, it adds, as it feeds into the now widely held belief that the iPhone 7 won’t mark a major upgrade over the 6S and could even be a disappointment.
Recent rumours suggest Apple will wait until 2018 to introduce a radically overhauled iPhone and this year’s handset will be vastly similar to the iPhone 6S.
iPhone 7: Apple ‘to release ‘four new phones in 2016’
29 April
A fresh iPhone 7 leak has reinforced the now widely held assumption that the handset’s design will not change dramatically, but could come with one or two controversial additions.
The scoop, published in the June issue of Japanese magazine MacFan, appears to show Apple’s next 5.5ins device, while the regular 4.7ins iPhone 7 may have made a cameo appearance too.
It also puts the idea that Apple could launch three handsets this September firmly back on the table – meaning 2016 could see the introduction of four new smartphones, as Apple has already released the iPhone SE.
Here’s what the drawings tell us:
No design overhaul
iPhone 7 Plus Design Drawings Depict Dimensions Identical to iPhone 6s Plus http://www.macrumors.com/2016/04/27/iphone-7-plus-design-drawings/ … by @julipuli
Corroborating recent whispers, the leak appears to hint at the next Apple flagship device using the same aluminium chassis style introduced in 2014 on the iPhone 6.
Interestingly, if the drawings come true, the iPhone 7 won’t be any thinner than the iPhone 6S and could actually be thicker than the iPhone 6 – it’s tipped to come in at 0.28ins by the magazine. MacRumors says these dimensions go against some of the figures tipped by analysts, including the ever-reliable Ming-Chi Kuo, and that MacFan has got sizes wrong before – but it is a publication which has offered up accurate information in the past.
No headphone jack – and no dual speaker
It’s not particularly surprising that no headphone jack features on the schematics, but everything else surrounding its disappearance is.
Firstly, this leak asserts that the iPhone 7 isn’t getting any slimmer – one of the reasons said to be behind the jack’s disappearance – and secondly, the often rumoured second speaker which could sit in the port’s place doesn’t appear to be there neither. There’s only one set of speaker holes on the bottom. According toForbes‘s Gordon Kelly, this would be a “missed opportunity” if it happens to be true.
Dual camera, but on an “iPhone Pro”
More evidence stacks up to suggest Apple will introduce a dual camera iPhone this autumn and while it’s still fairly open for interpretation as to how the company will play the upgrade, this leak goes with the angle that it is making three handsets for September.
The pictures show two camera apertures housed within a bulging, pill-shaped frame on a mooted “iPhone Pro”– a 5.5ins device that would sit atop the similarly sized iPhone 7 Plus and the 4.7ins standard iPhone 7.
Fortune argues differently. It believes the “Plus” nomenclature is simply set to be dropped in favour of “Pro”.
Smart connector
Three dots lie on the rear of the device near the bottom, indicating that the iPhone 7 Pro will be getting a Smart Connector at least.
It’s unclear if this means it will have a range of accessories similar to the iPad Pro, but it could be there for a different purpose – charging.
Some third-party accessories for the iPad Pro have confirmed that you can charge a device through the Smart Connector, so it could be a secondary charging port – a necessity, given that the Lightning port now has to handle headphones, too.
The Next Web is less than convinced. It says the connector’s position on the handset could cause headaches for casemakers.
What else?
Keen followers of the iPhone 7 trail will notice the drawings strongly resemble a photograph of an alleged iPhone 7 Plus which entered the rumour mill last month and was picked up by the likes of MacRumors.
Tech Insider says the March picture was picked up by several reliable sources and publications and now that it seems to have been corroborated, we could be looking at the real deal. MacFans has been accurate in the past, although it is possible the drawings are just replicas of earlier leaks which have yet to be proven true.
An iPhone with a single camera lens fitted to its rear can be seen in the top left corner of magazine spread. It’s not completely clear, but the camera aperture appears to be larger than that currently used on the iPhone 6S, a rumour that has been floated for the iPhone 7 in the past so it’s possible the leak includes images of both the dual-camera iPhone 7 “Pro” and the base handset.
iPhone 7 will be ‘boring but revolutionary’
27 April
The most recent line on Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 is that it might not be a sales hit. It’s no longer expected to pack many exciting new features and could look very similar to the 2015 phone.
Which is not particularly good news when you consider the tech giant’s latest results, which have seen an end to 50 consecutive year-on-year quarters of growth.
Nevertheless, the iPhone 7 could start a mini revolution, even if it fails to grab customers.
When the phone is revealed in September, it is expected to be without a headphone jack in a bid to make the handset slimmer than the iPhone 6S and pack in a dual-speaker system.
Now there’s evidence to suggest that the wider technology industry could copy Apple’s move.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, chipmaker Intel is also keen to eliminate the headphone jack in favour of a USB type-C port. The company has pitched the idea to developers and cites a “strong desire” from the industry to replace the analogue port with a smaller, digital setup.
It could be irritating for consumers, as such a transition would render most headphones obsolete, but The Independent says manufacturers see plenty of reasons for the move – the jack only really has one use and takes up a lot of space inside devices.
As such, BGR believes it’s possible the iPhone 7 could “lay the groundwork for a massive shift in the industry”.
Apple’s new flagship phone is likely to use the Lightning port over the USB type-C. Some smartphone-makers are already selling handsets with the USB port, including a trio of phones recently released by Chinese manufacturer LeEco.
However, Apple and Intel’s “coordinated attack” could strike a fatal blow compared to the small number of handsets ditching the headphone jack right now.
iPhone 7: Home button could be completely overhauled
26 April
While recent rumours surrounding the iPhone 7 have turned sour, a new angle suggests Apple could use its next flagship handset to pave the way towards eliminating the home button on future iPhones.
A report from Taiwanese website Digitimes, picked up and interpreted byMacRumors, says Apple could introduce a touch sensitive home button to sit completely flush with the phone’s face.
The site adds that the source has a hit and miss track record, but there are one or two shreds of evidence out there which could back up the idea.
For instance, there have been claims that Apple is interested in developing new displays with integrated fingerprint scanners, meaning that a physical home button would no longer be needed as the function would be embedded into the display.
Compared to more consistent iPhone 7 rumours, reports backing up the fingerprint scanning display are thin on the ground, but there’s a second way a more anonymous home button could incorporated – by constructing it using pressure sensitive, malleable materials.
Recently, Apple was granted a patent for a Liquidmetal home button that changes shape when pressure is applied to it but returns to the original once the user removes their finger or thumb. The company has held rights to use the material since 2010, but has yet to incorporate it into the design of any of its iOS devices.
By using Liquidmetal, the home button could change from being a part housed separately from the phone’s casing to being a flush patch on the device’s face.
According to BGR, this could begin a transition to a completely buttonless future for the iPhone.
AppleInsider notes that the rumour falls in line with other iPhone 7 design whispers, such as the suggestion that Apple will remove the camera bump seen on the back of the iPhone 6 generation handsets. If it all plays out, the next iPhone could be completely flush all round.
Away from the potential design change, another possible iPhone 7 feature has been touted – it could be fully waterproof and dustproof, too.
iPhone 7: Fans warned not to expect any killer features
25 April
More clouds are gathering over the iPhone 7 after further thoughts from respected analyst Ming Chi-Kuo on why the handset might not be a hit.
In a new research note obtained by 9to5 Mac, Kuo says he doesn’t see “many attractive selling points for the iPhone 7” and that Apple could sell fewer handsets than in 2014.
He points again to his belief that the tech giant won’t introduce a heavily revised handset until 2017, when it could get an all-glass casing, new screen size and an OLED display.
The iPhone 7 is expected to arrive in September with a form factor resembling that currently used on the iPhone 6 generation handsets, albeit with one or two tweaks.
The antenna bands are set to be repositioned so they don’t loop around the rear, the headphone jack is strongly rumoured to have gone and a dual-camera setup could find its way onto some versions.
Features already on key rivals’ smartphones, such as the wireless charging capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S7, may still not arrive this year.
According to Kuo, these changes won’t be big enough to avoid iPhone sales going into decline. In a worst case scenario, the company could ship 18.1 per cent fewer handsets than it did last year, roughly 190 million compared to 230 million units. At best, he expects Apple to ship 205 million devices.
Most analysts expect a figure of between 210-230 million, but Kuo’s history of reliable leaks and predictions means it is his worst case scenario figure that is getting attention ahead of the iPhone 7’s launch.
iPhone 7: 7S will make way for iPhone 8, says report
22 April
Apple is planning to ditch its usual “S” model refresh in favour of only one iPhone 7 cycle, according to a note picked up by Fortune.
The news corroborates the claims of respected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the handset may be heavily revised in 2017 instead of having an all-guns-blazing release this September.
The report, from Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz, says the iPhone 7 will not come with significant form factor changes and should, headphone jack rumours aside, look vastly similar to the iPhone 6 generation handsets, with “a few tweaks and updated components”.
Compared to the big changes between iPhones 5 and 6, the relatively minor upgrades between iPhones 6 and 7 could leave fans “sorely disappointed”, says the site.
Were Apple to deliver a new handset based around fine-tuning of the current iPhone platform this year, it would be a big break away from the firmly entrenched update cycle the company has used since 2009.
As such, things could change dramatically on the iPhone front next year, with an iPhone 8, featuring all the developments that were assumed to be coming to the iPhone 7, taking the place of a 7S model.
Moskowitz says the iPhone 8’s redesign could extend to OLED displays, wireless charging and the possibility of there being “no home button”.
He added that while the iPhone 7 may not be a sales hit this year, a radically overhauled iPhone 8 could supercharge demand by as much as 10.8 per cent.
The report links up nicely with the rumours from earlier in the week, suggesting that Apple will launch an entirely different, all-glass-finish handset next year.
iPhone 7: iPhone 7S could be dropped for iPhone 8
20 April
While it’s expected that September’s iPhone 7 will feature a design not too dissimilar to what we have now with the iPhone 6S, more and more rumours about Apple’s iPhone plans for 2017 are hitting the net.
The latest word on Apple’s handset for next year comes from the ever-reliable Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, whose most recent report on what to expect from the tech giant in the near future has been picked up by MacRumors.
Kuo predicts the company will step away from aluminium phone cases and will, from 2017, revert to glass construction in a bid to differentiate the iPhone from key competitors.
More specifically, he points out expectations that the iPhone will decline this year, motivating Apple to find new ways to make its smartphone stand out. An entirely new design should be on the cards then, as so far, iPhone 7 rumours suggest a handset with a form factor similar to that of the iPhone 6S, the much-speculated loss of the headphone jack notwithstanding.
Apple has used metal casings one way or another since the introduction of the iPhone 5 in 2012, so bringing back an iPhone 4S-inspired form factor marks a significant change.
MacRumors adds more details. For instance, Kuo believes that aluminium phones will account for around 40 per cent of the iPhone range in 2017, indicating that it is quite likely that the iPhone 7 will be aluminium when it arrives later this year.
More specifically, he points out expectations that the iPhone will decline this year, motivating Apple to find new ways to make its smartphone stand out to consumers.
While the analyst notes that the switch could cause durability issues – a glass case would be more likely to smash and fail a drop test in comparison to an aluminium one – he believes that the added weight would be offset by an exciting new hardware introduction: OLED displays.
The screens have been on the iPhone rumour mill for a while now and while the earliest whispers suggested Apple would wait until 2018 to upgrade from LCD units, more recent leaks point at OLED iPhones being available next year, with a 5.8ins handset with a curved display even touted by some.
The 5.8ins OLED handset is a rumour which has crept back into view, but for a different reason than originally. At first, some believed Apple could introduce such a device as an “iPhone Pro”, but now, given that a reliable source has indicated the company could completely overhaul its smartphone line-up next year, it could be that 5.8ins is the standard size of 2017’s iPhone Pro display.
And according to The Verge, such a device could slip into a form factor the same size or smaller than currently seen with the iPhone 6S Plus. Utilising narrower bezels and a curved OLED display would mean the display could fit into a casing smaller than the one used by the iPhone 6S. It could also come with wireless charging, a feature lacking on current iOS devices, as well as “new biometric security features”.
If Apple does introduce a heavily overhauled iPhone in 2017, it would be a radical departure from the firm’s current refresh cycle of introducing a brand new handset every two years, with a hardware fettled “S” model in-between.
Forbes says that Apple abandoning its “tick/tock” upgrade pattern suggests that rather than this proposed glass handset being an iPhone 7S, it could be the iPhone 8 and that this year’s 7 will feature only minor upgrades ahead of the company pulling out all the stops in 2017.
Why would Apple do this? The site notes that 2017 marks ten years since the introduction of the first iPhone, so the firm could have surprises hidden up its sleeve.
Regardless of Kuo’s reputation as a legitimate and well informed Apple leaker, rumours surrounding Apple’s 2017 handset must be taken with a grain of salt, especially considering this year’s iPhone 7 is still months from reveal.
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