Yes, yes, yes, we're fully aware that the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have
only just gone on sale, but the rumour mill has started to churn, and the first
mutterings of a possible iPhone 7 release date have already reached our ears -
don't shoot the messenger, alright.
Given the fickle nature of the tech industry and our insatiable need for
something faster, thinner and with a new design - something the iPhone 6S
lacked - the iPhone 7 is already being tipped as one of the most eagerly
awaited additions to the 2016 smartphone roster.
So, what exactly can we expect from the iPhone 7? Well, read on to find out.
iPhone 7 release date: When can we expect it?
If you're putting off that overdue upgrade until the iPhone 7 drops, we've some
bad news for you; you've got one hell of a wait ahead. Probably at least a full
year. That's right, 12 long months, not too far off 400 sleeps of waiting as
rival handsets - such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 - come and go, tempting you
along the way.
Although Apple is currently holding its iPhone 7 release date cards close to
its chest - and will continue to do so right up until the brink of unveiling -
the company's past smartphone launches can give us a sign of what's to come
moving forward.
Over the past five years - ever since the iPhone 4S, Apple has unveiled its
latest smartphone wares in early September, bringing the devices to retailers'
shelves just a few weeks later.
As such, there's no reason not to expect the iPhone 7 to formally enter the
realms of reality in September 2016. This might be pure conjecture right now,
but one thing we know for certain is that you're not going to have this device
filling your pocket anytime soon, sorry, folks.
iPhone 7 design: It's time for something new
The iPhone 7's design will inevitably be the phone's big talking point, after
all, tradition tells us it's time for something new, and who isn't excited
about that? The iPhone 6/iPhone 6S design is now in its second year, the
traditional cut-off point for past Apple efforts. With the next full step in
numerical announcements should come an all-new look and feel.
Just like the rounded iPhone 6 followed the boxy 5S, and the 4-inch 5 lined up
after the smaller 4S, the iPhone 7 will mark a new design direction for the
company that has time and again set the standard in smartphone aesthetics.
Sadly, what form this new look and feel will take is currently a mystery. Well,
mostly. Apple is known to be working on curved and flexible phone designs -
leaked patents have told us so - but it is unclear if such a radical new form
factor will be bestowed on next year's phone or held off for future iterations.
One thing we do know about the iPhone 7 design, however, is that it will be
slimmer than its predecessor. Leaked Apple patents have suggested the phone
could be considerably slimmer than this year's model, with the iPhone 6S having
jumped from the 6's 6.9mm to a slightly plumped 7.1mm form factor. As such,
expect the next-gen model to dip back beneath that 7mm marker.
iPhone 7 specs: It might be time to buy new headphones
Helping this iPhone-themed Atkins diet is a change in the handset's components,
most notably the phone's headphone jack. Now, this might not sound like the
most exciting move in smartphone enhancement, but bear with us here, it's going
to be a much bigger deal that you'd expect.
Despite the headphone market universally supporting a standard 3.5mm audio jack
- you know the one - Apple patents have shown the iPhone 7 could forge its own
new path in audio connections. The slimmer orifice dubbed a 'D jack' because of
its squared-off, semi-circular shape, is just 2.0mm across. Now, while the
introduction of a D jack would help ensure a slimmer iPhone, it would come at a
pretty severe cost - none of our current headphones would be compatible without
an adaptor. So, not only would you be buying a new iPhone, you'd be investing
in an entirely new tech roster.
This isn't where the early iPhone 7 specs leaks have stopped, either. The
phone's new power supply has already made a premature appearance. As if the
Apple's current A9 chip didn't offer enough power, early leaks have claimed the
upcoming iPhone 7 will see the iPad maker move to a new, more powerful six-core
processor.
As well as introducing added grunt, the new chip - presumably set to be dubbed
the A10, because that's how numbers work - the added cores should see Apple
better manage this power, further helping extend the phone's already impressive
battery life.
iPhone 7 screen: It's time to move to Full HD
3D Touch Guide: 12 points to master the iPhone screen
Like with the phone's design, it's time for Apple to up its screen efforts.
Although the iPhone 6S offers one of the brightest, most vibrant and colour
accurate displays on the market, its resolution is lacking by current standards.
The device's 4.7-inch screen boasts a 1334 x 750 pixel resolution. When the
likes of the LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ are now rocking 2560 x 1440
pixel, QHD panels, and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has just landed as the
world's first phone with a 4K display, the Apple offering is starting to look
slightly grainy and dated.
While it's unlikely that Apple will jump straight to a QHD display - that sort
of numerical specs race baying is not the company's style - early speculation
has suggested the iPhone 6S Plus's 1080p, Full HD panel could be scaled down
for the smaller of Apple's two flagship phones.
A feature tipped to have been bestowed on the 6S before sadly missing the cut,
we'd be hugely surprised to see the iPhone 7 not running a Full HD, 3D
Touch-friendly panel.
iPhone 7 camera: Don't expect big differences
Contrasting the phone's design and screen updates, don't expect the iPhone 7 to
be on the receiving end of any major camera updates. This isn't a bad thing
though; the phone simply doesn't need them.
The iPhone 6S took what was already arguably the best smartphone camera on the
market and gave it a 12-megapixel spit polishing. As well as the improved
megapixel count, the 6S switched to a new lens construction and added a raft of
new camera-focused software tweaks - including the largely gimmicky Live Photos
feature.
Although the iPhone 7's camera has yet to be the focus of many leaks, next time
out we'd expect to see the 12-megapixel sensor retained, with a few further
software enhancements thrown into the mix. 4K video capture, a new addition on
the 6S, is likely to be an increased focus this time next year, too as the
next-gen imaging tech becomes more prevalent.
iPhone 7 software: Siri wants to listen to everything
Given that the iOS 9 update has only just hit existing iPhones and iPads,
Apple's next software release is still a largely unknown entity. It's pretty
damn likely to be dubbed iOS 10 though, because that's just how numerical
progression works.
While the ins-and-outs of the iPhone 7-bound software are unclear, a couple of
early rumours have started to float around.
One such report has tipped further Siri progression to be atop the features hit
list. According to unnamed insiders, it has been suggested that Siri will soon
gain the ability to transcribe your voicemails, converting them into text form.
Handy? Sure. Sinister that Siri's listening into your voicemails? You bet.
iPhone 7 price: Start saving now
As we're sure you can appreciate, there's no official word on the iPhone 7
price just yet, and there won't be anytime soon. Again though, just like the
company's launch patterns, Apple's past pricing structures offer a heavy hint
as to what's to come next time around.
The iPhone 6S is expensive. A lofty price tag is a staple feature of all Apple
handsets, so don't expect the iPhone 7 price to be anything but
wallet-stretchingly high.
iPhone 6S prices start at £539 for the 16GB model and we can't expect the
iPhone 7 to rock up any cheaper. You might want to start saving those pennies
now then.
That's all we know for now, but stay tuned for all the latest iPhone 7 news and
rumours as new details emerge.
