Apple’s September iPhone 7 launch feels like a long way off, but any seasoned gadget fan knows that the rumour mill will only pick up steam as each day passes.
As always, it’s best to take the rumours with a pinch of salt, but they’re still useful in painting a rough picture of what we can expect to see come launch day.
We’ll be updating this preview with all the latest news, as and when we get it, so don’t forget to check back for your regular iFix.
HIT THE ROAD JACK
Given that the iPhone 7 is coming off the back of an ’s’ version, we expect to see some design changes.
It’ll come as no surprise to hear that the iPhone 7 is expected to be even thinner than the current 7.1mm iPhone 6s, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reckons Apple could trim down its new handset to as little as 6mm, and newer reports point to a 6.1mm-thin body.
If true, then we're concerned that the battery capacity won't be up to scratch, even with Apple's expected optimisations, though it’ll undoubtedly look and feel beautiful.
The iPhone 7’s incredible slenderness is reportedly down to a thinner Lightning port, and the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, so we’ll have to wait and see if Apple really does have the guts to axe such a well-established port, forcing people to snap up Bluetooth or Lightning port-compatible headphones.
It sounds ridiculous, but multiple sources have predicted the death of the headphone jack, so we’ll have to wait and see if Apple really does have the guts to axe such a well-established port.
According to rumour blog Mac Okatara, sources at Taiwan's Computex Taipei 2016 tech expo have claimed that while the 3.5mm socket is indeed leaving the next iPhone, the phone will still come supplied with the current set of EarPod 3.5mm headphones. You'll be able to plug these (or any standard headphones) in via a 3.5-to-Lightning adapter, also supplied in the iPhone's box.
The report also claims that the space previously occupied by the 3.5mm jack will be used for an extra speaker grille, giving the iPhone 7 two grilles on its bottom edge. It cautions that the speaker output will remain monaural rather than stereo, though, before you start planning your first iPhone 7-based disco.
The iPhone 7 Plus, while similar, apparently has a couple of fairly major design changes, the most striking of which is a pair of rear cameras which protrude rather noticeably.
The other addition, according to the most recent leak, shows off what appears to be a three-dot Smart Connector at the bottom, similar to the one found on the iPad Pro which lets it connect to various accessories.
We even got in on the leaking action ourselves, teaming up with @onleaks to get exclusive access to digital plans showing the iPhone 7 Plus and its new features. The CAD files confirm the missing headphone jack, single speaker, and Smart Connector on the back, as well as the dual camera setup.
Case makers have done the dirty on Apple's confidential plans as well, showing off their protective covers (complete with iPhone 7 Plus mockups inside) before the official reveal. There are several cases already listed on MobileFun, so expect more to follow ahead of launch.
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