iPhone 7 release date, news and rumors

By Gareth Beavis a day ago Mobile phones

Everything you need to know about Apple's new iPhone

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IPHONE 7 RELEASE DATE, NEWS AND RUMORS

Update: Fresh reports say the iPhone 7 will have a new color option, a larger camera lens, ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack and be thinner, but otherwise look the same, and it might also cost the same.

iPhone 7 rumors are all over the place, and the good news is Apple's supposed to deliver a significant upgrade to its smartphone for 2016. "Supposed to" because it changes the design every two years.

Without a doubt, iPhone 6S is the company's best phone yet. But it's underwhelming because it doesn't bring anything amazing aside from fancy new 3D Touch technology. It's just too similar to the iPhone 6.

So there's a understandable yearning for sweeping iPhone 7 changes for its launch date in a few weeks: think a whole new design, piles of power and a bunch of new features.

The leaks, rumors and reports are already ramping up, and we've got all the information that you could possibly need about the September-bound iPhone 7 release date.

We've collected all the latest from around the web, sifted through the likelihood of each rumor and given you our expert take on what to expect from Apple's launch - so read on to find the authoritative take on your possible next phone.

Fancy Android? Here's our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S7. Looking for something smaller? Then you'll want to check out the iPhone SE - while ouriPhone 7 Plus rumors page should cover all your big screen needs.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A rebooted iPhone, with new powers, features and design
- When is it out? Almost nailed on for September 2016
- What will it cost? Very likely the same as the iPhone 6S
iPhone 7 release date

If we were betting folk, we'd bet the house on the fact the iPhone 7 will launch in September 2016. Apple sticks to a schedule and the last few iPhones have all been launched in the month of September.

Oh, there's a possibility it could be earlier, as according to a 'reliable source'Apple might actually bring it to market earlier. Sadly, how much earlier is unclear and we hear this rumor every year. It never happens.

It will take a while to finish development and manufacturer of the phone, so we wouldn't expect to see it before September. Autumn is exactly when iOS 10 is due. It just makes sense for September.
- More: what WWDC secretly told us about iPhone 7
iPhone 7 design

Hottest leaks:
- Water resistance
- Bezel-less metal body
- Redesigned antennas
The iPhone 6S looked a lot like the iPhone 6 and while we were expecting big design changes for the iPhone 7, we've got bad news for Apple fans: it might be very similar outside of a few tweaks here and there.

We could get a new color option though, with rumors suggesting Apple will add a 'Space Black' shade to the mix, likely similar to the black Apple Watch option. That's not been seen on an iPhone since 2012's iPhone 5.

It's also said to be slimmer than the 7.1mm-thick iPhone 6S; Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities reckons it'll drop to between 6mm and 6.5mm. That sounds unnecessarily slim to us, especially as it could cause the battery life to take a hit, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 is only marginally thicker at 6.8mm, so it's possible.

If TSMC makes the chips, as has been rumored, then some space could be saved, which might help Apple slim it down without making sacrifices in other areas. Another report claims Apple will use fan-out technology to save space andreduce the thickness of the iPhone 7.

Yet another rumor suggests the iPhone 7 will have an all-metal design with a bezel-less display. It would be a big change for the iPhone design, but bringing in a new kind of screen technology would be a sensible move for Apple. However, more recent reports claim an iPhone overhaul is being saved for 2017.

The iPhone 7 could be built to last too, as according to Mac Otakara there are a number of iPhone prototypes with "ruggedized" features, which could mean a water and dust-resistant phone is on the way.

In fact, that's exactly what we'll get according to a supply chain source. Yet another suggestion of a waterproof iPhone 7 comes from the Apple supplier Japan Display. The supplier has come up with a new technology called "Pixel Eyes", that is now in its second generation and makes it easier to use the screen while you have wet fingers.

However, another report has suggested Apple will opt for a slimmer phone rather than a waterproof iPhone 7. Apple will likely get a new LCD display technology as well, which could allow the iPhone 7 to be 1mm thinner than before.

A design tweak rumor which will likely please many is that Apple will ditch the camera bump which has been present since the iPhone 6/6 Plus - with the firm going for a sleeker finish on the iPhone 7. As well as being totally flat the back could also be uninterrupted, as the same report points towards the removal of the antenna bands.

That tallies with an image leak picked up by Nowhereelse.fr, which claims its snapshot shows the iPhone 7 to have no antenna bands and a larger camera.

No antenna bands and a bigger camera? (credit: Nowhereelse.fr)

A few days after that, a leak of the iPhone 7 chassis design showed a new design for the antennas. So it increasingly seems Apple may sort out one of the more controversial elements of the design of the iPhone 6S.

However, the overall size and shape of the iPhone 7 may not change much, as a sketch complete with dimensions shows it as being the same length and width as the iPhone 6S, as well as having similarly curved corners. That would be surprising for a new numbered model though and the sketch could easily be a fake.

A purported photograph of the back panel has emerged on MobiPicker, showing the phone in gold with a rounded design, antenna lines at the top and bottom and a new camera module, which could be a laser autofocus. The image is likely a fake, but the general design is largely in line with rumors so it could also be the shape of things to come.

In fact it's also very much in line with a newer image which seems to show the back of the iPhone 7 itself. It looks like it could have been manipulated, but with most design rumors lining up it could still be close to the truth.

A render, based on supposed technical drawings of the phone, has also surfaced. According to GSMArena the colors and materials may differ slightly in the finished phone, but the placement of the ports, buttons and camera should all be accurate. It's in line with other leaks, though as it's an unofficial render it should be taken with the usual pinch of salt.

We've also seen leaked case images, courtesy of 9to5Mac, which show the headphone jack appears to be missing, as has been heavily rumored. Additionally you can see a dual-camera setup and a Smart Connector, which suggests these are actually for the iPhone 7 Plus.

But just as everything was lining up a leaked case prototype threw it all into question, with four speaker grilles when we're only expecting one or two. As it goes against everything else it's probably fake, but it could certainly make the iPhone 7 a media powerhouse.

iPhone 7 headphone jack

One thing which no one seems to be able to agree on is whether or not the iPhone 7 will support your headphones. Early rumors suggested Apple was planning to ditch the bulky 3.5mm headphone jack. That could lead to a great dependence on Bluetooth headphones, but another leak suggests there will also be a pair of special Apple earbuds included in the iPhone 7 retail box.
- If Apple ditches the headphone jack, you'll want to check out these DACs
Don't ditch your headphones just yet though, as an image supposedly showing iPhone 7 circuitry has emerged and the 3.5mm jack is intact in it.

But now yet another leak has appeared, this time from Nowhereelse.fr and showing an alleged iPhone 7 chassis with two speaker grilles on the bottom and no headphone jack. It looks like it could be the real deal, though even if it is it could be an early prototype, so it's still not confirmation of anything.

Ditching the headphone jack is unlikely to be a popular decision, but it wouldn't be the first time Apple has messed with ports and nor would it be the first company to do it, as the Moto Z doesn't have one either.

And while there's evidence both ways the most frequent (and currently most recent) rumors suggest we won't see a headphone jack, so it's starting to look like that will probably be the case.

iPhone 7 screen

Hottest leaks:
- A sharper screen
- An edge-to-edge display
The iPhone 7 could be in for a big resolution jump if a DigiTimes source is to be believed, as Apple is apparently likely to move to glass-on-glass screens, which in turn opens up the possibility of a QHD or even a 4K display.

A lot of Android phones already have QHD screens, and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is 4K, so it's possible that Apple will pump up the resolution of its next flagship, but given that the iPhone 6S isn't even 1080p we're skeptical that it'll get anywhere near 4K.

If the iPhone 7 does get higher resolution it might get bigger too, especially as rival phones are growing in size all the time. We're not convinced though – we'd still bet on seeing 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.

Then there's the first image of the LCD backlight on the iPhone 7. It comes from trusted French blog NoWhereElse and shows the panel from the iPhone 7 up against the iPhone 6S.

All the connectors are in different locations around the phone, suggesting there will be a few design changes on the next iPhone.

A jump in resolution might not be the only way the iPhone 7 imitates Android though, as there's also talk that it could switch from an LCD display to an OLED panel, just like Samsung uses on most of its phones.

One new rumor suggests the iPhone 7S will be the first Apple phone to feature an OLED display. The rumor comes from Apple telling supply chain sources that it will be switching from LCD panels to OLED panels in the next couple of years.

Sadly it doesn't seem like the technology will be here in time for the iPhone 7 and we'll have to wait for the iPhone 7S. That said, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has dismissed the rumor, arguing that Apple won't likely switch to AMOLED before 2019.

On the other hand it's now been reported by the Chinese Wall Street Journal that Apple has ordered 100 million 5.5-inch AMOLED panels for a 2017 iPhone. So all we can say with any certainty right now is that we won't see an AMOLED iPhone this year.

There's also talk of Apple taking a leaf out of Samsung's book and opting for a5.8-inch curved AMOLED display on a future iPhone, although this could be something for the iPhone 8 rather than the iPhone 7.

Hopes of an edge-to-edge display on the iPhone 7 have been raised slightly after an image appeared online claiming to show just that - although having seen hundreds of iPhone leaks over the years we think this offering looks rather fake.

Will the iPhone 7 get an edge-to-edge display? (credit: Weibo)

The iPhone 7 screen could be hard to smash, as an Apple patent has been unearthed showing bumpers which burst out from the edges of the screen to ensure it doesn't touch the floor when dropped. Patents often don't turn into products, but you never know – and it would certainly be nice to see a stronger screen.

3D Touch is bound to make a return, though it's likely to be improved in some way, perhaps by enabling you to scroll through the previews of content you 'peek' into, rather than just having static previews.

iPhone 7 rivals

The iPhone 7 is still weeks away, but many of its main rivals have already launched. The biggest ones are the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Both of these phones have received five-star reviews on TechRadar - which we hadn't previously given out to a phone for two years - so Apple has some serious work to do.
- Check out our full reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
The HTC 10 is a worthy alternative to Apple's handset too. Coming from HTC it's as stylish as you'd hope and the audio quality is a cut above.