With Apple’s next-generation iPhone due in September, rumors of the device are starting to crystallize and become a little more reliable. Let’s take a quick look at what to expect from next month’s unveiling.
Perhaps most importantly is the news that Apple with stick with the names “iPhone 7” and “iPhone 7 Plus,” despite the devices not undergoing any major design changes this year. In the past the full-numbered iterations have been reserved for the redesigns typically made every two years, but Apple is this time sticking with the same size and shape for a third consecutive year.
The same source alleges that although Apple did manufacture an “iPhone 7 Pro” with extra capabilities, it decided to ditch the device for fear of over-complicating the product lineup with an additional third tier. Instead, Apple is expected to roll some additional “Pro” features like a dual-lens camera and 3GB of RAM into the 5.5-inch Plus model, giving it more than just size benefits over the 4.7-inch standard model. This seems like good call overall as it prevents complex fragmentation of the iPhone, though customers who prefer a smaller phone might feel aggrieved to miss out on features.
Next up, even more claims that the iPhone 7 will increase its top-end storage option to 256GB from the 128GB available in the current models, also suggesting the entry-level devices will also double their storage capacity from an almost unworkable 16GB to a more realistic 32GB. We’ve suspected this for a while now, but with the release date just weeks away we’re seeing more sources back this rumor. It would be a nice step in the right direction for Apple, having been criticized for not killing off the 16GB iPhones sooner.
Finally, we should all know by now that Apple is expected to completely remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in favor of using the Lightning port for all connections. Meanwhile, though, Intel have come out strongly in favor of USB-C as the future of audio connections, a universal technology co-developed by Apple and already in use in many Android smartphones. It’ll be interesting to see if Apple add USB-C to the iPhone in the future – the port is already in use in the latest Macbooks, but we’re not sure it’s likely to replace the Lightning port any time soon.
Read more: does the iPhone really need a headphone jack?
We’re expecting the official iPhone announcements to come early September, with pre-orders set to begin on the 9th. Stay tuned for breaking news as we hear it!