This year’s iPhone upgrade probably won’t be a spectacular one, but it could kill two of our biggest design complaints with the latest models.
An iPhone 7 dummy unit promises more discreet antenna bands that are nowhere near as ugly, and a flush camera lens. It also reignites hopes of a Smart Connector.
With demand for the iPhone falling, investors are calling for Apple to deliver something amazing this year. However, recent reports say we’ll have to settle for another iPhone 6 lookalike as Apple prepares a major overhaul for the iPhone’s 10th birthday in 2017.
But the iPhone 7 probably won’t be that disappointing.
A photo of a dummy unit sent into MacRumors suggests that although it may look familiar at first glance, the upgrade will bring relocated antenna bands that don’t stick out like a sore thumb, and a camera that sits flush with the handset’s cool aluminum unibody.
The dummy unit also features a Smart Connector near its bottom edge, which could open the door for all kinds of new accessories — like more compact battery cases that don’t need to rely on the Lightning connector.
A report out of Japan last week claimed Apple’s plan to bring the Smart Connector to the iPhone had been shelved, perhaps indefinitely. While the unit seems to suggest that isn’t the case, it may well have been produced before Apple made this decision.
Another change that’s much harder to notice is the removal of the headphone jack. If you look closely at the bottom edge, it looks like there are smaller speaker holes only, and a Lightning port in the center.
Sadly, there is no second rear-facing camera to ease the pain of the headphone jack’s removal, but there will be big changes internally.
The iPhone 7 is expected to bring Apple’s next-generation A10 processor built by TSMC, up to 3GB of RAM, a touch-sensitive home button, a bigger battery, faster LTE, and water-resistance.
It’s certainly possible that this dummy unit is a fake based on all the iPhone 7 rumors we’ve seen in recent months, rather than an accurate representation of the actual upgrade. If that’s the case, it’s a darn good one.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
36 responses to “iPhone 7 might kill two of iPhone 6s’ worst design flaws”
Another design flaw is when you use the ‘+’ volume control to act as a shutter button when you take a picture, your thumb hits the power button, putting the phone to sleep.
Sounds like a user flaw. You can’t blame everything on design.
Happens with other phones too, since the vol button and power button is close to each other. Sometimes when I am playing games and press the power button. usually happens when I am using cover :|
Ever think of using the shutter button on the camera app?
I do but only if I’m shooting from a weird angle, I still prefer this method though since it feels like I’m actually taking a proper picture.
Will be sticking with my iPhone 6 Plus if the design isn’t updated. Not that I have a problem with it, but each series (4, 5 and 6) had their unique format and improvements. If the 7 is largely the same as the 6, it’ll come off as uninspired. Can’t imagine what upgrade would keep the press from labeling Apple as lacking innovation anyway. Not the kind of rollout Apple needs after disappointing sales with the 6S.
Agree that 7 needs its own unique design. Improving upon the predecessor is all good but leave it to S series. Talking about 6s, I wouldn’t call it disappointing sales as ‘hyped’ by media. It’s a S series to the already anomaly sales spike from 6, I never expected it to sell more than 6, otherwise by your own logic, 7 sales should be compared to 6S not 6?
True. Good point. I’d be a bit surprised to see 6-level sales though with a 7 model that looks the same (mostly). Expectations are very high and the media hype will be ready to call it a yawn without some noticeable improvements. I myself am hoping they get it to a point where you could use it as a dual iOS/OSX CPU to run an external monitor/TV, but that’s certainly a few years off still.
Why do people keep touting “water resistance” as a potential new iPhone 7 feature when the iPhone 6/6S has already been shown to be water-resistant, even if Apple doesn’t say so on the spec sheet?
Amen to that. I’ve been saying this over and over. Why is Samsung marketing it like it has something special too? As mentioned, the iPhone has been shown to withstand water for an hour or more for years
S7 outlasts the 6s by a large margin. The 6s isnt that water proof actually, if you hold it under water and actually move it around water will enter and destroy it, it only survives through a sealed top and positive air pressure. The s7 is internally sealed and u can leave it in and shake it as much as you want for as long as you want, which is why the s7 is rated and marketed and the 6s isnt.
Exactly. The iPhone 6s does have seals, but they’re only there to provide more protection against spillages. They’re not enough to make the device water-resistant, which is why Apple doesn’t mention them. In comparison, Samsung makes it a big selling point because it’s totally fine to take the Galaxy S7 in the bath.
This is iPhone 7 (my render from iPod touch 6G)
Make the camera flush and I’d buy this in a heartbeat!
(The phone, not the render.)
I agree, but I don’t complain about the protrusion of my iPhone 6 camera, it doesn’t bother me, obviously without it would be a little nicer.
I wish a better camera, a longer battery life, a better screen, and a faster 4G speed also in motion with a better management of multi-cell signal.
Looks like a lg g5
Looks like this
Which looks like a g5
Here the G5, totally different ;)
Same aluminum unibody that HTC has been doing for over 3 yrs (iphones unibody are for some reason way weaker then both htc and lgs build) same boring color/finish, same lower bezel section, same possible 2 lense/ cyclops oval, and LG got rid of the antenna lines first, but thats the same too. The only think that makes it “way different” apparently is the apple symbol and the camera moves around.
The antenna lines in G5 are at the bottom, which is not aluminum (plastic)
Apple uses aluminum unibody from iPad 1, 2010, iPod touch 5G, 2012, iPhone 2G (with the bottom in plastic like G5), 2007
Well the 7 is definitely going to have antenna lines unless it follows LG and does a plastic section. Also aluminium unibodys are terrible. Boring to look at and dent if you even look at them funny.. especially the flimsy 6/6s and plus, so hopefully they beef it up.
I love my iPhone 6 aluminum body, if they make it more darker like iPod touch, MacBook 12 (space gray), it will be nicer
You must’ve forgotten that the original iPhone was all-metal. Your bad.
No it wasnt, it had a solid section of plastic on the bottom. I still have one
Awesome except your iPhone render won’t be able to make phones calls (radio signals can’t pass through aluminum).
they pass through the MacBook 12, it’s all aluminum
No it isnt. Just the backs. The keyboard isnt. Also macbook doesnt do cellular bands. Your comparing apples and oranges
Also the display of the iPhone isn’t aluminum
Ya, but since that presses against your head i think they shield the antenna in that direction, thats why almost every phone has a glass screen and still needs antenna transmission permeable sections on the rear. Remeber when you couldnt even hold a 4/4s a certain way or signal would drop? That phone was 90% glass and still had antenna bands. I don’t think gorilla glass is invisible to cell signals, definitely not as much as plastic. But aluminium and cell signals definitely dont play nice.
As a Genius and iPhone user…that is so true.
make it little thick and add more battery power.
Looks like I’ll be going for the SE if the 7 design is the same.
Worst design flaw? that would be lack of network connectivity to move/transfer files, music, photos via the network. No more Ipads (I had 3) no more iphones. Non apple smart watches can’t work with them. Apple loves to RESTRICT access to it’s devices. Sold my iMac recently after saying I’d never own another PC. (New alienware state of the art screamer). I fore see Apples time has come and gone. To slow on the tigger on apple TV (been there done that) firesticks and other nice additions makes all our TV’s do the same. Lack of ipad network access has made me pass on next gens (would do a pc tablet next for full connectivity. Their watch is a bust. OVER priced. I got one that DOES MORE for 35.00 from china. (amazing for the money). And it’s water proof and tracks swimming strokes
That’s great but with that much more power the device will still get SUPER HOT. It would be nice if they created a design to absorbed the heat so the chassis doesn’t get so hot. Especially with intense gaming.
Who the heck cares about antenna bands? Pretentious idiots who want to be Jony Ive when they grow up? Heck, most of us carry our phones in cases that (surprise surprise) COVER UP THE ANTENNA BANDS!