The iPhone 7 release date is one we expect in 2016, but you will need to wait a little while as we don’t anticipate a launch until the fall. Here is a look at what to expect from the 2016 iPhone release and what new features we might see upgraded for the iPhone 7.
On March 14, we share new photos of an alleged iPhone 7 design. This comes right after a leaked iPhone 7 case that could help you understand what the new iPhone will look like. We recently added a new video showing how the iPhone 7 Plus dual camera system could work.
In the fall of 2015 Apple announced the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. In March 2016 Apple is expected to announce a 4-inch iPhone se.
Later this year we expect a completely new iPhone design with a lot of new features, iOS 10 on board and new reasons to upgrade.
We also include what not to expect from the iPhone 7 in 2016, to help you set your expectations and be on the lookout for fake videos.
Here is a look at the latest iPhone 7 news and rumors, as well as what you can expect from the new iPhone in 2016.
iPhone 7 Release Date: What to Expect
The biggest thing to expect from the iPhone 7 release date is that it is not coming in March 2016. All signs point to a 4-inch iPhone se at this event and a major redesign of the iPhone later this year.
What to expect from the iPhone 7 release date.
We expect an iPhone 7 release date in late 2016, likely in the fall unless Apple makes a major shift to the release timeline that normally includes a preview of new software in June and an annual iPhone release in the fall.
Last year Apple announced an annual upgrade program for the iPhone, which offers a fast and affordable way to upgrade from the iPhone 6s to a new iPhone in 2017. With the start of this program in September 2015, expect the iPhone 7 release date in September 2016.
iPhone 7 vs iPhone 6s: What’s in a Name?
Apple announced the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus last year, which followed the tradition of iPhone upgrades as outlined below for the last eight iPhone releases.
After the iPhone 3G, Apple stuck to using the same general iPhone design for two years and offering an iPhone “s” model. This includes the following models;
This leads us up to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus that we expect to see this fall with a new look and new features.
What Not to Expect from the iPhone 7
It’s important to remember that there are a lot of talented designers making videos that claim to show the iPhone 7 design and features. Many will even say “Official” in the title. We won’t know exactly what the iPhone 7 looks like until the fall, but if you see a video of an iPhone 7 with a screen that slides out to triple in size or offers other crazy features, the odds are good that it is not the new iPhone 7. The video above is simply a rendering, and is not what the iPhone 7 will look like.
At this point we don’t expect a major screen upgrade on the iPhone 7. There are rumors that Samsung is working on a OLED display for Apple, but recent reports suggest it will not arrive until 2017.
What to Expect from the iPhone 7
Although the iPhone 7 release date is to far away for rumors and leaks to definitively say what Apple has planed, but there are enough leaks that we are starting to get an idea about what the new iPhone 7 could look like and what the iPhone 7 specs might offer.
Based on our observations of how the company delivers new iPhones to the market and other factors we have a short list of things we expect from the new iPhone 7 in 2016.
New iPhone Design
The hallmark of a new iPhone without an “s” in the name is a new design. We don’t know what the 2016 iPhone will look like, but count on a fresh look for the iPhone 7 design.
Based on the popularity of the iPhone 6 Plus and rumors of an iPhone 6s Plus in 2015, it is also likely that the iPhone 7 design will feature two screen sizes.
It looks like Apple will keep the same screen sizes, but rumors suggest Apple plans to cut the headphone jack to allow for a thinner iPhone or more room in side for components. Apple could add a second speaker in place of the headphone jack and push users to a lightning connection.
We are seeing additional rumors that the iPhone 7 design will use a similar design language to the iPhone 6s, but with a flush camera and no more antenna lines on the back of the phone.
Photo appears to show changes to the iPhone 7 design from the iPhone 6s.
A new leaked photo shows a computer with an iPhone-like design on the screen. In this image we see a slightly different camera setup on the upper corner and we see a change to the antenna lines. Instead of coming across the center of the phone in two places, these lines are shifted to the top and bottom corners. In the image above you can see the changes to the iPhone design we know. This leak from Nowhereelse.fr offers a look at what could change, but it is still quite early to make a conclusive decision based on one leak.
iPhone 7 rumors don’t show a specific design yet.
The iPhone 7 design may include better water resistance and dust resistance, which is a feature Apple upgraded unofficially on the iPhone 6s and that Samsung brought back for the Galaxy S7 so we could see Apple respond in kind.
An alleged iPhone 7 case without a headphone jack.
The first alleged iPhone 7 case shows a design that looks a lot like the iPhone 6s, but there is no headphone jack. The silicone case shows two speaker openings on the bottom of the phone, which lines up with rumors of dual speakers on the new iPhone.
On the upper edge there is a larger opening for the camera, which may be for a dual-camera design. We have seen this style of opening on iPhone 6s cases to make room for the camera and the flash.
Before you worry that the iPhone 7 design is the same as the iPhone 6s, keep in mind that this is a very early leak. Traditionally we don’t get a good idea of what the new iPhone will look like until summer. OnLeaks, the source of the leak even states that this is not 100% accurate.
Better Camera
Expect to see a jump in the in the camera from the iPhone 6s to iPhone 7, and also from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 7 Plus.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 7 camera will feature a 12MP sensor that boosts the overall quality of photos taken on the iPhone.
The iPhone 7 Plus may stand out with a dual-lens camera system that may include LinX technology to deliver a better photo with DLSR -like quality. Some iPhone 7 Plus rumors suggest the phone will even include optical zoom capabilities.
The video above includes a closer look at how the iPhone 7 Plus camera could work, and what it could do with a dual lens system. Macrumors created the video based on an Apple patent that includes recording at different zoom levels and even recording at slow motion and regular speed at the same time.
Makers of Camera+ show the evolution of the iPhone cameras in a comparison from the first iPhone up to the iPhone 6s so you can see the small changes from one to the other including the low light upgrade in the image below. See more comparisons from the Camera+ developer.
Every year the iPhone camera improves in noticeable ways.
You can see many upgrades through the various iPhone releases, including better detail, better low light performance and more. We expect the iPhone 7 camera will follow this tradition.
Headphone Jack and Lightning Port
As we briefly mentioned in the iPhone 7 design section, there is a very good chance that Apple will remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 to allow for a new design that uses that space better.
This would push users towards Bluetooth headphones and to using the Lightning connection to listen to music with a cord.
In January 2016 we heard from accessory makers who are already planning for this removal with a focus on delivering high quality Bluetooth headphones and another planning to make a third-party iPhone battery case with a Lightning connection.
Fast Company reports that Apple could include wireless charging as part of the design, with a waterproof feature added in as well.
iPhone 7 Specs & Performance
As a matter of tradition the new iPhone gets a new processor each year. With the iPhone 7 we could see Apple go with an Apple A10 processor, although the name may change by the time this new iPhone comes out.
We could see 2GB RAM in the iPhone 7 and 3GB RAM in the iPhone 7 Plus. If Apple continues with the current trend, the iPhone 7 should deliver more power and longer battery life to users.
New reports suggest Apple will use an Intel LTE modem in the iPhone 7 that could support faster LTE speeds. The speeds would depend on carrier support, so there is a chance that you would not see an overall increase in speed in most uses, at least right off the bat.
Display 4.7-inch Retina HD Display, 1334 x 750 Resolution, 326 ppi Processor Apple A10 Processor M10 Co Processor, 2GB RAM Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Rumored Rear Camera Flush Rear Camera, 12MP Camera likely Front Camera 5 Megapixel Front Camera Battery Unknown at this time Software iOS 10 Security Touch ID Design Metal design, Flush camera, no antenna lines waterproof may not happen Connections Lightning Connection, No headphone Jack
The iPhone 7 Plus specs may include more RAM, more Storage and a better camera system.
Storage
Recent reports reveal that Apple is looking into new storage options, up to 256GB for the iPhone 7 Plus, but it is not clear if Apple will jump past the current 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage options.
iOS 10
The iPhone 7 will likely arrive with iOS 10 on board. Again this is an area where Apple may choose to alter naming conventions as it reaches a milestone, but you can count on new software for the iPhone 7. Look for an iOS 10 announcement at WWDC 2016 in or around June 2016 with new features and visual upgrades.
9 iPhone 7 Features We Want in 2016
Waterproof iPhone 7
Apple upgraded the iPhone 6s design to make it withstand water better than the iPhone 6, and there are several Apple patents focused on delivering an iPhone that survives in water, which gives us some hope for a waterproof iPhone 7.
With a new design Apple may be able to incorporate a water-resistant iPhone 7 design into a production model allowing users to not worry about using the iPhone near water.
If Apple is able to deliver this, it would likely come with caveats such as only providing protection for 30 minutes of submersion for 3-6 feet or less.
A report from FastCompany claims that this is a feature Apple will provide with the iPhone 7 by coating the components of the iPhone 7 with a special chemical. We've heard rumors like this before and Apple pulled the feature, so while it is exciting, make sure you check before dropping your iPhone 7 into the water later this year.
The latest iPhone 7 rumors from March suggest Apple will not deliver a waterproof iPhone 7 this year. This back and forth mirrors what we see with many rumors and we may not know until the fall.
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