iPhone 7: Coming in 2016, Everything We Know

The iPhone 7 won't be released until the fall of 2016, so it's still several months off. Apple's current flagship devices are the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, released to the public in September of 2015. Though we have months to go until the iPhone 7 launches, rumors have already been trickling out, giving us some details on what we might see when the device is released.
Apple has used an alternating "S" naming formula to mark years where the iPhone does not receive a major redesign since the debut of the iPhone 3GS in 2009. Releases have been as follows:
2007 - iPhone
2008 - iPhone 3G
2009 - iPhone 3GS
2010 - iPhone 4 (new design)
2011 - iPhone 4s
2012 - iPhone 5 (new design)
2013 - iPhone 5s
2014 - iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (new design)
2015 - iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
The next-generation iPhone is expected to be called the iPhone 7. 2015 marked an "S" iPhone upgrade year that introduced new features such as an improved camera and a better processor, but 2016 will bring an even-year upgrade that will include an all-new iPhone design in addition to new features.
Apple is said to be working on finalizing the iPhone 7's body so we don't know exactly what it will look like, but a reliable source tells MacRumors it continues to use a design similar to the design of the iPhone 6s, but without a rear protruding camera and with no antenna bands across the back of the device. Antenna bands are expected to remain at the top, bottom, and sides of the iPhone.

Mockup of iPhone 7 case showing flush rear camera and no antenna bands across rear. Internal specs aren't yet known, but we can speculate Apple will continue on its path of introducing more powerful, efficient devices that grow thinner with each design iteration. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to include next-generation A10 processors manufactured by TSMC.
Apple will continue releasing two versions of each iPhone, so we can expect to see an iPhone 7 and an iPhone 7 Plus in 2016. Apple is said to be planning to stick to the 4.7- and 5.5-inch screen sizes it first introduced with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Apple is rumored to be aiming to make the iPhone 7 nearly as thin as the 6.1mm iPod touch, mainly through the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack and the implementation of a thinner Lightning port. Eliminating the headphone jack will give Apple more internal space for other components, and Apple will also keep the device slim with the continued use of in-cell panels and TFT-LCD display technology. Apple may replace the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 with a second speaker for stereo audio.
With no headphone jack, wired headphones will connect to the iPhone 7 using its Lightning port and Bluetooth headphones will connect wirelessly. Apple is rumored to be working on Lightning-equipped EarPods to sell alongside the device.
There may be some distinguishing features between the iPhone 7 and the larger-screened iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 may ship with 2GB RAM, while the iPhone 7 Plus includes 3GB RAM, and there could be a different camera system. According to rumors, Apple may actually be planning to introduce two versions of the iPhone 7 Plus -- one with a single lens like the iPhone 7 and a second with a dual-lens camera system that offers DSLR-like image quality with 2-3x optical zoom and improved performance in low light conditions.
We still have a long wait until the launch of the iPhone 7, but the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launched in September of 2015. Check out our full roundup on those devices for more information on Apple's latest iPhones.

Apple may be able to decrease the thickness of the iPhone 7 by eliminating the headphone jack and instead adopting an all-in-one Lightning port that will support both charging and music playback with Lightning-equipped headphones.
With the iPhone 7, headphones will need a Lightning connector or a 3.5mm jack-to-Lightning adapter to connect to the Lightning port on the bottom of the phone. The device will also support wireless Bluetooth headphones.
In addition to allowing Apple to shave some thickness off of the iPhone 7 and saving valuable internal space, requiring headphones to connect through the Lightning port will boost overall audio quality. Apple is also rumored to be considering some new noise-canceling technology to remove background noise during music playback and phone calls, but rumors have disagreed on whether this will be introduced in the iPhone 7 or the next-generation iPhone.
Apple is said to be working on Lightning-equipped EarPods that will ship alongside the iPhone 7. They will be similar to the existing EarPods that are included in the iPhone box, but with a Lightning connector instead of a headphone jack. As for the empty space left by the headphone jack, Apple may be planning to replace it with a second speaker to introduce stereo sound in the iPhone 7.

Wireless Earphones

Along with Lightning-equipped EarPods that will be made available with the iPhone 7, Apple is rumored to be working on a new set of wireless Bluetooth earphones that would be sold alongside the iPhone 7 as a premium accessory and alternative to the EarPods.
While traditional Bluetooth headphones have a wire that connects the left and right ear pieces to each other, Apple is said to be designing earphones that do not include a connective cord between the ear pieces. These earphones would be similar in design to the Bragi Dash, an upcoming set of earphones that features individual ear pieces for each ear.

Apple is rumored to be working on wireless earphones that could look similar to the Bragi Dash The wireless earphones, which have a battery life of approximately four hours due to the separate chips and batteries in each one, will reportedly charge through an included carrying case that also serves as a rechargeable battery to extend battery life as much as possible.

The iPhone 7 is expected to be thinner than the iPhone 6s, with Apple using the elimination of the headphone jack, advances in in-cell panel technology, and a slimmer Lightning port to make the iPhone 7 slimmer, perhaps as thin as the iPod touch. Rumors suggest the iPhone 7 will be between 6.0mm and 6.5mm. Apple's current iPod touch measures in at 6.1mm, compared to 7.1mm for the iPhone 6s and 7.3mm for the iPhone 6s Plus.
Information obtained by MacRumors and confirmed by additional reports indicates the iPhone 7's design will be somewhat similar to the iPhone 6s, adopting the same general design language. The iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus are expected to feature a revamped camera that is flush with the body of the device, eliminating the protruding camera of the iPhone 6 and 6s.

A mockup of what the iPhone 7 may look like. It is said to have a design similar to the iPhone 6s, with a slightly thinner body and no antenna bands across the middle of device's rear shell. Apple may also be planning to change the design of the antenna bands on the device, doing away with the thick white antenna bands that are located across the back of the Phone 6s rear shell. The bands located at the top, bottom, and sides of the device are rumored to remain on the iPhone 7. As for a thinner Lightning port, while Apple plans to slim it down, it will continue to be compatible with existing the Lightning connector and Lightning cables.
Early rumors about the iPhone 7's design suggested the device may have a strengthened, water resistant frame that ditches Apple's traditional aluminum casing for "new compound materials, but a report from Mac Otakara
Apple is planning to implement improved electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding techniques in the iPhone 7, with the goal of individually shielding most of the major chips in the device. EMI shields are used in iPhones and all other electronic devices to prevent wireless interference between different products.
Improved EMI shielding will perhaps allow Apple to place the various chips in the iPhone 7 closer together, allowing it to shrink down the device or leave room for new components or a larger battery. This could be one of the ways the company will find extra space to make the iPhone 7 thinner than the iPhone 6s.
Apple is rumored to be working on AMOLED displays for future iPhones, but the technology will not be ready for the iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 will continue to use the same TFT-LCD display technology used in the iPhone 6s.

With the release of the larger-screened iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple differentiated between the two devices by including Optical Image Stabilization in the iPhone 6 Plus for improved photo and video capturing abilities. The iPhone 6s Plus continued to offer Optical Image Stabilization while the iPhone 6s did not, and it appears the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus could also see different features, mainly when it comes to the camera.
According to reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may be planning to introduce two versions of the iPhone 7 Plus -- one that includes a single-lens camera like the iPhone 7 and one that includes a dual-lens camera system. This would be an unusual move for Apple because it would splinter the iPhone lineup, and it should be noted that the rumor has not yet been confirmed by a second source.
It is possible that Apple is testing different iPhone 7 Plus prototypes, leading to rumors of two planned iPhone 7 Plus devices. Rumors have suggested Apple is testing and considering multiple dual-lens systems from several camera makers in Japan, China, and Taiwan, and suppliers are gearing up to begin producing components for the lenses.
There's also a questionable rumor sourced from Chinese site MyDrivers suggesting the iPhone 7 Plus with the dual-lens camera system could actually be dubbed the "iPhone Pro" to set it apart from the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus with a standard single-lens camera. This rumor should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed.

Dual-Lens Camera Details

Apple is rumored to be working on at least one version of the iPhone 7 Plus that includes a a 12-megapixel dual-lens camera system that takes advantage of technology Apple acquired through the purchase of Israeli camera company LinX Imaging last year. Image quality in the iPhone 7 Plus could be greatly improved with the introduction of a dual-lens system, narrowing the gap between photos taken with the iPhone and those taken with a more robust DSLR cameras.

iPhone 7 mockup with dual-lens camera system (Image: Computer Bild) LinX dual-lens technology offers several potential benefits for the iPhone 7 Plus, with the rumor specifically pointing towards 2-3x optical zoom capabilities, perhaps implemented through the use of two lenses with different focal lengths. With a dual-lens camera system, images captured are clearer and brighter with less noise and truer color, allowing for pictures that include more detail, especially in low light conditions.

An example of LinX's noise reduction technology. Far more detail is preserved in the LinX image on the right compared to the iPhone 5 image on the left. There's a possibility that a dual-lens system like the one LinX created could be used for depth mapping, allowing users to do things like take 3D scans of real world items or use depth information to refocus an image. For additional information on what LinX technology could mean for the iPhone 7, make sure to check out our in-depth LinX post.
Implementing LinX's camera system in the iPhone 7 Plus would potentially allow Apple to cut down on the size of the camera module, doing away with the protruding rear camera lens.
An example of how a dual-lens camera could potentially improve photos taken with the iPhone 7 Plus can be seen in the below video demonstration of similar technology from Corephotonics. Corephotonics' dual-lens system uses a wide-angle lens and a lens capable of 5X optical zoom and aggregates data from both to get a better picture.
As for the camera in the iPhone 7 and the rumored single-lens iPhone 7 Plus, there's no word on what improvements may be introduced. If a version of the iPhone 7 Plus is set to see major gains in image quality, it stands to reason the iPhone 7 and/or the standard-lens iPhone 7 Plus will also see significant improvement, even if it is implemented outside of a dual-lens system.

RAM

According to another prediction from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus may have differing amounts of RAM. The smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 may ship with 2GB of RAM, while the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus may ship with 3GB RAM.

Storage Space

Storage space may also be a differentiating factor between the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. An unconfirmed rumor suggests the larger iPhone 7 Plus could include a high-end 256GB storage option that would not be available with the iPhone 7. 256GB is a capacity that is not offered in any of Apple's current iOS devices, so it is questionable as to whether Apple would introduce such a high-capacity iPhone. The rumor did not include a mention of other storage tiers that would be available for the two devices.

With the Lightning port being used for music playback, there will be no way to charge the iPhone 7 while headphones are plugged in, which has sparked some speculation about wireless charging. According to one rumor, Apple is exploring wireless charging technology that could potentially be included in the iPhone 7.
While Apple is said to be looking into wireless charging for the iPhone 7, there is no guarantee the feature will make it into the finished product. It is also not clear what method Apple would use to implement wireless charging.

Apple may source some LTE modems for the iPhone 7 from Intel, perhaps adopting the Intel 7360 LTE modem and introducing faster LTE speeds on the device. The chip features faster theoretical downlink speeds of up to 450 MB/s, uplink speeds of up to 100 MB/s, and support for LTE category 10 and 29 bands.

Our first look at a component that might be destined for the iPhone 7 came in January of 2016, with the leak of some photos that depict a possible iPhone 7 backlight assembly.

We can't really glean any information about the iPhone 7 from the backlight component, but it is similar in design to the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus backlight assembly with the exception of relocated LCD flex cables and 3D Touch chip. Though the backlight assembly doesn't give us any information about the iPhone 7, it suggests that components are now in production and additional part leaks will follow.

The iPhone 7 hasn't launched yet, but we're already hearing rumors about iPhones that will be released in 2017 and beyond. Apple is said to be working on flexible OLED displays for future versions of the iPhone, at a secret lab it's opened in Taiwan. Apple is also developing more advanced versions of liquid crystal displays, working on a technology called Micro-LED.
Apple is also pursuing an OLED partnership with LG Display and Samsung, and is said to be close to a deal. Under the terms of the deal, LG Display and Samsung would both provide Apple with OLED displays for future devices. Japan Display is also hoping to secure a deal with Apple and has announced its own plans to begin developing OLED displays. Rumors also suggest Apple may also be planning to invest in AMOLED supplier AU Optronics as a source of displays for future iPhones, indicating Apple is pursuing multiple options for next-generation display technology.
Both OLED and Micro-LED technologies eliminate the need for the backlighting that's used in traditional LCDs, which would potentially allow Apple to cut down on the size of its iOS devices. Micro-LED suffers from low yields and OLED has a shorter life span, so they are both technologies that are not quite ready for near-future iPhone upgrades.
Rumors originally said Apple would introduce OLED displays in 2018, but its plans may have been pushed up. Apple may now be aiming to introduce the first OLED displays in iPhones at the end of 2017 instead of 2018.
Apple is said to be developing a next-generation version of 3D Touch, which would scale up for use in larger devices like the iPad Pro. Other benefits are not yet known.
In the future, Apple could introduce an iPhone without a home button, instead integrating Touch ID fingerprint recognition into the display of the device. Apple is working on developing touch and display driver integration (TTDI) chips, but it is not clear when that technology will be ready for use in an iPhone.
Apple is also rumored to be working on long-range wireless charging technology that could be implemented in phones as soon as 2017. Long-range wireless charging is superior to many existing wireless charging methods because it does not require devices to be as close to a charging source or mat.
There are some obstacles to overcome before such technology can be implemented, such as the loss of power transfer efficiency that occurs when the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is increased. This causes batteries further away from a charging source to charge more slowly.