iPhone 7

Everything we expect from Apple’s ‘Let us loop you in’ event on Monday

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2016

As you know, Apple has scheduled a media event on its Cupertino campus on this coming Monday, March 21. Earlier this month, the company sent out its predictably cryptic invites with the “Let us loop you in” tagline to select members of the press.

It looks to be a pretty significant event.

On top of an all-new four-inch iPhone model, we're expecting other announcements like a smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro, new Apple Watch bands—including a black edition of the Milanese Loop—and a bunch of enhancements for Apple's operating systems.

Unboxing video shows off claimed iPhone SE/7 cases

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2016

Popular YouTube channel Unbox Therapy on Thursday posted a hands-on video with an alleged case for Apple's upcoming iPhone 7.

While we have already seen a fair share of purported cases for the forthcoming smartphone refresh, the quality of this particular video gives us a much closer look at some of the design changes the iPhone 7 is said to bring to the table.

Like prior leaks, this particular case appears to confirm the general layout of the buttons on the iPhone 7, with the exception of one thing that stands out in particular.

Will iPhone 7 bring a new 256GB model to the mix?

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 16, 2016

MyDrivers, a Chinese-language outlet, recently posted a sketchy rumor claiming that Apple's next smartphone refresh includes an all-new 256GB model as an iPhone 7 Plus exclusive.

Today, Italian-language HDblog posted a picture of a 256GB NAND flash memory produced by US-based SanDisk Corporation which could give Apple the option of introducing a 256GB iPhone model.

Plausible renderings imagine iPhone 7 without antenna bands

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 15, 2016

Modified Russian accessory vendor Feld & Volk, known for customizing iPhones with luxury parts like solid gold volume buttons, has posted a set of renderings based on multiple rumors that call for an iPhone 7 without visible band seams on the back.

Relayed by MacRumors, these high-quality renderings depict what the iPhone 7 would look like assuming the clean back rumor is accurate.

iPhone 7 Plus to get iPad Pro’s Smart Connector?

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 15, 2016

Chinese website Bastille Post on Tuesday published a purported image of Apple's forthcoming iPhone 7 Plus that it swears is the real deal.

The photo, obtained from an unnamed source, seems to corroborate prior rumors that the iPhone 7 Plus will come outfitted with a dual-lens camera system on the back.

It also reveals a curious hardware addition that the rumor-mill has not predicted thus far: a Smart Connector. If true, the Smart Connector may be coming to all iOS devices. As you know, Apple first unveiled the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro last fall.

Leaked iPhone 7 drawings reveal flush camera, no band seams on the back

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 14, 2016

Leaked third-party cases based on various iPhone 7 rumors have seemingly corroborated the notion that the device will have stereo speakers, a thinner Lightning port, dual cameras on the back and more.

Claimed device schematics, published by French blog NowhereElse.fr, appear to confirm that the iPhone 7 has a nearly flush camera and no antenna seams on the back.

Leaked case suggests dual cameras and stereo speakers for iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2016

Prolific leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer today posted claimed images of a purported case for Apple's unreleased iPhone 7 on Twitter.

While not the first iPhone 7 case, this one is pretty interesting as it seemingly corroborates that the handset will in fact ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack while adopting a dual-camera setup on the back and stereo speakers.

Apple is expected to formally announce the iPhone 7, the next major upgrade to its smartphone lineup, in September.

Intel has reportedly secured orders for a ‘significant portion’ of iPhone 7 cellular modems

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 4, 2016

Chip giant Intel has secured orders for a “significant portion” of cellular modems on Apple's upcoming iPhone 7, according to a note CLSA Securities analyst Srini Pajjuri sent to clients, a copy of which was obtained by NDTV.

The current iPhone 6s generation uses Qualcomm's MDM9635M LTE Cat. 6 cellular modem and the previous-generation iPhone 6 series is outfitted with Qualcomm's MDM9625M modem so if this particular analyst is right, Qualcomm is set to lose some serious money should Apple dual-source cellular modems for the next iPhone.

Rumor: iPhone 7 has a thinner Lightning port, flush camera and stereo speakers

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 1, 2016

The fairly reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara today shared some new details pertaining to Apple's iPhone 7 refresh, which we're expecting around its usual September timeframe.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Mac Otakara says that the next iPhone will be 1mm thinner than the current iPhone 6s, which measures 7.1mm in depth, making the new phone the same 6.1mm thickness as the sixth-generation iPod touch.

Somewhat surprisingly, the iPhone 7 won't be waterproof after all and should also incorporate a thinner Lightning port. The camera bulge on the back will be gone because the phone's iSight camera is now flush with the chassis. Oh, and the new iPhone will come outfitted with stereo speakers—for the first time in iPhone history.

Dual-lens iPhone 7 to be called iPhone 7 Pro?

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 29, 2016

My Drivers, a Chinese website that covers IT industry, is reporting today that Apple's next smartphone refresh will come with a tweaked naming scheme. A high-end iPhone 7 Plus model with dual cameras will be reportedly getting a 'Pro' moniker in order to better distinguish itself from the regular iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models.

Apple's product naming scheme is currently all over the place.

The upcoming four-inch iPhone, for example, is said to be marketed as 'iPhone SE,' marking the first iPhone upgrade without a number in its name. And, of course, we now have the iPad Pro, in addition to the iPad Air and iPad mini lineups.

Purported iPhone 7 frame has leaked, but it’s 5.2 inches and has a hole for the headphone jack

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 29, 2016

A batch of images have been leaked on the web by an Apple supplier, potentially giving us a look at a purported chassis for Apple's upcoming iPhone 7.

Published by French blog NowhereElse.fr, which does due diligence before posting part leaks, the photos show what looks like a Unibody frame handled by a factory worker, resembling Apple's design style for the iPhone 6/6s series.

Reality checks, however, lead us to the conclusion that this likely is not a genuine iPhone 7 part, but a frame belonging to another handset.

A compilation of iPhone 7 concept renderings

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 26, 2016

We're still more than six months away from the official introduction of Apple's next iPhone, meaning substantial leaks probably won't appear until late summer. That's not stopping 3D artists from imagining the iPhone 7 and its features.

We are being tipped about iPhone 7 concepts almost on a daily basis, but most of the concepts we review are too outrageous or futuristic to showcase on iDB.

Some of them are, however, quite plausible, if not intriguing. My colleague Andrew has put together a nice video compilation of the top five iPhone 7 concept renderings that we think you might like.