The smart money says 2016 will bring big changes with the iPhone 7. Here's everything you've got to look forward to
Apple has used LCD technology
for its phone screens since the beginning and, if a leaked report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo can be believed, it looks set to continue that trend with the iPhone 7, rather than moving to AMOLED technology. In fact, Kuo believes that it will be 2018 before we see an iPhone model that uses AMOLED. Given that LCD displays draw more power than AMOLED screens, there's a chance that this could have a knock-on effect on battery life.
for its phone screens since the beginning and, if a leaked report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo can be believed, it looks set to continue that trend with the iPhone 7, rather than moving to AMOLED technology. In fact, Kuo believes that it will be 2018 before we see an iPhone model that uses AMOLED. Given that LCD displays draw more power than AMOLED screens, there's a chance that this could have a knock-on effect on battery life.
The big worry is that as the iPhone 7 is said to be so slim, it means that there's less room inside for battery, which again will have an impact on battery life. I think it's a little early to start panicking yet, as reduced battery life is not a certainty and there are a few tricks that Apple might have up its sleeve. For starters, the new A10 chip will, no doubt, be more energy efficient than the A9 SoC in the iPhone 6S. It will probably be built using a smaller fabrication process, which will also mean that it takes up less room in the case, leaving more room for a bigger battery. Next, Apple will most likely work on making iOS 10 more energy efficient, again helping boost battery power.
than the A9 SoC in the iPhone 6S. It will probably be built using a smaller fabrication process, which will also mean that it takes up less room in the case, leaving more room for a bigger battery. Next, Apple will most likely work on making iOS 10 more energy efficient, again helping boost battery power.
Finally, it's important to remember that the screen only uses power when it's turned on, not when the phone's in your pocket. That with the tweaks mentioned above, it should mean that the new iPhone will last longer than the iPhone 6S when it's simply synchronising in the background. So, for average day-to-day use, we should see hopefully see better battery life than with today's iPhones. The iPhone 7 will only, potentially, suffer in comparison to AMOLED-based phones for applications where the screen's on for a long time, such as watching a video or playing games. Even so, given by this year's Apple battery life, you should easily get a day's worth of heavy use out of the iPhone 7.
That's not to say that I wouldn't want Apple to move to an AMOLED display. As well being more power efficient (I do want to see as much battery life out of an iPhone as possible), AMOLED displays have better contrast than their LCD counterparts. They could also be the way for Apple to up resolution on its phones to bring it into line with its competition, too.
What you need to know, quickly
Need the information fast - here's everything you need in a quick, bite-sized digest. Obviously, everything here is based on unconfirmed rumours, so things can change quickly, but the below is at least a quick view of how things stand at this point in time.
What is it? | Apple's brand new smartphone, complete with a new design and the successor to 2015's iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus |
When is it out? | If Apple sticks to its normal release schedule, and it tends to, then we should see it late September 2016 |
What's new? | It will have a completely new design and look different to all iPhones before it. That opens up huge potential, but we're expecting a better screen, faster processor and an much batter camera |
In Detail
iPhone 7 release date
If there's been one reliable thing about Apple's iPhone launches, it's that they happen just once a year. Given that the iPhone 6S was launched in September 2016, a year after the iPhone 6, it doesn't take a genius to work out that the iPhone 7 will come in September 2016.
Intel inside?
Intel largely missed out on the mobile boom, failing to capitilise on its desktop dominance and leaving it playing catch-up with the likes of Qualcomm. According to recent rumours, reported by Venturebeat, Intel may have won its first big break and could be supplying the iPhone 7 with modems.
Intel has recently completed work on its 7360 LTE chip, which has piqued Apple's interest to the point where the company is seriously considering using Intel as a supplier. This would be a big shift for Apple, which has previously been reliant on Qualcomm, which produces all of the modems for its iPhone range. If Apple chooses to include Intel it will be as a second supplier, similar to the way that Samsung and TSMC already manufacture the A9 chip for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.
is seriously considering using Intel as a supplier. This would be a big shift for Apple, which has previously been reliant on Qualcomm, which produces all of the modems for its iPhone range. If Apple chooses to include Intel it will be as a second supplier, similar to the way that Samsung and TSMC already manufacture the A9 chip for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.
Intel is seeing this as a 'must win', both due to the size of the order and, more importantly, because it could lead to greater things: more specifically, Intel could end up fabricating a future SoC that includes both the processor and the LTE modem integrated into the same silicon. Intel's manufacturing prowess and Apple's design could make for a powerful combination and would boost Intel's mobile credentials, letting it learn from the process, which would surely help it develop its own mobile chips.
It's hard to know which chip, if any, Intel will manufacture, as work is undoubtedly already underway for the iPhone 7's SoC, the A10. The most intriguing bit of information is that the chip may move from being dual-core to hexa-core (six cores), according to a report on Weibo. This would improve the company's multi-threaded performance and allow for better multi-tasking. I'm excited to see what Apple could do with this many cores, as the combination of its dual-core processors and efficient OS means that Apple's dual-core chips already beat the quad-core competition in benchmarks. However, it has to be said that more cores and more multi-tasking could have a potential knock-on effect on battery life.
One way to ensure that doesn't happen is to use a smaller fabrication process, as this reduces transistor size, which in turn reduces heat and power requirements. It seems that Apple may be going this way. According to the Electronic Daily News, the Taiwanese semiconductor company, TSMC, is in the process of setting up a 10nm manufacturing line, which would most likely be used to manufacture the A10 chip.
For those not in the know, the fabrication process size, describes the average half-pitch (half the distance between identical features). In other words, as the fabrication process decreases in size, the features get smaller and closer together. This gives three main benefits. First, it means a reduction in the size of the electronics, which means more room inside the case for other components or a bigger battery. Apple exploited this with the new MacBook, which is largely battery inside. Secondly, it means that the SoC draws less power, which helps improve battery life. Thirdly, it means that the SoC runs cooler, which either means you can get away with less cooling or that you can run the SoC at a faster speed to increase performance. Currently, the A8 chip (as used in the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2) uses a 20nm fabrication process, while the A9 (expected to be used in the iPhone 6S) will most likely switch to a 14nm fabrication process.
3D Touch not Force Touch
Thanks to the launch of the iPhone 6S we've now got a bit more information about what Apple might have for store with its next smartphone, the iPhone 7, launching next year. First, we found out that the iPhone 6S didn't have Force Touch, but instead used a new pressure sensor in the screen called 3D Touch. The big difference is that 3D Touch can sensor two degrees of pressure, giving more ways to interact with the phone; Force Touch can only sense between a tap and a hard press. Given that 3D Touch is in the new phones it makes sense that it will appear in the iPhone 7 and not Force Touch as I had previously believed.
It might be waterproof
Next, there are the rumours that the next iPhone will be waterproof. This rumour started back in 2014 with an Apple Patent application, which has since been granted, for a technique known as Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (PACVD) to coat the internal components and make them water resistant. The benefit of this method is that the case doesn't have to be made completely waterproof, which adds weight and bulk into a design, not to mention design issues. While there are third-party companiesthat will waterproof your phone's components internally, doing so can invalidate your warranty, so a manufacturer-installed option is considerably better.
that will waterproof your phone's components internally, doing so can invalidate your warranty, so a manufacturer-installed option is considerably better.
While I don't often have a lot of time for patent-based rumours (Apple files a ton of patents every year, with many never being used commercially), this one seems to have legs, particularly with the latest information that shows that the iPhone 6S is partially waterproof. When iFixit performed a teardown of the latest model, it found that there was a gasket around the edge sealing the phone, while the logic board connectors had silicone waterproof seals. These connectors are the ones most likely to corrode or short out due to water. The result, tested by people braver than me, is that the iPhone 6S has been demonstrated to survive a dunking. Now, the phone is not waterproof, nor should it be dropped in water on purpose, but the handset is less likely to be damaged than before. It also shows that Apple is seriously thinking about how to protect its phones and has taken the first steps to full-on waterproofing.
It will be thin
From the latest information, the next-generation iPhone looks to be a real stunner and the most recent rumour suggests that the phone is going to be exceptionally thin.
According to a report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and reported on by AppleInsider, the new iPhone 7 is going to be between 6.0 and 6.5mm thick. That would make it around the same size as the iPod Touch and the incredibly slim iPad Air 2. This will also be a slimming down of the iPhone 6S, which is expected to come it at a shade over 7mm (up from the 6.9mm of the iPhone 6) when it launches later on today. One reason why the iPhone 6S is slightly thicker than its predecessor is because of the Force Touch technology that will be integrated inside it.
One question that a thinner iPhone 7 doesn't answer is, what happens to the battery? My concern with a thinner phone is that the battery will get smaller. It's possible that in a year's time, smaller components may leave more room inside the case for battery, while a more efficient SoC could mean that same battery life from a smaller battery. It's way too early to tell at the moment, so we're going to have to wait a bit longer to find out the details. If you're wondering what a slimmer iPhone 7 may look like, check out the image by Yasser Farahi below - click on the image to view other concept images.
Dual-lens camera tech on the way
Apple has steadily been improving its cameras, with a 12-megapixel high-quality sensor used in the iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 6S. It turns out that Apple wants even more and, according to reports from Taiwan, has been working on dual-lens camera tech for three years, with the results finally ready for the iPhone 7.
A report in Business Weekly (spotted by G for Games) quotes Altek's CEO, Xiaru Wen, as saying that Apple has "been studying the dual lens" technology for three or more years. Wen's the man to know, as Altek is the company that makes the dual-lens cameras for the HTC and Huawei. According to Wen, Apple's got lots of applications that take advantage of dual-lens technology, but the issue has been that the supply chain hasn't been able to supply enough products.
In addition, technical problems, such as camera blur from misaligned lenses, have got in the way. Now, Apple's solved its issues via its acquisition of LinX Imaging earlier this year. It has also lined up Largan to take over production, with the company's CEO recently stating that the company was looking to double its production capacity. This will be too late for 2015, so points at dual-lens cameras only being ready in 2016 for the iPhone 7.
We've got an idea of what to expect, thanks to information from LinX, which Apple bought for $20m, according to the Wall Street Journal. This startup has been developing sensors that it says will bring SLR-like quality to smartphones. It has developed sensor arrays that use multiple sensors, alongside bespoke optics and image processing, to improve image quality.
Using multiple sensors means that LinX sensors can measure depth, which can help speed up auto-focus or simply let you focus the shot after you've taken it, as we've seen before with HTC's Duo camera. It's also possible for the cameras to scan objects in 3D and give accurate measurements for objects, too. We've seen similar technology inside the Dell Venue 8 7840 tablet, although it's measurement capabilities were a bit hit and miss.
LinX sensors also use a new clear pixel channel design, which the company says reduces crosstalk and helps reduce noise, all in a smaller package. The net result is a smaller camera that's smarter and produces cleaner and more detailed images: just the thing that Apple requires. For more information on the LinX technology, you can read this Scribd presentation.
In the meantime, if you want to know more about the iPhone 7, check out the information below, and come back often, as we update this article regularly with the latest information.
iPhone 7c could join iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
It looks as though we're going to have to wait until 2016 for a new smaller iPhone, with the launch of a new 4in iPhone 7, which may be called the iPhone 7c. The information comes from the Economic Daily News, which is reporting that AUO has signed a deal with Apple to produce 4in screens for a new smartphone. According to the terms of the deal, AUO will start to ship screens in the first quarter of 2016, which would tie in with a launch later in the year, alongside two other new handsets, most likely the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. This information also seems to confirm that the screens will not be ready in time for an iPhone 6c launch, suggesting that we will only get two new handsets this year.
It's hard to say how accurate the information is, as the rumours of a new 4in handset have been flying around for a long time. However, it has to be said that the 4in screen size has proved popular in the past, with many people liking the smaller screen size. With 4in, 4.7in and 5.5in screens, Apple would have one of the best product line-ups. If these rumours prove true, we currently don't have any information on how the phone will look and if it will have a plastic case, as with the iPhone 5C, or if it will be metal. Given that Apple has dropped the iPhone 5C, though, this rumours seems less and less likely to happen.
Wireless charging?
One rumour doing the rounds at the moment is that Apple is ready to introduce wireless charging to the iPhone 7, largely ditching the need for the Lightning cable. So far, the rumours haven't come from any definitive sources, so this rumour can be filed under hearsay or 'things that we'd like to have'. However, while that may be the case, the truth, the fact is that wireless charging is a big thing. Samsung has gone all-out for it with the S6 and S6 Edge, while Ikea has even released furniture with built-in wireless charging.
With so much interest around wireless charging, it would make a lot of sense of Apple to follow suit and use the technology in its phone. Besides, wireless charging is easier and more convenient than having to plug a cable in.
If Apple did go down this route, we’d like to see it largely extinguish the need to have a cable at all: at the moment, while you can synchronise your phone via Wi-Fi with iTunes, you still have to make the initial connection via the Lightning cable, in order to enable wireless synchronisation.
At the moment, until there’s more information available, we’re going to have to say that there’s no real truth to this rumour and we’re going to have to wait a bit longer to find out if Apple will go down this route.
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