A recent patent filed by Apple suggests the iPhone 7 could be coming with a new speaker set-up similar to the one used on the recently released iPad Pro.
The patent, reported on 9 to 5 Mac, which calls it “densely worded”, describes a system optimised for thin devices, giving better quality and louder audio output.
”There is a need for improved approaches to provide high-quality audio sound output,” it reads, adding that this should not hinder “the ability to make portable electronic devices smaller and thinner”.
Apple describes its method for doing this as thus: “An audio chamber can be formed to assist in directing audio sound between an opening an outer housing and a flexible electronic substrate to which the audio element is mounted or coupled thereto.”
Cutting through the jargon, this points to “chambers built into the handset to improve and amplify its sound”, says Alphr. They add that this technique has already been used on the iPad Pro.
Using the internal space as an audio chamber to aid volume would effectively mean the components inside the iPhone, such as the circuit board, will become a part of the speaker system, continues Gizmodo. The increased amount of air that would pass through the system would theoretically amplify audio output.
There’s no reference to any particular device in the patent but iDigitaltimes says many assume it is intended for the iPhone 7.
Rumours back in September suggested the tech giant is aiming to slim the iPhone 7 down to a thickness of just 6mm, after a note to investors from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was obtained by AppleInsider.
The new patent specifically makes reference to slimmer devices and Apple’s relentless pursuit of ever-thinner iPhones may even result in the headphone jack being removed from the next handset in favour of using the Lightning port to dock headphones.
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iPhone 7: did CES reveal Apple will remove the headphone jack?
12 January
Rumours that Apple is to remove the headphone jack from its iPhone 7 have been filling the internet for several months now, yet the people with most to fear – headphone-makers themselves – seem remarkably unconcerned.
Reports of the controversial move, which would mean customers having to use either Lightning-compatible or wireless headsets, began last November and have tended to come from reputable sources: either in the form of trusted and established leakers on regarded Apple fansites or people described as being close to the company themselves.
Going one step further, The Verge decided to investigate the claims by visiting various headphone-makers at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week to gauge their feelings towards any possible change.
In comparison to the outrage the whispers have sparked among some Apple consumers, the manufacturers “don’t seem to be particularly perturbed” by the rumours, they say.
The reasons for this are said to be twofold: first, headphone-makers could be keen to sell more Bluetooth sets and the introduction of an iPhone with no headphone jack would provide a catalyst for sales; second, The Verge reports that most of the manufacturers were in the process of developing – or thinking about developing – Lightning-port headphones.
From a manufacturing point of view, Apple’s reported plan does not seem too disturbing for the headphone-makers – and could even be beneficial for some. Their non-confrontational stance suggests the tech giant has cleared one hurdle if it wishes to render the jack obsolete.
As for the rumours themselves, the latest leak – reported on Fast Company and said as being from a “source with knowledge of the company” – again asserts the jack will be no more. The source adds further information, though – the iPhone 7 could use noise-cancelling technology, wireless-charging and be waterproof.
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iPhone 7: first look at the iPhone 7 as picture ‘leaks’
11 January
Your first look at the iPhone 7 has allegedly landed. Taiwanese website Apple Club has posted pictures of what appears to be the backlight assembly for the next iPhone, due to be revealed in September. The pictures were posted on the social networking app WeChat.
The legitimacy of the images has not been confirmed, but Macrumours highlights how Apple Club has released spy shots of Apple products and components before, such as the protruding camera lens on the iPhone 6 as well as shots of iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2 internals prior to their respective releases.
The leaked component bears resemblance to the backlight assembly currently used on the iPhone 6, but with the 3D touch chip and flex cables relocated. A small Apple logo can be seen in the hinge where the larger flex cable bends.
While the pictures have unleashed a frenzy of speculation among Apple fans, many publications are not terribly interested in the alleged leak.
“The photos don't really tell us anything useful unless the position of ribbon cables is of deep personal interest to you”, says 9to5 Mac. However, the website does add that we can expect to see a growing number of photos and leaks throughout the year in the build-up to the iPhone 7′s reveal.
Back at Macrumours, the website reports how the original leak suggests the component could be used on Apple’s next 4-inch smartphone, likely to launch earlier than the iPhone 7 and to be called the iPhone 6C. However, they say that the size of the 3D touch chip and flex cables suggest that the leaked backlight assembly is for a larger phone.
Appleinsider says that the relocated 3D touch chip might not necessarily point towards a new and updated version of the feature on the next iPhone. The site points out that Apple is indeed likely developing new versions of 3D touch, especially for the iPad, but that the technology is “one of the most severe production bottlenecks in iPhone 6s supply chain” according to an analyst, and any new versions will come after the iPhone 7.
Not much beyond this can be gathered from the leak, but the Daily Mirror asserts that the pictures confirm that the iPhone 7 will ship without a headphone jack.
Rumours that Apple will do away with the industry standard jack in favour of using the Lightning port to attach headphones have been swirling for some weeks, and fresh leaks hinting that this could be the case continue to surface as we get closer to the reveal of the next Apple handset.
Business title Fast Company recently fanned the flames by publishing a story detailing yet another leak from “a source with knowledge of the company’s plans” suggesting that the iPhone 7 will not ship with an industry standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The company has allegedly linked up with Cirrus Logic to develop the audio chip that will mate audio connections to the Lightning port, the source tells them.
The article also suggests that the iPhone 7 will feature noise-cancelling technology.
However, it also suggests that Apple may couple the controversial move to Lightning port headphones with a decision no longer to include a pair of them in the iPhone 7 box. The company may look to sell a premium pair of headphones separately instead of bundling a standardised set of them with a new phone as they have done in the past. The company may instead opt to include a Lightning port to 3.5mm headphone jack adaptor in the box. The rumour has been met with suspicion by Forbes, which says that such a move “would make little business sense and just encourage owners to use the adaptor and stick with what they have.”
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iPhone 7: thousands protest at ‘demise of headphone jack’
07 January
An online petition criticising rumours that Apple will ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 in favour of the Lightning port or Bluetooth headphones has been gathering pace.
The petition claims that “Apple is about to rip off every one of its customers. Again” and criticises the company for “forcing” iPhone users to spend extra money on a new set of headphones, as well as highlighting past Apple products which have made things like chargers obsolete.
So far the petition is based on no more than rumours, with no concrete evidence to suggest that Apple will remove the headphone jack from the next iPhone. However, a series of leaks suggest that the 3.5mm port’s days could be numbered.
Forbes reports that a pair of sources within Apple’s Chinese supply chain have confirmed that the iPhone 7 will not come with a headphone jack, and also that Apple is interested in adding support for super-high resolution audio output on the smartphone, which would require the use of lightning port headphones.
Losing the headphone jack would also allow Apple to make the iPhone 7 even thinner than the iPhone 6 models, as well as open up more space inside for a larger battery. It may even open up a desire to create ‘smart headphones’, integrated deeper into the user experience.
However, despite the potential pros of removing the headphone jack, the big con of rendering millions of pairs of headphones obsolete remains controversial.
The leak which reignited the iPhone headphone jack rumour mill was originally reported on Monday by Macrumours. Two Chinese websites, Anzhuo.cn and Wei Fang, have both said that information they have gleaned from the supply chain suggests that the rumour is true.
iPhone 7: 2016 handset ‘will have longer battery life’
05 January
The iPhone 7 Plus may come with a larger, 3,100mAh battery, a new rumour suggests. The bigger battery will give users more time between charges – if they buy the ‘Plus’ version of the smartphone.
The claim comes from Chinese site My Drivers. Tech news website Techno Buffalo has seen a translation of its story and says the news is alleged to come from “sources in Apple’s supply chain”.
When they are released later this year, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be available in the same 4.7- and 5.5-inch sizes as the 6 and 6s phones, say the sources – but the phones will be very different internally.
As well as the supposed larger battery, My Drivers says the iPhone 7 Plus will be available with 256GB of memory.
This will be music to the ears of some of Apple’s critics who are frustrated by the tech giant’s insistence on offering phones with a meagre 16GB to keep the cost of the handsets low. At the top of the range, 128GB phones are available – but nothing larger.
Apple Insider, however, is not convinced by this second rumour, saying the details sound “implausible”. The site thinks it’s unlikely that Apple would offer different capacity on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
“Apple launched iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014 with virtually identical specs,” says Apple Insider. The same was true of the 6s and 6s Plus. In both releases, the phones were positioned as “two essentially equal models” of different sizes.
To offer more storage only on the Plus might be “out of line with previous generations” – but the site also notes that the iPhone 6 Plus has a larger battery than the standard model was able to accommodate.
Alphr notes that the rumours suggesting a 12.7 per cent increase in the iPhone’s battery capacity might not necessarily translate into a large increase in battery life.
On the one hand, increases in processor efficiency and a decrease in the energy requirements of the new operating system could give the iPhone 7 an even larger power boost, but it is also possible that the new components and internals on the next Apple handset could be more power hungry, and battery life could stay the same or even diminish.
The website is also not convinced by the legitimacy of My Drivers, the site responsible for the leak, saying it “doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to rumours.”
What a larger battery means in terms of the design of the next iPhone is unclear. Rumours suggest that the iPhone 7 will be even thinner than the 6 models, and Apple traditionally makes new versions of their products slimmer over increasing their size to house larger batteries.
Whether this means Apple can squeeze a bigger battery into a slimmer case or not remains to be seen, though some publications, such as The Independent, believe this means the upcoming iPhone “would be likely to expand.”
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iPhone 7: 6s vs 6 vs 5S – should you buy one this Christmas or wait for the 7?
24 December
The Apple iPhone 7 is due to launch in September 2016 and current rumours suggest that the next model will see Apple conduct a large overhaul of the iPhone formula.
However, with a release date nine months away, Apple’s current offerings – the 5S, 6, and 6S (including the ‘Plus’ size 6 models) – are the handsets shoppers will have to opt for come January sales, and and are likely to continue to be in favour for a few months more. How do Apple’s current phones compare, and what is the state of Apple’s range nine months before a new flagship handset arrives to usurp them?
iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5: Design
The trio of phones currently on offer could be the last iPhones to use a home button according to several prominent iPhone 7 rumours.
There are three sizes available. The entry level iPhone 5S uses a four-inch screen, while the two 6 models both come in two different sizes. The smaller standard 6 and 6S use a 4.7-inch display, while the ‘Plus’ models are larger at 5.5-inches.
The 5S uses an aluminium chassis, 7.6mm thick and with a chamfered edge. It’s also two tone, with the two streaks at the top and bottom on the rear finished in gloss. The 6 models are quite different though. They’re curved aluminium and one flat colour.
The differences between the 6 and 6S models go unnoticed at a glance, but there are one or two. Techradar highlights how the 6S is actually slightly thicker at 7.1mm, and is also 14g heavier than the standard 6 model. It also uses stronger 7000 series aluminium in its construction, and is available in two extra colours – Gold and Rose Gold. “You’ll really struggle to feel the difference in the hand, but if you’re comforted by the extra strength, then the iPhone 6S is your friend”, the publication concludes.
iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5S: Display
The most obvious and striking difference when comparing the display is the actual screen sizes. 4-inches for the 5S, 4.7-inches on smaller 6 models, and the phablet sized 5.5-inch display used on the Plus models.
These size difference mean different resolutions. The 5S has a 1136×640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch. The standard sized 6 models also have 326ppi displays, but the larger screen means a resolution of 1334×750. The 6 Plus handsets up the ppi to 401, mated to a screen resolution of 1920×1080.
The 5S comes with a standard retina display, whereas 6 models come with Retina HD. 6S phones add unique 3D touch capabilities.
The displays used on iPhones do have their critics. Forbes says that the way the display on the 6S actually looks is not “particularly revolutionary to what has come before.”
The technology used in Apple’s LCD screens is behind many of the phone’s key rivals that use 2K screens, and even some smartphones now available with 4K displays.
The usage of LCD displays on the iPhone is set to continue until 2018, according to rumours. By then, Apple is likely to switch to using AMOLED displays for greater contrast and deeper blacks. Recently, it was reported that Apple has a secret development laboratory in Taiwan dedicated to bringing new displays to Apple products.
If a display that’s the pinnacle of smartphone technology is small beer to you, the minor differences in quality offered by the various iPhones are unlikely to be a decisive factor. However, if it is important, other smartphones such as one from Samsung’s Galaxy range may be worth a look in.
The new Samsung Galaxy S7 is likely to launch early in 2016, months before the new iPhone. The spring launch date removes the possibility of getting one in the sales, but the handset is rumoured to be priced 10 per cent cheaper than its predecessor anyway.
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iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5S: Processor
Each of Apple’s current phones uses a different processor, named in numerical order to differentiate them in terms of performance. The 5S model uses an A7 processor, while the 6 gets the A8 and the 6S the A9.
The older chip in the 5S is outperformed by the A8 and A9 chips in the 6 models, but there’s a sufficient gap between those two to warrant taking it into consideration, says Techradar. The A9 is 70 per cent faster than the A8 and the site advises that “if you want to future proof yourself for the next two years, go for the newer model.”
iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5S: Camera
The 6S introduces a new camera over the standard 6, with the megapixel count upped from 8MP to 12MP. The front facing ‘selfie’ camera leaps up in spec, too, and is now 5MP compared to the 1.2MP previously offered.
But the 6S doesn’t stop there. It can now also film in 4K, uses the screen as a flash on the front facing camera for a softer burst of light and has ‘live photos’ that move if the user presses down on them when they are being viewed.
As for the ageing 5S, it has the same 8MP + 1.2MP setup as the standard 6 model, albeit one that’s less refined. According to Know Your Mobile, focusing is much quicker on the 6 than the 5S, and camera performance is much improved in the dark. The super-slow-mo 240 frames per second video capability is twice as good as the 120fps of the 5S’s slow motion function.
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iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5S: 3D Touch
3D touch capability is the latest addition to the Apple iPhone tech-roster. It’s only available on the iPhone 6S and adds new ways to interact with the phone.
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iPhone 6S vs 6 vs 5S: Price
As the cheapest handset, the iPhone 5S has a sim-free price of £379. Those looking to make the stretch to the 6 will have to pay £459 for the handset (again, sim-free), or £539 for the larger, 5.5-inch screened 6 Plus.
The £539 sim-free price tag for the 6 Plus is the same price as the standard 6S model, and the range-topping 6S plus is priced at £619.
With January around the corner though, expect prices to tumble on all handsets. It could be a great excuse to splash out and go for one of the range topping handsets.
Conclusion
The choices on offer in the iPhone range at the moment can make choosing a handset difficult, especially when the internet is awash with rumours about the release of the iPhone 7 next year in September 2016.
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