If a new schematic of the "iPhone 7" turns out to be true, iPhone buyers expected the traditional redesign of the device may be in for some disappointment. New "leaked" drawings that purport to show the chassis casing the next iPhone (at least the 4.7-inch version of it, presumably to be called the "iPhone 7") show a design nearly identical to the existing iPhone 6s, with only minor changes: very slightly thinner (previous rumors have suggested just one millimeter thinner), less-visible antenna lines, and what looks like a single (but slightly larger) opening for the camera.
The supposed leaker from Apple supplier Catcher Technology -- which will surely be penalized if the drawings turn out to be accurate -- do not explicitly show a
removal of the analog headphone jack at the bottom of the design, as has been widely speculated that Apple may do -- moving to an
all-digital audio output system that relies on the latest wireless Bluetooth technologies alongside a wired solution utilizing the existing Lightning port. The image was first published by a French enthusiast site, Nowherelese.fr.
Spec drawings of 'iPhone 7' as seen on Windows PC
While such a proposal has several advantages, both for sound post-processing and design choices, many analog headphone users would have to use either the (allegedly included) Lightning EarPods, a bluetooth headphone set, or an analog adapter to continue using the device for music playback. The "leaked" images, photographed on a Windows PC, also do not reveal if true stereo speakers are included in the design, as has also been rumored (and would be made possible by the room freed up through the removal of the analog headphone jack). The alleged source of the images said there was no headphone jack in the design.
The seemingly-larger single camera hole, which is also closer to the edge of the chassis than in present models, is the source of much debate. Some rumors have said that the next iPhone will, in addition to hiding the antenna lines elsewhere in the design, offer a new camera module that would be flush with the body, rather than having a slight protrusion as the iPhone 6 and 6s lines do.
Other reports have claimed that the next iPhone will offer a
new dual-camera system that allows for limited (2-3x) optical zoom, but that alleged feature may only be offered on the larger "iPhone 7 Plus," just as true optical image stabilization is only offered on the larger, 5.5-inch models presently. Apple has, in fact, bought a camera company that produced such technology, but this not a guarantee of incorporating it in any near-term design. Accompanying the drawings was speculation that the larger dual-camera model of iPhone 7 would drop the "Plus" moniker in favor of being designed a "Pro" model, or that perhaps there would be a third model with that title.
Antenna lines and 'slight bulge' camera module
The
source of the images appears to have claimed that larger-looking hole is simply to accommodate a different type of "slight bulging outgrowth" in the device, with the net effect being the same as is presently the case: a camera that is not flush with the rest of the chassis. Various artists have used the technical reference drawing to create 3-D mockups of what the new iPhone might look like, but the images resemble a lightly-modified iPhone 6s design, with the antenna lines moved to the curves at the time and bottom of the back casing.
Should this turn out to be the case, it would be only the second time that a major new model did not offer a redesign -- and the first time since the almost-identical 3GS replaced the iPhone 3G in June of 2009. Apple has only confirmed that it will be holding an event on Monday, March 21 at its Town Hall auditorium in Cupertino.
Dual-camera module allegedly only for 'iPhone 7 Plus'
While the exact agenda of the event has not been confirmed, it is thought to herald a revamped four-inch iPhone (potentially named the "SE") that is aimed at developing markets; a new 9.7-inch iPad model that seems likely to gain some functionality from the larger iPad Pro, such as support for Apple Pencil; and various new accessories and possible partnerships surrounding the Apple Watch.
MacNN will offer complete coverage of the event.
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