iPhone 7 Set To Release This Year, No iPhone 6S [REPORT]

The Internet is going crazy churning out rumors about the iPhone 6S and 6 Plus that are rumored to succeed the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. But one analyst with an exceptional track record in revealing Apple’s future product lines says that there will be no iPhone 6S or 6S Plus this year. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a research note that the Cupertino company will launch the iPhone 7 this year, skipping the 6S and 6S Plus.

iPhone 7 to feature an improved Force Touch

Kuo said that the iPhone maker will incorporate its latest innovation Force Touch sensor under the backlight of the iPhone 7, laminated with metal shielding. Apple releases ‘S’ versions of its flagship phones as minor upgrades. But Force Touch is a major feature in its own right, so the company will likely call its next device iPhone 7 instead of the iPhone 6S.

However, Force Touch in the iPhone 7 will be different from the one in Apple Watch and the 12-inch retina MacBook. The next-gen iPhone will feature an FPC-made capacitive Force Touch sensor. The Apple Watch Force Touch detects the pressure applied by finger. But the improved Force Touch in the iPhone 7 will detect the contact area where a finger presses to determine how much pressure is applied.

Note 4-inch iPhone this year

Kuo added that Apple may change the design of the sensor in 2016 models by eliminating the metal shielding in order to achieve a slimmer form factor. Kuo believes Apple will launch two models this year, one with 4.7-inch display and another with 5.5-inch. The phones are likely to be called the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. It contradicts recent rumors that Apple will also release a third phone with 4-inch display.

The iPhone 7 is expected to feature Samsung-made A9 processor. The Korean company has won the contract to supply A9 processor, build on its 14nm FinFET technology. It will come with the newest iOS 9 operating system that is currently in public testing. The new OS will likely be released at WWDC in June. Apple is aggressively hiring battery technology experts to enhance the battery life of its iOS devices without packing a larger battery.