Apple will reportedly launch the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September, but case manufacturer Spigen is already selling protective cases for the devices. Whether or not they will fit the upcoming devices will be known only after they are launched.
Is Spigen taking a big risk?
Spigen has extended the existing designs for the iPhone 6 family of devices as the new designs. The company is repeating its “slim armor” line and several other designs as well that feature kickstands or are capable of serving as wallet replacements, notes Apple Insider.
Spigen has revealed 15 cases for the iPhone 7 Plus costing between $15 and $40, while there are 18 variants available in the same price range for the Phone 7, most of which offer a range of color options. Spigen says it will start shipping the cases in October.
It is expected that the next iPhone will be slightly thinner than the iPhone 6, probably due to the removal of the analog headphone jack. A dual-lens camera design is featured in the larger 5.5-inch Plus variant that Spigen shows in case promotional materials.
Releasing cases ahead of launch: a growing trend
The trend of introducing iPhone cases ahead of launch based on leaked schematics and other rumors has been growing. This is because it is very lucrative to have cases on the first day of new devices are available.
In 2011, based on leaked 3D models of the iPhone 5, case maker Hard Candy ordered $50,000 worth of steel moldings. All of them proved inaccurate when the company released the iPhone 4s. However, the company made a similar gamble with the iPod touch in 2010, which helped it cut manufacturing times dramatically and make the cases available in stores within a week of the product announcement, noted Apple Insider.
Two other case manufacturers — Incase and Speck — have clarified that before starting the manufacturing process, they develop rough ideas. They claim not to use leaked specifications. They will begin manufacturing after Apple officially reveals both devices.
According to Apple Insider, in 2011, Incase CEO Steve Gatto said, “It’s much more important to get it right than to get it there first.”
Hopefully someday Apple will have its own cases available on day one.
Preorders for iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 Pro too
You can even preorder the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 Pro. Goldgenie, a company that picks up iPhones to decorate them with it gold for wealthy buyers, has announced plans for the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 Pro. In the process, it unintentionally hinted at what the devices could look like, even before Apple officially reveals them, notes a Gizmodo.
From the images revealed by Goldgenie it seems there won’t be any major changes to the design and that the phones will be very similar to the iPhone 6s line. However, there was one thing missing – the ugly antenna bands. Also the images lacked the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is in line with rumors, noted Gizmodo.
Another change seen is in the camera, which seems to be much larger on the 7 and 7 Plus. The image also shows that the rumored iPhone 7 Pro features dual-cameras on the rear, again, just like the rumors. In a press release, Goldgenie says it has “been allocated a limited number of devices on the day Apple make [sic] the iPhone 7 available.”
The site has listed the phones as waterproof, and if this is true, customers have reasons to be glad. However, what Goldgenie has to say about the devices’ specifications has to be taken with a grain of salt.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that the iPhone 7 will include new technology called FeliCa. This is a wireless standard used in Japan for making payments in mass-transit systems. This technology will enable Japanese users to store virtual pay-as-you-go passes for buses and trains on their iPhones, notes the report.
Whether these claims are true or not will be known only when Apple officially unveils the devices, probably next month. It is largely believed that the company will reveal the new iPhones on September 7.
