Rumors continue to swirl around the upcoming iPhone 7, which Apple is expected to release this fall.
Apple has not made any official announcement on the next generation smartphone but a number of leaks have emerged which give us an idea of some potential features. Among those possible features are a Smart Connector and a dual-camera system.
Leaked schematics show potential iPhone 7 features
This latest leak relates to those two features. According to purported schematics of the alleged iPhone 7 Plus both a Smart Connector and a dual-camera system woll be included on the next generation smartphone. The schematics were apparently sourced from Apple manufacturing partner Catcher Technology.
Later on Japanese blog MacOtakara published an article claiming that the schematics could be the real thing. The rumors have been heard for a while, but the Japanese site has backed them as trustworthy.
MacOtakara also says that there is a high probability that the Smart Connector will also be added to the iPhone 7. The feature made its debut on the iPad Pro last year, and is used to connect smart keyboards to the tablet.
While it may seem like a strange idea that people would want a smart keyboard for their iPhone, Apple may have other plans. There is a chance that we might be about to see an entirely new accessory which makes use of the Smart Connector.
Rumors rumble on and on
Other rumors include the idea that Apple is about to make major advances in terms of making the iPhone 7 even thinner than its predecessors. Some rumors claim that the new handset will be just 6.1mm thick, which is remarkable for a device that packs in so much power. However MacOtakara does not agree with these reports.
The Japanese site also says that there will be no stereo speakers introduced on the iPhone 7. However it does say that the new smartphone will do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack.
This rumor has been around for some time, and has caused no little controversy. Audiophiles are upset that they might have to use wireless headphones, which generally offer worse sound quality than their wired cousins.
Wireless headphones could cause controversy
One mock-up advert shows the iPhone 7 with two tiny wireless earbuds which ship with the phone. The advert is obviously a fake, but if the company does do away with the headphone jack it will have to ship wireless headphones to buyers.
The pods shown in the fake advert are so tiny that it is not hard to imagine users losing them very easily. This could lead to criticism from customers. Others are upset by the fact that they will have to invest in new wireless headphones if they are not happy with the quality of the bundled equipment.
A similar controversy erupted in 2012 when Apple introduced the new Lightning connector for charging. Customers were upset that they needed to invest in new accessories, but things soon blew over.
Another mysterious feature are the two sensors at the top of the phone. It is not clear what they will be used for, but one theory is that they might be used to improve the screen.
New screen could beat Samsung Galaxy S7
According to DisplayMate, Apple may use the same display unit currently found on the iPad Pro in the next generation smartphone. These two sensors could be used to make the screen adjust its color balance according to ambient light. The feature, known as True Tone, is already present in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
DisplayMate was thoroughly impressed by the display on the iPad Pro. The site said that the screen is the best that it has seen on any tablet or smartphone, including the Samsung Galaxy S7.
That is an impressive feat for an LCD screen compared to the OLED unit used on the Samsung smartphone. Apple itself is expected to make the switch to OLED displays in 2018, but it appears that the company may have found a screen that can beat Samsung before that date.
The MacOtakara report says that the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus will be the same size as the existing iPhone 6s. Concerning pricing, it is predicted that the iPhone 7 will retail for $649 when it is finally released.
Of course all of this is pure speculation at the moment. Apple has not made any official announcement on the future of its smartphone lineup. It has been speculated that the company may add a halo version, to be known as the iPhone 7 Pro, but take all of this with a pinch of salt.
