CharismaSpot: 04/14/16

GADGET REVIEW ;IPHONE SEVEN

IPHONE 7

In our iPhone 7 rumour roundup we cover a lot of ground: you'd be amazed by the clues, hints and general speculation about the iPhone 7 that people have managed to dig up. But for those who don't want all the detail, the following section sums up our verdict on the whole thing:

1) Apple will launch two new iPhones in September 2016, and possibly three. The theory that Apple will push the main iPhone 7 launch forward to summer 2016 seems thin to us, but it is possible we will see an update to the 4-inch iPhone line earlier than the autumn, and maybe even as soon as March 2016. We now know that Apple is holding a press event on 21 March 2016 (starting at 5pm UK time), and we strongly expect new iPhones to be unveiled there. But rather than the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, this is more likely to be a 4-inch model, which most pundits predict will be called theiPhone SE.

2) Later this year we expect a 4.7-inch phone (called the iPhone 7), and a 5.5-inch model (the iPhone 7 Plus). If Apple does make another 4-inch iPhone (which, thanks to the success of the larger iPhones, is by no means a certainty) then we think it'll be called something like the iPhone 7 mini, but iPhone 6c, iPhone 6e and iPhone 5se are possibilities too.

3) The iPhone 7 is likely to get a substantial physical redesign after the largely identical iPhone 6/6s generations. It's too early to know what direction Apple will pick, but it's likely to be thinner than ever: removing the headphone jack would be one way to help achieve this, forcing music fans to use wireless Bluetooth headphones, or headphones that connect via the Lightning port, or an adaptor. The 'no headphone jack' rumour is starting to gather momentum, with multiple 'confirmations' via multiple (but anonymous) supply chain sources, although we've yet to see firm evidence ourselves. Other design tweaks could include a flush camera and the removal of the antenna bars.

4) Battery life in the iPhone 7 may be a little better than in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but Jony Ive's comments have made it plain that Apple doesn't consider a higher battery life to be worth significant sacrifices in other areas (we suspect that, if they're honest, most smartphone buyers would agree) and Apple's larger-screen iPhones have decent batteries already. You can always buy the lovely new battery pack case...

5) Higher screen resolution is a possibility - Apple undermined its own 'Retina is as sharp as your eyes can see' myth with the iPhone 6 Plus, and the company is playing catchup against many of its rivals in terms of screen resolution. Apple may well take the higher pixel density that was exclusive to the iPhone 6 Plus and 6s Plus (401 pixels per inch, as compared to 326ppi for all non-Plus iPhones), and apply it to all the models in the next generation; it could even raise the pixel density further than this, although we fear that this is unlikely. And a harder screen material would play well, whether Apple manages to resurrect the sapphire situation or goes with Corning's new Project Phire.

6) 16GB will surely be phased out as the lowest storage offering. It's nowhere near enough in this day and age. We hope and expect the iPhone 7 to start at 32GB, with 64GB and 128GB options.

7) The iPhone 7 could get a USB-C port, like the new 12-inch MacBook, but we think this is unlikely. The change from 30-pin to Lightning is recent enough (and was painful enough for many users) that to switch again now would be highly controversial.

8) And as for the other out-there rumours? 3D screen: no. Curved display: potentially. Flexible display: nope. Edge-to-edge screen: yes, quite possibly. Spring-out gaming joystick in the Home button: definitely not. Wireless charging: quite possibly. Better waterproofing: a reasonable bet, although the self-healing ports aren't likely to appear for a while yet.

Update (09/03/2016): Although we originally thought that Apple would release two variants of its iPhone 7 this year (4.7in and 5.5in), the latest rumours suggest that there could, in fact, be three new models available at launch. Along with the 4.7in iPhone 7 and 5.5in iPhone 7 Plus, KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo claims (via a note obtained by MacRumours) that there will be a third (even more) premium option available, based on the already huge iPhone 7 Plus, which is leading some to call it the iPhone 7 Pro. We're not too sure about this unofficial branding, but we'll go with it until something more convincing gets leaked. Anyway, we digress.

What's the main difference between the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 7 Pro? A new 'groundbreaking' camera. Or should that be cameras? As Kuo claims that the iPhone 7 Pro will sport a dual-camera system on the rear, developed by LinX, an imaging specialist that Apple acquired back in 2015. The LinX imaging technology should provide enhanced speed when taking photos and better low light photography, as well as possibly being able to incorporate a 2-3x optical zoom for better quality when taking photos. It's also rumoured that the camera module is so thin that the camera bump present in the iPhone 6 and 6s range could be a thing of the past (or so we hope!).

But why only release the upgraded camera technology on an expensive model, when the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cameras can barely compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7? According to Kuo, the decision was made because of supply constraints - Apple can't produce enough LinX camera modules for both the 7 and 7 Plus, so creating a third option allows the company to still bring the technology to market. Apple's "Shot on iPhone" marketing campaign is hugely popular, and a 'Pro' variant of the iPhone with an enhanced camera would definitely be the poster boy for the campaign.

While this is only a rumour and there are no leaked images supporting the claim, Ming-Chi Kuo has something of an impeccable track record when leaking the latest Apple news. Over the past 18 months, Kuo broke the news of the new 12in MacBook before anyone else, along with the iPad Pro (and its November launch date), as well as the bigger screen sizes associated with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. That's without mentioning the fact that Kuo predicted every major feature of the iPhone 6s four months before Tim Cook officially announced the smartphone.

iPhone 7 release date rumours: When is the iPhone 7 coming out?

If Apple sticks to its traditions, we can expect the iPhone 7 to arrive in mid-September 2016.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus were unveiled on 9 September 2015 (and released to the public on 25 September), iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were unveiled on 9 September 2014 (released on 19 September); the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s were unveiled on 10 September 2013; the iPhone 5 was unveiled on 12 September. There's a pattern there that the eagle-eyed reader may be able to spot.

Our money is on the 6th, 7th, 13th or 14th of September 2016, since it's usually a Tuesday or a Wednesday. Clear your diary. Although with this being said, there could be some delay for the launch of the iPhone 7, though, or at least a lower than expected supply at launch. This is due to an earthquake in Taiwan that caused damage to Apple supplier TSMC's factories. Earlier in February 2016, reports stated that TSMC has reached a deal with Apple to become the company's sole manufacturer of the A10 chip for the iPhone 7.

Apple is likely to launch a new phone ahead of that, though, but it's not going to be the iPhone 7. The company has sent out invitations to an event that's taking place on 21 March at Apple's headquarters, where the iPhone SE is likely to make an appearance as well as a new iPad Air 3, new Apple Watch straps and possibly new Macs too.

Latest update (22/03/2016): It seems we were right, as Apple hosted an event on 21 March 2016 where it showcased the 4in iPhone SE and not the iPhone 7, alongside the 9.7in iPad Pro and a range of Apple Watch straps.