Rumor: leaked schematics reaffirm dual-lens camera, Smart Connector for 'iPhone 7 Plus'
New sets of alleged "iPhone 7" and "7 Plus" schematics purportedly leaked on Thursday may support rumors the Plus will ship with a dual-lens camera and a Smart Connector, although the standard model may still have some form of camera upgrade.
Unlike similar sets of plans that emerged earlier this month, the new ones obtained by LetemSvetemApplem include measurements. These suggest that the standard iPhone 7 will be 0.1 millimeters thicker than the iPhone 6s at 7.1 millimeters, whereas the 7 Plus will be unchanged from its predecessor at 7.3 millimeters.
In this sense the schematics suggest that Apple has reached a practical limit on thinness, or at least that it's no longer an overriding design priority. Indeed the 6s is already 0.2 millimeters thicker than the iPhone 6.
Another supporting element for this argument may be the standard iPhone 7's camera, which in the new plans not only retains a lens "bump," but has a wider opening. Older rumors hinted that the product would lose the bump -- it may now be necessary, though, if the device includes optical image stabilization, previously a Plus-only feature.
A more questionable aspect of the schematics is a lack of top and bottom bezels on the Plus. While Apple is rumored to be working on an edge-to-edge display, more likely is that the schematics contain a mistake or are simply inauthentic, since that technology isn't expected until 2017.
LetemSvetemApplem suggested that the Smart Connector on the 7 Plus will be used for wireless charging. The component would presumably support data transfer as well, allowing for more advanced accessories like keyboards.
Notably the schematics also imply that both iPhone 7 models will ditch a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, turning to Bluetooth and Lightning connections instead.
Apple is expected to ship its new iPhones sometime in September following its regular fall press event.
Unlike similar sets of plans that emerged earlier this month, the new ones obtained by LetemSvetemApplem include measurements. These suggest that the standard iPhone 7 will be 0.1 millimeters thicker than the iPhone 6s at 7.1 millimeters, whereas the 7 Plus will be unchanged from its predecessor at 7.3 millimeters.
In this sense the schematics suggest that Apple has reached a practical limit on thinness, or at least that it's no longer an overriding design priority. Indeed the 6s is already 0.2 millimeters thicker than the iPhone 6.
Another supporting element for this argument may be the standard iPhone 7's camera, which in the new plans not only retains a lens "bump," but has a wider opening. Older rumors hinted that the product would lose the bump -- it may now be necessary, though, if the device includes optical image stabilization, previously a Plus-only feature.
A more questionable aspect of the schematics is a lack of top and bottom bezels on the Plus. While Apple is rumored to be working on an edge-to-edge display, more likely is that the schematics contain a mistake or are simply inauthentic, since that technology isn't expected until 2017.
LetemSvetemApplem suggested that the Smart Connector on the 7 Plus will be used for wireless charging. The component would presumably support data transfer as well, allowing for more advanced accessories like keyboards.
Notably the schematics also imply that both iPhone 7 models will ditch a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, turning to Bluetooth and Lightning connections instead.
Apple is expected to ship its new iPhones sometime in September following its regular fall press event.
Comments
There have been so many issues with Bluetooth and audio. A recent issue that was in the news was with the iPhone SE and certain cars.
Wireless audio is simply not good enough or reliable enough IMO.
One issue that is a huge pain in the ass is Bluetooth latency. I can not stand any latency at all, and nothing is worse than watching a video where the audio is late.
The other day I was watching some TV on my iPad and I sent the audio to a soundbar via bluetooth, and what you end up with is terrible audio that is out of sync with the video. Whatever you are watching ends up looking like a cheap, dubbed kung fu movie.
There are also countless issues with bluetooth headphones and latency.
Apple more than likely uses a standard CAD program for designing all their products, which normally don't use fonts like shown above. The fonts used in these drawings are constructed by the CAD program as line segments, not TrueType or OpenType fonts.
Until I see something that looks like the drawing below, I'm not willing to accept it as being from Apple. If it's from a manufacturing partner, I hope Apple fines the person and has them put in jail. There's too much industrial espionage going on and websites that continue to display this rumored material are simply enabling this behavior.
disclaimer: If you read the fine print on the actual drawing contained in the referenced pdf (available without an ADC membership), you'll see I'm violating some of their rules, however, the drawings are available for free for use in building cases so everyone is able to get them.
As to the actual issue; I look forward to the improved audio quality and feature set that lightning audio will provide.
And I'm fine with a small adapter for my older analog cans.
Are they going to be listening to compressed Mp4s and Mp3s via their lightning headphones? That sounds quite ironic.
I admit that I haven't read much about audio through lightning yet, but I remain skeptical.
I have many headphones, with some of them costing many hundreds of dollars, and they sound pretty decent. I just remain suspicious of the reasoning behind going to lightning audio as being because of the audio quality.
I don't think the hardware leap would be 'just' for improved audio. I'm sure it would provide for other possibilities as well.
But yeah; as long as people can still use their analog phones with a small discrete adapter; as I say, I look forward to it.
It won't be for thinness, that's limited by the camera more than the headphone jack. They won't want an even bigger camera bump. It will be for the internal space. The 3.5mm jack is huge internally, and is space that could be better used for other things, including battery. (Plus it would give them an opportunity to shave about .5mm off the bottom bezel, which would excite many people here.)
I'd still prefer them to keep the audio jack. And I'd prefer it to be at the top like it used to be, but that's not going to happen, either.
This guy...he's alright!
Seriously, you're correct. After the fact, when every other OEM starts doing the same thing, Apple's moves seem obvious.
right now, there are three different takes on what other manufacturers are doing. One has two cameras, a 12MP model and an 8MP wide angle, that's the LG model. Neither takes particularly great pictures. Another uses two 12MP cameras, one just takes luminance information, and the other color. This is supposed to give better sharpness and greater dynamic range. But in dimmer photos, such as indoors, it's noisier than some others. The last, uses two cameras for depth information, making facial recognition better, and giving some information for post focus adjustments.
so, what is Apple thinking here? Assuming that the dual camera scenario is correct in the first place, that's a lot of options. Worse, it's now being said that 'Sony, the choice of Apple is having problems meeting the demand because the earthquake in Japan has limited their ability to manufacture to full scale, so Apple is getting cameras from LG, either entirely, or partly.
what a headache!
Based on some of the 3D image-related patents we've seen in the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple decided to sell a "goggles" accessory that connected to the Plus via the smart connector, and used the dual camera lenses to enable an augmented reality experience. What other purpose could the smart connector serve in that location? Charging seems marginally useful, but a keyboard? For an iPhone?
Additionally, this would be a good feature for the Plus, because it's made better by the larger screen, and it would provide a more cinematic experience for the type of consumer who is inclined to buy a larger phone--i.e. people who use their phones as their main computer.