Apple rumored to introduce 5" 'iPhone 7s' in 2017 with vertical dual-lens array
A rumor out of East Asia on Tuesday claims Apple will add a third form factor to its iPhone lineup in 2017, specifically a mid-sized 5-inch handset said to share internal components next year's 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch "s" cycle offerings.
Citing sources within Apple's Taiwanese supply chain, Mac Otakara reports the rumored 5-inch model will boast identical specifications as expected from "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" variants, suggesting the addition is a mere extension of the smartphone lineup.
The supposed 5-inch iteration is also rumored to feature a dual-lens camera array with iSight modules arranged vertically rather than the horizontal configuration introduced with iPhone 6s Plus. Whether the design change extends to the "iPhone 7s Plus" -- and potentially "iPhone 7s" -- is unclear.
Apple's plans could change, however, as Taiwanese suppliers are expecting to receive finalized specifications some time in the first quarter of 2017, the report said.
Today's report adds to a growing pile of rumors surrounding next-generation iPhone hardware, but conflicts with predictions that have Apple launching three iPhone models in 2017. In particular, the company is said to market a pair of iPhone 7 upgrades alongside a high-end "iPhone 8" or "iPhone X."
According to well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the top-tier model will feature exotic technology like a flexible OLED screen measuring 5.1 or 5.2 inches, invisible Touch ID home button, wireless charging and a "glass sandwich" enclosure.
The Mac Otakara report seems to back up Kuo's claims of a 5-inch form factor, but deviates on internal specifications and place in Apple's smartphone lineup. While mere speculation, Apple might be asking certain suppliers to ready components for a mid-size "s" cycle iPhone chassis as plans for an "iPhone 8" solidify. OLED yields, for example, are of particular concern for a handset produced at scale, while bleeding edge tech like long-distance wireless charging is as yet unproven.
The outlook for next year's "s" cycle hardware is similarly murky. Recent rumblings claim the "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" variants will retain the aesthetic debuted with iPhone 7 in September and might not include OLED displays or wireless charging, but reports are conflicting at best.
Citing sources within Apple's Taiwanese supply chain, Mac Otakara reports the rumored 5-inch model will boast identical specifications as expected from "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" variants, suggesting the addition is a mere extension of the smartphone lineup.
The supposed 5-inch iteration is also rumored to feature a dual-lens camera array with iSight modules arranged vertically rather than the horizontal configuration introduced with iPhone 6s Plus. Whether the design change extends to the "iPhone 7s Plus" -- and potentially "iPhone 7s" -- is unclear.
Apple's plans could change, however, as Taiwanese suppliers are expecting to receive finalized specifications some time in the first quarter of 2017, the report said.
Today's report adds to a growing pile of rumors surrounding next-generation iPhone hardware, but conflicts with predictions that have Apple launching three iPhone models in 2017. In particular, the company is said to market a pair of iPhone 7 upgrades alongside a high-end "iPhone 8" or "iPhone X."
According to well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the top-tier model will feature exotic technology like a flexible OLED screen measuring 5.1 or 5.2 inches, invisible Touch ID home button, wireless charging and a "glass sandwich" enclosure.
The Mac Otakara report seems to back up Kuo's claims of a 5-inch form factor, but deviates on internal specifications and place in Apple's smartphone lineup. While mere speculation, Apple might be asking certain suppliers to ready components for a mid-size "s" cycle iPhone chassis as plans for an "iPhone 8" solidify. OLED yields, for example, are of particular concern for a handset produced at scale, while bleeding edge tech like long-distance wireless charging is as yet unproven.
The outlook for next year's "s" cycle hardware is similarly murky. Recent rumblings claim the "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" variants will retain the aesthetic debuted with iPhone 7 in September and might not include OLED displays or wireless charging, but reports are conflicting at best.
Comments
Whatever the supposed oled 8 was supposed to be is NOT going to be ready. And like this time last year when it was becoming apparent that the 7 would be a 6 variant, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rushing a product that's not ready can blow up in people's face. Literally.
Not only that, I love my 7 and SE. I'm glad I skipped the ugly 6 series. Looking at my 5S the 6 series always felt like a downgrade.
A 7s would not be the worst thing in the world. It's not like a junky Pixel or S8 would take the spotlight and take sales.
A 7s is a perfectly fine 2017 iPhone.
Perhaps this is just a way of testing that size.
The 6 looked like it was wearing a thong.
The whole story sounds like a "release nonsense to find out where the leaks are coming from".
Yes, this is another lets throw shit at the wall and see what sticks rumor.
Despite similar looking, the 7 actually has a slightly different antenna design, I am sure this will be worked on in 7s to further hide the white colouring band. The Jet Black was a test I hope to do that. This along with new Baseband controller, will hopefully leap ahead or at least reach top of the pack in Radio signal performance.
A10 Fusion was the first step in Performance and Battey balance. A11 with 10nm will likely brings even further efficiency improvement. And if Apple finally decide to use a decent Baseband controller on 16/14nm, that is another power efficiency improvement.
On Wireless, if Apple's W1 is any indication, it is possible Apple will have their own WiFi and Bluetooth intergrated, further saving cost and battery life.
The screen could also see a improvement to OLED, Samsung's latest OLED finally moved past Apple's LCD in every department, including energy efficiency in normal usage. ( White colour ). Adopting OLED means an average 5-10% energy saving compared to LCD according to displaymate.
Assuming no further improvement on battery as Apple very likely to be extremely careful with any battery improvement after Samsung incident. All this could add up anywhere 10-20% reduction in energy usage. Bringing in anywhere between 11% to 25% increase in usage time.
And if if you add the rumoured Dual Sim features that is extremely popular in China and India. I say that alone is good enough for 7S.
P.S - As with any "S" year, the main features is with iOS improvement.
If you scale the iPhone 4.7 screen size to its Edge, You get about 5- 5.1" screen size. For the Plus you get about 5.8-5.9".
However I don't believe such tech; the TouchID under screen, is ready next year. More likely for 2018.
Do do you expect your notebook to have new shell designs each year? Your TV? Blender? Obviously not. Then why this tool?
The suggestion that they're not doing any work because same shell is, simply, absurd. Nearly all the tech in these devices gets better and better each year. They don't improve themselves.
1) If for some reason you didn't charge your mouse in the last month, it only takes 2 minutes to quick charge, not 15. I have never, ever, needed to use the mouse while plugged in. If you had one you'd realize this.
2) Are you honestly faulting Apple for having a 7 with better antenna placement than the 6, which came before it? You do realize they don't have a time machine, right? Antenna lines aren't simply an aesthetic choice, it's hardware engineering and with that comes constraints. In product development, things improve linearly. You build it one way first, then figure out ways to make it better. You can't magically make it the better way without having made it the first way first. That's why a Porche 911 today looks better than one from 20 years ago. But it's nonsensical to fault the older one for not being the newer one.
2) yes I am faulting Apple, you might not realize but the bands across the back of the six aren't all antenna as far as I'm aware, the designers were trying to keep and continue a generational look from the 5 & 5s forward, the bottom line now removed from the the 7 was just for aesthetics, if it was as important as you claim Apple would have made a bigger deal about the technical achievement of removing it, but phill mentioned the bands as going across at the top and being less visible inadvertently admitting that the old "design" decision was incorrect, but regardless Apple could have very easily made the 6 with the 7's design simply because as we all know Apple probably had the 7 design even befor releasing the 6 they don't develop iPhones in one year, right now they are likely finalizing models coming out two years from now, so that excuse is weak.
2) yes I am faulting Apple, you might not realize but the bands across the back of the six aren't all antenna as far as I'm aware, the designers were trying to keep and continue a generational look from the 5 & 5s forward, the bottom line now removed from the the 7 was just for aesthetics, if it was as important as you claim Apple would have made a bigger deal about the technical achievement of removing it, but phill mentioned the bands as going across at the top and being less visible inadvertently admitting that the old "design" decision was incorrect, but regardless Apple could have very easily made the 6 with the 7's design simply because as we all know Apple probably had the 7 design even befor releasing the 6 they don't develop iPhones in one year, right now they are likely finalizing models coming out two years from now, so that excuse is weak.
I dont buy a 5" in addition to the 4.7" and 5.5". It makes no sense.