Neil Hughes
While all eyes are on this week's "iPhone 6s" unveiling, Apple's 2016 iPhone upgrade is already in the works, with the company said to be aiming to make the device as thin as 6 millimeters, which would be even thinner than the latest iPod touch and iPad Air 2.
Details on next year's so-called "iPhone 7" upgrade were shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities in a note to investors on Sunday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider. His sources indicated Apple is planning to make the new iPhone between 6.0 and 6.5 millimeters thick.
If accurate, that would put the "iPhone 7" in line with Apple's current iPod touch and iPad Air 2, both of which are just 6.1 millimeters thick. In contrast, the current iPhone 6 is 6.9 millimeters thick, and new 7000 series aluminum on the "iPhone 6s" are expected to make that device just over 7 millimeters thick.
Apple is said to be aiming to make the "iPhone 7" 6-6.5mm thick. The iPhone 6 is 6.9mm.
The thinness of the next-generation iPhone will likely leave Apple using the same technology to power Force Touch in its 2016 iPhone upgrade, according to Kuo. The "iPhone 6s" is expected to enable pressure sensitive input on its display via flexible printed circuit board technology.
In the long run, Kuo believes Apple would like to switch to a glass-on-glass solution for Force Touch sensing, especially if iPhone displays become even higher resolution. But that may not be in the cards within the next few years, as current glass-on-glass solutions would not allow Apple to achieve a 6-millimeter-thin iPhone, he said on Sunday.
"Apple and its suppliers have invested heavily in iPhone Force Touch in 2015 and we believe 2016 new models will stick with a similar Force Touch structure as used in 2015," he wrote.
Kuo said nothing else on Apple's anticipated "iPhone 7," though it's widely expected that next year's update will introduce a new chassis to differentiate from the iPhone 6 series. Apple has historically redesigned its iPhone every two years, and introduced an "s" upgrade with largely identical appearance to its predecessor in the years in between.
That's what's expected to be unveiled this Wednesday, when Apple is likely to showcase an "iPhone 6s" with a chassis that appears very similar to the iPhone 6. The most significant upgrades will be internally, in the form of Force Touch input, a faster "A9" processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM, and higher resolution cameras.
In terms of external tweaks, Apple is expected to unveil a new rose gold color option, joining space gray, white, and gold. And the device is expected to sport the same series 7000 aluminum found in the Apple Watch, which should improve durability of the device.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
183 Comments
I just look at it as...most people use cases. So the thinner the iPhone gets, the thinner your iPhone + Case can be.
I am not really sure my phone needs to get any thinner, I would prefer it have a bigger battery than being thinner, perfectly happy with my iphone 5s, could apple fit a much bigger battery in a phone that was as thick as this compared to what this articles suggests the 7 would be... I would prefer that. I have a 5s and at no point have I ever thought, wow I wish my phone was thinner, but plenty of times I am running low on battery and wish it was longer or I am away from an electric supply and am already thinking about using it more strategically.
If I could have one wish for the iPhone it wouldn't be for it to be thinner, it would be some way to make the antennas better in low cell service areas. Wifi calling is great, but does one little good if you need to call a tow truck in an area with practically no cell service. No idea how they'd do it, but those outside the city would greatly appreciate it.
[quote name="Brian Green" url="/t/188048/apple-planning-2016-iphone-7-to-be-thinnest-yet-in-line-with-new-ipod-touch-ipad-air-2#post_2771329"]If I could have one wish for the iPhone it wouldn't be for it to be thinner, it would be some way to make the antennas better in low cell service areas. Wifi calling is great, but does one little good if you need to call a tow truck in an area with practically no cell service. No idea how they'd do it, but those outside the city would greatly appreciate it.[/quote] Don't use Sprint or T-Mobile then. Really, though, Apple's going to have to get off the thin train eventually. They already went arguably too far with the new MacBook, which defeats the purpose of the aluminum unibody by compromising stiffness.
Thinner is better for me. I like the 4,7" size but it's features are substandard to the +. If the new 6S has a 1080p quality screen; I will upgrade! Otherwise, I will hold on to my +.