Daniel Eran Dilger
Rumored case designs purportedly leaked from Apple supplier Catcher Technology suggest that the next major iPhone design will feature a streamlined rear case design with larger cutout accommodating a virtually flush rear camera lens.
Published by French blog NowhereElse.fr, the leak images portray a redesigned rear case lacking the band seams that currently cross the top and bottom of iPhone 6/6s models.
The rear camera is depicted as being surrounded by a larger black orifice, explaining that the new design results in a "slight bulging outgrowth" rather than today's protruding lens.
The source of the images said that the case "seems slightly thinner than the iPhone 6s, confirming in passing the lack of a headphone jack port."
Steve Hemmerstoffer has posted a full body rendering on the site, depicting an artist's conception of the rear of the upcoming iPhone 7. The new model is expected to arrive this fall.
Andrew O'Hara
Malcolm Owen
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Christine McKee
45 Comments
Please, Apple. Not thinner.
Looks like the dual-camera system will wait for 2017 or 2018. I guess the advantage to the wait is that Apple will refine the design more; I expect 3D photography (at least where you can change perspective parallax-style) and ability to change focus after the photo. Also better photon-gathering for low light photography, multi-focus stills, etc.
Still, the camera is one of the few components that gets nicely upgraded every single iteration of the iPhone. I'm curious what will come with this upgrade, other than thinner design, of course.
I understand that over time the iPhone is going to be lighter (and as a result, thinner) but given where battery chemistry is currently and the massive degree to which out-of-the-box battery life has become important in 2016 I think Apple's possible decision to even slightly thin-out the iPhone 7 over the 6s is misguided.
If thinning out this new phone means people even lose an additional 30 minutes over the life it would have had it's not a good decision. But I'm sure that would prove to be a low estimate for what would be gained on an iPhone 7 running an Apple A10 in iPhone 6s case-dimensions. And by not thinning would it mean literally no camera bump whatsoever? If so then thinning makes even less sense. This time people do want a faster horse, not a car that's breaks down.