Meizu VP debunks recent 'iPhone 7' leak as firm's upcoming Pro 6, posts photos to prove it

In an unexpected blog post on Thursday, Meizu's vice president of sales and marketing Li Nan said a recent photo purporting to show Apple's "iPhone 7" is in actuality a picture of the upcoming Meizu Pro 6.

On Wednesday, a Chinese blog posted what it claimed to be a "spy shot" of a next-generation iPhone, saying the photo came direct from an employee working at a production facility owned by Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn. However, Nan's post on Chinese social network Sina Weibo (via Priceraja) thoroughly debunks those claims.

The Meizu VP provided a picture of the bottom half of his company's upcoming Pro 6 model, seen above with "Meizu" branding, which sports an iPhone 6-inspired design identical to that of the part "leaked" yesterday. Of note are the thin, radio-transparent antenna bands seen at the top of the first image and at the bottom of the Meizu Pro 6.

Nan followed up with a rendering of the Pro 6's screen, curved edges and slightly beveled bezel, a design that bears an uncanny resemblance to Apple's current iOS device lineup. Nan said he posted the photo to prevent the inevitable Internet meltdown that would ensue if it somehow leaked as the "new Apple iPhone."

While Apple is not expected to reveal an iPhone 6s successor until fall, the rumor mill is already churning out potential designs and component details, some — like yesterday's case "leak" — being less plausible than others. A recurring theme, especially from analysts, is Apple's supposed decision to move away from the industry standard 3.5mm headphone jack, to be replaced by a Lightning or wireless audio solution.