'iPhone 7,' 'iPhone SE' case photos proliferate from China based on alleged Apple designs

Case makers are betting they already know the design of Apple's impending 4-inch iPhone, as well as its next-generation "iPhone 7," with a multitude of protective accessories available to purchase from China.

On the heels of an "iPhone 7" case that made the rounds earlier Wednesday, a number of other options seemingly based on the same design surfaced online, as noted by Macotakara. Like other case leaks, they appear to show a dual-speaker setup on the bottom of the handset, seemingly replacing the legacy 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.

Also making the rounds are cases claimed to be for Apple's new 4-inch "iPhone SE." They suggest that Apple will keep the lock button atop the handset, instead of moving it to the right side as it is on larger iPhones.

Unlike with the "iPhone 7" cases that have been appearing, the "iPhone SE" cases suggest the device will retain the headphone jack at the bottom of the unit.

Once again, the "iPhone 7" camera cutouts are larger than usual, though it's unknown whether that was simply an aesthetic choice for the case maker, or is indicative of a larger sensor in the schematics the cases are presumably based on.

Cases for the "iPhone SE," also known as the "iPhone 6c," have been floating around since January. But their presence has increased as Apple is expected to announce its new 4-inch model at a media event the week of March 21.

Those interested in the "iPhone 7" and its larger "iPhone 7 Plus" will have to wait a bit longer, however — Â they aren't expected to be announced until September. Aside from a new design, the lineup is expected to feature an improved camera sensor without the rear bump, a new A10 processor, and new Lightning-connected EarPods bundled in the box.