A new survey of prospective smartphone owners signals customers are more excited to see what Apple has in store for this year's "iPhone 7" than they were last year's iPhone 6s unveiling, though early interest for the 2016 upgrade is still behind hype for the iPhone 6 two years ago.
The rumored design of Apple's next-generation iPhone appears to be taking shape thanks to continued leaks out of the Far East, which are now consistently showing a new design with a larger, still protruding camera lens, a Smart Connector port, and the absence of a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.
The design for the next-generation "iPhone 7" may have already leaked, a new report claims, adding new details about Bluetooth EarPods that will allegedly pair and charge through the Lightning port.
With lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 6s, a soft iPhone SE launch, and dual-camera designs from competitors expected to beat the 'iPhone 7 Plus' to market, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes iPhone shipments could fall below 200 million units this year.
A battery claimed to be destined for the anticipated "iPhone 7" shows a larger capacity than the current iPhone 6s, suggesting Apple may be able to squeeze more capacity into a smaller frame — and potentially with an all-new casing material.
Photos emerged on Monday of a dual-lens smartphone camera, which could be destined for Apple's rumored "iPhone 7 Plus," expected to ship later this year.
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.
Whether or not it's based on an accurate design, at least one third-party case manufacturer is already producing a product assuming Apple's upcoming "iPhone 7" will indeed ditch the legacy 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.
Right on schedule for a fall product launch, Apple's suppliers are said to be reserving "a significant portion" of production capacities for the second and third quarters of 2016, ahead of the highly anticipated "iPhone 7" launch.
Apple's next-generation iPhone — expected to abandon a 3.5mm headphone jack — will probably replace the part with a second speaker, according to a Barclays research memo obtained by AppleInsider.
Apple's image sensor supplier, Sony, is expecting its dual-lens camera technology to be launched by "major smartphone players" within the next year, according to comments by the company's CFO.
Forecast trends in the demand for flexible PCB (printed circuit board) parts for iPhones indicate that while iPhone production may be down in the first half of the year, it will likely rebound in the second half as work begins on Apple's next-generation models.
Taiwan's Largan Technology and camera lens makers in China and Japan have sent dual-lens camera samples to Apple for testing, aiming for inclusion in Apple's next Plus-sized iPhone, a report claimed on Tuesday.
Apple is said to be working on a new pair of high-end Bluetooth headphones that will be completely wireless, meaning separate earpieces for the left and right side without a wire connecting them, according to a new rumor.
The same Chinese website that detailed purported specifications for an upcoming iPhone 6c has now claimed that Apple's flagship iPhone 7 Plus will ship later this year with a 265GB storage option. However, the site's historical credibility is questionable.
Even though Apple's first major hardware launches for 2016 are probably still months away, rumors of the company's roadmap are already widespread, including some potential shakeups for products like the iPhone.
Catcher Technologies will help supply chassis components for upcoming iPhones said to be both waterproof and use "new compound materials" to conceal their antennas, according to a new rumor.
With next year's anticipated "A10" processor expected to power the next-generation iPhone, TSMC will likely gain complete control of Apple's processor manufacturing orders, according to a new report.
AppleInsider this week took a crack at reviewing not one but two major new Apple products, while the rumor cycle again turned to the long-term with possible details of iOS and iPhone upgrades, the Apple Car, and live content plans.
Though Apple has used the month of September to introduce new iPhones for four straight years, that could change in 2016 with an earlier than expected debut for the "iPhone 7," a source has told AppleInsider.
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Neil Hughes
Katie Marsal
Roger Fingas
AppleInsider Staff
Sam Oliver
Daniel Eran Dilger
