7 features I desperately want (but won’t get) in the iPhone 7

If half a dozen independent reports from reliable sources pan out, Apple is less than three weeks away from unveiling its first new iPhone of 2016. The iPhone SE is shaping up to be a valuable addition to the company’s smartphone lineup, providing a solid option to users who want to upgrade but don’t want a larger phone. It’s a smart business move but on a personal level, I have no interest in the iPhone SE.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are the smartphones I want to see, and I still have more than six months to wait before they’re made official.

In the meantime, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the innovation we’re seeing elsewhere in the smartphone market right now. While nothing is official until Apple makes it official, there is some great new technology out there that Apple almost certainly won’t include on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Here are the seven features I want most, but almost definitely won’t get.

UP NEXT: Serious smartphone security mistakes you need to stop making immediately

Significantly better battery life

It’s great that Jony Ive and his pals like thin phones. I like thin phones too. But as we’ve seen time and time again in literally every survey on the matter that has ever been conducted, consumers value battery life more than the thickness of their phones.

According to the most accurate Apple analyst in the world, Apple’s new iPhone 7 will be even thinner than the current model, measuring somewhere between 6.0mm and 6.5mm thick. That’s an incredible feat, but I would much rather have an iPhone 7 that’s 7mm or 8mm thick that can actually carry me through a busy day without needing to be recharged.

An OLED display

A new report on Thursday stated that Apple might make the switch to OLED displays in 2017. While it seems very peculiar that a move like that would be made in a year where we’re due for an “S” upgrade, I suppose anything is possible. In any case, I want an OLED equipped iPhone as soon as possible.

The displays on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus look great, but they’re no match for the higher-resolution, higher-quality OLED screens on Samsung’s phones. In fact, it’s not even close anymore.

Samsung’s new autofocus technology

While most smartphones use phase detection to focus, Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge use dual photodiode pixel autofocus. It’s technology that comes over from Cannon DSLRs and it’s insanely fast. You can read a bit about it here.

Especially in low light, Apple’s iPhones can often be a bit slow to focus. This is even more problematic with Apple’s nifty new Live Photos feature. Apple, please steal this functionality ASAP.

Waterproofing

Early rumors suggested that Apple was working on waterproofing its iPhone 7 lineup, but a more recent report states that won’t be the case. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it would be great if Apple caught up to the competition and managed to release an iPhone with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.

Expandable storage

Maybe this year’s iPhones will bump up their entry-level storage capacities to 32GB and maybe they won’t. In either case, it’s not enough. It’s never enough.

Apple will probably never include microSDXC support in its iPhones, but I really wish that it would. And if the company refuses to add expandable physical storage, there are always innovative cloud-based solutions like the one Nextbit just introduced.

A more compact design

Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 edge is a great phone for a number of reasons, but one of the most impressive things about it is how compact it is for a phone with such a big display.

Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus has a 5.5-inch display and it’s impossible to use comfortably with one hand unless you’re in the NBA. The Galaxy S7 edge also has a 5.5-inch screen, but it’s surprisingly comfortable to use with one hand.

Game-changing long-range wireless charging

It’s coming, but not soon enough.

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For more on the iPhone’s shortcomings, check out our article on 6 ways Android outshines my iPhone 6s.

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iPhone 7 Mini: critics divided on Apple's compact iPhone concept

New breed of smaller iPhone 7 could land next year alongside larger siblings

Credits 

Marek Weidlich

Description 

Marek Weidlich shows how the phone may look if Apple gets rid of the home button on its next handset, which many tech experts believe is on the cards for the iPhone 7.

Rumours continue to circulate that Apple intends to bring out three devices next year rather than just two. Alongside its two larger handsets similar to the current iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models, some tech analysists believe Apple will launch a smaller phone, which is being referred to online as the iPhone 7 Mini.

Debate is currently centred around two key questions. First, will Apple make an iPhone 7 Mini at all? And second, if it does happen, will it be a scaled-down version of the base iPhone 7 with all the function and features in a smaller package, or will it be a cheaper, entry-level iPhone similar to the iPhone 5C, which was released at the same time as the iPhone 5?

Currently, Apple sells iPhones in three sizes. The 4.7 and 5.5 inch screens available on the current 6S models are larger than the 4-inch screen offered on the 5S. But considering the most recent versions of Apple's smartphone have grown in size rather than shrunk, adding a smaller addition to the 7 range seems out of step with Apple's previous direction,Macworld says, and is "by no means a certainty."

However, Tech Insider thinks the rumours are more than likely true, saying "we've been hearing rumours of Apple reintroducing a smaller iPhone for some time now."

iDigitaltimes reports that "credible sources" say the next 4-inch iPhone will not use the A9 processor, which is expected to feature in the iPhone 7, but instead will be fitted with the A8 chip used in the current iPhone 6S. 

According to Appleinsider, KGI analysist Ming-Chi Kuo, whose past iPhone predictions have been startlingly accurate, contradicts the iDigitaltimes report by suggesting that the iPhone 7 Mini will use the new A9 processor but will strip back some features of the larger phones, such as pressure-sensing 3D touch screen. He also suggests the phone will have a metal casing and could begin production in early in 2016, followed by the larger ones later in the year.

Many commentators say that the continued availability of a four-inch handset is a necessity for Apple, as current iPhone owners who never upgraded to one of the larger iPhone 6 or 6S models may wish to stick with a smaller product. The California-based company may be gambling that the lower price of its smaller phones may be a draw for those who don't want to spend over the odds for one of its larger smartphones. Forbes claims that Apple will not equip the iPhone 7 Mini with top end features, adding that the handset could be used as a tool to upsell the more expensive and larger models, claiming the Mini will be "weak by design", and that the way Apple has always made iPhones, in a pattern of "good, better, best" means the small phone, despite replacing the ageing iPhone 5 design, will lose out in key areas such as its battery capacity. "The dream of a four-inch iPhone 7 may be real, but it's unlikely to match the iPhone 7 plus" Forbes concludes.

Image 9 of27

Credits 

Joseph Farahi

Description 

This iPhone concept fits somewhere in between the standard and Plus-size handsets, with a 5.1-inch screen. Designed by Joseph Farahi, the model looks impossibly slim, but at 6.1mm it is only 0.8mm slimmer than the iPhone 6. Combining elements of the previous two concept models, it takes the bright silver edge detailing and applies it to a handsome flat slice of aluminium.

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iPhone 7 Rumor: Future Apple Inc. Smartphone Could Squirt Water From Speaker Ports

Future iPhones could come with a feature to help eject water from its speakers.

The built-in iPhone speakers and microphones are often the most exposed and easiest areas for water to enter the smartphone. But Apple may have found a way to get that liquid out -- without the need for a bag of uncooked rice.

An Apple Inc. patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Thursday, titled “Liquid Expulsion From An Orifice,” details an invention which uses electrical charges to move liquid from the iPhone’s speaker components and push it out through the speaker and microphone ports. The feature would be activated once water was detected by pressure, optical or moisture sensors.

A flowchart illustrating how the iPhone's liquid protection feature would work.  USPTO/Apple Inc.

Another version of the invention would take a more proactive approach to preventing water from entering the speaker at all by combining a protective screen mesh on the outside of a speaker port with a negative electric charge to prevent liquids from seeping in. But in cases where water is already inside the iPhone’s speaker, it proposes using a positive electric charge on the protective screen mesh to help draw out the water. Alternatively, Apple proposes using sounds waves generated from a speaker to extract water from an iPhone.

A cross-sectional view of an iPhone's speaker component. One version of the invention proposes using acoustic waves to push water from the speaker.  USPTO/Apple Inc.

While Apple hasn’t officially said any of its smartphones are waterproof, it has shown increased interest toward improving their resistance to liquid damage. One patent application from Apple, published in March, revealed an invention that used hydrophobic coatings on internal components to reduce the chance of water destroying the innards. Apple’s latest smartphone -- the iPhone 6S -- was also revealed to have a number of new rubber gaskets to help prevent liquid from seeping into the device, iFixItdiscovered.

As with many of Apple’s patent applications and filings, it’s unknown if or when it plans to implement the feature in one of its products. Apple first filed the patent application on May 12, 2014, and credits Apple product design staff for the invention, including Stephen P. Zadesky, Fletcher Rothkopf and Ashley E. Fletcher.

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iPhone 7 Release Date in September 2016 – Thinnest iPhone Ever With 3GB RAM

The upcoming iPhone 7 will come with a big upgrade in the memory department. However, you will most likely have to get the iPhone 7 Plus version, as the “normal” version will most likely have less RAM memory.

We all know that Apple released its iPhone 6S and iPhone 6Plus this September, but the internet is already full of rumors regarding the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which are expected to be released sometime in September 2016 and which will come with a completely overhauled design.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a well known analyst and tipsters, the iPhone 7 will probably be the thinnest iPhone that Apple has ever made. The device will most likely measure 6mm in thickness, which is around the same size as the current iPod Touch model.

However, that’s not all, as according to rumors, Apple will also bring more RAM memory to the upcoming iPhone 7 Plus. If rumors prove to be right, this device will feature 3GB of RAM, which will make the device to run at a very high performance when coupled with the Apple’s next-generation A10 chipset.

For the past two generation of iPhones, the difference between the normal iPhone and the Plus one was the display size. It seems that Apple will do the same with the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. With other words, the Plus version of iPhone 7 will feature a bigger display than the “normal” version.

There are rumors which say that iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will also feature wireless charging and they will be waterproof. We remind you that many Android devices have had these features for quite a while and there are many Apple fans who are waiting for the upcoming iPhones to be resistant to water and to benefit from wireless charging.

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Apple Loop: New iPhone 7 Leaks, Apple Breaks iOS 9.1, How Android Beats iPhone

Taking a look back at another week of news from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes three leaks around the iPhone 7, Touch ID and alarm issues in iOS 9.1, three great new features on iOS 9.1, another successful software rollout from Apple, thoughts on Apple’s profit margins, Apple Watch’s lack of sales data, the iPad Pro in the enterprise marketplace, and five lessons Apple needs to learn from Android.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read the weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes).

Apple iPhone 6S (image: Ewan Spence)

Three Exciting iPhone Leaks

Ming-Chi Kuo, the KGI Securities analyst who correctly predicted the 12-inch MacBook, the dual-sized screen approach of the iPhone 6 family and the full features list of the iPhone 6S, has turned his attention to the iPhone 7. Forbes’ Gordon Kelly looks at his predictions for next year’s flagship smartphone from Apple:

How he breaks this down is the introduction of an entry level 4-inch iPhone 7 with metal chassis which sees it break away from the plastic ‘C series’. Next will come the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, but it will be more clearly repositioned as a step down from 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus with the latter having improved performance and 50% more RAM (3GB vs 2GB).

More thoughts and details on what’s coming up for the iPhone 7 here on Forbes.

iOS 9.1 Breaks TouchID

Apple continues to roll out updates to iOS 9 promising new features and improvements, but the speedy rate of updates appears to be introducing more flaws into the platform. The latest issue uncovered this week is around Touch ID, iOS 9.1 has reduced the accuracy of the security and authentication system.

Despite launching with a changelog that admitted 11 of its 13 features were bug fixes, iOS 9.1 is raising ire across Apple’s official Support Communities forum for breaking Touch ID across iPhones and iPads – both old and new (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 – and many, many more).

The complaints are similar: users running iOS 9.1 find Touch ID either refuses to recognise a user’s fingerprint, has become highly unreliable or doesn’t even register a fingerprint pressed against it. Users have tried hard resets (holding in the power and home button for 10 seconds) and complete factory resets without any success.

Normally as a user you would be looking to roll back to a previous version of the OS while the bugs are worked out, but as is typical with Apple and iOS 9, the previous version (9.0.2) will no longer install because Apple has revoked its certification.

Alarms Are Problematic As Well

Touch ID is not the only issue in iOS 9.1 with numerous reports coming in that alarms are not ringing after the update is installed. It is not a universal problem, but it seems to be more prevalent if you use the ‘install the OS update overnight’ option:

Perhaps as equally frustrating as this alarm bug is the sense of deja vu. Isolated reports of failing alarms were reported with iOS 9 and supposedly fixed in iOS 9.0.1, while a famous glitch with the iPhone 4 back in 2010 saw millions of alarms go off an hour late when calendars failed to adjust for Daylight savings time.

While those affected wait for another iOS update our recommendation would be to install another alarm app, such as Sleep Cycle.

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iPhone 7 May Have Panic Button Activated By Fingerprint

The iPhone continues to be a big focus of rumors and jumping to conclusions, and it’s happening again with a newly-released patent application filed by Apple. The patent describes a panic button that can be activated quickly with the press of the user’s fingerprint on the Touch ID sensor.

Keeping data secure with iPhone 7

The Telegraph spotted the patent application, which was filed in May 2014 and then approved this week. It describes how Apple’s Touch ID sensor could be used as a panic button. After activating panic mode, the data on the iPhone 7, or whatever handset it’s used on, would become inaccessible. (Sounds a bit like something spies would use, doesn’t it?)

Apple debuted the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 5S. At the time, it was used just to unlock the phone and verify the identity of the user for iTunes purchases. Now the sensor is included in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S models and also the newer iPad models.

iPhone 7 would still unlock

After the activation of panic mode, the smartphone would still unlock. The user’s data would remain secure with the activation of panic mode, possibly by disabling some of the smartphone’s functions. For example, the iPhone 7 might not bring up contact information, photos, or emails. The function could also activate the microphone or camera to show whoever is attempting to use the phone and then send the video or audio to law enforcement in some cases. Another possibility is that an alert could be sent over a cell network to emergency personnel.

Apple explained in the patent is because of how valuable smartphones are becoming to thieves because of the treasure trove of personal information they hold. iPhones in particular have been a favorite target for thieves because of their high resale value. Apple has already implemented some security features to protect against iPhones being stolen, like the Find My iPhone feature, which can be used through iCloud. Also Activation Lock makes it difficult for thieves to use or resell the device by disabling it.

Of course just because there’s a patent for the technology does not mean that it will ever make it into an Apple device, be it the iPhone 7 or another device.

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Apple To Collaborate With Samsung For iPhone 7 Release [REPORT]

Although it is still possibly a year away, Apple continues to make preparations for the release of the iPhone 7. And the latest reports from South Korea suggest that the consumer electronics giant will be collaborating with its great rival Samsung this time out.

IMAGE: CONCEPT iPhone 7

Samsung / Apple collaboration

Korea is, of course, Samsung’s homeland, and the latest rumors out of this East Asian location suggest that the most obvious competitor for Apple at the head of the mobile marketplace has won an important contract. Samsung will be producing some of the screen orders for the Apple Watch smartwatch, and it could lead to a surprisingly future collaboration with the iPhone 7.

It seems that Apple will utilize similar screen technology in the iPhone 7 to that used previously in the Apple Watch. Followers of Apple will no doubt already know that the Apple Watch features an OLED display that has been critically acclaimed, even if its smartwatch has yet to reach the mass market that Apple is ultimately hoping for. OLED has also been widely utilized by Android smartphone makers, most notably Samsung itself.

With Samsung screen technology having been particularly commended in recent years, there have been rumors previously that Apple may consider shifting to OLED sooner rather than later, and this may now materialize with the release of the iPhone 7, expected for September 2016.

And according to ETNews, Samsung has already provided OLED display samples which may be utilized in the next generation iPhone. Apple reportedly wants to use OLED in order to increase specifications in the smartphone series that are currently being held back due to a variety of production bottlenecks.

OLED in iPhone 7

Sources close to Apple suggest that the corporation is yet to make a final decision on this technology, but it is suggested that the corporation will make this choice in November. Apple has more of a reputation for caution with regard to introducing new technology, and if the company is not certain about the potential of OLED and the feasibility of including it in the iPhone 7, it certainly won’t be scared about holding it back until 2017.

This potential source of business will certainly be important to Samsung, but sources close to the Applecorporation state that Samsung is still competing with other display providers for Apple products. LG is already supplying OLED displays for the Apple Watch, and JDI is expected to strengthen its relationship with Apple for higher-end displays in the foreseeable future. This somewhat obscure company will continue to provide screens for the 2016 iPhone, with plans for the production of the device already being laid out internally at Apple.

So it seems increasingly unlikely that screen technology will be a major aspect of the iPhone 7. With this in mind, it is interesting to note the possible screen resolution of the Apple handset. The iPhone range has perhaps disappointed somewhat in this department in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy series, with the most recent phablet-sized iPhone 6s only capable of full HD.

Thus, considering that the Apple iPhone 7 is supposed to be a significant departure from previous devices, as indicated by the entirely new seventh generation number, a screen upgrade is somewhat overdue. In other areas of the smartphone marketplace, the debate has been more about whether 4K technology will come to fruition.

It seems unlikely that there will be a 4K iPhone 7, but Apple could upgrade the screen technology included in the device to quad HD, and produce a full HD smartphone version. This would be an attractive proposition for Apple’s legions of loyal fans, and would push the iPhone 7 back in the right direction in terms of screen technology. It is just possible that an OLED 4K panel could be included, but considering the relatively meagre spec jumps that Apple has included in recent iPhone devices, this seems fairly unlikely.

Release date

Apple is likely to release the iPhone 7 in September 2016, and already some media outlets have mentioned a possible date for the device. September 7, 2016 has been mentioned in some quarters, and this would correlate with previous Apple iPhone device releases.

It is possible that there could be a price increase for the iPhone 7, though, after Apple froze the price of its flagship smartphone in the last two releases. This would seem to be particularly likely if Apple is going to include significant new physical elements in the handset, with analysts already expecting a redesign of the iPhone concept with the iPhone 7, possibly allied to this OLED display.

Intel LTE modem chip

Another major rumor for the iPhone 7 is that it could incorporate an Intel LTE modem chip. This is a critical aspect of the smartphone, with the LTE chips responsible for transmitting wireless 4g data into the iPhone. These have previously been supplied by Qualcomm, with the 9X45 LTE chip used in all the current iPhones. But it is being suggested in some quarters that Intel could be utilized as a secondary supplier in order to help satisfy demand for smartphones.

Design

Aside from the fact that it is largely expected that Apple will completely reboot the design of the iPhone 7 for the next generation smartphone, waterproofing is being suggested in many quarters as a possible new innovation. This will not only make the iPhone 7 a more practical device for consumers, but possibly also offer some health-tracking functionality.

Rumors have originated from posts submitted on the Chinese site Weibo, with a non-metallic, dustproof chassis also linked with the next generation iPhone 7. This would help ensure that the iPhone 7 is a more obvious partner to the Apple Watch, as the consumer electronics giant attempts to improve the reputation of the smartwatch range with the second-generation release next year.

Series 7000 aluminum, sapphire glass and new colour choices have also been linked with the iPhone 7, as Apple prepares itself to significantly evolve its key product range.

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iPhone 7 Latest Rumors – Improved Display and Hardware

It’s no surprise that Apple’s forthcoming device will be the iPhone 7. The latter device has got tech enthusiasts and Apple devotees juiced up as Apple seems to be keeping a pretty tight lip about all of this. Of course, rumors are pilling up as more and more reports about its future features and specs have surfaced.

Because Apple prefers the beginning of the fall season for its launches (let us recall the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus launch) it’s likely that the iPhone 7 will be reveled during the same period, possibly in the new year to come.

Some believe that because Apple adopted the Samsung method and decided to enlarge the screen sizes for the iPhones gizmo, the same thing will happen with the iPhone 7 in terms of display. Rumor has it that the iPhone 7’s display will mirror the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 one or that of other Galaxy devices. Forbes informs that Samsung is prepared to seal the deal with Apple and be the supplier of its screens. And given the fact that the iPhopne 7 is next in line to be launched, Samsung might just be Apple’s right hand in this.

LCD screens are the main components used for iPhones even if OLED ones are highly superior. But, it seems that Apple is ready to change that and choose the higher-end display technology. This will only mean positive outcomes for any future device launch.

According to other hearsays, the screen included in the iPhone 7 might lack the Home knob which from the start means a larger display. The camera unit is presumed to rock six-element lenses while its chassis will be completely made out of metal and the screen will be a sapphire one. In theory, all of these features sound alluring and mind-blowing but we’ll just have to wait and see if Apple delivers.

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