Submitted by Frank Macey on
With Apple's media event just three days away, could there possibly be more leaks surrounding the next generation iPhone? You betcha. AppleInsider has detailed a research note issued by the one and only KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo's sources have not only confirmed some iPhone 7 predictions, but added to the list of expectations for Wednesday's keynote.
According to the report, the iPhone 7 will have water resistance in line with the Apple Watch. In other words, it can get wet but don't go swimming with it. This is a significant improvement over current model iPhones, however it does not usher in an era of iPhone underwater photography. Speaking of which, the dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus is said to include two different focal lengths. One lens will be wide-angle, and the other a zoom. The configuration will bring optical zoom and light field photography to the table.
So besides the ability to refocus images that have already been captured, what else can we expect? A better TrueTone flash with twice the number of LEDs, and an additional ambient light sensor to improve image capture in low-light photos. Kuo also reports that iPhone 7 will include the same TrueTone display featured on the iPad Pro. The display will automagically adjust color tonality to match ambient lighting around the device.
Kuo confirms some recently-cited specifications, such as a Force Touch home button with improved TouchID and haptic feedback, 3GB of RAM on the iPhone 7 Plus, and storage tiers up to 256GB. There is a catch, as Apple plans to offer 34GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options this fall. This obviously removes the 16GB and 64GB options entirely. In the meantime, Apple will offer one additional color option similar to the Mac Pro in glossy black. Space gray will also return to the darker shade found on the Apple Watch and previously on the iPhone 5.
Last but not least, the 3.5mm headphone jack will be relegated to history books. Kuo believes Apple has replaced the jack with an additional speaker and audio amplifier, which could improve sound quality significantly. The company will also include a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter in the box, along with a set of Lightning EarPods. Separate reports have pointed to wireless Bluetooth AirPods, which would be available separately at Apple retail stores and online.Look for the official announcement on Wednesday, September 7th with pre-orders opening shortly thereafter.