Apple iPhone 7 Release Date, Specs, Rumors; Different Charging Port, No Headphone Socket

Dec 09, 2015 07:44 PM EST

It was pretty clear that 2015 would not be the year of a remodeled iPhone.  Instead, users were given the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.  Is it too early to begin thinking of the iPhone 7?  So far, here are the latest Apple iPhone 7 Specs, possible Release Date, and rumors including no headphone socket and different charging port.

Macworld believes that there a complete remake of the phone, and this makes a lot of sense.  After all, the pattern is that a new rebuild of the phone comes out every two years, with an S model in between that is compatible with all the accessories of the previous year. 

For 2016, there will be 4.7 inch phone that will be the iPhone 7.  Then there will also be a 5.5 inch model that will be called the iPhone 7 Plus.  There have always been rumors that Apple will go back to making a phone with a 4-inch screen, as some prefer to go this size rather than bigger.  Could this be the iPhone mini?  Possibly. 

According to N4BB, one of the rumors is that Apple might lose the Lightning port and go for a USB-C port instead.  I'm not certain how much one wants to bet on those rumors, as the Lightning Cable is kind of an Apple trademark, and they seem to be shunning the world of micro USB.  Considering all of the iPhone accessory companies that have a decent business making iPhone Lightning cables, the establishment of the USB-C port on the new iPhone 7 could be quite a blow to them. 

There is also a possibility that the iPhone 7 might have no headphone socket.  Considering that most people have Bluetooth headphones and speakers, that might not affect the earbud market all that much.  Perhaps it is possible for headphones to connect to the charging port, whatever that might end up being.  While we are on the subject of charging ports, many suspect that the iPhone 7 will probably have the capacity for wireless charging.  Many of the latest Android phones have this ability provided you have a Powermat or other wireless charging device, and the only way that users can do this now is with a special case. 

Then there are the subtle upgrades that everyone expects, such as a higher battery life, as well as some better waterproofing ability.  The Inquirer also says that it will probably be thinner, and that is usually a safe bet when it comes to smartphone upgrades.  There is the possibility that the iPhone 7 will have dual cameras and a TouchID that is integrated in the display. 

Sadly, we'll have to wait almost a full year to see if any of these rumors of the iPhone 7 are true, as the release date probably won't be until late 2016, around September and October.