Apple iPhone 6S (Photo : Reuters)
Could it be that Apple will advance its iPhone 7 release date plans as giant retailer Walmart begins offering generous price cutbacks for all existing iPhone models, the 6S and SE including? As in previous practice, old and existing models getting discounts point to product rollouts that likely will happen ahead of schedule.
CNN said in a report that the Walmart price rollback will run until June 2016, which is possibly a setting that will set the stage for the next iPhone unboxing. But for Apple fans, holding out for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus could prove unnecessary as Walmart's $100 price off is in effect across the board - all iPhones on the store shelves will see the discount. The price shave off applies to all major telcos - AT&T, Sprint and Verizon - save for T-Mobile, the report said.
The promo deal though is walk in only as Walmart opted not to extend the 3-month sale online. CNN noted too that while the $100 off is for all iPhones, model availability will depend on store inventory.
But to be sure, buyers of the latest iPhones - the 6S, 6S Plus and the 4-inch iPhone SE - can enjoy the irresistible deal. The SE, for instance, is even more tempting when getting it from Walmart. In Apple Store, the price begins at $399 for the 16GB model and another $100 for the 64GB edition. But with the Walmart deal, the SE is down to $299 or for those wanting to have more storage space the cash damage is but limited to $399.
As for the iPhone users who prefer the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen profiles, the starting price is even more solid at $549. But in order not to fork out too much dollars, the way to go is though contract agreements that could mean getting a device for as low as $99 or even no cash out at all, which is the case for the iPhone 6.
Essentially, Walmart's attractive iPhone deals are the first major price cutbacks for the latest models that for many signifies the impending launch of the 2016 series. Presumably to be called as the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the upcoming builds are thought to represent an overhaul of the immediate predecessors. There will be a new design with the front panel rumored to be all-screen due to the supposed ditching of the physical Home button. Speculations are also rife that the 3.5mm audio jack will not be part of the next iPhone unboxing and the rear panel will be cleaner thanks to the disappearance of the antenna bands.
It is likely too that on release date, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will boast of a dual camera system with the tandem of A10 mobile chip and iOS 10 running the show. Launch time is expected around September 2016 but as mentioned above, there is a slim chance of seeing a product debut as early as June or July.
