Apple's iPhone 7 is expected to launch in 2016, bringing a new design and new features. (Photo : Facebook)
Apple refreshing the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus will certainly not happen until the second half of 2016 but this early rumors abound on the new things that the next iPhone will deliver. Coming from the S version, the iPhone 7 release date is seen as a major step up from its predecessor.
Design overhaul
The iPhone S edition, which is the 6S case, always points to a major revamp that the follow up is packed with so the iPhone 7 is expected to depart from the last two versions in terms of external design. Rumors say the audio jack will give way to a better technology so its likely elimination will further slim down the already super-thin iPhone 6S.
The intro this year of 3D Touch is key to the accelerated evolution of the iPhone and by 2016 the iconic physical Home key will be gone for good that would significantly alter the device's profile without shrinking the display. The 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes will remain but the next iPhones could be smaller than the 2015 versions.
Longer battery life
As phones get smarter the operating hours are extended and Apple will showcase such progress with the iPhone 7. The device may get thinner and a bit smaller than ever but the battery will be more powerful and thanks to operating system optimization, users can extract more hours from the next iPhone in a single charge.
Waterproofing feature
The 6S came out of the box with some form of protection against liquid intrusion as attested to by a viral YouTube clip. Apple will likely bring full waterproof features with the new iPhone next year, which has been the standard in a number of flagship Android smartphones like the Xperia lines of Sony.
Screen shift
Rumors say Apple will work closely with LG for an OLED display in future iPhones that will be coated with sapphire for maximum sturdiness. This becoming true with the iPhone 7 release remains iffy as most experts point to 2018 as the mostly likely year for the shift to take place, Business Insider said in a report.
A10 chip and iOS 10
The tandem of A9 application processor and iOS 9 power the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus this 2015 - a combo that gets refreshed each year. So for 2016, the expected scenario is A10 chip with software support coming from iOS 10. However, Business Insider is saying that Intel might disrupt this long term partnership beginning next year.
2 new iPhone models plus one
Going by the Apple iPhone release template, 2016 will likely produce two handset models - the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. But analysts like Ming-chi Kuo insist that there will be a third version - the mini iPhone 6C that is metal-clad with a 4-inch screen.
G4Games reported that the iPhone 6S is set for unveiling early next year and a global rollout by February or some eight months before the speculated iPhone 7 and 7 Plus release date in October 2016.
