A new report, from the well-connected Mark Gurman, backs up previous reports that the upcoming iPhone 7 will include a new Home Button that will not physically click, but will instead offer haptic feedback that will mimic a click, similar to the Force Touch trackpad found on newer MacBook models.
Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg:
The standout features will be a dual-camera system on the larger iPhone, a re-engineered home button that responds to pressure with haptic feedback and the removal of the devices’ headphone jack, said the people, who didn’t want to be identified discussing unannounced features. Apple declined to comment.
The change would mean one less moving part on the iPhone, possibly allowing for a slimmer design, better water resistance, and possibly improving reliability and durability issues.
Gurman also confirmed several other rumors that have been sticking fairly well to the rumor wall, such as the one that says the 5.5-inch “iPhone 7 Plus” will boast a new dual-lens camera system, offering much improved photo quality, allowing users to zoom in closer on photos while retaining image quality. Gurman says each lens will capture colors differently, and the two photos will be instantly combined to produce a single, high-quality photos. The new shooter is also said to offer improved photos in low-light conditions.
Gurman says the smaller “iPhone 7” model will sport a single lens camera, similar to today’s iPhone 6s lineup.
The new models will look similar to the iPhone 6 and 6s, moving away from the usual every two years radical redesign cycle. The report notes the new devices will remove the two antenna lines that currently run across the back of the devices.
Gurman also says the no headphone jack rumors are true, and this year’s iPhone will say farewell to the 3.5mm headphone jack, in favor of Lightning- or Bluetooth-connected headphones. He says the elimination of the headphone jack will make room for a second speaker. No word on what will be included in the box, Lightning earbuds, or wireless earbuds, although it’s likely Apple would include the cheaper, Lightning earbud as an in-box accessory over the more expensive wireless headsets.
Apple is expected to debut their iPhone 7 handsets at a September 9th media event, with the devices hitting shelves just a few weeks later.
