Analyst Kuo: iPhone 7 to be Available in 5 Colors, More Water Resistant, Two 12MP Shooters on iPhone 7 Plus
Well-respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a list of what to expect from the Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7, due to be unveiled on Wednesday at Apple’s media event. Kuo indicates the differences are definitely evolutionary, not revolutionary.
Kuo says while the iPhone 7 will include a number of upgrades and changes over its predecessor, the iPhone 6s, “general users may not feel the differences significantly.”
Kuo says the iPhone 7 will offer:
A faster, A10 chip from TSMC. The new system-on-a-chip could see speeds as fasts as 2.4-2.45 GHz. However, Apple could run it at a bit lower clock speed, due to concerns over heat and power consumption.
Storage capacities of 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB for both the iPhone 7, and the iPhone 7 Plus. The additional storage will especially be welcome to users of the iPhone 7 Plus, which is expected to sport a dual-lens camera. More on that later.
The iPhone 7 will continue to offer the same 2GB of DRAM as it’s predecessor, while the iPhone 7 Plus will boast 3GB of RAM, to better handle those dual-lens produced photos.
Five color options, with “dark black” (replacing Space Gray), and “piano black” joining the traditional rose gold, gold and silver options. Kuo says due to high production barriers, large-storage models may have first priority in adopting piano black casing in early production runs.
Improved IPX7 water resistance, along the lines of the first-generation Apple Watch, will make the new handset more resistant to water damage. This means you may be able to accidentally drop the device into a pool, sink, or (UGH!) toilet, and still have a usable device. We wouldn’t try it ourselves, but rest assured, someone will buy a new iPhone and drop it in a pool, recording it for broadcasting on YouTube.
No 3.5mm Headphone Jack. Apple will supply Lightning EarPods, as well as a Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter in the box. This will allow for an improved speaker, and a new sensor for improved Force Touch. (It should also help improve the waterproofing of the device slightly.)
The earpiece receiver will also act as a speaker with the addition of a new audio amplifier, allowing for stereo sound separation when the device is held in landscape orientation.
Clickless Home button. Apple will replace the mechanical Home button with a new haptics-based button that will mimic the feeling of a click when pressed.
The display of the iPhone 7 will be getting an upgrade, offering the same “wide color” display as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, offering better color quality.
A dual-lens rear camera will make an appearance on the iPhone 7 Plus. Kuo says the new shooter will increase Apple’s costs by around $40, which could make the new device more expensive than the iPhone 6s Plus. Both lenses will be 12-megapixels. However, one shooter will be a wide-angle camera with larger pixel sizes, a 6P lens, and optical image stabilization, while the second will be a telephoto lens with smaller pixel sizes and a 5P lens.
Both iPhone 7 models will benefit from an upgraded rear flash, which will feature four LEDs (two cool, and two warm), as well as a new ambient light sensor.
Kuo says there is a possibility that a new laser-based proximity sensor may make an appearance on the new handsets, offering faster response, and greater recognition distance. It may potentially offer gesture recognition.
Finally, FeliCa NFC support for models sold in Japan will make an appearance.
Kuo says Apple will ship fewer iPhone 7 handsets through the end of the year, compared to the numbers shipped for the iPhone 6s, with 60 to 65 million units being shipped through the end of the year. Apple shipped 82 million last year.
Apple will offer live streaming for the September 7th event where the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be unveiled. As usual, MacTrast will be providing live coverage of the event, and will followup with coverage of everything that is announced on stage. See you on the 7th.
Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.
