Yet another rumor about this year’s upcoming iPhones, simultaneously quashing one previous report while confirming others. It’s looking more and more likely that Apple will release two new iPhones this September, with the larger of the two boasting a better camera and increased RAM.
A new report from KGI analyst and perennial rumor-monger Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Apple will release just two iPhones this, a 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and a 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. Pretty much the same as last year’s release, then. This runs counter to a previous rumor, suggesting that we would see a split in the line-up with an additional 5.5-inch “Pro” model offering extra capabilities. It now looks as though Apple has decided not to further fragment the iPhone range with too many models, perhaps at the risk of confusing customers or cannibalizing its own sales. The extra capabilities previously though to be “Pro”-only features will now exist in the regular iPhone 7 Plus – but not the smaller iPhone 7. Got that?
So what are these extra features? If the report is accurate, we’ll see the iPhone 7 Plus rocking a dual-lens configuration on its rear camera. Combined with advanced imaging algorithms, this could make for improved sensitivity and superior photography in poor light conditions. It’s also expected to be built with 3GB RAM to cope with increased image processing requirements, while the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 will stick with the 2GB RAM seen in current-generation models. Leaked blueprints also suggest the 5.5-inch model may incorporate the new Smart Connector seen in the iPad Pro, which would make it compatible with additional Apple accessories such as the Smart Keyboard.
A leaked image of the dual cameras?
Some users aren’t happy at the thought of a larger iPhone packing more features than its little brother, arguing that screen size should be the only difference between the two. The current-generation models only differ slightly, in that the iPhone 6s Plus includes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology. Further differentiating the models like this will split opinion, but it still seems preferable to a third “Pro” option. We’ll know for sure what Apple has planned come September!
Image renders by Feld & Volk