iPhone 7 to Feature Longer Earpiece Cutout, Relocated Ambient Light Sensor

[MacRumors]

Some minor changes are coming to the front of the iPhone 7 that will render protective LCD films made for other devices unusable on the new iPhone, reports Japanese site Mac Otakara.

According to the site, manufacturers of LCD films have stopped receiving orders as the iPhone 7 is expected to feature some front panel changes that will require new film designs.

Mockup of what the iPhone 7 could look like, without front panel changes taken into account​

Recently, some manufacturers of LCD protection films on Alibaba.com have stopped receiving orders as iPhone 7 has its proximity sensor on the front changed to the dual specification in addition to the ambient light sensor on the side moving from the left side to the right while a slightly longer receiver.

Mac Otakara also reiterates rumors that the iPhone 7 Plus will feature a dual-lens camera while the iPhone 7 will feature a larger back camera, rendering existing iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cases unusable with the new devices

Though only small design tweaks are expected to be seen in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, there will be enough of a design shift to require accessory makers to create new products and to require iPhone buyers to purchase new products.

Schematics and blueprints suggest the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be largely the same dimensions as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s, but with relocated antenna bands, better water resistance, the removal of the headphone jack, and possibly some as of yet unknown reduction in thickness. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the iPhone 7 could be 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s, but case leaks and other rumors suggest more a more modest change.

The Wall Street Journal yesterday called the changes set to be introduced in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus "subtle," while Kuo has said the device will not have many "attractive selling points." Apple is eschewing a major design revamp in 2016 in order to introduce more expansive changes in the 2017 iPhone, expected to see an all glass body with an edge-to-edge display.

Article Link: iPhone 7 to Feature Longer Earpiece Cutout, Relocated Ambient Light Sensor

 

[sputnikv]

perhaps the reciever is longer and thinner to counter water intrusion

 

[Zirel]

More contradicting rumours...

 

[vertsix]

Earpiece for what? Phone calls?

Who even makes phone calls now?

Smh. Remove it.

/s

 

[Andres Cantu]

Was this the feature we can't live without, Tim?

 

[sleepydinosaur]

I have to believe that more has to change. I realize next year will be a (hopefully) complete rethink of the iPhone but there has to be more. I'm not a fan of the 6/6+ style but square the corners ala 5s and I think it would be a nicer looking phone.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Man, everyone is going to be so suprised when the next iPhone ships with two 3.5mm jacks.

 

[Oldfash33]

However you slice it I'll be buying
[doublepost=1466629821][/doublepost]

Man, everyone is going to be so suprised when the next iPhone ships with two 3.5mm jacks.

Lol!

 

[b1wils1]

wake me up in september when we can watch the keynote. apple will alter the appearance...its the 7th version. they don't alter the appearance on the s models. this is not the first time we've gone through this process. the 7 will look different and have physical features that are different. the 7s will not and will have interior bumps. yes there are minor exceptions, but come on. same song and dance.

 

[wowotoe]

According to the site, manufacturers of LCD films have stopped receiving orders??

This is a bit exaggerated. Even if iPhone 7 uses new film, I don't think Apple will stop making iPhone 6. I'm pretty sure Apple will not discontinue all other models of iPhone 6/SE till next year.

 

[MH01]

Game changer , right there.

 

[_mdavenport]

Expecting an updated ambient light sensor for the True Tone display.

 

[Porco]

The space for the earpiece will be longer because it's moving to a new digital proprietary Apple connector called 'VeryVeryFrightening'.

If you want to continue using your analogue ears you can, but you will need a 29.99 VeryVeryFrightening-to-analogue-speaker adapter. This may seem an odd decision at first, but it means earpiece speaker makers can produce higher quality units because it isn't relying on the built-in Apple earpiece anymore, and can now wire the audio directly into your brain, cutting out distracting background audio entirely. It will also have an open API and app store with subscriptions, so that you can stop hearing the outside world altogether and enjoy wonderful audio targeted specifically For You.

 

[bighype]

Apple went from "tick-tock" to "tick-tock-tock" schedule. Disappointing. And I won't buy a phone without a 3.5mm jack anytime soon. I have $500 worth of 3.5mm connector earphones that work just fine and want none of this Lightning port stuff.

 

[Junipr]

iPhone 7 will feature a larger back camera...the ambient light sensor on the side moving from the left side to the right

Making the camera protrude further and moving the light sensor, and then calling it a new phone is something only Apple could do

 

[CairnsRock]

Sales will continue to slump if minor changes are perceived to have little or no value worth an upgrade.

 

[Porco]

Apple went from "tick-tock" to "tick-tock-tock" schedule.

Or perhaps a 'tick-tock-CLANG!' schedule?

 

[Tamagotchi]

So far I have 0 interest for the new iPhone. Apple is lagging behind on everything. I'll remain with my 6 Plus until they come out with something that's worth the $1k they charge.

 

[cardfan]

Sounds like a wait til Fall 2017 is in order. It's ok though since I'm sure I'll find something to buy from Apple this year. I'm actually looking forward more to the Watch this fall. Hopefully the launch is the same so I can subsidize it by selling a couple.

 

[dwsolberg]

A longer earpiece, relocated light sensors, seriously? I think I'll be skipping the upgrade for the first time ever. With Apple, though, they'll probably manage to still get some of my money if they update the watch.

 

[jayducharme]

I wonder if they could go with a bone-conducting phone? Get rid of the receiver slot entirely and have a completely sealed front. Put the top section of the phone up to your ear, and you could hear without needing the small speaker there.

 

[Nunyabinez]

I hope Apple has really just doubled down on secrecy for real.

Because, based on rumors, nothing substantive is happening on the iPhone or Mac lines.

They promised incredible stuff in the pipeline and if what looks like is coming is it, I won't be fooled again.

 

[redman042]

Part of me wonders whether Apple is seeding rumors that make the phone sound mediocre, while secretly planning BIG upgrades. Would be great if it was true. I certainly don't believe they are really going to release a new iPhone with almost NO changes. The 6s CPU is already blazing fast, so a CPU bump isn't going to make nearly as much of a difference anymore. But a big camera improvement, perhaps a true-tone screen, and who knows, maybe even Apple Pencil capability, could do a lot.

 

[apolloa]

oohhh wonder if they will make the chins smaller? Looking forward to see what they do with next years design, if they keep the same 4.7" physical phone size, but make the front all screen I will be happy.

 

[bluespark]

Apple went from "tick-tock" to "tick-tock-tock" schedule. Disappointing. And I won't buy a phone without a 3.5mm jack anytime soon. I have $500 worth of 3.5mm connector earphones that work just fine and want none of this Lightning port stuff.

Same boat exactly. I'll happily pass on what is being described here.