First Details on iPhone 7 Design: Flush Rear Camera, No Antenna Bands Across the Back

[dk001]

Im with you! Guess some people always need something to complain about!

No so much bother as the wear. My 6+ showed significant wear on the protruding lens assembly. When I got my 6S+, I added a leather back skin to take care of the problem. I'm a minimalist and prefer not to use a case. So if it is flush (how without making phone thicker?) I'm all for it.

 

[furi0usbee]

He did let it fly on the iPod ?

Unless he "let it fly" from beyond the grave, Steve never would have allowed it. I think you need to go back and fact-check his date of death and when Apple released protruding cameras in the iPod Touch. Then please post your results. Thankssss.

 

[codeoverride]

Bad iPhone 6 design with bands going across the back and protruding camera then fix it in iPhone 7. Fixing bad design is now an upgrade. That is innovation, right? No wonder Apple stock is not doing so well.

 

[GoodWheaties]

I really wish they would use the design of the iPads for the next iPhone. Rounded on the back but with an edge to grip.

 

[ValO]

I hope they have something special lined up for the 7+/pro.
Not just a double camera, but also size wise.
Remain the screensize but a body that is just a little bit wider than the 4.7 inch iphone 6/7. And just as tall.
Redesigned on screen homebutton with 3d touch or a small portion of the lower chin that can be pressed by forcetouch and touchid integrated in the display. And the ambient light and distance sensor integrated in the speaker grill. So iphone 7 with regular(slightly smaller) chins and bezels than de iohone 6, and a iphone 7+ thats is a little wider but just as tall, almost all screen front.
It would shift consumer focus to the more expensive 7+ , drive up ASP, and create an upgrade cycle for the current 6/6+ user base.

Iphone 4(s)/5(s) users could upgrade to a regular 7 that will still be a little smaller and more comfortable to use than the iphone 6(s), or they could upgrade to the 5es/6 mini.
Iphone 6 users will go for the smaller iphone 4.7 iphone 7 or upgrade to the 7+.
Iphone 6+ users will try to upgrade to the 7+ because their device will look like a tank, outdated, feel big compared to the 7+.

It is coming: the 7+ will be a far more advanced device than the 7.
It is for apple more economically viable to make the 7+ more advanced and use new tech. High tech is expensive, and the price of the 7+ is higher, so they kan keep margins in check.

 

[Razeus]

Doesn't mean anything until Apple address the glaring issues with the software quality.

 

[TommyA6]

If the redesign is indeed minimal (from front and behind), and dual camera/lens system doesn't make it into this year's iPhone, what does that leave us with??

Same design, but without bands (not completely without though)
Slightly faster A10 (probably with same 2 GB of RAM)
Same quality camera but, wait for it, flush with the case
No headphone jack
Slightly thinner

 

[dec.]

Bad iPhone 6 design with bands going across the back and protruding camera then fix it in iPhone 7. Fixing bad design is now an upgrade. That is innovation, right? No wonder Apple stock is not doing so well.

Who said that it's an upgrade or innovation?

 

[1Zach1]

I hope they have something special lined up for the 7+/pro.
Not just a double camera, but also size wise.
Remain the screensize but a body that is just a little bit wider than the 4.7 inch iphone 6/7. And just as tall.
Redesigned on screen homebutton with 3d touch or a small portion of the lower chin that can be pressed by forcetouch and touchid integrated in the display. And the ambient light and distance sensor integrated in the speaker grill. So iphone 7 with regular(slightly smaller) chins and bezels than de iohone 6, and a iphone 7+ thats is a little wider but just as tall, almost all screen front.
It would shift consumer focus to the more expensive 7+ , drive up ASP, and create an upgrade cycle for the current 6/6+ user base.

Iphone 4(s)/5(s) users could upgrade to a regular 7 that will still be a little smaller and more comfortable to use than the iphone 6(s), or they could upgrade to the 5es/6 mini.
Iphone 6 users will go for the smaller iphone 4.7 iphone 7 or upgrade to the 7+.
Iphone 6+ users will try to upgrade to the 7+ because their device will look like a tank, outdated, feel big compared to the 7+.

It is coming: the 7+ will be a far more advanced device than the 7.
It is for apple more economically viable to make the 7+ more advanced and use new tech. High tech is expensive, and the price of the 7+ is higher, so they kan keep margins in check.

I would be pretty tempted by a 7+ if it were the same general size as the 6. I'd be very tempted by a 7 if it were the same general size as the 5 though so....

 

[dk001]

If the redesign is indeed minimal (from front and behind), and dual camera/lens system doesn't make it into this year's iPhone, what does that leave us with??

Same design, but without bands (not completely without though)
Slightly faster A10 (probably with same 2 GB of RAM)
Same quality camera but, wait for it, flush with the case
No headphone jack
Slightly thinner

I have my doubts. The reason the camera protrudes is the minimal thickness you can make a camera of this complexity and allow it to function. How is Apple planning to make the device thinner (a supposition) and remove the protruding camera while maintaining or improving the camera? Not seeing how they will accomplish this engineering marvel.
Color me skeptical.

 

[TommyA6]

I have my doubts. The reason the camera protrudes is the minimal thickness you can make a camera of this complexity and allow it to function. How is Apple planning to make the device thinner (a supposition) and remove the protruding camera while maintaining or improving the camera? Not seeing how they will accomplish this engineering marvel.
Color me skeptical.

There was some talk about them using a curved sensor. Still, I want an improved camera, not the same quality, but flush with the case BS.

 

[ValO]

I would be pretty tempted by a 7+ if it were the same general size as the 6. I'd be very tempted by a 7 if it were the same general size as the 5 though so....

Is not going to happen. Is physically impossible.
A 7+ With no bezel would be about 7mm wider than a 6s or 1cm wider than a 7 with no bezel.
An 4.7 iphone 7 with no bezel will be at least 5mm wider than a iphone 5(s)

 

[1Zach1]

Is not going to happen. Is physically impossible.
A 7+ With no bezel would be about 7mm wider than a 6s or 1cm wider than a 7 with no bezel.
An 4.7 iphone 7 with no bezel will be at least 5mm wider than a iphone 5(s)

The 6s is 67.1mm wide. A 5.5" 16:9 screen is 68.58mm wide. Even accounting for the fact that the 7+ couldn't be exactly the same width as the screen, it's going to be less than 7mm if Apple really wanted to push for that. Apple would have about 16.6mm to use for height to match the 7+ to the 6. It's possible, it just isn't going to happen.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

1. Camera was never an issue as it never comes out of it's case.

2. Antenna bands were never an issue as it never comes out of it's case

3. If this is the extent of the exterior redesign then they had better make iPhone 7 also come with 3 wishes, or I am keeping my iPhone 6 until iPhone 8.

1 and 2 I agree with except I don't use a case.

3. Look at the MacBooks. They haven't had a serious redesign since 2008 with the unibody. It's not surprising Apple would eventually run out of redesigns for the iPhone too.

 

[ValO]

The 6s is 67.1mm wide. A 5.5" 16:9 screen is 68.58mm wide. Even accounting for the fact that the 7+ couldn't be exactly the same width as the screen, it's going to be less than 7mm if Apple really wanted to push for that. Apple would have about 16.6mm to use for height to match the 7+ to the 6. It's possible, it just isn't going to happen.

Yes, thats true, but if you count in that the 7 will have the same rounded enclosure as the 6/6s instead of a square design, it will be coser to 7mm. The sides of the case will stick out.
They coulg ga with a design with straight edges. But that isn' t really apple like. They would add a chamfered egde or something. Even the 4/s design has the metal edges sticking out.
Perhaps 5mm is possible.

 

[rp2011]

On the front I hope they make the chin much much bigger. I always thought Jay Leno was sexy. And the forehead needs to be far more gargantuan. The side bezels! Make the side bezels at least three times wider.
I want them to carry all the 6 series design elements to their natural conclusion. Bigger camera bump. Busier antenna bands, bigger forehead, bigger chin, wider side bezels. Then I will buy a bulky cover to protect all that goodness.
[doublepost=1454519515][/doublepost]

1 and 2 I agree with except I don't use a case.

3. Look at the MacBooks. They haven't had a serious redesign since 2008 with the unibody. It's not surprising Apple would eventually run out of redesigns for the iPhone too.

Yep! If you can't make it better, make it worse I always say.

 

[1Zach1]

Yes, thats true, but if you count in that the 7 will have the same rounded enclosure as the 6/6s instead of a square design, it will be coser to 7mm. The sides of the case will stick out.

Sure, but if the point was for Apple to upsell 6/s users to the 7+ by going bezelless, then it wouldn't have those. I'm just pointing out that if Apple really wanted to, they could probably get the 7+ to very near the size of the 6/s. Again, I don't believe Apple will do anything like this in the next 2-3 years.

 

[jmgregory1]

1 and 2 I agree with except I don't use a case.

3. Look at the MacBooks. They haven't had a serious redesign since 2008 with the unibody. It's not surprising Apple would eventually run out of redesigns for the iPhone too.

True. There is only so much you can do with a rectangular shape, screen, buttons, camera, etc, especially as we have become set in our ways of what we expect a smart phone to do for us. They can't make it narrower or square or circular in shape, as none of those shapes will work well for web browsing or videos. It's not going to fold like a flip-phone, because that just doesn't make sense (or does it - maybe make a micro-sized rMBP?).

Apple can make it thinner, lighter, faster, but at some point, they will likely end up recycling some design aspects or materials used.

 

[Mactendo]

Same boring design for 4 years in a row (including the 7s)? While considering declining sales of 6s? Cook is doing everything to make Apple shares fall (and it's falling for the last year or so).

 

[zombierunner]

will get the 7s this year and ditch my ipad mini .... apple don't seem interested in it anymore.

 

[ValO]

Sure, but if the point was for Apple to upsell 6/s users to the 7+ by going bezelless, then it wouldn't have those. I'm just pointing out that if Apple really wanted to, they could probably get the 7+ to very near the size of the 6/s. Again, I don't believe Apple will do anything like this in the next 2-3 years.

I was thinking more about this:

Just an example:


See the sides of the metallic enclosure sticking out, while the screen seems to have no bezel?

 

[ckhris1613]

Apple's iPhone 7 isn't expected to launch until the usual September timeframe, but we're starting to get our first hints of what we might be able to expect for the new device. According to a source who has provided reliable information in the past, the iPhone 7 body will appear very similar to the design used for the iPhone 6 and 6s, with two significant exceptions.

The first involves the rear camera, which protrudes slightly on the iPhone 6 and 6s. On the iPhone 7, the camera is said to sit flush with the rear casing, enabled by a thinner camera module. Recent rumors have indicated Apple is considering equipping the iPhone 7 Plus with a dual-lens rear camera, but the smaller iPhone 7 is expected to include a more traditional camera.

Mockup of iPhone 7 case showing flush rear camera and no antenna bands across rear​

The other significant change with the body of the iPhone 7 is the removal of antenna bands across the rear, allowing for a cleaner all-metal look on the back. Antenna bands at the sides and around the top and bottom edges are said to remain, however.

Our source has been unable to confirm whether the device as a whole will be thinner than the iPhone 6 and 6s, although any thickness reductions would be expected to be slight, and many users (particularly those who use their devices without cases) will likely find the flush rear camera to be a significant improvement even if other dimensions remain the same.

Article Link: First Details on iPhone 7 Design: Flush Rear Camera, No Antenna Bands Across the Back

[doublepost=1454521693][/doublepost]Why do they keep saying"the usual September"?
I'm by far an expert but I know Apple always launched new phones 1st half of the year and then the last half its the S model.... I doubt seriously that will change.

 

[UhFive]

So, push out a potential new feature just for battery, battery weights a lot more than whatever they'd fill in, so not only more battery, less feature and much more weight...

Not sure most people would agree with that especially since the 6s+ is already pretty good with its battery.

You're missing my point entirely...
I like the 4.7" screen, it is the perfect size for me, however, if I want all the newest features I have to buy a bigger device. It turns the + series into a premium device. In my opinion this sucks and this is exactly what we all hate about android, fragmentation. Sure it isn't the software fragmentation we all dread, but it will eventually turn into that..."not all features in blah blah app are available on this latest generation iDevice because you didn't get a bigger screen".

 

[Dave245]

It better have a headphone jack! If they remove that, sales will tank!

All the rumours are pointing to no headphone jack, Apple will likely include a wireless version of the EarPods in with the iPhone 7 and are rumoured to be working on a premium versi

[doublepost=1454521693][/doublepost]Why do they keep saying"the usual September"?
I'm by far an expert but I know Apple always launched new phones 1st half of the year and then the last half its the S model.... I doubt seriously that will change.

Apple have announced the iPhone in September for years regardless of if it's a number of S model.

 

[ValO]

You're missing my point entirely...
I like the 4.7" screen, it is the perfect size for me, however, if I want all the newest features I have to buy a bigger device. It turns the + series into a premium device. In my opinion this sucks and this is exactly what we all hate about android, fragmentation. Sure it isn't the software fragmentation we all dread, but it will eventually turn into that..."not all features in blah blah app are available on this latest generation iDevice because you didn't get a bigger screen".

No, it won't.
You will just be able to take better pictures with a 7+ instead of a 7. And perhaps because of the bigger screen, you will be able to multitask 2 apps by multi window on the 7+. That' s it. Can' t see 2 apps open at the same time on a 4.7 inch screen.

And if the iPhone 7 has a 30% better camera than the iPhone 6s, this would still be a significant improvement. Ok, there will be an even better camera in the 7+.live with it. There is just more room in the chassis to handle that en you have to pay more for that. Just enjoy your iPhone 7 with a great camera.

But perhaps the 4.7 will get a higher dpi screen.
4.7 will get 2001x1125 res and the 7+/5.5 a 2208x1242 display.
With the same soc/gpu the reg iPhone 7 would be even faster than the 7+ Because it has less pixels to push and have a higher dpi at the same time.

Just like the iPad mini has a higher dpi than the current iPad airs and pro and even the retina MacBooks.
Just too compensate a little bit for the overall higher specced iPhone 7+.

Seems a thing Apple could do.