iPhone 7 Display Photos Show Reversed Orientation, Usual Home Button Cutout

[MacRumors]

Mobile phone repair firm GeekBar continues to share photos of iPhone 7 components on its Weibo page, with the latest set showing off the display assembly for the device. One photo in particular is interesting because it includes the display assembly paired with a front panel for the device, revealing that the display is mounted upside down compared to previous iPhone models.

iPhone 7 display and front panel photographed upside down​

The iPhone's display and digitizer flex cables have traditionally come from the top edge of the display, routing toward connectors in the top portion of the iPhone's main logic board. The 3D Touch chip built into the display assembly on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is also located near the top of that display.

When the bare logic board for the iPhone 7 surfaced earlier this week, one notable change was that the main A10 chip had been shifted higher on the board than corresponding chips on other iPhones, and several of the usual display-related connectors were not in their typical locations. Instead, there were extra spots for flex cable connectors found near the bottom of the iPhone 7 logic board, and today's display assembly photo shows a corresponding change to the display part.

Several other sites reporting on these photos today have been looking at the part upside down and noting that the "bottom" portion of the display appears different with no cutout for the home button, potentially supporting rumors of a flush, Force Touch home button integrated into the front panel.

What these sites are looking at as the home button area is actually the top of the part with the earpiece and camera and sensor holes. With the reversed orientation of the display assembly on the front panel, the home button would be at the top of the photo and a portion of the home button cutout can indeed be seen under the flex cable.

The presence of a cutout does not necessarily mean the home button won't have Force Touch haptic feedback as rumored, however, as the functionality could still be included in a separate home button component attached in much the same way as on previous iPhones.

The iPhone 7 is expected to be unveiled at a media event tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 7, with pre-orders reportedly beginning on September 9 and a launch following on September 16.

Article Link: iPhone 7 Display Photos Show Reversed Orientation, Usual Home Button Cutout

 

[T-Will]

You heard it here first, Apple to move Home Button to the TOP of the iPhone 7!

 

[gsmornot]

Removing the headphone jack gave room to flip the display which leaves room for a larger camera module at the top.

 

[alexandr]

i would move the home button to the back of the phone.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Removing the headphone jack gave room to flip the display which leaves room for a larger camera module at the top.

But I use headphones far more than I use the camera...

 

[keysofanxiety]

Interesting about the home button; wonder what's going to happen.

 

[orangebluedevil]

The writing in this article is unusually verbose for MacRumors and I feel it conveys a rather simple story (This image is upside down, the home button appears to be there, but the flex cables have moved) in an overly complicated manner. I'm also surprised there is not a comparison shot, since that would clearly show the differences. @arn

 

[redheeler]

Interesting about the home button; wonder what's going to happen.

A move to a Force Touch button might happen. But it'll still be there in the same place I'm sure.

 

[John Mcgregor]

You heard it here first, Apple to move Home Button to the TOP of the iPhone 7!

Can't innovate my ass.

 

[Qdd]

You heard it here first, Apple to move Home Button to the TOP of the iPhone 7!

Look closer the screen is upside down. The connectors are moved to the buttom of The screen. Take à look at the iPhone 7 Motherwell board leaked pictures !!

 

[S.B.G]

Force Touch haptic feedback as rumored

I think this would be a neat feature to implement and if it replaced the Home button, that would one less physical, friction button gone and potentially going bad. Though I've not had a problem with the Home button ever, I have heard of others that had.

 

[penajmz]

But I use headphones far more than I use the camera...

So don't buy this iPhone?

 

[Chatter]

Y'all are all smart. All I see is .... red.

 

[EricTheHalfBee]

What an ugly iPhone. That's it, I'm finished with Apple. I've owned every iPhone since the 3 but now I'm switching to Android after seeing this junk. /s

 

[yaxomoxay]

Removing the headphone jack gave room to flip the display which leaves room for a larger camera module at the top.

Nah, someone can't read blueprints.........

 

[The Game 161]

Yet this story tells us nothing...

 

[oneMadRssn]

So don't buy this iPhone?

Apple should trademark that slogan.

 

[Rob_2811]

Headphone jack moved back to the top of the phone

 

[Sunny1990]

The Pressure sensitive button seems really coming. Hope they really get rid of this old crunchy home button

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

But I use headphones far more than I use the camera...

I think you're unusual in that regard. Most people use the camera far more than the headphones.

Personally, I use the camera on a near daily basis. The headphones get used very rarely. In the car I connect it to my car stereo over bluetooth. At home I connect it to a dock via lightning.

The headphones that came with the iPhone get connected a few times a month to my computer at work, or to my Wii U gamepad. A few times a year I'll connect the headphones to my iPhone when I'm taking a long phone call.

 

[dominiongamma]

What's the resolution

Sadly the same as iPhone 6 series.

 

[iThingsGurl]

The writing in this article is unusually verbose for MacRumors and I feel it conveys a rather simple story (This image is upside down, the home button appears to be there, but the flex cables have moved) in an overly complicated manner. I'm also surprised there is not a comparison shot, since that would clearly show the differences. @arn

Well said.
Here's what they actually mean,

Wrong Orientation -

Correct Orientation -

 

[Persicuta]

Yeah it seems like they needed room for the larger camera so thats why they had to ditch the headphone jack (hence, upside down display)

 

[Kfc179]

What an ugly iPhone. That's it, I'm finished with Apple. I've owned every iPhone since the 3 but now I'm switching to Android after seeing this junk. /s

Cool story, bro.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I think you're unusual in that regard. Most people use the camera far more than the headphones.

Personally, I use the camera on a near daily basis. The headphones get used very rarely. In the car I connect it to my car stereo over bluetooth. At home I connect it to a dock via lightning.

The headphones that came with the iPhone get connected a few times a month to my computer at work, or to my Wii U gamepad. A few times a year I'll connect the headphones to my iPhone when I'm taking a long phone call.

I doubt I am in the minority, for a few reasons:

First, the majority of the population (at least in the US) lives in cities. In cities, I see people walking or on public transit with headphones everywhere. Even in cities that don't have great public transport, people walk with headphones. I bet that the total number of people-hours spent walking or in public transit with headphones is far greater than the total number of people hours spent listening to bluetooth or in cars.

Second, even though I use my camera daily, I never use it for more than like 3 seconds, 5 seconds tops. Anything longer turns into creepy. However, even listening to one or two song per day already means I use headphones 100x longer.