'iPhone 7' Rumored to Be Waterproof, Possibly Adopt Non-Metallic Casing Material

[redheeler]

The benefits of the smaller form factor of a 4" are numerous:

Smaller display is less costly
Fewer pixels to fire up - longer battery time (even with less space)
Better heat dissipation
Less prone to bending
Actually being mobile,
Fitting a pocket (the best camera is the one you carry)
Better grip, no over-reaching your thumb
Does not make you look like an mobile addict, even if you are

So I would strongly advocate for going back to a human form factor. When I reach my alien 2,5 meters high and my hands are grown by 30 percent, I might just like the bigger size, but not now.

My thoughts on some of those "benefits":

Smaller battery in a smaller device won't result in better battery life.
Not sure how a smaller surface would result in more heat dissipation.
While that is true, bending really isn't something to worry about with the 7000-series on the 6s/6s+.
6s+ fits in my pocket just fine.

I switched from 4" to 5.5" and am so far really enjoying the larger screen on my 6s+. I'll simply have to get used to more bulk in my pocket.

 

[DreamCatcher411]

The new case for iPhone 7 will be made entirely of Gorilla Glass!!
The glass will be clear or gold, silver, space gray and rose gold.

 

[ArmCortexA8]

The headphone jack is the only thing stopping the thinner iPhones I take it. Maybe they plan to make the EarPods with a Lightning entrance and have two on the phone (unlikely) or a smaller jack like the patent we saw last week. Interesting.

Leave it as is, I don't want more adapters and want to be able to use my existing headphones thanks.

 

[Harlowgold1]

The only thing that I want is the iPhone 7 is a decent battery. That's it and I would be ecstatic!

 

[freediverx]

It's not plastic. Something better than a metallic casing.

If it's not metallic, the alternatives are pretty limited. The case would have to be either plastic, some sort of fiber composite, or some sort of glass/ceramic. An all glass or sapphire device would be revolutionary in terms of cool factor, but it sounds fragile, heavy, and expensive with limited functional upsides. Plastic/composite makes the most sense from a functional perspective (lightweight, near indestructible, inexpensive, infinitely malleable, radio transparent, corrosion proof) but it would likely have a relatively cheap look and feel compared to machined aluminum, reducing its premium qualities.

 

[Moonjumper]

I got caught in a thunderstorm last week. Luckily I had a plastic bag with me to put my iPhone in. I don't know how well it would have coped otherwise (it's an iPhone 5, not the latest models that show apparently have some waterproofing ability).

It will be interesting to see what they move to if away from metal. BMW have started using carbon fibre in mass production, so it has been shown it can be done. And there are many different types of plastic, it doesn't have to mean cheap.

 

[gotluck]

Wireless charging is really niche right now. It's an inevitability but not with the current technology.

Ditching the headphone jack? No way. Requiring powered headphones is one of the worst things they could ever do...

I'm still buying a 6s, but I don't see any problems with including current wireless charging tech. What is the problem with it?

 

[freediverx]

I have a pretty active lifestyle (frequent cycling, hiking, snowboarding and so on) and truly waterproof iPhone would be a very very welcome addition. I don't intend to swim with it, but I can't count how many times I was doing something near/on water/rain and the only thing in my mind was - omg, will the iPhone in my pocket be OK...
Second biggest wish - longer battery life!

I'd definitely vote for more battery life and significant water resistance. Enough with the thinness. It's thin enough already.

I don't see what's so crazy about wanting to have your phone with you when you're near or in the water. Right now you can't even have your phone nearby when swimming in a pool because everything within ten foot radius might get wet. Think of all the cool photos and videos you could capture if you could have your phone with you while swimming at the beach or during any other activity in, on, or near the water, without the burden of a dedicated camera or bulky waterproof case.

Incidentally what does a new case material have to do with water resistance?

 

[Four oF NINE]

Could it be liquid metal?

Not according to the rumor, which states NON-metallic

 

[freediverx]

I don't see any problems with including current wireless charging tech. What is the problem with it?

Well for starters this isn't wireless. A clunky, awkward, bulky charging pad that's bigger than the device to be charged. Ridiculous.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Finally Liquid Alloy tech body with rugged design and non-physical 3D Touch home button is coming.

How'd you form that conclusion?

 

[Keane16]

That and the fact that Sony has managed that on their smartphone for 2 years now...

I really hope Apple don't do this. Those flaps are annoying covering the ports.

I'd prefer some light water resistance in the form of a Liquipel type coating rather than what we've seen from Sony.

As always the implementation is the key part. Old swipe style fingerprint readers = poor UX. TouchID = good UX.

 

[thewap]

If it's not metallic, the alternatives are pretty limited. The case would have to be either plastic, some sort of fiber composite, or some sort of glass/ceramic. An all glass or sapphire device would be revolutionary in terms of cool factor, but it sounds fragile, heavy, and expensive with limited functional upsides. Plastic/composite makes the most sense from a functional perspective (lightweight, near indestructible, inexpensive, infinitely malleable, radio transparent, corrosion proof) but it would likely have a relatively cheap look and feel compared to machined aluminum, reducing its premium qualities.

Looking at recent watch cases now being made of ceramic, I would guess that is the direction Apple is taking.

 

[ghost187]

I call this total BS. They just introduced 7000 series aluminum, there is no way they ditch it next year. Also, the iPhone 6S may be more water resistant than advertised.

There won't be any reliable rumors until 2016, after the all important holiday season.

 

[gotluck]

Well for starters this isn't wireless.

I wouldn't mind having that capability at my work desk though, not here to argue semantics

 

[newdeal]

this is actually a rumour and yet it is on the side bar when news is on the main page of macrumors.com should be called applenews.com

 

[gotluck]

I really hope Apple don't do this. Those flaps are annoying covering the ports.

I'd prefer some light water resistance in the form of a Liquipel type coating rather than what we've seen from Sony.

As always the implementation is the key part. Old swipe style fingerprint readers = poor UX. TouchID = good UX.

The flaps are actually gone on newer Sony phones but they are no longer advertising them for use underwater too

 

[iCloudStrife]

4"

 

[freediverx]

It will be interesting to see what they move to if away from metal. BMW have started using carbon fibre in mass production, so it has been shown it can be done. And there are many different types of plastic, it doesn't have to mean cheap.

On a car, composite materials make a lot of sense due to the importance of light weight for performance and fuel economy. Plus touching the outside of a car is not really part of the premium experience. An iPhone, however, doesn't really benefit from shedding even more weight. And going from metal to composite would give it a cheap feel.

I wouldn't mind having that capability at my work desk though, not here to argue semantics

The premise here was to eliminate external ports to enhance water resistance. While a charging pad may have its benefits under certain conditions, I would never accept a phone that actually required one for charging. That would be like carrying around two phones.

 

[Boatboy24]

How about a water resistant watch first? I'm far more likely to be swimming with a watch than my phone.

 

[AlphaTeam]

I deal with a lot of phone repairs. I see 10x as many glass breakage as I do water damage. I'd rather they work on that.

 

[gotluck]

The premise here was to eliminate external ports to enhance water resistance. While a charging pad may have its benefits under certain conditions, I would never accept a phone that actually required one for charging. That would be like carrying around two phones.

Of course giving up corded charging would be foolish, I have no complaints about having both

 

[freediverx]

Looking at recent watch cases now being made of ceramic, I would guess that is the direction Apple is taking.

That sounds cool and exotic, and it would probably feel nice in the hand. But it also sounds a bit fragile and I'm struggling to think of what tangible benefits it would offer.

 

[WRX-SRQ]

Not according to the rumor, which states NON-metallic

That could be misinterpreted. Perhaps they may mean non-Aluminum. Liquid Metal is a completely new type of metal design.

Just a thought.

 

[freediverx]

I deal with a lot of phone repairs. I see 10x as many glass breakage as I do water damage. I'd rather they work on that.

Recent iPhone models are pretty rugged. I use a simple Apple leather case (no screen protector or bulky LifeProof case here) and though I drop my phone occasionally, I haven't had a cracked or even scratched display since the iPhone 4. Some people are just ridiculously careless when handling their $600-800 phones.

That could be misinterpreted. Perhaps they may mean non-Aluminum. Liquid Metal is a completely new type of metal design.

Just a thought.

There's no way that "non-metallic" can be stretched to mean "non-aluminum." If that was the intended meaning, the problem was in the message, not in its interpretation.

 

[Four oF NINE]

That sounds cool and exotic, and it would probably feel nice in the hand. But it also sounds a bit fragile and I'm struggling to think of what tangible benefits it would offer.

High tech ceramics are very strong, the sensor on the back of the Apple watch is ceramic, high end chef knives are ceramic.

I think ceramic and/or carbon fiber, like the custom version one offered by Feld & Volk would be very luxurious