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

[mr.bee]

hmm, apple likes to match their products...apple watch same colors and materials as iPhone as macbook....

So when this rumour comes up, does this mean we will see updated apple watch and MacBooks too? very unlikely...

I think a new C version is in the make...

 

[Wahlstrm]

I would like a smaller iPhone than the 6-series design..
The PLUS is a nice device but I doubt I would ever take it with me when I leave the house..
A phone needs to be pocketable.

(And one handed use is a must, so please fix this. )

 

[HarryDevlin]

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus was just released in first-wave launch countries around the world last Friday, but a few new rumors about the 2016 "iPhone 7" have begun to surface online this morning. According to a source from the Chinese social media site Weibo (via Mac Otakara) [Google Translate], the next version of the iPhone will have a strengthened, waterproof frame and may ditch a metallic casing altogether.

This strengthened body would certainly follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which bolstered the weak points of its predecessors and moved to a stronger 7000 Series aluminum alloy. According to today's rumors, however, the so-called iPhone 7 will find its strength in a focus on a waterproof and dust-proof body that would allow iPhone users to worry less about dropping their smartphones in liquids.

This big new upgrade to the iPhone 7 would call for a new frame and casing material, and according to one of the postings on Weibo, Apple is in fact planning on adopting an entirely new material next year for the iPhone 7. If this turns out to be the case, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus would be the last in the iPhone line to include a metallic casing for the smartphone.

Mac Otakara also received news from reliable sources stating that the upcoming iPhone would have a "completely flat" LCD screen, but, as with all of today's rumors, it should be taken with a grain of salt given that we're just now under a year away from Apple revealing the device. These aren't the first rumors of the iPhone 7, either, with reports dating back to March concerning the 2016 iPhone's possibility of adopting Intel LTE Chips, including glass-on-glass touch panels, and being the thinnest iPhone yet.

Article Link: 'iPhone 7' Rumored to be Waterproof, Possibly Adopt Non-Metallic Casing Material

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus was just released in first-wave launch countries around the world last Friday, but a few new rumors about the 2016 "iPhone 7" have begun to surface online this morning. According to a source from the Chinese social media site Weibo (via Mac Otakara) [Google Translate], the next version of the iPhone will have a strengthened, waterproof frame and may ditch a metallic casing altogether.

This strengthened body would certainly follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which bolstered the weak points of its predecessors and moved to a stronger 7000 Series aluminum alloy. According to today's rumors, however, the so-called iPhone 7 will find its strength in a focus on a waterproof and dust-proof body that would allow iPhone users to worry less about dropping their smartphones in liquids.

This big new upgrade to the iPhone 7 would call for a new frame and casing material, and according to one of the postings on Weibo, Apple is in fact planning on adopting an entirely new material next year for the iPhone 7. If this turns out to be the case, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus would be the last in the iPhone line to include a metallic casing for the smartphone.

Mac Otakara also received news from reliable sources stating that the upcoming iPhone would have a "completely flat" LCD screen, but, as with all of today's rumors, it should be taken with a grain of salt given that we're just now under a year away from Apple revealing the device. These aren't the first rumors of the iPhone 7, either, with reports dating back to March concerning the 2016 iPhone's possibility of adopting Intel LTE Chips, including glass-on-glass touch panels, and being the thinnest iPhone yet.

Article Link: 'iPhone 7' Rumored to be Waterproof, Possibly Adopt Non-Metallic Casing Material

Definitely could see the reason for a non-metallic case if Apple wants to include wireless charging capability. It's not impossible with a metal case but it's more difficult and more expensive. It could also remove weight, raising the possibility of a larger battery without a net increase in total weight.

It's almost a given that the iPhone 7 will have the following features since flagship phones from other manufacturers have had these features for quite a while, and Apple tends to lag by a generation or two:

∙ Fast charging, but a proprietary Apple system, not one of the industry-standard systems.
∙ Quad or hex core processor (the A10 is rumored to be six core). If you understand semiconductor technology you'll understand why more cores are better when you're trying to minimize power consumption and lower thermals.
∙ 3-4GB of RAM
∙ Cat 9 or Cat 10 LTE (Qualcomm and Samsung already have this in their processors, and some phones already have it1)

They'll probably up the pixel density since they've fallen behind in screens, and up the camera megapixels, but really there's little upside at this point in doing either because both are fine. But Apple prides themselves on their displays, and they've fallen behind in resolution.

 

[imtough]

It would be nice to see them do wireless charging, and Bluetooth headphones to get rid of the headphone jack, and waterproof the speaker/mic system. Just a thought.

The discovered patent filed with the "D" shaped head-phone jack points to the connector being smaller, not disappearing all-together.

 

[BenTrovato]

The discovered patent filed with the "D" shaped head-phone jack points to the connector being smaller, not disappearing all-together.

I hope so... as soon as Apple introduces wireless-only headphones. I'm sadly no longer able to use their devices

 

[SHNXX]

yes yes plezase.

 

[neuropsychguy]

And people complain about the cost of a second lightening cable for charging their phone in the car or at work.

The people complaining don't know about the high quality, MFi certified cables you can purchase for $4 to $7 regularly (just not directly from Apple). Not as inexpensive as usb charging cables but not a lot of money for someone purchasing a $650+ phone.

 

[Gasu E.]

Right, water only exists around where people are doing recreational activities... There are tons of people who do work such as cleaning buildings that risk dropping their phone into a bucket of water or a toilet on a daily basis. Let alone any other physical labor type of work that involves liquid materials.

If someone who actually owns an iPhone is exposed to water hazards on a regular basis, there are a number of water resistant cases available.

 

[Breaking Good]

are people really dropping there phones in water to the point it needs to be water resistant? you can be without your phone in the pool. seems like a pointless feature to add being that the speakers, mic, charge port, etc would have to be water resistant. doing this would muffle/reduce clarity. why not focus on making the battery last longer or something more important. just my thoughts...

The hundreds of millions of people who commute by public transportation each day may disagree with you.

 

[CJM]

Definitely could see the reason for a non-metallic case if Apple wants to include wireless charging capability. It's not impossible with a metal case but it's more difficult and more expensive. It could also remove weight, raising the possibility of a larger battery without a net increase in total weight.

It's almost a given that the iPhone 7 will have the following features since flagship phones from other manufacturers have had these features for quite a while, and Apple tends to lag by a generation or two:

∙ Fast charging, but a proprietary Apple system, not one of the industry-standard systems.
∙ Quad or hex core processor (the A10 is rumored to be six core). If you understand semiconductor technology you'll understand why more cores are better when you're trying to minimize power consumption and lower thermals.
∙ 3-4GB of RAM
∙ Cat 9 or Cat 10 LTE (Qualcomm and Samsung already have this in their processors, and some phones already have it1)

They'll probably up the pixel density since they've fallen behind in screens, and up the camera megapixels, but really there's little upside at this point in doing either because both are fine. But Apple prides themselves on their displays, and they've fallen behind in resolution.

Just to take you up on that spec discussion: so far, Apple's doctrine (in comparison to other phone makers) has in-fact been that less cores are more effective when it comes to daily processing tasks. More cores on the CPU often equates to you ending up with your extra cores spending most of their time idle. Hence why the A9 is still dual-core. Just two really damn good cores. Of course, this doesn't apply to GPUs, where more parallel processing is better. If I were to hazard a guess, Apple might jump up to something like a triple core, if they feel there's a need.

Again, 3-4GB of RAM - I highly doubt it. As we all know, Apple's been stingy with RAM in the past, and the 6S has only just been given a boost to 2GB. I can't see this increasing again in the space of a single generation.

To me, it feels like a good bet that we'll see the iPhone 7 using an OLED screen. Apple have had time to play with them in the Apple Watch - now that the supply chain is there, they can integrate the tech into their biggest product line.

Hey, I should be an analyst.

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

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to ceramics. Are they less dense, or as dense as metals?

 

[EwanMcTeagle]

Convenience is not always a good thing, especially in this context. Whats the point of having a wireless charging system that take longer than an AC adapter - still connects to the wall the same way just a different design. You never plug in a phone in the dark as the screen backlight works instead (as long as not completely dead) and you should know if your phone is plugged in or not as there is only one connector for it.

Wireless charging isn't a required feature, but it's convenient. You can choose to plug the AC charger or use a wireless charging pad. What is wrong with having a choice between good and better?

 

[palmerc2]

Plastic? PLEASE no. Hopefully because this rumour is so early it's unlikely.

To quote Jony Ive when the 5c was released, "the casing is unapologetically plastic"

.....marketing!

 

[iZac]

Make 4" an option and improve on overall design. And remove that ugly protruding camera. Then Ill be a buyer.

I wish I could save all my upvotes and dump them into your post.

Polycarbonate? Metal? What other options does tech have? Wood? Lacquer? Bakelite? Maybe Ive will go full classic Braun on us

 

[Iconoclysm]

If someone who actually owns an iPhone is exposed to water hazards on a regular basis, there are a number of water resistant cases available.

Yes, and wouldn't it be great if they weren't needed? How about people who aren't exposed to water hazards on a regular basis and didn't buy the case...then the unexpected happens?

Yes, Apple is going to regress in size when the increase in size is what most Apple and Android users wanted


again, go get a cheap $50 4" android phone if you want one so bad

First, offering another option is not a regression.

Second, perhaps you haven't invested much into Apple's ecosystem...for most people still holding onto a 4" phone, they likely have put hundreds or thousands of dollars into it. You seem to lack common sense.

Apple offers a 4" phone RIGHT NOW, FYI.

 

[captmatt]

It will be a move from rigid to flexible--flexible case, flexible display. Breaking will be a thing of the past.

 

[zorinlynx]

are people really dropping there phones in water to the point it needs to be water resistant? you can be without your phone in the pool. seems like a pointless feature to add being that the speakers, mic, charge port, etc would have to be water resistant. doing this would muffle/reduce clarity. why not focus on making the battery last longer or something more important. just my thoughts...

We live on a planet that has a lot of water on it. It only makes sense that you'd sometimes encounter it in your day to day life while using your phone.

Wouldn't it be nice to STOP worrying about getting your phone wet? I have a waterproof watch; I love that I don't have to give a **** if it starts raining because I know it's waterproof. I'd love to feel the same way about my phone when I get caught in a downpour, or if some ******* at a party pushes me into the pool.

 

[LordQ]

Please, LiquidMetal iPhone!

 

[cambookpro]

Could we be seeing a ceramic phone with a metallic band around the edge?

There have been rumours of Apple using ceramics for iPhones even before the iPhone existed: https://www.macrumors.com/2006/11/30/radio-transparent-materials-in-iphone/

Apple also have patents on using ceramics as a radio-transparent material in phones.

This would also allow Jony to remove the antenna lines on the back.

From Apple's patent:

Some of the reasons for using ceramics over other materials is that it is structurally strong, stiff and radio transparent. This is especially important for wireless hand held devices that include antennas internal to the enclosure. Radio transparency allows the wireless signals to pass through the enclosure and in some cases enhances these transmissions. Other reasons for using ceramics is that they are highly scratch resistant, have color embedded in it (no paint or coatings), can be made into a wide variety of colors, and provides a variety of surface finishes including smooth and rough. Furthermore, the density of ceramics is typically higher than other materials therefore their weight is higher for the same sized part. This additional weight makes the handheld device feel more robust and it makes the device exude greater quality.

http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...28".PGNR.&OS=DN/20060268528&RS=DN/20060268528

Ceramic tends to be more shatter resistant than glass, but I'm not sure if it can be curved so may explain why the LCD is 'completely flat'.

Essentially (pure speculation on my part, but hey ho, this is a rumours forum) we could be seeing a ceramic/glass phone - with a metal band sandwiched between - reminiscent of a larger, thinner iPhone 4. Combine 3D Touch with TouchID under the glass and Apple could have a very compact phone.

 

[MrXiro]

I suspect the "water proofing" is an effect of the build and materials rather than something they set out to do. Hence no advertising of it.

 

[jpgr15]

As long as the new casing isn't plastic. One of my favorite things about iPhone is the premium build materials.

 

[Dr. Scott]

iPhone 7, keep up. Wireless charging please!

 

[UltimaKilo]

Honestly, the 6s is going to be tough to beat. Personally I'd like to see a 10-15% increase in battery life, lighter design with 4GB of RAM. The protruding camera needs to go. I think the phones are thin enough, but the 6s Plus is a little heavy. They can't go much thinner, the headphone jack prevents them, which won't be removed in 2016 now that Apple owns Beats.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Yes waterproof, even though it's pretty resistant in that front now, HELL NO to plastic. If so then the iPhone 6s will be my last iPhone for a while, like my 3G was until the 6 came out.

 

[ravenvii]

When Apple's phones were metallic, people clamored for Samsung's to be, as well, else it's a cheap plasticky thing.

When Samsung finally went metallic, Apple went plastic, and now everyone's clamoring for Samsung to go plastic, else it's a cheap, metallicky thing.

/s

 

[Vesuvio Cat]

I'm thrilled to learn more about the iPhone 7. Yes, the 6S is awesome and is probably the best 'S' series yet. But I'm sticking with the 6 until the software catches up and truly amazing stuff is made for 3D Touch.