Why didn't Apple re-design the iPhone 7 last year?

[omelet1978]

Hi,

I was just wondering why Apple didn't introduce a new design for the iPhone 7 and 7+ last year?

I bounce back and forth between Apple and Android and currently have an S8 as my phone and an Apple IPad Pro 10.5 as my main computer and it's replaced my laptop. The new ipad leaves everything else in the dust by the way. However, while the iPhone 7+ I owned for a while was a solid phone, I'm still scratching my head on them using the same basic design 3 cycles in a row for the iPhone.

Any reasoning for this? Did they have a design that was not ready or something like that?

 

[44267547]

I Think some expect the iPhone to drastically change in appearance or form factor every single year, when that's not how it works or Apple's method of operation. Apple has not been known not to drastically improve hardware on an annual basis with the iPhone. It's Usually been gradual, similar to the iPad and Apple Watch continuation form factor. The iPhone has evolved with incremental improvements in terms of the hardware when you break it down.

If you look at the differences of hardware in terms of the iPhone 6/6S/7, factor in the stereo speakers, haptic home button, dual camera, reduced Antenna lines, 3D Touch, 7000 Series aluminum. When you consider all the hardware features that have been added over the years, which some may find improved and others may not.

Furthermore, perhaps certain technology was not prepared or readily available until now with the iPhone eight and the overall major changes coming to the OLED model.

 

[Pakaku]

Why should they?

 

[eyoungren]

Hi,

I was just wondering why Apple didn't introduce a new design for the iPhone 7 and 7+ last year?

I bounce back and forth between Apple and Android and currently have an S8 as my phone and an Apple IPad Pro 10.5 as my main computer and it's replaced my laptop. The new ipad leaves everything else in the dust by the way. However, while the iPhone 7+ I owned for a while was a solid phone, I'm still scratching my head on them using the same basic design 3 cycles in a row for the iPhone.

Any reasoning for this? Did they have a design that was not ready or something like that?

Ah the central question leading inevitably to my decision not to purchase the 7/7+ last year. Unfortunately, neither my 6s+ nor I have the answer.
[doublepost=1503275987][/doublepost]

Why should they?

3GS to 4?
4s to 5?
5s to 6?

No reason I guess.
[doublepost=1503276166][/doublepost]

I Think some expect the iPhone to drastically change in appearance or form factor every single year, when that's not how it works or Apple's method of operation. Apple has not been known not to drastically improve hardware on an annual basis with the iPhone. It's Usually been gradual, similar to the iPad and Apple Watch continuation form factor. The iPhone has evolved with incremental improvements in terms of the hardware when you break it down.

If you look at the differences of hardware in terms of the iPhone 6/6S/7, factor in the stereo speakers, haptic home button, dual camera, reduced Antenna lines, 3D Touch, 7000 Series aluminum. When you consider all the hardware features that have been added over the years, which some may find improved and others may not.

Furthermore, perhaps certain technology was not prepared or readily available until now with the iPhone eight and the overall major changes coming to the OLED model.

I'm not sure I expected every year, but there was a certain expectation that Apple set for at least every other year. At least the 'tick' 'tock' cycle was something frequently mentioned on MacRumors as a certain gospel as to when internal upgrades would happen and when design changes would happen.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

Why should they?

You're right, we should have kept the iPhone 4 design until now. I mean it's one of the best iPhone design right?

Who gives a crap about bigger screen for multimedia right? 3.5" not big enough for you? Then go somewhere else. Am i right? Am i Right??

 

[eyoungren]

You're right, we should have kept the iPhone 4 design until now. I mean it's one of the best iPhone design right?

Who gives a crap about bigger screen for multimedia right? 3.5" not big enough for you? Then go somewhere else. Am i right? Am i Right??

I disagree. It should be the 3GS.

 

[omelet1978]

I think the fact that the iPhone 8 is going to have very limited availability at launch is whats making me scratch my head. In addition to them doing the regular iPhone 7s and 7s plus.

I think it would have better to just do a redesign last year (cutting down the bezels on the plus model especially) and then doing the regular 7s and 7s Plus cycle. That way this new iPhone would have been ready and it would have been the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus next year.

 

[regkilla]

Hi,

I was just wondering why Apple didn't introduce a new design for the iPhone 7 and 7+ last year?

I bounce back and forth between Apple and Android and currently have an S8 as my phone and an Apple IPad Pro 10.5 as my main computer and it's replaced my laptop. The new ipad leaves everything else in the dust by the way. However, while the iPhone 7+ I owned for a while was a solid phone, I'm still scratching my head on them using the same basic design 3 cycles in a row for the iPhone.

Any reasoning for this? Did they have a design that was not ready or something like that?

Why would an iPad Pro replace a laptop?

 

[aneftp]

The new era of smartphones launched by Apple in 2007 had so many changes especially in the first 4-5 years with single
Core to dual core to quad core processors (android). Cameras quality getting better and better. Screens becoming high resolutions. And of course phones getting bigger.

Apple has always been known to be slow to changes. Took them 5 generations just to increase phone size from 3.5 to 4 inches.

Saying all that. Smartphones have mature. Everyone knows that. 3 years is likely the norm form Apple phones now in terms of form factor. They will update internal parts etc. but the shell is the same. It's just apple.

Look at my 27 inch late 2012 iMac. Apple still using the same design form factor in 2017. Same with MacBooks pro and MacBook Air.

Just apple being apple. Subtle changes.

 

[Sunny1990]

I disagree. It should be the 3GS.

Or maybe iPhone 5 with bigger dimensions and flush camera ;p

 

[Applejuiced]

You cannot reinvent the wheel every few years.
What difference as far as looks/design can you keep making to a smartphone?
Its a flat touchscreen device with a headpiece you put to your ear and a mic on the bottom that you talk into.
How many ways different can you make that concept look like and what are you scratching your head about?
All we will see from now on is marginal updates as far as software and hardware and small gimmick features such as wireless charging, more storage, faster processor/internals etc..

I'm still scratching my head on them using the same basic design 3 cycles in a row for the iPhone.
Any reasoning for this? Did they have a design that was not ready or something like that?

 

[SoN1NjA]

There’s nothing wrong with the design, but I expected a new design (although love the new camera bulge, smoother now)

But... I think there’s a trend y’all:

• 2G to 3G new
• 3G to 4 new
• 4 to 5 new
• 5 to 6 new
• 6 to 7 not new

 

[eyoungren]

There’s nothing wrong with the design, but I expected a new design (although love the new camera bulge, smoother now)

But,
3GS to 4 new
4 to 5 new
5 to 6 new
6 to 7 not new

I clicked like to your post because I agree with the cycle you stated (I posted that myself as well).

But we differ when it comes to the camera bulge. That's one of the reasons I hate this series of iPhones.

 

[SoN1NjA]

I clicked like to your post because I agree with the cycle you stated (I posted that myself as well).

But we differ when it comes to the camera bulge. That's one of the reasons I hate this series of iPhones.

No I love it

Before with 6 & 6s it was awkward and it looks like “****, forgot about the camera, let’s put it here?”

Now it’s part of the design, the aluminum forms around it and smoothly build up to it; and it’s great looking! If I can find it, there’s a mock-up of a Jet Black iPad with the 7 camera bump, hot!!

 

[titrau]

Very Simple
____________

1- 2007-2017 = 10 yrs birthday so they save

2- apple know they still selling good same design and not need redesign
for maintime , no hurry

 

[joeblow7777]

Either what they needed wasn't ready last year, or they wanted to wait for the 10th anniversary, or a bit of both.

 

[aneftp]

There’s nothing wrong with the design, but I expected a new design (although love the new camera bulge, smoother now)

But,
2G to 3G new
3G to 4 new
4 to 5 new
5 to 6 new
6 to 7 not new

Just want to add. The 2007 iPhone and the 2008 iPhone 3G were essentially the same exact iPhone in terms of screen, processor, camera and ram. Basically apple had to make it plastic in 2008 cause of poor cell phone antennas in the 2007 iPhone. All they did was add a 3G chip. And apple sold millions basically just changing to a plastic iPhone. Lol. That's the apple way. And consumers fall for it all the time.

 

[Pakaku]

You're right, we should have kept the iPhone 4 design until now. I mean it's one of the best iPhone design right?

Who gives a crap about bigger screen for multimedia right? 3.5" not big enough for you? Then go somewhere else. Am i right? Am i Right??

Screen size doesn't exactly fall under "redesign" as far as I know
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3GS to 4?
4s to 5?
5s to 6?

The 5 doesn't really seem like a redesign, just a screen-size boost. The back is a little different, but the case details are more or less the same.

Same to be said about the 3G being more-or-less a different 2G. So by that sort of thinking, the 7 not beign redesigned after the 6 and 6S is on the same schedule as ever.

And actually, if the next phone is supposed to have reduced bezels, no home-button, and a camera cut-out, then the 6/6S/7 really is on the same 3-4 year cycle that the 2G/3G/3GS and 4/4S/5/5S have been on.

 

[eyoungren]

Screen size doesn't exactly fall under "redesign" as far as I know
[doublepost=1503285675][/doublepost]
The 5 doesn't really seem like a redesign, just a screen-size boost. The back is a little different, but the case details are more or less the same.

Same to be said about the 3G being more-or-less a different 2G. So by that sort of thinking, the 7 not beign redesigned after the 6 and 6S is on the same schedule as ever.

You're making your argument while missing a few of my points. I never brought up anything before the 3GS. The 3GS to the 4 was a different design, and while you argue that the 5 was more of a size change over the 4/4s, I think it's very different to go from a glass back to an aluminum back. It was also thinner.

The 6, while I didn't like it was different as well.

People got used to the tick-tock cycle so they were expecting a redesign with the 7. While Apple can do anything they like, this was an expected change by the user base that didn't happen.

 

[44267547]

I'm not sure I expected every year, but there was a certain expectation that Apple set for at least every other year. At least the 'tick' 'tock' cycle was something frequently mentioned on MacRumors as a certain gospel as to when internal upgrades would happen and when design changes would happen.

I have had this discussion with you before. Or at least I have read your viewpoints in prior threads. I know you were one that seemingly was frustrated due to the fact that Apple did not change the physical design of the iPhone over a three-year span, which you have commented you were not wanting to purchase the same design iPhone annually. (Aside from your camera bump dislikes as well.)

As I have aforementioned in Post #1, I think the changes have primarily been present, it's just not been an overhauled chassis some work Expecting. Those 'changes' obviously included the camera upgrade, Haptic
Home button, stereo speakers, etc. Maybe those changes Did not meet everyone's preferences, but they significant changes in terms in of functionality over design. (I also used the example of the Apple Watch likely seeing a three year pattern with the same design)

And everything I read on Macurmors, I don't take it literally. Regardless of the tick-tock cycle said, Apple is a company that has thrown us for a loop before and they don't follow everybody's wish list of what they want. And I can respect that about this company. At least in the success of the iPhone as it currently stands.

 

[eyoungren]

I have had this discussion with you before. Or at least I have read your viewpoints in prior threads. I know you were one that seemingly was frustrated due to the fact that Apple did not change the physical design of the iPhone over a three-year span, which you have commented you were not wanting to purchase the same design iPhone annually. (Aside from your camera bump dislikes as well.)

As I have aforementioned in Post #1, I think the changes have primarily been present, it's just not been an overhauled chassis some work Expecting. Those 'changes' obviously included the camera upgrade, Haptic
Home button, stereo speakers, etc. Maybe those changes Did not meet everyone's preferences, but they significant changes in terms in of functionality over design. (I also used the example of the Apple Watch likely seeing a three year pattern with the same design)

And everything I read on Macurmors, I don't take it literally. Regardless of the tick-tock cycle said, Apple is a company that has thrown us for a loop before and they don't follow everybody's wish list of what they want. And I can respect that about this company. At least in the success of the iPhone as it currently stands.

Oh yes, we've had the conversation many times. Which is why I tried to be as succinct as I could in my reply. You already know my arguments.

I don't deny internal changes over time. In fact that is often cited as a reason to upgrade here on MR. It's just not the reason I upgrade.

I also don't deny incremental physical changes over time either. But the 5 looks different than the 4 and the 6 looks different then the 5 so there was that expectation that the 7 would look different than the 6. And while there were some physical changes I'd argue it was more of an incremental refit.

But you've heard that last part before. At this point I'm not arguing (much) with you because I respect your viewpoints and arguments. Particularly the last bit about Apple. That's one thing we can agree on is that Apple typically does what they percieve to be best for Apple.

 

[noisycats]

I think the reason is two fold.
1. The smartphone is a maturing market with current technology and manufacturing methods. There is a limit to how 'new' every reiteration can be.
2. Apple wanted to push the boundaries for the 8, and decided to limit the resources towards the 7 so more engineering time could be spent on the 8.

Only so many engineers and logistics chains to go around.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

They should have released the upcoming 7s as the previous 7 series with the glass back. It's not a big change, but at least, a certain refit.

Then this year, they could have focused pretty much entirely on the iphone 8. People think, oh the 7s is similar as the 7, so i'll go for the 8.

Heck, if the 4s and 5 came out at the same time, who wouldn't go for the iphone 5.

 

[noisycats]

They should have released the upcoming 7s as the previous 7 series with the glass back. It's not a big change, but at least, a certain refit.

Then this year, they could have focused pretty much entirely on the iphone 8. People think, oh the 7s is similar as the 7, so i'll go for the 8.

Heck, if the 4s and 5 came out at the same time, who wouldn't go for the iphone 5.

If they go ahead with current rumors for a 7s and 8, I think price will be a determining factor for many. I feel the 8 will be expensive!

 

[titrau]

I think this year apple will bring big suprise for all

i remember last 2 year ( T.Cook ) he speak out before keynote and this year he quite

6S = new iphone will blow people mind
7= new iphone people cant live without it
8 = ( dont see )