The iPhone 8 isn't the only phone we expect Apple to
deliver before the end of the year. Nor is it the only iPhone rumored to be
giving Apple a headache at the moment. Apple is rumored to be developing an
edition of the iPhone 8 that has a reflective finish.
The company's manufacturing woes, apparently driven
by the technical complexities of producing the dramatically redesigned 10th
anniversary edition iPhone -- possibly called the iPhone 8 -- have reportedly
spread to the rumored iPhone 7S and 7S Plus in recent weeks. Now, according to
some sources, all three forthcoming models are in danger of missing Apple's
usual September delivery date.
"S" series
Apple typically delivers an "S" series
upgrade in September in odd-numbered years, like 2017. This year, however,
Apple and its suppliers are said to be struggling to mass produce the next
flagship model, possibly called the iPhone 8, as well as the iPhone 7S and 7S
Plus. According to a persistent series of reports by media, analysts, and
supply chain sources, the debut of the "S" series, which will likely
be a modestly upgraded version of the current generation iPhone 7 and 7 Plus,
may be delayed.
The iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus are currently
scheduled to start the final phase of production in August -- months behind the
normal timeline. This could result in any number of previously unthinkable
scenarios including a postponed announcement, a significantly delayed ship
date, or an announcement followed by severe product shortages. As the drama
continues to unfold, we'll collect all of the rumors below.
iPhone 7S screen
Hottest leaks:
- A sharper, OLED display
- A new size
- Improved 3D Touch
iPhone 7S design
Hottest leaks:
- A curved glass back
- A fingerprint scanner on the back
iPhone 7S Specification
- Overall, an incremental update of the current generation iPhone 7
- LCD display with TrueTone
- Apple's next-generation processor (the A10X or A11)
- Physical home button with support for Touch ID
- iOS 11
- Wireless charging
- Aluminum and/or glass case
- Enhanced waterproofing
- New color options including red
- 2GB of RAMspecs we might see:
Announcement and release dates
True to form, Apple has officially announced nothing
about the iPhone 7S or 7S Plus. And yet if this was a typical year, we'd still
have confidence that the company was set to introduce and ship the
"S" series sometime during the first half of September. According to
the relentless drumbeat of rumors, however, an unprecedented set of
manufacturing challenges has knocked this year's release schedule into
disarray.
For months, we've heard speculation that Apple may
not have the flagship iPhone 8 ready to go until late 2017. More recently, the
postponement buzz has extended this foreboding prediction to include the
"S" series; in mid-July, Economic News Daily (via MacRumors) reported
that all forthcoming iPhone models are facing "production delays."
Nothing is certain -- and we still may see the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus appear
right on schedule in early September. But October, November, and beyond remain
distinct possibilities.
iPhone 'S' series
Most reports suggest that phone sizes will remain the same,
setting the stage for a 4.7-inch iPhone 7S and 5.5-inch iPhone 7S Plus. The
"S" family is expected to have an aluminum alloy chassis (via
DigiTimes), while the iPhone 8 may get a glass and steel chassis. The
forthcoming 7S Plus is nearly certain to have two cameras on the back,
consistent with the current generation 7 Plus, though it's conceivable that the
entry-level iPhone 7S could also get two rear-facing lenses in order to make
fuller use of the AR capabilities featured in next generation of Apple's mobile
operating system's (more on that below).
Much of the speculation about the iPhone 8, and one of the
major factors said to be putting a crimp in production, involves a rumored
virtual home button and its integration with Touch ID. The iPhone 7S and 7S
Plus, however, are expected to stick with the current generation's conventional
setup: a fingerprint sensor embedded in a physical home button. We do hear that
the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will get a performance upgrade; all three 2017 models
are said to use Apple's next-generation A11 chip.
Most of the "wireless charging" rumors --
technically, it's called inductive charging -- have revolved around the iPhone
8. But the CEO of Wistron, a Taiwanese iPhone assembler, reportedly revealed
that that an upcoming 5.5-inch iPhone model -- assumed to be the 7S Plus --
would be waterproof and support wireless charging. That noted, the iPhone 8 is
said to be very similar in size to the iPhone 7 Plus, so this is one of the
murkier rumors around. Nevertheless, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo,
the next generation of iPhones will support faster USB-C-powered
"plugged-in" charges, as well as an Apple Lightning connection
iOS 11?
Potentially pretty big, given what we know so far.
Apple delivered a preview of iOS 11 at this year's WWDC and released the public
beta in June (here's how to install it). AR will be a big part of iOS 11, and
both the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus could feature dual lens rear cameras in order to
fully capitalize on iOS 11's potential. Other highlights of the mobile
operating system include a smarter, more capable Siri, screen recording, and a
new Music app. Read more about iOS 11 in our preview..
Price
Given the dearth of blockbuster features, we don't
expect Apple to tinker with the "S" series pricing too much. Expect
the iPhone 7S to start around $649 (£500 and AU$850) and the iPhone 7S Plus at
$749 (£580 and AU$980). The iPhone 8, on the other hand, is rumored to start
somewhere between $850 and $1,200.
