Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
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iPhone 7 Suppliers Prepare for Dual-Lens Camera, Possible Stereo Speakers
Apple's chip suppliers including Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices (ADI) have started to book production capacity for the rumored iPhone 7 at their foundry and backend partners, according to DigiTimes. iPhone 7 production is expected to ramp up in the second and third quarters, ahead of the smartphone's launch in September.
Cirrus Logic is notable given that Barclays analysts believe the iPhone 7 will have dual speakers supplied by the Austin-based company. In a research note to investors, Barclays said the second speaker will likely take over the space currently occupied by the 3.5mm headphone jack on current iPhones.
Multiple sources have reported that Apple will remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and connecting peripherals. The device would also expectedly support Bluetooth headphones, and a digital-to-analog adapter could allow use of non-Lightning wired headphones.
iPhone 7 mockup with no rear antenna bands and flush camera
Meanwhile, at least one iPhone 7 or 7 Plus model is expected to have a dual-lens camera system, with driver components supplied by ADI, the report claims. The dual-lens hardware could be based on LinX technology, which could lead to brighter and clearer DSLR-quality photos and several other major advantages.
LinX's multi-aperture cameras pack impressive image quality in a smaller size than single-aperture cameras, meaning the iPhone 7 Plus could also lack a protruding camera lens. A flush camera would allow the iPhone 7 to lay flat on a table, like older-generation iPhones, and it would contribute to a slimmer iPhone design.
The report also corroborates rumors claiming Apple will move away from Samsung and source most or all of its A10 chips for the iPhone 7 from its longtime Taiwanese supplier TSMC. The foundry has reportedly been aggressively expanding its 16nm FinFET production capacity and expects to begin volume production of chips based on its integrated fan-out (InFO) technology in the second quarter.
In late September, hardware teardowns showed the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus use different-sized A9 chips from Samsung and TSMC. Samsung's 14-nanometer chip measures in at 96 square millimeters, while TSMC's 16-nanometer chip has a size of 104.5 square millimeters.
The difference between the chips is small in size, but early benchmarks found TSMC's A9 chip outperformed Samsung's in battery life by up to 22 percent. Apple later stated there is only 2-3 percent variance in "real world" battery life between the chips, which shortly after was proven by controlled battery life tests.
Other rumors claim the iPhone 7 could have a fully waterproof design, no rear antenna bands, and wireless charging if readied in time.
Cirrus Logic is notable given that Barclays analysts believe the iPhone 7 will have dual speakers supplied by the Austin-based company. In a research note to investors, Barclays said the second speaker will likely take over the space currently occupied by the 3.5mm headphone jack on current iPhones.
Multiple sources have reported that Apple will remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and connecting peripherals. The device would also expectedly support Bluetooth headphones, and a digital-to-analog adapter could allow use of non-Lightning wired headphones.
Meanwhile, at least one iPhone 7 or 7 Plus model is expected to have a dual-lens camera system, with driver components supplied by ADI, the report claims. The dual-lens hardware could be based on LinX technology, which could lead to brighter and clearer DSLR-quality photos and several other major advantages.
LinX's multi-aperture cameras pack impressive image quality in a smaller size than single-aperture cameras, meaning the iPhone 7 Plus could also lack a protruding camera lens. A flush camera would allow the iPhone 7 to lay flat on a table, like older-generation iPhones, and it would contribute to a slimmer iPhone design.
The report also corroborates rumors claiming Apple will move away from Samsung and source most or all of its A10 chips for the iPhone 7 from its longtime Taiwanese supplier TSMC. The foundry has reportedly been aggressively expanding its 16nm FinFET production capacity and expects to begin volume production of chips based on its integrated fan-out (InFO) technology in the second quarter.
In late September, hardware teardowns showed the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus use different-sized A9 chips from Samsung and TSMC. Samsung's 14-nanometer chip measures in at 96 square millimeters, while TSMC's 16-nanometer chip has a size of 104.5 square millimeters.
The difference between the chips is small in size, but early benchmarks found TSMC's A9 chip outperformed Samsung's in battery life by up to 22 percent. Apple later stated there is only 2-3 percent variance in "real world" battery life between the chips, which shortly after was proven by controlled battery life tests.
Other rumors claim the iPhone 7 could have a fully waterproof design, no rear antenna bands, and wireless charging if readied in time.
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47 months ago
stereo speakers..
if you listen to music regularly through iPhone's loud speaker, you're just a douchebag.
This douchebag listens to EVERYTHING on my 6S plus iPhone speakers.
Settings>Preferences>Douchebag (switch to: ON)
47 months ago
stereo speakers..
if you listen to music regularly through iPhone's loud speaker, you're just a douchebag.
EDIT: referring to that idiot that blasts the Jack U + Justin Bieber tune on his iPhone at the gym every day.
if you listen to music regularly through iPhone's loud speaker, you're just a douchebag.
EDIT: referring to that idiot that blasts the Jack U + Justin Bieber tune on his iPhone at the gym every day.
47 months ago
stereo speakers..
if you listen to music regularly through iPhone's loud speaker, you're just a douchebag.
And also, what's the point of 2 speakers being on the same side? lol
47 months ago
Bye iPhone....
It will flop... dual camera ONLY for the Plus model and no headphone jack on any and no AMOLED screen ? Hello Note 6
My god man you're right! You should call Tim Cook right now and let him know.
Seeing these sorts of statements get so old. Seems people have this sort of list with every freaking update of the iPhone and yet... it keeps on selling like hot cakes.
47 months ago
One thing to be sure of is iPhones never flop.
[doublepost=1455912732][/doublepost]
One thing to be sure of is iPhones never flop.
47 months ago
The 3.5mm is an industry standard
industry standard doesn't mean anything. So it is Windows, so it was blackberry. So it was the floppy disk, so it was the monochrome monitor. And before all of that, the horse was the industry standard.
I want them to keep the 3.5mm jack, but saying that they shouldn't remove it because it's an industry standard is preposterous.
47 months ago
Agreed! I take the train frequently and this is a common occurrence. Plus when I took the train at 5:00am to the airport, thanks to the guy who was blasting the music while most people were trying to sleep/relax while on the way to work/wherever.
This is why I always have a cheap pair of dollar store headphones with me at all times. So when I come across a douchebag thats doing that, I can take them out and throw them at him.
47 months ago
Even Apple has admitted that iPhone sales have peaked.
Growth has peaked... but sales haven't stopped completely.Apple sold 230 million iPhones this past year. Even if they sell less than that this year... let's say only 200 million this year... that's still more than enough.
And remember... these are profitable phones... not cheap junk phones sold in volume that lose money on each sale like the other guys.
Apple is in a position to sell smartphones for the rest of our lives.
Meanwhile... there are other companies who I wonder if they will be around in 3 years.
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