iPhone 7 Plus Follow-up Images Reignite Smart Connector Rumors

Following yesterday's circulation of iPhone 7 case images, NWE this morning posted another series of shots from the same "reliable" source, this time including what looks like the larger iPhone 7 Plus handset with dual-lens camera.

iPhone-7-vs-iPhone-7Plus-Pro-Dummies
The additional iPhone 7 pictures offer a few more angles of a possibly fully assembled 4.7-inch device, without revealing anything particularly new, so we've reproduced them here merely for completion.

iPhone 7
Readers will note that the power/standby button, volume controls and mute switch can be made out on the sides of the case, while the metallic Apple logo appears to have been fitted, but the images still leave us none the wiser as to whether this device has a headphone jack or not.

iPhone-7-Plus-Dummy-03
The iPhone 7 Plus images on the other hand at least rekindle another salient talking point: the three holes on the bottom of the case's back side indicating a possible Smart Connector. Such a connector is designed to provide power and a data connection to accessories like keyboards, at least on the iPad Pro, but it's not entirely clear what its purpose would be on a 5.5-inch handset.

The possibility of a Smart Connector being exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus has been the subject of a number of rumors, including both as a potential inclusion on the device and an idea already scrapped by Apple. Third-party cases have also fueled conflicting rumors on the existence of such a connector.

iPhone-7-Plus-Dummy-01
Another image offers a view of the front of what looks like an almost fully-assembled 5.5-inch handset, which appears to show a traditional physical clickable home button, rather than the rumored flush touch-sensitive one, a feature likely reserved for the tenth-anniversary OLED iPhone expected in 2017.

Again, the angle of the shot makes it hard to know for sure whether the headphone jack is gone or not. Elsewhere, eagle-eyed readers will have also noted the odd lack of a mute switch on the side of device, usually found next to the volume buttons.

Alleged leaks aside, both devices are expected to be officially unveiled by Apple in the fall. In addition to the aforementioned features, the smartphones are expected to have faster Apple A10 processors, 32GB of base storage, improved waterproofing, and faster LTE and Wi-Fi.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Friday June 27, 2025 9:52 am PDT by
Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...

Top Rated Comments

realeric Avatar
117 months ago
We need Steve Jobs. Seriously.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarHeadz Avatar
117 months ago
We need Steve Jobs. Seriously.
Give it up already. It's old. He's dead. Deal with it.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KJL3000 Avatar
117 months ago
Where is the mute switch?!
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diddl14 Avatar
117 months ago
So the biggest question is "will it have a headphone jack" and than guess what...they don't make a picture of the bottom
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
littyboy Avatar
117 months ago
The 7 Plus's camera looks so ugly that it makes the 7 look nice... that's how sad this is.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
117 months ago
Actually, I thought about that a while ago. They might remove it so you're able to mute the phone by using Siri. And they can add a mute button to the control bar.
Would be okay for me.
Imo a quick hard mute switch is a necessity on a phone. It's annoying enough the iPad lost it.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)