A new leaked image of the iPhone 7's rear camera module has been posted online today (via Nowhereelse.fr), bringing with it more concrete evidence that the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 will include optical image stabilization alongside its various other camera improvements. Previous reports surrounding the smaller-screen iPhone have hinted at the inclusion of image stabilization, but today's camera module leak provides the first visual hint of its addition into the upcoming 4.7-inch iPhone.
Images via NWE
The component in question includes four small cutouts surrounding the single-lens camera, housing the springs and equipment that allow for the lens to float slightly, leading to clearer, less blurry images. The same component for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lack these cutouts. Since the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014, optical image stabilization has been limited to the "Plus" versions of Apple's smartphone, alongside features like better battery life.
With optical image stabilization now believed to be coming to both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the different camera abilities will be focused on the single-lens and dual-lens hardware for the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch versions of the smartphone. Mockups over the last few months for both devices have shown larger camera bumps when compared to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and the camera hardware in general has been believed to be one of the major selling points of an otherwise modest update year.
Currently, it's believed that Apple will reveal the iPhone 7 at an event on September 7, and open up pre-orders on September 9. The specific launch date is a bit more ambiguous, with both September 16 and September 23 flagged as potential options.
Friday January 9, 2026 8:17 am PST by Tim Hardwick
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
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Thursday January 8, 2026 2:56 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
One thing worth...
Monday January 12, 2026 7:38 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In a statement shared with CNBC today, Apple confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year.
"After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement...
Monday January 12, 2026 11:38 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Elon Musk today expressed concern about Apple and Google partnering on a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google's generative AI platform Gemini.
"This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that [they] also have Android and Chrome," wrote Musk, in a post on X.
Musk serves as CEO of xAI, the company behind Gemini competitor Grok.
It is unlikely...
Monday January 12, 2026 1:15 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 26.3, nearly a month after the first beta. So far, the update includes a couple of new features for iPhones.
iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so it is thereby likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer.
Below,...
Friday January 9, 2026 4:24 am PST by Tim Hardwick
The Unicode Consortium has published a draft list of emoji that could come to smartphones and other devices in the future. The list shared by Emojipedia outlines 19 emoji candidates under consideration for Emoji 18.0, which is expected to be finalized in September 2026.
Among the proposed additions are a squinting face emoji, left- and right-pointing thumb gestures, a pickle, a lighthouse, a ...
Monday January 12, 2026 8:48 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple and Google today announced that Google Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features.
"Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," the companies said, in a statement. "These...
Monday January 12, 2026 8:19 am PST by Joe Rossignol
iOS 26.3 will likely be released to the public later this month, but it appears that Apple is preparing to push out another software update in the interim.
Apple's software engineers have started testing iOS 26.2.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The update will likely be released at some point this week or next week.
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That's actually really good to hear. Ever since the 6 and 6 Plus were announced I've always felt like I should get the Plus just because of the better camera. Although the rumor mill is currently churning with talk of a dual camera on the Plus so I don't know.
Ahhh Apple why must you force me to get that gargantuan phone just because I like to take good photos!
As a casual, amateur, everyday person who takes only a few photos here and there, and are usually for utility purposes, I am simply amazed at the quality and tiny size of the camera's on the iPhone, and other phones too.
I can only welcome additional improvements, like this, which make the photos I take just a little bit better.
Very dissapointing that Apple still view the 4.7 incher as a sub-standard model, gimping its camera to upsell buyers to the dual lens on the Plus size. For many, a smaller iPhone with the best available camera would be even more valuable than the Plus size with the same camera. More portable means you're more likely to have it on you when shot opportunities arise.
Just a WAG, but I'll bet Jony Ive is to blame for it. The 4.7 incher would need to be thicker to house the larger camera of the Plus size. That's really unfortunate since I don't remember anyone complaining about the thickness of the iPhone 5 or even the iPhone 4.
About freaking time! When will Apple realize those of us buying the smaller phone is by our free will because we like that smaller one better?! Stop denying us the top spec stuffs.
