iPhone 7 release date, specs rumors: Home button to disappear?
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are barely a year old, and yet, Apple fans are already checking out information about the upcoming new iPhone.
The latest from the rumor mill suggests that for the next iPhone, Apple will be deciding to slug it out with competitors in the hybrid phablet industry, taking on other offerings such as Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 5, and other large-sized smartphones. Additionally, it seems that the Cupertino-based company will be doing away with the iconic Home button.
In a report by tech site Silicon Angle, a noted German designer worked on render images commissioned by German-based ComputerBild. Images from designer Martin Hajek's portfolio show the new phone without a physical home button.
Even without the physical button, the display area still remains the same, as the rendered images show Hajek incorporating the Touch ID sensor in the display. Additionally, the overhauled display interface is updated with the new Force Touch technology, introduced by Apple on its Apple Watch. The update seems to dovetail with predictions made by another Apple observer, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Aside from the absent Home button, there are also subtle differences between the rendered images and what Apple has come out with on previous iPhone versions. The edges seem curvier and made of industry plastic. Additionally, a thinner bezel and incorporating the Touch ID sensor will let the iPhone 7 have a display bigger than its predecessors'. Also, the space is made more minimalist by relocating the speakers, camera, and proximity sensor to the top edge of the phone.
The iPhone 7 will also try to make improvements in the camera department, with the shooter having a dual lens feature that will let users take excellent shots even in low-light conditions. Images captured on the new camera will also have reduced noise and better SLR-like qualities.
It should be noted though that the renders are based on purported reports and fan wishlists, and Apple has not yet unveiled official details on the upcoming iPhone.
