iPhone 7 UK release date, specs & new features rumours: iPhone 7 to get 12Mp six-element lens camera
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are here, but watchers are looking ahead to the next new iPhone, the iPhone 7, set to arrive in a matter of weeks. Here we reveal the iPhone 7 UK release date and specs rumours. When is the iPhone 7 coming out?
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus arrived in September, but now that we're well into 2015 it's no surprise that chatter about what's next for Apple's smartphone is getting louder and clearer. Here's everything we know about the iPhone 7 release date, specs, new features and design rumours and bring you the latest iPhone 7 speculation to help you stay up-to-date with the latest iPhone 7 news, rumours and leaks. When is the iPhone 7 coming out? Updated 17/8/15 with new reports regarding the implimentation of Force Touch technology, as well as a video comparing an iPhone 6 shell with a next-generation iPhone 7 shell.
iPhone 7 rumours: Isn't it going to be the iPhone 6S?
Some of you might be thinking, isn't it going to be called the iPhone 6S next? After all, Apple has released an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and now iPhone 6 (alongside the iPhone 6 Plus). So if history repeats itself, it's likely that the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 6S rather than the iPhone 7. See also: iPhone 5S vs iPhone 6 comparison
However, Apple has surprised us somewhat over the past two years, releasing an iPhone 5C alongside the iPhone 5S in 2013, and an iPhone 6 Plus alongside the iPhone 6 in 2014. We're wondering whether Apple might soon decide to ditch the numbers completely and stick with iPhone, iPhone Plus and iPhone C, perhaps. Or, simply ditch the 'S' models and launch an iPhone 7.
In fact, reports that emerged in mid April suggest that the next iPhone is going to be so significantly different to and better than the iPhone 6 that Apple has decided the iPhone 6S name doesn't fit, and instead will launch an iPhone 7 this autumn.
No one knows for sure yet though, so you'll see both terms used within this article, although primarily iPhone 7 to keep things simple.
iPhone 7 release date rumours: When is the new iPhone 7 coming out?
Looking back over the recent history of Apple's iPhone launches, it's likely that the iPhone 7 will be unveiled at a special event in September 2015. It will be a little while until invites are sent out, though.
Our current prediction is 8 September. Why? Well, it's a complete guess, but it's an informed one. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were unveiled on 9 September, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S were unveiled on 10 September, and iPhone 5 was on 12 September. Apple goes for Tuesday or Wednesday launches (more often Tuesdays) so Tuesday 8 September 2015 is our iPhone 7 prediction.
According to Mobile News, the new iPhone will be released on September 25. It’s claimed that the blog received an internal email from Vodafone, which outlines the prelaunch plans and includes two dates: September 18 for pre-orders and September 25 for the launch. We’re not sure of the authenticity of the email and since the rumoured launch is months away, there’s still a chance that these dates could change.
However, opposing rumours suggest that the iPhone 7 could actually arrive in August, a few weeks earlier than expected.. The Economic Daily News has cited supply-chain sources who allegedly say that the iPhone 7 is in production already, and will launch a month earlier than we first thought. We're taking this rumour with a pinch of salt for now, unless any further evidence emerges. And of course, if it does we'll update you right here.
Update 10 August: August still seems unlikely, especially withSamsung's Unpacked event(for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+) taking place on 13 August. The latest iPhone 7 launch event will take place during the week beginning 7 September with Wednesday 9 September the 'most likely', just a day after our prediction. This comes via Buzzfeed as requires just as much of a pinch of salt as the other proposed dates.
The unveiling of iOS 9 and the launch of the developer preview on 8 June at WWDC 2015 offered some further clues to the features we can expect in the next iPhone model, which you can read about in the camera section below.
Latest iPhone 7 rumours: Apple places huge iPhone 7 order with suppliers as it prepares for launch
Apple is reportedly preparing to place its biggest order ever for the iPhone 7, with 85 to 95 million units set to be manufactured in China this summer ahead of the new smartphone's launch later this year. That's according to The Wall Street Journal.
It's believed that Apple asked suppliers to build 70 to 80 million units last year, so it looks like Apple is confident that the next iPhone will fly off the shelves too.
Latest iPhone 7 rumours: iPhone 7 leaked images emerge
On 30 June, the first purported iPhone 7 leaked photos emerged, and we expected that this would spark a string of many more in the months to come - and we were right.
The first images come from 9To5Mac, which claims to have obtained the images from a "proven source familiar with Apple's supply chain."
