Evidence is piling up that this year’s iPhone launch won’t be a major upgrade. Now there’s an image that, if real, could prove it.
NoWhereElse, a France-based technology site that has leaked several accurate images of Apple (AAPL) devices in the past, has published photos of what it says is the next iPhone, believed to be known as the iPhone 7.
The images, obtained by an unidentified source, follow earlier rumors that Apple would change where the antenna lines used to connect to cellular networks would be placed as well as reports that the company has a big lens planned for its upcoming handset.
The images show the prominent black Apple logo in the middle along with what appears to be a flash and a much larger lens than owners would find in their existing iPhone 6s models. The lens sits at the top-left of the back of the hardware, while the antenna lines are situated along the top and bottom borders. They appear to wrap around the back of the device towards the front.
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To be fair, the iPhone in the image might not be the real thing. It’s possible that it’s just a mockup or even a fake that someone created based on earlier rumors. It’s also possible it’s one of the many device designs Apple tests before it picks a final design. Simply put, until Apple confirms it’s real (which it won’t) or actually unveils the iPhone, there’s no way to know for sure whether it’s the real thing.
That said, there have been an increasing number of reports over the last few months suggesting that Apple will only deliver a minor upgrade in the iPhone it’s expected to launch later this year. Those reports say that the device, which is expected to be known as the iPhone 7, could come with a design that’s strikingly similar to the iPhone 6s Apple launched last year. However, Apple is expected to tweak its design by moving its antenna lines and making room for a bigger camera lens. The company will also likely upgrade internal components to make it far more powerful than its current handset.
Https://twitter.com/NowhereElseFr/status/752431818251567104
If that’s the case, the chassis in the photographs published by NoWhereElse could be the real thing. If that chassis is the real thing, it would also lend credence to rumors that Apple is waiting until next year to offer a major iPhone upgrade, possibly featuring an all-glass enclosure and new display technology.
It’s perhaps also worth noting that there have been several other alleged iPhone 7 photos. Many of those show devices with the same design as the one published on Monday by NoWhereElse.
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Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
