As we're probably just a little more than a month away from the anticipated official announcement of the iPhone 7 release date, there has been a lot more buzz and curiosity surrounding Apple's next flagship smartphone. Via PhoneArena, alleged iPhone 7 leaked pictures surfaced on a Chinese Weibo site. While we've already seen many images of purported iPhone 7 devices, the latest images show us something new: will Apple have a 3.5mm to Lightning adapter cable?
As you may already know by now, the iPhone 7 will feature a design very similar to the iPhone 6, but is expected to boast a significantly thinner body. How thin? Thin enough to omit the 3.5mm headphone jack in order to lose that fraction of a millimeter. Until we recognize that all smartphones have curves, these are the measures that smartphones will have to make to prove their worth.
However, it's also clear that consumers aren't so quick to give up their wired headphones just yet – an image shows an earphone connected to an adapter that plugs into the iPhone 7's lightning port.
Obviously, the generic earphones and janky looking adapter are not up to the world-renowned design standards that Apple has always been known for. That said, what we're seeing could be a prototype. At the very least, it suggests that Apple is considering this option.
But wait, there's more. Early rumors claimed the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Pro would feature a unique dual rear camera and Smart connector for peripherals like the Smart Keyboard or the Apple Pencil. Meanwhile, the standard 4.7-inch iPhone 7 would continue offering the familiar single camera setup. However, new photos from Weibo, via NWE, reveal a base iPhone 7 Plus that slots under the 7 Pro and features most of the same basic features as the standard 4.7-inch iPhone.
Another interesting detail found in the images is the purported model designation on the back of the case. The signature "S" moniker suggests the upcoming devices could be named the iPhone 7S, iPhone 7S Plus and iPhone 7S Pro later this year. You may think Apple is skipping the normal "7" moniker to convey a significant technological leap, but the real answer may be simpler than that – Apple may want to call its 2017 mid-cycle phone the iPhone 8 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.
What are your thoughts on the 3.5mm headphone to lightning cable adapter as well as the changes made to the iPhone 7, er, iPhone 7S (we don't even know anymore)? Let us know in the comments below:
