The iPhone 7 rumor mill is in full force, with ETNews and AppleInsider bringing hints that longer battery life, better Wi-Fi connectivity and a second speaker to replace the 3.5 mm headphone jack could be in store for Apple’s next iPhone.
EMI Shielding For All iPhone Chips Could Yield Better Connectivity, Longer Battery Life
According to industry sources for Korean IT news source ETNews, Apple is planning to apply Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) shields to every major chip inside the iPhone 7. EMI shields cover electrical components with an ultra-thin layer of metal that blocks off electromagnetic waves and reduces unexpected signals that occur due to the interference. Apple already applies EMIs to iPhone motherboards and lightning connectors, but this latest rumor suggests the company will apply the covers to multiple independent chips inside the next iPhone. The rumors allege the shields could be places on the radio frequency chip, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity chips as well as application processors and modems.
Adding EMI covers to more components inside the iPhone 7 could lead to better cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The shields may also reduce the amount of radiation exposure users get when making calls or completing other functions on their iPhones.
With less interference, chips in the iPhone 7 could be placed closer together allowing room for a larger battery which may yield longer battery life in the next iPhone. It could also allow the company continue its trend of creating impossibly thin devices.
With the addition of EMI shielding, the cost to produce chips could be higher and may or may not be reflected in the iPhone 7 price on release. If the EMI covers alleviate some of the pervasive connectivity and battery life problems in the next iPhone, however, customers may be willing to consider a slightly more costly upgrade.
iPhone 7 May Lose Headphone Jack For Second Stereo Speaker
But besides improved connectivity and longer battery life, the rumor mill has also brought more whispers that the next iPhone could lose its 3.5 mm headphone jack. According to AppleInsider, analysts Blayne Curtis and Christopher Hemmelgarn believe the headphone jack could be replaced with an additional speaker that would offer iPhone users a stereo experience. If the headphone jack does disappear in the iPhone 7, then the device is expected to ship with its own Lightning-equipped headphones.
When Will iPhone 7 Release?
The iPhone 7 release date is expected to arrive in September 2016 along with the next mobile operating system, iOS 10. Rumors so far claim the next iPhone could come with an improved camera and more powerful processor (A10) along with the possibility of three different screen sizes ranging from 4 to 5.5 inches.
While no solid details have yet been leaked regarding what the iPhone 7 will look like, a source for MacRumors claims the next iPhone will maintain the same design as the iPhone 6S. The body however, could be composed of a more sturdy composite material that may also increase water resistance.
