Apple's big iPhone event is just around the corner, and trusted analyst Ming-chi Kuo from KGI Securities is rounding up what to expect from the iPhone 7.
Kuo has been offering accurate predictions on upcoming Apple hardware for years now, and his predictions usually turn out to be spot on. That's still no guarantee for accuracy, but it does add to credibility.
In a new research note issued over the weekend, Kuo notes what we can expect from the next-generation iPhone 7 set to debut at Apple's event on Wednesday. Reputed publications such as Apple Insider, MacRumors and 9to5Mac obtained Kuo's detailed note, so here's what the analyst predicts.
More Storage
Apple has been rumored to increase the iPhone's storage capacity with the upcoming models, starting out at 32 GB for the base version and going all the way up to a hefty 256 GB of native storage space. Kuo's predictions fall in line with such rumors.
Color Options
Kuo expects Apple to launch the iPhone 7 series in as many as five color options: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Piano Black and Dark Black. The Piano Black will reportedly sport a glossy finish, while the Dark Black avatar will reportedly replace the Space Gray one. At the same time, Kuo notes that the Piano Black model may be in limited supply, possibly reserved for the higher tiers with 128 GB and 256 GB of storage.
RAM
Apple has been lagging behind rivals when it comes to the amount of RAM its iPhones pack, but the iPhone 7 series will reportedly up the game. The iPhone 7 is expected to pack the same 2 GB of RAM as existing models, but the larger iPhone 7 Plus should go up to 3 GB of RAM.
Camera
The iPhone 7 Plus is expected to boast a wide-angle camera and a telephoto camera, making up a dual-lens camera system with 12-megapixel shooters. This combo will reportedly offer not just advanced functionality similar to optical zoom, but also "light field camera applications" that could involve some refocusing option after taking the photo.
Durability
The iPhone 7 will up the ante in terms of durability, as it is expected to boast IPX7 certification for water resistance, just like the Apple Watch.
No Headphone Jack
It's been rumored time and time again, and Kuo confirms that the upcoming iPhone 7 will no longer have a headphone jack. The analyst expects Apple to ship the iPhone with a Lightning connector, a Lightning to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter and EarPod headphones in the box. Otherwise, iPhone fans would have to purchase that adapter themselves, separately.
Faster, Better Processor
Apple could clock its new A10 processor at up to 2.4 or 2.45 GHz, which would give the iPhone 7 a substantial speed increase over the existing iPhone 6s model that packs an Apple A9 processor clocked at 1.85 GHz. The chip will be made by TSMC.
Other
The iPhone 7 is further expected to sport some other changes, such as laser technology for the proximity sensor, four LEDs (two warm and two cool) for the camera flash, a wider color gamut for the display, and more.
It remains to be seen which rumors and predictions will turn out to be accurate, so it's still advisable to take things with a grain of salt for now. With the iPhone 7 launch event just around the corner, however, Apple will make everything official soon enough.
