iPhone 7 Pro release date, news and rumors
Apple is widely expected to launch both an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September, but there’s growing evidence that a third phone could join them, dubbed the iPhone 7 Pro.
If the rumors are true, the Pro would likely slot in above the iPhone 7 Plus in terms of both price and features – and it could be the most interesting and innovative handset of the bunch.
There aren’t as many rumors circulating about the Pro as about the other two handsets, which, along with such a move being a break from tradition for Apple, is why we can’t be certain of its existence – and there are also questions as to whether it’s just a prototype for the iPhone 7 Plus.
However, that hasn’t stopped us from collecting all the reliable information we have about the iPhone 7 Pro, from its specs and features to a likely price – so if it does indeed exist, here’s the form it’s likely to take…
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A powerful, professional iPhone
- When is it out? Probably September 2016
- What will it cost? More than any other iPhone
iPhone 7 Pro release date
The iPhone 7 Pro is bound to launch alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – if it launches at all. That in all likelihood means September, as in the last few years Apple has always launched its flagship phones in September, and with iOS 10 landing in the autumn it seems unlikely that this schedule will change.
iPhone 7 Pro design
Apple isn’t expected to veer far from the iPhone 6S design with any of its iPhone 7 models, which means you can expect the iPhone 7 Pro to be a slim metal handset, with the iconic Touch ID sensor below the screen.
The early looks at the iPhone 7 Pro haven’t been hugely illuminating, but we have seen one image, above, that’s claimed to show the Pro alongside the two other iPhone 7s. There are serious doubts over whether the pictures are legitimate, though, with the ‘S’ logo on the back of the phone not something we’ll be seeing this year – unless we get the iPhone 6SS, which seems pretty unlikely.
Moving back to the likely design, rumors suggest the antenna bands will be moved to the top and bottom edges of the phone, where they’d be less visible – you can see this placement in the image below, which was obtained by Mac Otakara.
And while the overall look might be similar to that of the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 7 Pro, along with the other iPhone 7 models, could feature water and dust resistance, according to several rumors.
One rumoured change which may prove less popular is the removal of the headphone jack. There’s been a lot of debate over whether or not this will happen, and we still don’t know for certain, but the most recent rumors suggest its days are numbered.
The Pro’s overall appearance is likely to be similar to the iPhone 7 Plus, but with the addition of a Smart Connector, which takes the form of three dots on the back. This is inherited from the iPad Pro range, which there allows for the connection of a keyboard.
A phone would seem an awkward fit for an add-on keyboard, but it’s a possibility – or perhaps Apple will unveil some other accessories to use with the Pro.
As well as a few images we’ve also seen a schematic. This mentions the iPhone 7 Pro by name and largely lines up with the images, but includes the detail that it will apparently be 7.3mm thick – the same as the iPhone 6S Plus.
iPhone 7 Pro screen
It’s likely that the iPhone 7 Pro will have the same size screen as the iPhone 7 Plus, which itself is expected to have a 5.5-inch one, just like previous Plus models.
There’s been vague talk of a resolution boost on this year’s iPhone, but not much mention of one, so we’re sceptical. However, if any of the iPhone 7 models get an increase in resolution the iPhone 7 Pro seems the most likely candidate, as it’s set to sit at the top of the range, and being higher resolution than the iPhone 7 Plus would help set it apart.
But for now it’s looking like a 1080p resolution is what we’ll most likely see, just like the iPhone 6S Plus.
iPhone 7 Pro rivals
The iPhone 7 Pro is likely to have a lot in common with the iPhone 7 Plus, so that in itself could be a rival, as the screen size and designs will likely be much the same and both phones will run iOS 10.
Beyond that Samsung is likely to give it some competition with the Galaxy Note 7, which is expected to be big, powerful and packed full of features, like an iris scanner and a curved screen.
iPhone 7 Pro camera and battery
One thing that’s looking very likely is that the iPhone 7 Pro will have a dual-lens camera, likely a 12MP one. This has been pictured numerous times, such as in the image below, obtained by Nowhereelse.fr, though it’s also been linked to the iPhone 7 Plus, so it’s not clear if both phones will get it, but if only one does the Pro seems more likely, as it’s set to be more expensive.
There’s not much battery news and as the iPhone 7 Pro is a new type of device from Apple we can’t simply look at the previous model for pointers, though as it’s likely to be the same sort of size as the Plus model it may have a similar battery spec to the iPhone 6S Plus, which has a 2750mAh juice pack.
If anything it might be a bit bigger though, as Apple is rumored to be using Fan-Out technology to reduce the space components takes up, leaving more room for a big battery.
iPhone 7 Pro OS and power
We haven’t heard anything about the iPhone 7 Pro’s power, but a hexa-core A10 processor has been hinted at for the iPhone 7, and the 7 Pro is bound to be at least as beastly.
That will be coupled with at least 2GB of RAM, since that’s what the current models offer, but don’t be surprised if Apple beefs that up to 3GB or 4GB, especially in the Pro model, as it’s done with the iPad Pro.
What we can be almost certain of is that the iPhone 7 Pro will run iOS 10, as this has been announced, is in beta and will be launching in full later this year. It includes more detailed lock screen notifications, a new look for Control Center, improvements to Siri and a whole lot more.
iPhone 7 Pro other features
There are a number of other features we might see on the iPhone 7 Pro, some of which are likely to appear on the other iPhone 7 models too. These include wireless charging and a pressure sensitive home button, which may work a bit like the 3D Touch tech used in the screen.
One thing which could be unique to the iPhone 7 Pro though is four speakers – two on the bottom edge and two on the top.
That rumor largely stems from images such as the one above, from Nowhereelse.fr, which supposedly show a leaked case prototype. With few other suggestions of that many speakers they’re probably fake, or based on an early prototype of the phone, but the iPad Pro has four, so it’s a possibility.
If they are accurate the other iPhone 7 models could also be in for a speaker boost, especially as the camera design suggests this case is actually for the standard iPhone 7, but as it’s an iPad Pro feature the iPhone 7 Pro seems the single most likely candidate for it.
iPhone 7 Pro cost
Two separate sources, one posting to Weibo and another to WeChat, have mentioned the existence of the iPhone 7 Pro and attached Chinese prices to it.
According to both it will start at 7088 yuan for a 32GB model, rise to 7888 yuan for a 128GB one and top out at 8888 yuan for a 256GB handset.
A direct price conversion here is unlikely to be accurate and none of those prices quite line up with existing iPhone models, but if these prices are right we’re probably looking at around £720/US$880/AU$1420 for the 32GB version, £800/US$965/AU$1600 for a 128GB one and £915/US$1120/AU$1800 for a 256GB version.
iPhone 7 Pro: what we want to see
As leaks and rumors continue to pour in about the iPhone 7 Pro we’ve also given some thought to the features we’d like to see. Some of these are likely, others not so much, but they’d make for a great phone.
A screen to rival the best
Apple’s phones have good screens, but relative to rivals they don’t have sharp screens, so that’s one area we’d really like to see improved and with its ‘Pro’ marketing the iPhone 7 Pro is in prime position to do that.
Pump the resolution up to QHD or higher and it could be extra appealing to digital artists and mobile photo editors, who want a clear view of their work. But it would also benefit everyone else, especially if the screen is as large as we’re expecting.
A brave new design
It’s largely expected that Apple won’t change the design of its phones much this year, instead waiting until 2017 to reinvent them in time for the 10 year anniversary of the iPhone.
Almost everything so far suggests the iPhone 7 Pro will look a lot like the iPhone 6S Plus, with a few minor changes like relocated antenna bands and a smart connector, but if that turns out to be wrong and in fact Apple has kept a completely new design under wraps it would be a huge win for the company.
It’s very unlikely, but it would definitely get people talking and, more importantly from Apple’s perspective, buying.
A bunch of smart accessories
One of the key likely features of the iPhone 7 Pro is a Smart Connector, but it’s also one of the biggest mysteries, as it’s not clear what it would be used for here.
With the likes of the LG G5 and Moto Z exploring modular accessories over in Android land it would be great if Apple did similar here, giving us all manner of things to clip onto our iPhone, from keyboards, to speakers, battery packs and more. We wouldn’t count on a wide range of high-tech accessories, but we’d like there to be.
A big battery
Mediocre battery life has long plagued iPhones and many other handsets and it’s about time that changed. Apple is rumored to be using Fan-Out technology to shrink components, which could mean it will be able to fit a bigger juice pack in. Here’s hoping it does, rather than just slimming the phone down ever more.
Powerful beats
One of the more unlikely rumors that’s been attached to the iPhone 7 Pro is the possibility of four speakers, to pump out louder, better sounds.
It would be great to see, because smartphone audio is typically quite weedy and with four speakers the iPhone 7 Pro could leapfrog even the likes of the HTC 10, which sells its audio capabilities as a powerful feature.
A headphone jack
Sadly, it looks as though the 3.5mm headphone jack is on its way out and while there may be good reasons for cutting it the annoyances are likely to outweigh them, at least in the short term. We’re in no hurry to see it go, so how about keeping it around for a while longer Apple?
A huge display
The iPhone 7 Pro will probably have a 5.5-inch screen, just like the iPhone 7 Plus, but it seems like a great opportunity for Apple to launch a true phablet with a 5.7-inch or larger screen.
Currently Apple doesn’t have anything that can directly compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note range. Plus, by enlarging the screen the iPhone 7 Pro would be able to stand out better from the rest of the range and also be better equipped to benefit from a Smart Keyboard, if indeed Apple is planning to give it one.
Source: techradar.com
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