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iPhone 7 ‘Pro’ schematics show up in Japanese mag w/ dual camera & Smart Connector, sans headphone jack

Rumors that Apple will ditch the headphone jack with this fall’s iPhone update have been around for a while now, but Japanese magazine Mac Fan today has shared detailed design schematics of the purported iPhone 7 ‘Pro.’ According to the magazine, the device will feature the same overall size as the iPhone 6s Plus, but is expected to ditch the headphone jack and feature dual iSight cameras on the back (via Macotakara.)

Earlier rumors claimed that Apple would get rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of a thinner design, but this report claims that Apple will keep the same dimensions. More specifically, the claimed  iPhone 7 ‘Pro’ will come in at 7.3mm thick, which is the exact same as the iPhone 6s Plus and thicker than the iPhone 6 Plus, which was 7.1mm thick.

Additionally, the report notes that Apple will add a second iSight camera to the back of the device, which could perhaps be reasoning for keeping the thickness the same. Other details regarding the functionality of the dual-camera setup are scarce at this point, but we’ve seen several hints as to what Apple potentially has planned.

As a patent hinted, one possibility with this setup is that with two camera modules behind the lens and a single lens with both standard and telephoto sections, you’d be able to switch between two different focal lengths. Another possibility is that one camera module could be shooting still images, while the other records video, taking the Live Photos feature of the iPhone 6s to a whole new level. Theoretically, you could also record normal speed video and slow-mo video at the same time with a twin-camera set up.

Finally, the schematics appear to show Smart Connector support at on the back of the device. This could allow for improved battery cases and docks, and given the apparent ‘Pro’ moniker, it would make sense for it to feature the capability.

While today’s report should be taken with some skepticism, it does fall in line with what we’ve heard previously about the iPhone. Earlier this year, leaked images purportedly showed an upcoming iPhone with redesigned antenna lines and no headphone port, as well as dual-cameras on the back. Additionally, we saw images showing the Smart Connector last month, as well.

It’s certainly risky on Apple’s part to keep the same design schematics yet still remove the headphone jack, as most customers will likely assume that no headphone jack means a thinner design. Nevertheless, it looks like the camera features could be the biggest selling point of this year’s iPhone update.

You can read everything we currently know about the iPhone 7 here

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Comments

  1. Alex Moran - 8 years ago

    Still can’t believe they are keeping the same design which is arguably worst looking iPhone in a while

    • Eduardo Antonini - 8 years ago

      Still can’t believe they’re going through with that iPhone Pro nonsense.

    • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

      Lol are you joking? Apple went to rounded edges because of the size of the phone. Imagine having an iPhone 6S with the same edges than iPhone 5 and 5S in your hands. It would feel extremely uncomfortable because of the sharp edges.

      The sharp vertical edges of iPhone 5 is only good for smaller phones like iPhone 5.

      • Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 8 years ago

        Have you been living in a cave for the past 5 years or so? Samsung, HTC, Sony and plenty of others have been making large phones with sharp edges for along time and for good reason. Large objects with nothing to grip are highly likely to be dropped.

        The iPhone 6 is a poor design on pretty much every level. To leave it basically unchanged for three years is illogical, especially with iPhone sales in steep decline.

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

        to Inaba-kun

        Are you seriously using those companies as an example? Samsung, HTC, etc. have always had the exact same strategy. Launch a trillion products and see what sticks.

        Apple is not like this, they have a clear idea of what a product should be and they will make all the necessary decisions to make that idea become reality, which is one of the reasons I love Apple, they will not succumb to the pressure by media and people. An example: the optical drive which was ditched with the Macbook Air and Retina Pro. Things like that.

        Everyone has his or her opinion but the huge majority of iPhone users love the iPhone 6 design.

      • el3v3nty - 8 years ago

        dude. ok. so i totally think you ought to try out newer android phones!

        what should you look for when you go check ’em out at your local store? things like… they have smaller bezels… they have wireless charging… they have thinner phones… they have MUCH better displays… they have open-access to NFC… they have bigger/better battery life… they have IP67-IP68 waterproofing… they have may more utilities built in.

        granted they all run stinky ol’ android but in terms of ‘hardware’ these phones have surpassed iPhone by quite a bit.

        so like Inaba_kun said, unless you’re living under a rock, there are MUCH needed updates.

      • rnc - 8 years ago

        On top of that, Samsung always made “S” phones round edgeded, before they decided to copy Apple’s chamfered edges.

        HTC, also for the One.

        And Sony’s are also round edged, but thicker, to the radius isn’t as pronounced.

      • Jake Becker - 8 years ago

        I was extremely lukewarm on the 6 design from pictures; actually holding it was a different thing, the look and feel in the hand blew away every other 4.7″ phone. The 6S clinched it for me with the upgraded toughness. Once in a while, I maybe wish I could sit it on its side like the 5S/SE for a photo. Other than that, I love it.

    • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

      I agree :( It is a bad design. Those antenna bands are atrocious. The smooth cornering is “ho hum whatever”. Wish they’d keep the stainless steel and glass iPhone 4 design.

  2. chasinvictoria - 8 years ago

    You don’t “know” anything about the iPhone 7. Please stop using that term; the word you want is “believe.”

    • crutchcameslinking - 8 years ago

      It’s the 2016 version of the internet and all media is now truthful. Rumors no longer exist. You might consider assimilating and become outraged like everyone else.

      • edenk121d - 8 years ago

        Rumours are usually facts leaking out not mere speculation Rumours often get things on point because they usually come from supply chain in Taiwan or China or Accesory makers

  3. Eduardo Antonini - 8 years ago

    Steve would be ashamed.

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

      Aghhhh a Medium is among us! Burn him! burn him!!!! We are not meant to talk to those who lie beyond the rift.

    • Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 8 years ago

      I doubt Steve would have let the 6 be released at all. It’s an ugly design which is not comfortable to hold and too slippy to avoid being dropped. Look at the iPhone 4, it’s a thing of beauty. The 5 felt like a cheaper version of the 4 and the 6… Giant antenna lines, protruding camera, far too thin, devoid of character. It’s a mess. Steve would have thrown the design prototype into his fish tank and told Jony to start over.

      • smd5757 - 8 years ago

        Aha, thats why the iphone 6 is the most sold iphone untill now .. :) ?

  4. chrisl84 - 8 years ago

    Revolutionary

  5. Robert Longo - 8 years ago

    The only thing that irks me about these being potentially “leaked” and legitimate is the lack of anything on the bottom portion where the headphone jack used to be. I would assume Apple would put something there like extra speaker/microphone grills to mirror the other side instead of leaving it blank (similar to the iPad Mini/Air casing).

    • chrisl84 - 8 years ago

      Easier to waterproof by keeping it closed off

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      A second speaker is absolutely worthless and a total waste of space. I knew they wouldn’t include a second speaker, they aren’t that stupid. As for more microphone holes, that’s not necessary, it already has a hole for the microphone, and the internal microphone is only large enough for that one hole. They already have a microphone on the right, left, and beside the camera. Granted they need to be improved, but nothing needed to replace the headphone jack externally, just internally, which gave them huge space.

  6. beforeandafter20 - 8 years ago

    The iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1mm thick, not 6.9. That’s the iPhone 6.

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      The iPhone 6S is 7.1mm the iPhone 6S Plus is 7.3mm.

      The S versions both increased by 0.2mm.

      • beforeandafter20 - 8 years ago

        Guess he edited it then. It said 7.3 when he girst published this story.

  7. shareef777 - 8 years ago

    Is that a smart connector I see? Also, what’re the two additional holes on the top for (maybe mics, as they seem too small to be speakers). I was on the 6 Plus and went with the 6s (non-plus), but will be going back to the plus (purely because of the battery life). Saddens me that they continue to keep these phones this thin. It’s very uncomfortable to hold and I purposely put a case on just to make it easier to hold. If they’d stick with the SE thickness we could have a usable battery life on the non-plus models and make it easier to hold without having to put on a case.

  8. viciosodiego - 8 years ago

    Boring iPhone ever.

    Look at those bezels.

  9. “”Theoretically, you could also record normal speed video and slow-mo video at the same time with a twin-camera set up.” You don’t
    need two cameras to do this. You need two signal processor threads going simultaneously.

  10. Jake Becker - 8 years ago

    I don’t suppose there’s also going to be a Watch Pro, but if we’re going to have the audacity to slap the title on the phone….

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      I doubt there will be an iPhone Pro. They aren’t that stupid I don’t think.

      • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

        The past year Apple has been surprising me about how stupid they can be. So, unfortunately iPhone Pro is a possibility.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        Yes that’s very true. I will laugh so hard if those complete morons name it iPhone Pro. My god that will be sad. In fact it will be the saddest day in Apple’s history. By far and away the most embarrassing year for Apple is happening and it’s only going to get worse when they take the stage in September and announce nothing of any relevance and call an iPhone, ‘Pro’.

        I mean they’re already insanely stupid for calling both iPads Pro now. If they name all of their products Pro they should be shut down instantly for incompetence beyond belief. I can’t wait for Apple Watch Pro and Apple Car Pro for the racetrack.

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

      Pro is just another term for the original “early adopters” of a product life cycle once the product has gotten past the “late majority” phase. Both the ipad and iphone seem to have just hit that phase. To capture “laggards” they need a product that will be more affordable and super attractive looking. They also need to keep the early adopters happy by making a model with specs more than the majority needs but they can be priced higher than the majority is willing to spend.

      The pro market describes most of the people on tech blogs talking about iphones right now. Maybe they’re hostile towards the idea because, as an early adopter, the “iphone” was just their thing and now they feel like it’s being taken away? How many of these same people also happily brandish their macbook pros and don’t care because they didn’t live through that product’s life cycle the same way and only ever though of being a “macbook pro” person?

      If you aren’t familar with the “Technology adoption life cycle” see wikipedia, complete with bell curve.

  11. jmiko2015 - 8 years ago

    Is *this* the thing that is supposed to strengthen iPhone sales?

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

      There is likely nothing that will strengthen iphone sales to where they were. The market is saturated. It’s meant to keep profits high on one device that won’t sell a lot but has a steady market of people who will buy it because it’s “the best”.

      The rest of the iphone line models will probably drop in price to fill out the lower end market now that the top end is filled out.

      • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

        Well, there is nothing that could strengthen the sales so they better call it off and stop updating the iPhone. Great strategy.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        Wireless distance charging; OLED displays; thinner bezels with same physical size but 0.3″ increases to screen sizes; augmented reality sensors

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

        To both of you. Jeez, like I think that’s a terrible negative thing and apple is DOOOOOMED. No, it just means that for a while the market had plenty of room for Apple to grow in the high end – which it wisely focused on for years, and now we’ve reached the point where most of the late comers to smartphones either have one or can’t afford one yet (which is why the SE came out) and only a small 20 or 30% of the market will actually care enough about these new features that they’ll keep buy a new phone each year (which is why calling this phone an iphone pro would fit).

        The growth is over. But that doesn’t mean it will shrink and fail right away or Apple can’t keep being a successful in the smart phone business. They’ll probably continue to make more profit than any other manufacture.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        iPhone Pro fits if your marketing team are a bunch of chimpanzees pressing buttons and 9/10 buttons are iPhone Pro, and 1/10 is iPhone 7 Plus.

        There is and never will be anything put into an iPhone that could remotely allow for it to be called ‘Pro’.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

        There is and never will be anything put into an iPhone that could remotely allow for it to be called ‘Pro’.

        apparently there is:

        Wireless distance charging; OLED displays; thinner bezels with same physical size but 0.3″ increases to screen sizes; augmented reality sensors

        it’s not about what they put in it. It’s about what market actually cares that anything gets updated. When 60-70% of people aren’t upgrading it’s not because the new thing isn’t good enough – it’s because the current thing is. The rest of the market *cough*you*cough* are “pro” customers. Even if pro doesn’t mean to do real work with them it’s the market of people who keep up with the changes after it’s good enough for everyone else. Usually that’s people who use technology for work since they can justify the higher price for tools to do their job, but tech enthusiasts, who were the early adopters of this technology, need to stay on the cutting edge to see the next trend to jump on.

  12. Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

    It’s certainly risky on Apple’s part to keep the same design schematics yet still remove the headphone jack, as most customers will likely assume that no headphone jack means a thinner design.

    Just goes to show how one dimensional people are…

    • Eduardo Antonini - 8 years ago

      I thought of exactly the same thing when I saw the schematics… Might be the real deal.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        Might be? It’s 99% chance. It’s 99% because NO ONE would think to put the Smart Connector there. If you know anything looking at concepts it’s that people are absolutely clueless and inept.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      @smoothies The smart connector there would be great for traditional looking cases with built in batteries. Maybe this time Apple can design a good looking battery case.

  13. triankar - 8 years ago

    would love to see the volume up/down buttons or the power button move somewhere where they are not across each other. I can’t count the times where instead of pressing the power button I hit a volume button

    • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

      Agree. This little annoyances make me doubt if someone at Apple actually use the products they make.

  14. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    People complaining already.

    I personally find the iPhone 6 design to be the best ever iPhone design, behind iPhone 5S/SE (Silver). Every single detail of iPhone 6 is designed to make it the easiest phone to use of that size.

    Also, if it keeps the same thickness while ditching the jack port, be sure we will see an improvement when it comes to battery life.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      If every single detail of the 6 and 6 plus was deigned to make a phone of that size easiest to use it would not have huge top and bottombsezels and fairly wide side bezels.The rounded glass make it feel like a wet bar of soap.

      I am a and have been a 2 handed user so the size doesn’t matter to me much, but reduced bezels would make it feel much more secure in my hand while making calls and allow people that use it one handed to reach further across with reduced sized bezels.

      Also the iPhone 4 is the best looking iPhone.

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

        The top and bottom bezels are needed to allow antenna signals to go through. Also needed to hide other components which cannot be put under the display.

        The rounded glass is exactly because of the size of the phone. They just had to go with rounded edges. And to be fait, I have to this day only seen 2 people using their iPhone 6/6S 6 Plus/6S Plus without a case. And when you carry a case as well, it’s much easier to hold.

        I also would love reduced bezels, but again Apple is limited by the laws of physics. The tech which would allow them to remove those bezels isn’t here yet.

        Another interesting note: Apple uses aluminium on nearly all of its products because it has many many advantages. It’s extremely recyclable (good for environment), it’s lightweight, it’s standard temperature is quite cold which is fantastic to prevent overheating as it conducts temperature much better than plastic. It also gives you that premium feel. So that is why I think Apple uses aluminium.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        If you reduced the bezels there would still be a place for the antenna gaps to be. Even if they go solid ceramic and glass next year they allow the finals to pass through more easily then the aluminum.

        The iPhone 4 silver and white models had ceramic back plated and i noticed the heat less on that model then my current 6 plus. That is without taking into account the a series chips are much more efficient now. think the ceramic is a better material then the aluminum.You get ready transparency so you can have a sleeker looking device,not antenna gap lines and other advantages. The only benefit of the aluminum is its recyclability.

      • dsicj - 8 years ago

        Applegetridofsimandjack – The tech isnt there yet for apple to get rid of the bezels? Really? Have you even seen another flagship phone in recent years? They pack more tech and battery all while having MUCH smaller bezels. The “tech” is most certainly there, just maybe not for apple. Keep drinkin the kool-aid.

  15. Dougie Mac - 8 years ago

    They should double the battery life instead of having a case with a battery in it.

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      No. They should have a case with a battery. A case can use nearly all of its surface area for battery whereas the battery in the phone only takes about 40% of the surface area. Increasing the thickness of the battery internally means the other 60% is wasted space. Making an amazing battery case which is possible with the new Smart Connector, uses nearly 85% of the surface area, ergo it wins.

  16. PMZanetti - 8 years ago

    “It’s certainly risky on Apple’s part to keep the same design schematics yet still remove the headphone jack, as most customers will likely assume that no headphone jack means a thinner design. ”

    …?

    No headphone jack means better waterproofing and more internal space acquired for more battery.

  17. Robert - 8 years ago

    You write
    It’s certainly risky on Apple’s part to keep the same design schematics yet still remove the headphone jack, as most customers will likely assume that no headphone jack means a thinner design

    No. This is a false idea you have insistently pushed.

    Removing it = waterproof
    Removing it = digital connection
    Removing it = more space for battery

    Apple can go thinner without it – see iPod Touch for proof!

  18. o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

    Just as I said they moved the Microphone over closer to the left screw to be symmetrical with the right microphone hole now that the headphone jack is gone.

  19. sally (@FedGoat) - 8 years ago

    iPhone 6SS… go ahead an keep that stale, ugly 6 design and watch how much more Down you can be in a quarter.
    Hope this is a late april fools joke. the 2 camera gimmick is just that, a useless gimmick, look at the LG G5.
    Apple is completely out of ideas.

  20. No headphone jack no Purchase they make bought Beats and not all are wireless. I will be taking my business elsewhere if they truly get rid of it. Someone said it would be easier to make it waterproof. Well the S7 didn’t need to get rid of it. I don’t care about a Millimeter that is just plain stupid.

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      Two things:

      The headphone jack is gone

      They didn’t reduce the thickness of the phone

      What they did was gained significant internal space which hopefully they are using wisely for more battery, more realistic Taptic Engine, etc. unfortunately they clearly aren’t using it to reduce bezels yet.

  21. Brad P (@bcom77) - 8 years ago

    If the rumors going around of a major redesign happening next year and this year’s iPhone being just an upgrade of the existing design are true then I think that this could be the first time that Apple completely underwhelms with a new iPhone launch. This year’s phone sounds more like an iPhone 6ss instead of a true new gen iPhone 7.

    • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

      iPhone 6SE, but yes you’re right. This seems very much like an extremely incremental update.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

        We all got past the “6c” and “5SE” naming and found out it was just “SE”. Can we agree to quit propagating the prefix-name-with-number of next gen concept. It’s just bad marketing.

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        iPhone 3GS

        iPhone 4S, 5S, 6S?

        iPhone 6SE

        Or

        iPhone 6SHJ (Sans headphone jack)

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        Greg you think ‘Pro’ is a good name for an iPhone, so you can’t judge marketing. I’d name an iPhone: ‘iPhone There is No God’ before I’d name one iPhone Pro.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

        hahahaha. Yea, I guess we’ll see this fall ; ]

      • Brad P (@bcom77) - 8 years ago

        I guess from a naming convention point of view, calling it an iPhone 7 Pro instead of Plus would actually make sense when you look at the Apple family of products. The top tier macbooks and desktops are Pros, the top tier iPads are now called Pros so it would make sense for the top tier iPhone to be called a Pro as well. It would help with the uniformity of their product line, if you’re buying the Pro version then you know you are buying the top tier version of that device.

  22. guybey0ndc00l - 8 years ago

    I see all the comments here about iPhone 6(s) Plus(s) design. It’s not a bad design overall. Antenna bands are down right ugly. Dbrand skin (using) or case solve that issue. I don’t mind the camera bumps on any phone. I would luv to see the 2 tone back color make a comeback on the 7. Trim the top and bottom bezels and keep the headphone jack. There no wrong answers only more questions about the 7.

  23. Kevin Stuckey - 8 years ago

    Can Mac Fan be trusted? I dig deeper into their past to find out:
    http://devicegeekblog.com/2016/04/28/iphone-pro-mac-fan/

  24. They rip off Huawei’s dual camera tech, name it “iSight camera” (ROFLMAO!) and it suddenly becomes “revolutionary”.

  25. Simon Daniel Bisogno - 8 years ago

    I like my iphone 6, I was mildly tempted to upgrade to 6s, then decided to wait for the 7, however, if the rumours are true and it is basically a rebranded 6 and 6s with a few extra bits inside, I think I will just stick with the 6 for now, I don’t see any need to replace something I already have and love, with something that looks the same, I stopped buying phones for what they can do a long time ago, for me personally, it is purely about how it looks, it only gets used as a phone, a clock, chatting to friends and snapping the occasional selfie, I am pretty sure I can find some other pretty toy to buy for £700.

  26. el3v3nty WHY do people that love Android so much always find their way onto iOS pages to try and sell Android on everyone else? For all the updates YOU think the iPhones need, there are so many Android phones still only able to run OS’s from years ago. All the details you mention are no where near dealbreakers for a phone – I’d rather have a slightly larger bezel and have a reliable phone than deal with what I’ve seen with Android. iOS works for me, Android works for you – plain and simple. Stop trying to talk people into switching to phones they don’t want.

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Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

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