A new report from Chinese media site MyDrivers is starting up the rumor mill for the iPhone 7, Apple’s next major revision to the iPhone due later in 2016. The iPhone 7 is expected to feature external design changes which means big changes inside and out. The report claims specifically that the iPhone 7 Plus (5.5 inch screen) will come in a new 256 GB storage configuration and feature a larger internal battery, rated at 3100 mAH.
For battery comparisons, it’s important to remember that the batteries actually got smaller with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. 3100 mAH exceeds the battery sizes of the 6s Plus and 6 Plus, featuring 2750 mAH and 2915 mAH respectively.
The track record of the site is somewhat dubious, so it’s probably foolish to treat anything as for certain, but it is thought provoking and both points indicate Apple will be addressing too major pain points with the iPhone range with the iPhone 7 …
Battery life is a complaint shared by many iPhone users. Moving to 3100 mAH in the iPhone 7 Plus is an increase of about 10% over the 2750 mAH battery in the iPhone 6s. Whilst more mAH does not necessarily translate to improved battery life (as the power draw of hardware components also needs to be taken account), it is a good indicator as chips and circuit boards tend to get more efficient over time, not less.
We’ll have to keep waiting for any news on the battery capacity of the 4.7 inch model however … It’s a long time ’till the expected fall announcement of Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, after all.
Raising the top end storage suggests that Apple could be changing up the storage across the board. Perhaps the no. 1 complaint in the community is that the base 16 GB size is just too small to be usable.
Due to a combination of higher-megapixel images, HD and 4K video, ever-larger photo libraries and bigger apps, the 16 GB phones are very frustrating to use. Anything beyond light usage will fill the space of the phone, forcing 16 GB users to often delete content and constantly manage storage.
If Apple does add a 256 GB option to the lineup, it makes sense that the company will shuffle the other storage sizes. Personally, I’m hoping for the lineup to change to 64/128/256 but other combinations like 32/64/256 or even four storage sizes are plausible. It just seems ridiculous that Apple will continue to sell 16 GB phones to mainstream consumers when it is also offering a 256 GB model.
The MyDrivers report explicitly claims that the 256 GB offering will only be available for the iPhone 7 Plus, so maybe only the larger phone will receive bumps to storage.
With the new flagship iPhones expected in the fall, the rumor mill is currently trending towards the idea that Apple will actually release its first new iPhone of the year in the spring, a 4 inch model with iPhone 6s internals, dubbed the iPhone 7c. Read more about what we expect from Apple in 2016 in our roundup.
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Did Apple ever change storage in a new chassis year? I can’t recall if they only do it during the ‘s’ year and if no, I suspect 256gb is for 7s and they are talking about it because you need to reserve the fab capacity in advance to get enough supply in time. 256GB is still a lot of chips right now, the NAND industry will switch to a bigger and more efficient 3D NAND chips by this summer that would make sense for Apple but it would take several more months to ramp up after the switch. Thus, I suspect it will be 64/128/256 in 2017.
Actually, they did with the iPhone 3G (16 GB maximum storage option) and the iPhone 6 (128 GB maximum storage option). The rest got more maximum storage with the ‘s’ models. Apple constantly changes stuff, apart from the iteration. There’s no specific schedule for this. Same with RAM by the way. :P
Just to nitpick, the original iPhone had a mid-year option bump to 16GB, so the iPhone 3G doesn’t really count. I remember because I was so very tempted to sell my 8GB original iPhone and get a 16GB and at the time it was unknown when the next iPhone was going to come out.
That being said, I agree with your point.
They did with iPhone 6 for 128 GB. I don’t think there is much interdependence between changing storage and chassis.
Wh’t a logic.. that too, with arrogance
Of course Flash size isn’t a function of physical device size, so seems more likely that 7 and 7Plus would get the larger size.
what about design? iPhones now resemble samsung.where is that premium design and awesome black glass back?
Samsungs have glass back.
You mean Samsung phones resemble Apple’s. Samsung “copied” (Samsung definitely borrowed more than enough cues from Apple).
What i mean is there were times when apple phones had a matchless design and look.Now you have to search for the logo.
You mean the premium aluminum design with rounded edges and the visible antenna lines on the back? Yeah I think apple had that before your mama sheep at Samsung
HTC one would be the first with that design for what it matters.
Or maybe you mean the gold colour, or the rose gold colour. Oh wait Samsung copied those too
Any design similarities between the two occurred after Apple first released it. The rounded mental edges, antenna lines and glass back are the most recent examples. Samsung borrowed chambered edges in their previous designs. Apple moved away from glass backing because a) they moved to a mental unibody design – similar to their mac line of computers, b) users had a tendency to drop their phones. Phones with glass front and back have twice the chance of shattering. The iPhone 6 and 6s are without a doubt premium designs. And Apple will come out with new designs in a few short months.
The rounded edges make 6 and 6s screens more suceptable to breaking then the 5. The bottom and top part of the back of the 5 and 5s is ceramic not glass on the gold and silver models.
They won’t do that because if they do this, nobody will upgrade to the higher storage capacity models. If they di introduce a 256gb model. It will probably be available in 16GB, 128GB, 256GB storage capacities. They will not, in any case, kill the 16GB model. I like Apple but it is absolutely true they are greedy.
I don’t mind paying 1200€ for a Macbook Air, because they worked hard to design the product, like all others. But changing a 16GB to replace it with a 128GB chip costs them maybe 10-15$, yet they will charge me 100$ for the upgrade.
Actually, it’s time that instead of pricing their phones in the traditional terms of 3 storage tiers, they shl’d do one storage capacity but instead in 3 different screen-estates for different pricing.
Three different priced phones again but in a logical acceptable way for some time
I’m sorry but when I read “Apple is greedy” in response to them maintaining a 16 GB entry level model, all I hear is, “I’m too damn cheap to buy anything but the entry level model, and I would like to pretend Apple doesn’t offer other options for people who need more storage.”
Most people don’t need more than 16 GB. Most people don’t even care what a GB is. Slightly techy bloggers have a delusional perspective on the real iPhone market.
I have always bought the medium storage capacity. I think the 16 GB is a shit option for first time iPhone buyers. Even with app thinning, Apple Music and auto delete reinstall apps 16 GB is. It enough.
Take in increased photo resolutions, Live Photos, bigger app capacitor and other things 16 GB is simply not enough.
If Apple wants to do budget offer 16/32 for the 7c(6c), 32/64 7, 128, 256 for 7 plus
Apple has always shown greed in storage capacity and ram and its products. New prime example is the 25 GB solid state drive in the new iMacs.
I think you have a delusional perspective on the real iPhone market, certainly the Flash market.
If you compare average flash storage price on $/GB between 2007 (when they introduced 16GB iPhone) and now, you’ll see that the price has dropped like 10 times on a dollar per GB, and YET apple has refused to axe the 16GB base model. Flash storage cost peanuts, but they will keep the 16 GB around NOT because otherwise it would be impossible for them to make profit, they do this to force you to shill out extra 100 bucks to get a usable-amount of storage.
16GB IS A JOKE EVEN FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL MODEL.
If most people dont care about 16gb since they do not understand it, why do Apple market their A9 chip’s performance or 4k video which clealy doesnt fit well in 16gb capacity?
Most people don’t need more than 16Gb? Are you kidding me? You almost sound line Phill Schiller when he’s talking gärbäge like saying people don’t need much storage because they have iCloud. Complete bull.
I know over 50 people with iPhones and iPads, none of them are tech people and none of them have enough with 16gb. (About half of them have the 16gb storage options).
We all know why Apple keeps the 16gb option and it has all to do with money.
STORAGE
4″: 16, 32, 64 GB.
4.7″: 32, 64, 128 GB.
5.5″: 64, 128, 256 GB.
MEMORY
4″: 2 GB.
4.7″: 3 GB.
5.5″: 4 GB.
BATTERY
4″: 12h talk, 1 week standby.
4.7″: 18h talk, 1.5 week standby.
5.5″: 24h talk, 2 week standby.
The above is what I’d like to see. Doubt I will.
You are clearly not in the business of supporting smartphones.
Let me tell you: most people don’t even begin to put a dent into their 16 GB of storage. Many millions of corporate users use a few business apps and have little audio or video.
Geeks and fanboys sure do. But they are exceptional cases (despite their claims)
You are simply ignorant to conclude that “most people blow through 16 GB”. Yeah, it’d be great if Apple delivered 128 GB but with so many devices sold, such a demand on the flash market would cause flash storage prices to rise dramatically. That’s simple supply and demand economics.
Majority of users are NOT corporate users…
Just hope 64GB is the base model, I don’t know anything else 😒
Experts, tell me, the iPhone 7 will come with an OGS (One Glass Solution) display; that’s all I want to hear
Why can’t people use their own head to round up possible rumors (like JDI announcement of OGS display and the already existing Corning CONCORE Glass, that means.. ) instead American philosophers depend on Chinese random supplier or some name like Ki Ku Ka.
Aren’t you bored of Chinese rumours? Let me pick you up a rumor a rumour from India.
The iPhone 7s/+ might make possible use of LPDDR5
That means no increase in RAM but still an increase in performance
Rumors out of China are the result of leaks in Apple’s supply chain – which reside mostly in China. This should be no surprise.
I understand but my view is that, they refrain from anything else.
I decided to skip the last iteration of the iPhone, which for me is blasphemy. I am looking forward to the next one.
The battery life is great on the 6 plus. I see no reason to increase it capacity. I have a hard time believing the increased battery capacity since Apple is likely to thin down the bezels finally. Might be slight increase if they ditch the rounded corners. I hate the feel of the rounded edge on the 6 plus and makes it more succeptable to broken screens when you drop it.
i would like more battery life.
i would like more battery life. and actually need it.
I think the incresed battery is because people use the Plus even more like an iPad, in addition to it being a phone. In other words, watching more videos, playing more games and reading more websites.
The rounded corners is a personal preference, as is the bezels. I personally like some bezel, as it allows cases to wrap around without obstructing the view, and when used caseless, it adds a little “dead space”!for holding it without triggering touch. The round design is not something I like or dislike, although I’d say it’s more comfortable over the previous one.
One thing I would like to see changed (but doubt it will be) is the position of the power button. I constantly hit it when trying to adjust volume one-handed, and I’ve come to dislike using the phone just because of this really small design issue.
Aesthetically, I’d much rather see a flush camera than hidden antenna lines. Of course, having both would be first prize. Unlike Jony Ive and millions of fanboys, I’m also not stuck on metal – carbon fibre is what I’d prefer.
Lastly, I’d really like if Apple stopped creating artificial feature differences between their models (OIS and no 3D touch for 4″) and rather have more memory, battery and storage as you move up the chain.
i think this new iphone 7(plus) wont be good
Interesting, and I hope they’ll kill this 16GB of all iOS devices.
I think it will probably be 16/32/64 for the 4″, 32/64/128 for the 4.7″ and 64/128/256 for the 5.5″. I like the idea of better options the larger the phone, not stripped features the smaller it gets.
So, will I be able to use my 256GB iPhone for Time Machine backups of my 128GB MacBook Air?
There were times when apples had matchless design and look.Now you have to search for the logo to say its apple
Probably they’ll get rid of 16GB and put 32 instead. But the second tier is interesting. Will they keep the 64GB option (the gap is probably too small for a lot of people to pay extra 100 bucks for just 32 more), or maybe they’ll just go 32/128/256? But 256 is too much…. And what about iPhone 9-10? 128/256/512? 1TB? This “doubling” of the space becomes kinda frustrating haha. And yes, I support the idea that the majority of iPhone’s users (80% lets say) don’t really care. 10% are the mix between the business people who need more GB for corporate use, and people who do more photos, videos, play more games etc. And the rest 10% are 9to5Mac’s alike people, who are everyday here and do care about every single little detail on their phones. But it’s 2016, so I am confident that Apple will ditch the 16GB.
256 GB and USB 2.0 bus that takes an hour to download your photos. Awesome.
I hope that Apple offers the iPhone 7 in 32/128/256. This falls in line with Apple’s previous change from 4 storage sizes to 3 when they eliminated the 32gb option. They offered 1x/4x/8x, with x being the base storage size, and 32/128/256 falls in line with this.
I hope that they bring this storage capacity hierarchy to the iPad – except I think they should offer 64GBs as the base storage option, for 64/256/512. This is especially important considering that they’ve just launched the iPad Pro maxes out at 128GBs, when their competitor offers a max storage option of 1TB.
Very good observation considering windows tabs do offer much higher storage – should be possible in an ipad considering the small form factor of apple’s PCI-e HDDs