iPhone 7

Back in August, a Chicago Tribune report claimed that the iPhone 7 was operating at illegal radiation levels after commissioning tests for that model, the iPhone 8, and some Android smartphones. Now it looks like the FCC has run more tests and says that the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy phones don’t exceed the legal RF radiation exposure levels (via Bloomberg).

Expand
Expanding
Close

Independent iPhone 7 radiation safety tests have found that the model exceeded the legal limit for radio-frequency energy absorbed by human tissue.

The independently commissioned tests were reportedly carried out according to federal guidelines at an accredited lab, and were replicated with three further brand-new phones to guard against the possibility of a single faulty product…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Liquidation specialist B-Stock reported back in July that the average resale value of an iPhone X was 85% of the full retail price, a record for any iPhone at that point in the sales cycle.

Note: You can quickly and easily get cash for your desk full of iPhones here with our highly rated service.

A tech trade-in site says that today’s trade-in value is still 68% of the original sales price even a week before this year’s models are revealed, in strong contrast to one of Samsung’s flagship phones …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple has responded to a microphone issue affecting some iPhone 7 and 7 Plus units with a new service guide. The document obtained by 9to5Mac also mentions that out-out-warranty devices may still be able to receive a repair or replacement for free.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple today has launched an official repair program for a small number of users experiencing an issue where their iPhone says “No Service”. This issue seems to be specific to the iPhone 7, according to Apple.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The Financial Times reports that Qualcomm could face up to a $2 billion fine from a European watchdog for having an anticompetitive chip deal with Apple. The watchdog says that it will sue Qualcomm for paying Apple to buy all of its communication chipsets between 2011 and 2016.

Expand
Expanding
Close

A new research note from Counterpoint shows that whilst Apple’s dominance in China is not as high as its peak, it is the only foreign smartphone brand that matters in the region. iPhone 7 Plus was the no.2 best selling handset across all of 2017, and the smaller iPhone 7 took fifth place (via CNBC).

China’s propensity towards larger-screened phones is shown by the Plus’ popularity compared to the regular iPhone 7. Apple was the only foreign brand to feature in the top 10 phone models, with 5.2% total market share from both iPhone 7 models.

Expand
Expanding
Close

[Update: Developer Guilherme Rambo has discovered the software system, powerd (short for power daemon), that Apple put in place in iOS 10.2.1. powerd controls CPU/GPU speed and power. It also responds to thermal pressure and helps iPhones from catching fire.

Since powerd was first released in 10.2.1, this looks to be separate from the Low Power Mode feature and directly related to the performance and battery age issues.]

Last week we reported on the news that a new battery could solve performance issues with older iPhone models like the 6s. Today, Geekbench founder, John Poole, published an article describing his findings after diving deeper into the relationship between iPhone performance and battery age.

Expand
Expanding
Close

A carrier store survey last month suggested that the iPhone 7 was outselling the iPhone 8, and this idea is supported by new shipment data from market analysts Canalys.

The firm says that the iPhone 7 was the world’s best-shipping smartphone in Q3, while the iPhone 8 didn’t even make the top 5 …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple is the target of yet another patent infringement suit. According to a new report from Reuters, Israeli start-up Corephotonics has filed a patent suit against Apple alleging that the dual-camera technology used in the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus infringe on its patented technology…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Surveys of sales through carrier stores suggest that last year’s iPhone 7/Plus is outselling the new iPhone 8/Plus in the U.S. and UK. The claim is made by KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst John Vinh in a client note.

iPhone 8 sales will be limited by those waiting instead for the iPhone X, but KeyBanc says that two other factors are at play …

Expand
Expanding
Close

With the Series 3 Apple Watches and iPhone 8 and 8 Plus already arrived and the iPhone X launch less than a month away, we wanted to let you know that our trade in partner, MyPhones Unlimited is currently paying more than almost anyone else for your used or broken iPhones. We’ve compared the largest companies that offer cash for your devices (Gazelle, Buyback World, Nextworth, uSell etc.) and we almost always offer more for iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads and other tech gadgets…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Macotakara is the latest publication to report on the inclusion of wireless charging in the iPhone 8, set to be announced next month. The Japanese site notes that Apple has opted to use the slower standard charging profile, which means the inductive charging will run at 7.5W, about half the speed of the latest Qi 1.2 standards.

The unnamed sources also note that Apple may require MFI licenses for third-party charging pads, which would mean existing Qi charging accessories would be unsupported …

Expand
Expanding
Close

We are still waiting for Apple’s invites for the September iPhone event to go out, which is expected sometime in the first half of the month.

Until the official unveiling happens, there’s still time for iPhone 8 rumors. The price of the premium OLED iPhone has been the subject of much debate, and now The New York Times has chimed in. It reports that the iPhone 8 will be priced ‘around $999’ …

Expand
Expanding
Close

As Apple’s September event draws closer, the iPhone 8 rumors continue to circulate. Today, Chinese poster GeekBar (which has a decent track record of iPhone leaks, although by no means infallible) has reported that the new high-end OLED iPhone will be offered in three storage capacities.

The source says that the iPhone 8 base model is 64 GB, a welcomed doubling of the entry model 32 GB iPhone 7. The mid tier model would be 256 GB and — brand new to the iPhone line — a high-end 512 GB storage option would also be offered.

Expand
Expanding
Close

iPhone 8 parts continue to appear on Chinese social media as the official unveiling September Apple event draws closer. Whilst a timeframe has yet to leak out, historical patterns point to September 6th as a likely date.

In this latest leaks (via Slashleaks), various purported components for the iPhone 8 are on show, including the flex cables for power transfer, part of the internal components for the Lightning cable and the display assembly (with the notch, as expected). More photos below …

Expand
Expanding
Close

iFixit has launched a new range of Fix Kits for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus for affordable do-it-yourself repairs at home. Specialized kits include parts and tools for screen swaps, batteries replacements, and more so you can avoid expensive repair costs.

Expand
Expanding
Close