iPhone 7 Pro UK release date, design, features and spec rumours plus leaks: iPhone 7 Pro cases leak, showcases dual camera setup and Smart Connector port on rear
Though the 'Plus' model of the iPhone range has always been the most powerful, that might change with the introduction of the iPhone 7 'Pro' later on this year. Here, we discuss all we know so far about the upcoming iPhone 7 Pro including its possible release date, design rumours, feature rumours, leaks and mockups.
When Apple introduced a larger counterpart to the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, Apple fans were shocked - for many years there was only a single flagship iPhone per year, and now fans had a choice between two. This continued with the introduction of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus ,offering consumers the choice between a 4.7in and 5.2in smartphone. There are slight differences between the two handsets, with the Plus model featuring a higher resolution display and better camera tech, but now it looks like the upcoming iPhone 7 Plus might have another competitor - the iPhone 7 Pro. The smartphone is said to be much like the iPhone 7 Plus in terms of design, but will offer more 'Pro' features for those that want it. Here, we discuss the release date, design, features and spec of the upcoming iPhone 7 Pro.
If you're looking for information about the current iPhone range, by the way, read our iPhone 6s review, Phone 6s Plus review, iPhone SE review, iPhone 6 review, iPhone 6 Plus review; and our iPhone buyers' guide.
iPhone 7 Pro at a glance:
- Same dimensions and design as iPhone 6s Plus
- Headphone jack is gone, along with antenna lines
- Will feature a Smart Connector and dual-camera setup on rear
- Water resistant like the Samsung Galaxy S7
iPhone 7 Pro release date rumours: When will the iPhone 7 Pro be released in the UK?
The biggest question at the moment is “When will the 7 Pro be released in the UK?” and although we won’t be sure until Apple sends out invites to its official reveal event, we assume that the company will stick to its usual schedule. What does that mean? Apple has, for the past five years, announced its smartphones in September with the smartphones going on sale some weeks later in prime position to clean up over the build up to Christmas.
With this being said, we imagine that the iPhone 7 Pro will be revealed at an event in early September 2016 with release by the end of September 2016.
iPhone 7 Pro design rumours: What will the iPhone 7 Pro look like?
Okay so it’s likely that we’ll be seeing the iPhone 7 Pro unveiled by Tim Cook at an event in September 2016 – but what will the Pro smartphone look like? While we assume it’ll look similar to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, we weren’t too sure what they would look like – until recently, that is. Japanese magazine Mac Fan has shared a detailed design schematic of the upcoming iPhone 7 Pro and although we should take leaks with a pinch of salt, the image looks promising.
According to the magazine and the leaked schematics, the iPhone 7 Pro will feature the same overall design and dimensions as the iPhone 6s Plus, but with a couple of notable changes. The first notable change is one that Apple fans have been dreading – the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack from the bottom of the smartphone. Interestingly, while many assumed the extra space provided be the removal would be filled by a second speaker, but according to the schematics, the Pro will feature one speaker like the rest of the line-up.
As well as the removal of the 3.5mm jack, the iPhone 7 Pro is to feature a dual-camera setup on the rear of the device, slightly protruding from the shell unlike the claimed flush design of the iPhone 7. We talk a little more about the rumoured dual-camera setup below.
Another addition to the iPhone 7 Pro is the Smart Connector, which was originally reported to be a part of the entire iPhone 7 family but is now unique to the Pro. It’s not the first leak showcasing an iPad Pro-esque Smart Connector on an iPhone 7 Pro either, as last month a photo leaked claiming to be the sleek iPhone 7 Pro chassis, complete with dual-camera setup, redesigned antennas and a Smart Connector. The photo can be seen below:
Based on the above leak, Feld & Volk has created a range of mock-ups showcasing the design, helping us get an idea of what the iPhone 7 Pro marketing will look like following the launch:
The latest leak that adds fuel to the flames of an iPhone 7 Pro comes in the form of a case leak. Or two. Or more. As first picked up by 9to5Mac, cases claiming to be for the next generation smartphone appeared online, seemingly confirming a number of rumours about the upcoming smartphone, including a Smart Connector on the rear of the smartphone. You can see the photos below:
The images, if true, gives us a glimpse of the (assumingly finalised) design of the iPhone 7 Pro, complete with a binocular-esque dual-camera setup aligned horizontally with the rear microphone and dual flash.
However, we have our reservations about the authenticity of the leaks. Why? To work with Apple to produce cases for an unreleased product is a difficult, if not nearly impossible feat. Of course, high-end manufacturers have more chance of this happening - but the company that created the cases is realtively unknown. If the company did manage to work with Apple, why would it ruin chances of future partnerships by leaking valuable information months before its release? And why would they be on sale right now? So, even though we think this is what the iPhone 7 Pro will look like, we doubt that these 'leaks' are genuine.
iPhone 7 Pro feature rumours: What will the iPhone 7 Pro feature?
The iPhone 7 Pro is said to be largely the same as the iPhone 7 Plus in terms of internals, boasting the same display and processor, but with a few notable differences that bring it into the ‘Pro’ class. According to a report from KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who has an amazing track record with predicting unannounced Apple devices and features, the iPhone 7 Pro will feature a whopping 3GB of RAM, up from 2GB available on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. This should give it an edge in terms of performance and coupled with (what we expect to be) a 64-bit A10 chipset, should provide users with an incredibly powerful smartphone.
Along with the upgraded internals, the flagship feature of the iPhone 7 Pro is said to be a rear facing dual-camera setup comprised of two iSight cameras. The dual-camera setup is said to protrude slightly from the case as opposed to the flush nature of the iPhone 7. There is a good reason for this though, as its been speculated that this may allow for recording of standard and slow-mo videos at the same time, upgraded Live Photos and even possibly providing users with different focal lengths. Of course, the official use for the dual-camera setup will not be revealed until the launch event in a few months’ time.
Another feature headed to the Pro smartphone is the Smart Connector featured on the iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad Pro 9.7. It makes sense for Apple to only include the Smart Connector on the iPhone 7 Pro though – the company launched a 12.9 in tablet featuring the technology in September 2015 and instead of launching an iPad Air 3 with a Smart Connector, it was named the iPad Pro 9.7. It only makes sense for Apple to continue the Smart Connector = Pro branding with the iPhone, supporting both the rumoured inclusion of the Smart Connector as well as the name of the smartphone.
Last, but not least, it has been suggested that the iPhone 7 Pro may be waterproof much like Samsung’s 2016 flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S7. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, though not marketed as being waterproof, can survive a small stint in water thanks to a gasket around the sides of the smartphones and the logic board being covered with a waterproofing material. It won’t survive as long as the Galaxy S7 submerged under water, but hopefully the iPhone 7 Pro will.
We’ll be updating this section with the latest rumours as soon as we hear them, so make sure you check back regularly for the latest information on the iPhone 7 Pro.
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