Apple's iPhone 7 WILL dump the headphone socket: Leaked case shows super-slim design which will only have stereo speakers

  • leak from nowhereelse.fr comes from a reliable case manufacturer
  • Mac Otakara reports that iPhone 7 will be 1mm thinner than predecessor 
  • Larger handset could be called the iPhone Pro  
  • For more of the latest Apple news updates visit www.dailymail.co.uk/apple

Apple's iPhone 7, expected to be revealed in September, will not have a headphone socket, a new leaked case design has shown.

The move has been rumoured for several months, with Apple believed to be preparing a range of wireless headphones to launch with it.

The latest leak from nowhereelse.fr comes, the site claims, from a reliable case manufacturer.

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The latest leak from nowhereelse.fr shows a case with no headphone socket, but in their place holes believed to be for stereo speakers.

WHY WOULD APPLE DITCH THE HEADPHONE JACK? 

Getting rid of the headphone jack would help Apple shrink the iPhone 7's thickness considerably. 

Its latest smartphone, the Phone 6s, is 7.1 mm (0.27) thick but removing the 3.5mm jack could drop this by a further by one mm (0.04 in).

Such a shift would also mean larger, stereo headphones using an internal battery would be able to draw power directly from the iPhone - or other devices, if the change is enforced across the Apple board.

Elsewhere, Lightning-based headphones would experience less 'crosstalk', or signal interference.  

Apple's next iPhone will be as thin as the firm's iPod Touch, it has been previously claimed.

Tech blog MacOtakara says that the iPhone 7 will be 1mm thinner than its predecessor, the iPhone 6S, and will measure 6.1mm in thickness.

It also claims the new handset, expected to be revealed in September, will feature stereo speakers - but could dump the headphone socket to slim it down. 

It is also expected to have a thinner lightning port - although it is believed the same cable will still work with the handset.

It also reiterated claimed that Apple will lose the 'bump' from the camera lens. 

It is believed the larger of the expected two models will use a radical dual lens camera, and a Sony executive appeared to confirm the move earlier this year.

Macrumours claims this version could be called the iPhone Pro, 

Sony Corporation's Kenichiro Yoshida stated that 'the takeoff of smartphones with dual lens camera[s] will be in the year of 2017.' during a financial call.

MacRumours said: 'According to a source who has provided reliable information in the past, the iPhone 7 body will appear very similar to the design used for the iPhone 6 and 6s, with two significant exceptions.

'The first involves the rear camera, which protrudes slightly on the iPhone 6 and 6s. 

The latest leak from nowhereelse.fr shows a case with no headphone socket, but in their place stereo speakers.

The latest leak from nowhereelse.fr shows a case with no headphone socket, but in their place stereo speakers.

'On the iPhone 7, the camera is said to sit flush with the rear casing, enabled by a thinner camera module.' 

The other significant change with the body of the iPhone 7 is the removal of antenna bands across the rear, allowing for a cleaner all-metal look on the back. 

Antenna bands at the sides and around the top and bottom edges are said to remain, however. 

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed last year the iPhone 7, which is unlikely to launch until at least September 2016, will be the firm's thinnest handset to date at just 6mm thick.

This would put on a par with the iPod touch, and would be almost a millimetre thinner than the current iPhone 6. 

Apple's original iPhone, released in 2007, was 12.3mm thick. By comparison the current iPhone 6 is 6.9mm thick, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1mm. 

Apple's original iPhone was 12.3mm thick. By comparison the current iPhone 6 is 6.9mm thick, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1mm. These devices are noticeably thinner than the iPhone 5S which measures 7.6mm

Apple's original iPhone was 12.3mm thick. By comparison the current iPhone 6 is 6.9mm thick, while the larger iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1mm. These devices are noticeably thinner than the iPhone 5S which measures 7.6mm

These devices are noticeably thinner than the iPhone 5S, which measures 7.6mm. 

However, thinner devices are potentially more vulnerable to being broken and the iPhone 6 Plus, for example, was criticised for bending in the pockets of its owners due to its larger, thinner design. 

If Mr Kuo's claims are true, Apple's next-generation handset would be on a par with the 6.1mm iPod touch
The iPod touch's screen is smaller than the iPhones - at 4-inches, and doesn't take a SIM card, meaning it can be thinner because it needs fewer internal components

If Mr Kuo's claims are true, Apple's next-generation handset would be on a par with the 6.1mm iPod touch (pictured left with measurements pictured right).  The iPod touch's screen is smaller than the iPhones, at 4-inches, and doesn't take a SIM card meaning it can be thinner because it needs fewer internal components

A super-thin iPhone 7 would still be significantly thicker than the thinnest phone in the world - Vivo's X5 Max (shown)
Vivo's Android handset is just 4.75mm, while Oppo's R5 (pictured) is 4.85mm

A super-thin iPhone 7 would still be significantly thicker than the thinnest phone in the world - Vivo's X5 Max (left). Vivo's Android handset is just 4.75mm, while rival phone maker Oppo's R5 (pictured right) is 4.85mm

Following these 'bendgate' complaints, rumours suggested Apple was planning to use stronger materials in future models. 

In particular, sources familiar with the plans said Apple could use the same 7000 series aluminium used in its Apple Watch.

The material would make the next iPhone 60 per cent harder than the iPhone 6.  

The iPod touch is 6.1mm thick, but its screen is smaller than the iPhones - at just 4-inches. 

Renowned Apple leak blog Mac Otakara reports that the iPhone 7 will be 1mm thinner than its predecessor, the iPhone 6S, and will measure 6.1mm in thickness

Renowned Apple leak blog Mac Otakara reports that the iPhone 7 will be 1mm thinner than its predecessor, the iPhone 6S, and will measure 6.1mm in thickness

It doesn't take a SIM card, meaning it can be thinner because it needs fewer internal components as the iPhone.

If Mr Kuo's claims are true, Apple's next-generation handset would be its thinnest yet, but it would still be significantly thicker than the thinnest phone in the world - Vivo's X5 Max. 

Vivo's Android handset is just 4.75mm, while rival phone-maker Oppo's R5 is 4.85mm. 

Samsung also has a super-thin phone called the Galaxy A8 which measures 5.9mm. 

Rival Samsung also has a super-thin phone called the Galaxy A8, which measures 5.9mm (pictured)

Rival Samsung also has a super-thin phone called the Galaxy A8, which measures 5.9mm (pictured)

 

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