IPhone 7 Vs IPhone 7 Plus Vs IPhone Pro

iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 7 Plus vs. "iPhone Pro"

With the release of the larger-screened iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple differentiated between the two devices by including Optical Image Stabilization in the iPhone 6 Plus for improved photo and video capturing abilities. The iPhone 6s Plus continued to offer Optical Image Stabilization while the iPhone 6s did not, and it appears the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus could also see different features, mainly when it comes to the camera.

According to reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may be planning to introduce two versionsof the iPhone 7 Plus -- one that includes a single-lens camera like the iPhone 7 and one that includes a dual-lens camera system. This would be an unusual move for Apple because it would splinter the iPhone lineup, and it should be noted that the rumor has not yet been confirmed by a second source.

It is possible that Apple is testing different iPhone 7 Plus prototypes, leading to rumors of two planned iPhone 7 Plus devices. Rumors have suggested Apple is testing and considering multiple dual-lens systemsfrom several camera makers in Japan, China, and Taiwan, and suppliers are gearing up to begin producing components for the lenses.

There's also a questionable rumor sourced from Chinese site MyDrivers suggesting the iPhone 7 Plus with the dual-lens camera system could actually be dubbed the "iPhone Pro" to set it apart from the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus with a standard single-lens camera. This rumor should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed.

DUAL-LENS CAMERA DETAILS

Apple is rumored to be working on at least one version of the iPhone 7 Plus that includes a a 12-megapixel dual-lens camera system that takes advantage of technology Apple acquired through the purchase of Israeli camera company LinX Imaging last year. Image quality in the iPhone 7 Plus could be greatly improved with the introduction of a dual-lens system, narrowing the gap between photos taken with the iPhone and those taken with a more robust DSLR cameras

LinX dual-lens technology offers several potential benefits for the iPhone 7 Plus, with the rumor specifically pointing towards 2-3x optical zoom capabilities, perhaps implemented through the use of two lenses with different focal lengths. With a dual-lens camera system, images captured are clearer and brighter with less noise and truer color, allowing for pictures that include more detail, especially in low light condition.

There's a possibility that a dual-lens system like the one LinX created could be used for depth mapping, allowing users to do things like take 3D scans of real world items or use depth information to refocus an image. For additional information on what LinX technology could mean for the iPhone 7, make sure tocheck out our in-depth LinX post.

Implementing LinX's camera system in the iPhone 7 Plus would potentially allow Apple to cut down on the size of the camera module, doing away with the protruding rear camera lens.

An example of how a dual-lens camera could potentially improve photos taken with the iPhone 7 Plus can be seen in the below video demonstration of similar technology from Corephotonics. Corephotonics' dual-lens system uses a wide-angle lens and a lens capable of 5X optical zoom and aggregates data from both to get a better picture.

We at MacRumors have created a video mockup that outlines what a dual-camera interface could look like in the Camera app on the iPhone, based on a recent Apple patent. In the patent, Apple outlines a split-screen interface with one side displaying the standard view from a wide-angle camera and another side displaying a zoomed-in view from an additional lens with a longer focal length. Pictures and video could be captured with both views simultaneously.

As for the camera in the iPhone 7 and the rumored single-lens iPhone 7 Plus, there's no word on what improvements may be introduced. If a version of the iPhone 7 Plus is set to see major gains in image quality, it stands to reason the iPhone 7 and/or the standard-lens iPhone 7 Plus will also see significant improvement, even if it is implemented outside of a dual-lens system.

RAM

According to another prediction from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus may have differing amounts of RAM. The smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 may ship with 2GB of RAM, while the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus may ship with 3GB RAM.

STORAGE SPACE

Storage space may also be a differentiating factor between the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. An unconfirmed rumor suggests the larger iPhone 7 Plus could include a high-end 256GB storage option that would not be available with the iPhone 7. 256GB is a capacity that is not offered in any of Apple's current iOS devices, so it is questionable as to whether Apple would introduce such a high-capacity iPhone, but a256GB SanDisk flash storage chip possibly appropriate for use in an iPhone has been spotted. The rumor did not include a mention of other storage tiers that would be available for the two devices.

Wireless Charging

With the Lightning port being used for music playback, there will be no way to charge the iPhone 7 while headphones are plugged in, which has sparked some speculation about wireless charging. According to one rumor, Apple is exploring wireless charging technology that could potentially be included in the iPhone 7.

While Apple is said to be looking into wireless charging for the iPhone 7, there is no guarantee the feature will make it into the finished product. It is also not clear what method Apple would use to implement wireless charging.

Other Features

LTE SPEEDS

Apple may source some LTE modems for the iPhone 7 from Intel, perhaps adopting the Intel 7360 LTE modem and introducing faster LTE speeds on the device. The chip features faster theoretical downlink speeds of up to 450 MB/s, uplink speeds of up to 100 MB/s, and support for LTE category 10 and 29 bands.

BATTERY LIFE

Battery life in the iPhone 7 could be similar to or slightly better than battery life in the iPhone 6s. An image of the battery said to be for the iPhone 7 lists a capacity of 7.04 watt-hours, almost identical to the iPhone 6 which had a 7.01 watt-hour battery that was a bit larger than the 6.61 watt-hour battery in the iPhone 6s.

Release Date

Apple typically introduces its new flagship iPhones in the fall during the month of September, and it's likely the company will continue to use the same release pattern for the iPhone 7. We expect to see the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus debut in the fall of 2016.

Beyond the iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 hasn't launched yet, but we're already hearing rumors about iPhones that will be released in 2017 and beyond. Apple is said to be working on flexible OLED displays for future versions of the iPhone, ata secret lab it's opened in Taiwan. Apple is also developing more advanced versions of liquid crystal displays, working on a technology called Micro-LED.

Apple is also pursuing an OLED partnership with LG Display and Samsung, and is said to be close to a deal. Under the terms of the deal, LG Display and Samsung would both provide Apple with OLED displays for future devices. Japan Display is also hoping to secure a deal with Apple and has announced its own plans tobegin developing OLED displays. Rumors also suggest Apple may also be planning to invest in AMOLED supplier AU Optronics as a source of displays for future iPhones, indicating Apple is pursuing multiple options for next-generation display technology.

Both OLED and Micro-LED technologies eliminate the need for the backlighting that's used in traditional LCDs, which would potentially allow Apple to cut down on the size of its iOS devices. Micro-LED suffers from low yields and OLED has a shorter life span, so they are both technologies that are not quite ready for near-future iPhone upgrades.

Rumors originally said Apple would introduce OLED displays in 2018, but its plans may have been pushed up. Apple may now be aiming to introduce the first OLED displays in iPhones at the end of 2017 instead of 2018.

Rumors suggest a 2017 or 2018 iPhone could include a 5.8-inch OLED display. One display expert speculates that this screen size could be used for an iPhone with a wraparound screen.

When applied to the height of an existing 5.5-inch iPhone, a 5.8-inch display like the one Apple is rumored to be working on would leave an extra 7.25mm of display on each side that could be used to wrap around the edges of the device. This would extend the display across the front and sides of the iPhone, perhaps enabling side-based gestures and buttons. We don't know what shape an iPhone with side bars could take, but the rumored 5.8-inch size of the display is about right to add side panels to current-generation iPhones.

The 2017 OLED display rumors and the 5.8-inch screen have been seconded by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often has reliable information on Apple's plans. According to Kuo, the 2017 iPhone will introduce a 5.8-inch curved glass AMOLED display paired with a curved glass casing.

Apple is said to be planning to move away from an all-aluminum body, readopting the glass-backed design used in the iPhone 4 and the 4s and taking it "to the next level." Wireless charging and biometric recognitions (facial are iris) are also features Kuo is predicting for the 2017 iPhone.

Based on AMOLED display availability, Kuo outlines two possible release scenarios. With sufficient supplies, Apple would launch a 4.7-inch LCD-based iPhone and a 5.8-inch AMOLED iPhone. If AMOLED display production is unable to meet demand, Kuo believes Apple would launch 4.7 and 5.5-inch LCD iPhones, along with a higher-end 5.8-inch AMOLED model.

In the future, Apple could introduce an iPhone without a home button, instead integrating Touch ID fingerprint recognition into the display of the device. Apple is working on developing touch and display driver integration (TTDI) chips, but it is not clear when that technology will be ready for use in an iPhone.

Apple is also rumored to be working on long-range wireless charging technology that could be implemented in phones as soon as 2017. Long-range wireless charging is superior to many existing wireless charging methods because it does not require devices to be as close to a charging source or mat.

There are some obstacles to overcome before such technology can be implemented, such as the loss of power transfer efficiency that occurs when the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is increased. This causes batteries further away from a charging source to charge more slowly.