iPhone 7: what we want to see

The iPhone 6S is here, but what we really want is the iPhone 7

iPhone 7: what we want to see

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have only just launched, but these weren't the phones we were looking forward to.
The next new iPhone we really want to get our hands on is the iPhone 7, and we've got loads of great ideas to help Apple create a corker.
We're talking curved displays, higher resolutions, iris scanning tech, more storage and stunningly good cameras.

• We've also come up with the perfect Samsung Galaxy S7

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Apple's next all new iPhone
• When is it out? Likely September 2016
• What will it cost? Probably the same as the iPhone 6S

iPhone 7 news and rumors

Believe it or not, there are already a few iPhone 7 rumors knocking around the web-o-sphere.
Persistent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, of KGI Securities claims that the iPhone 7 will be the thinnest iPhone to date - but Apple's not just going to shave off 0.1mm. He's claiming the iPhone 7 will come in between 6mm and 6.5mm.
Considering the iPhone 6S is already a svelte 7.1mm, that's quite a reduction.
Meanwhile a Digitimes source claims the iPhone 7 is in for a big resolution jump, with QHD and 4K panels being mooted as potentially featuring in the handset.
This isn't totally out of the question, as a number of Android handsets have QHD screens, and we even have 4K smartphones now, but for Apple to make the jump it would be a big deal.

1. Three screen sizes

Don't get us wrong, we're thrilled Apple now has handsets which offer more real estate for your apps and games - but there's still a pocket of fans who find 5.5 and 4.7 inches simply too big.
We're calling on Apple to launch a third handset in the iPhone 7 range. A smaller, more budget focused option to appease those with dainty palms.
The iPhone 6C was heavily rumored to arrive alongside the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, but alas it never materialized. Our focus then, switches to a potential iPhone 7C - which we're sure will gain a lot of traction in the rumor mill over the coming months.

We see it as a 4-inch handset with similar stylings to the iPhone 5C, with up to date power under the hood, a 3D Touch display and Touch ID.

2. A resolution your movies and games deserve

You can now record 4K video on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, but play them back on the handsets and you won't get the full experience.
With the iPhone 7 it's time Apple boosted the resolution of its handsets. We'd take a full HD resolution on the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, but if the iPhone 7 Plus turns up with anything less than a QHD screen then us and Apple will be having words.
QHD is now widespread throughout the top tier of Android devices, and we're even seeing 4K screens sneak onto our smartphones. Don't get left behind again Apple, please.

3. Wireless charging

Wireless charging remains one of the most frustrating technologies around, because while it's here, it works and it feels like living in the future, it isn't as widely supported as we'd like.
An iPhone 7 with wireless charging would be great, especially if the same charger worked for the Apple Watch too. And if it could support both wireless standards as well, like the Galaxy S6, then that would be just swell.

4. Curved displays

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge wowed us with its delightfully curving dual screens earlier this year, and it's fair to say we're rather smitten with this futuristic look.
No image such sultry curves on an Apple designed smartphone. We're going weak at the knees already. Go on Apple, wrap that screen round the edges of the iPhone 7 and we'll more than likely be in love.

5. No more 16GB models

iOS 8 adoption stalled last year, and we reckon it because people with 16GB iPhones didn't have enough free space for the 5.7GB over-the-air update and don't want to use iTunes because, well, iTunes.
The fear is users will experience the same issue when iOS 9 rolls out on September 16, and with no expandable storage option it's rather limiting.
When your software updates are too big for your entry level products, your entry level products clearly don't come with enough storage.
How about starting at 32GB for the iPhone 7? We can't store everything in iCloud, even when it's working properly.

• This is what the iPhone 7 should look like

6. Even better cameras

Apple gave us our first iPhone megapixel camera boost in four years with the 12MP sensor inside the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. But why stop there?
People love using their iPhones to take pictures, Apple can't tell us that enough, so keep on innovating. 12MP is a good start, but spend some time with the 16MP snapper on the Galaxy S6 and you'll be seriously impressed.

Of course it's not all about the number of megapixels, and Apple continues to do great things behind the scenes to improve your snaps.
The Live Photo feature also seems like a little bit of a gimmick at the moment - and similar to the sort of things Samsung was doing on the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. If Apple can harness these new found abilities into something more productive on the iPhone 7 that would be impressive.

7. Look ID

Touch ID is great, and it's got even better on the iPhone 6S with the second generation scanner tech making it more responsive than ever, but we want more.
The iPhone 7 has the chance to take biometrics to the next level, with iris recognition. It won't be the first to the eye scanning tech (check out the ZTE Axon Elite), but you just know if Apple jumps on board it'll be slickly implemented and a joy to use.
Want to unlock your new iPhone? Just give it a knowing glance. Need to purchase a new must-have application? Give the iPhone 7 your best Blue Steel and boom, it's downloading.
Need a name for it? Look ID. You're welcome, Jony.

The device bears a striking resemblance to Futurama's Bender.

The more believable shot — showing a rear shell — carries a dark Apple logo and generally takes the form most expect the iPhone 7 to adopt. An iPhone 6-esque design carries a dual camera module in the upper left, surrounded by a small rise in the material rather than a separate ring, as on previous generations.

The back is also unmarred by antenna breaks, with those instead curling around the top and bottom. It goes off the rails with the supposed addition of a Smart Connector adjacent to the Lightning port, though.

While the Smart Connector makes sense on the iPad Pro, its appearance here would be puzzling — especially in the indicated location.

A second set of somewhat more dubious shots depict a device with no home button or headphone jack. Captions accompanying the photos indicate that the button and Touch ID sensor are integrated into the display itself.

While it's true that rumors of home button-less developments have circulated for years, that feature has yet to make its way into the iPhone 7 conversation.

Whispers of a headphone jack-less iPhone 7 have been picking up steam, however, and we may yet see such a change when the new device is announced.

Apple is preparing to hold a media event on March 21 at which it will likely announce a new 4-inch iPhone, though the iPhone 7 isn't expected to make an appearance. The flagship models are more likely to be refreshed in September, their now-standard timeline that puts them at the top of consumers' minds going into the holiday season.