iPhone 7 Release Date, Specs & Features: Coming Out Earlier Than Expected? [Rumors]

Are we about to see the next generation of iPhone sooner than we expected? Stabley Times believes that there is a possibility that Apple would indeed push its rumored iPhone 7 this year especially now that Korean electronics giant Samsung has already unveiled its new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

"Over the past several months Apple has been taking large chunks of marketshare and sales away from Samsung thanks to the arrival of larger iPhones, and now the latter has retorted by launching its boldest copycat yet. That places Apple in a position where it almost has no choice but to fight back aggressively - and the only play is to jump straight into the iPhone 7 era," Stabley Times' Phil Moore noted.

Stabley Times earlier speculated that at least two new iPhones will be released this year -- the iPhone 6S alongside the Apple Watch in spring and the iPhone 7 in September. The news outlet's unidentified source said this could mean that Apple would be taking a six-month release schedule to compete with Samsung. It also stressed that the iPhone 7 would be "more expensive" as it would be Apple's flagship model. The iPhone 6S on the other hand would be a mid-range one.

Citing a recent survey made by 9to5mac, Valuewalk said Apple should improve its new iPhone's battery. Note that more than 60 percent of the respondents have said that it would be okay with them even if the iPhone is thicker for as long as it has a longer battery life. It would also be better if Apple make use of wireless charging, the news outlet added. Aside from this, there is also a growing demand for a larger RAM.

Mac Rumors meanwhile reported that it is also likely that the new iPhone would get an upgraded Touch ID for a safer Apple Pay experience. Note that recently released iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, and iPad Mini 3 already have the Touch ID feature.

As for the new iPhone's camera resolution, speculations about the "biggest iPhone camera jump ever" were also debunked by news outlet Taipei Times, reporting that there is a huge possibility that the new iPhone would still have the current 8-megapixel camera, which the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have.

Meanwhile, there have been reports saying that the new iPhone would have a joystick and facial recognition feature. There were also speculations that it would be a flexible device after Apple was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to create such device. Apple has not yet confirmed the rumors.