Opinions expressed about the iPhone 7 - Gordon Kelly.
We
know a lot
about the iPhone 7. But just weeks from its release
date, it appears Apple AAPL +0.25% has decided to cancel the most powerful, potentially largest and
(inevitably) most expensive iPhone the company has ever created…
In
a new report the Japanese site explains that Apple decided there is no need to
add a new top of the range model above the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. While it
will use the ‘iPhone 7’ moniker for the range to avoid customer confusion,
after toying with new branding given the range still uses the core iPhone 6
design launched in 2014.
So
why is there no flagship iPhone 7 Pro model?
MacRumors fills in the details explaining that the iPhone 7 Pro was a backup
model when Apple was unsure it would be able to produce its new
dual lens camera in sufficient quantities for
the iPhone 7 Plus. This would have seen the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus share
the same single lens camera while the iPhone 7 Pro sat above them in limited
quantities with the upgraded optics.
Now
Apple believes manufacturing constraints around the dual lens camera have been
resolved so it can be fitted into every iPhone 7 Plus and there is no need to
expand the range. Such a scenario would also explain why we have repeatedly
seen photos
of three iPhone 7 models.
So is one less iPhone 7 model a good thing? I’d argue both yes and
no.
On the positive side, having
just two iPhone models does keep the range simple and using the ‘iPhone 7’
brand rather than a new iPhone 6 derivative (iPhone 6SE was rumoured) is likely to sound more exciting to potential buyers.
But there are negatives too.
For starters the iPhone 7 Pro appeared to be a true no compromise model which
also packed a Smart Connector (something seemingly missing from the iPhone 7
Plus) and leaks had suggested a huge 5.8-inch
display and OLED panel.
All significant differentiators.
So ultimately Apple’s move
seems both logical yet a little disappointing to anyone hoping the company
would shake things up a bit more. As it stands, the real iPhone revolution starts in 2017.
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