iPhone 7 release date, price and features rumours ( iOS Assistance )

iPhone 7 release date, price and features rumours: Everything we know about Apple's new phone.

A purported leaked image of the next generation of Apple's iPhone

•  Emeka Austin

3 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 3:53PM

Apple is preparing for the release the next generation of the iPhone at its annual event in San Francisco this September. Each year the Silicon Valley giant unveils a raft of new products in the Autumn, which can include new iPad, MacBook and Apple Watch models.

At the launch event next month, the company is expected to unveil an upgraded iPhone that, while aesthetically similar to the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, could have several big differences, including a pressure-sensitive home button, better camera, power and battery life, as well as having no headphone jack.

What will it be called?

Reports have claimed that the upcoming iPhone could either be called the "iPhone 7" or "iPhone 6se". As the latest handset is expected to feature smaller, iterative changes rather than a radical redesignanalysts have speculated that Apple could save the name iPhone 7 for next year's 10 year anniversary release, and instead call this one the iPhone 6se.
The suggestion is in line with the launch of the iPhone SE in March, which was an upgraded version of the iPhone 5s. The big changes Apple is rumoured to be saving for the 2017 iPhone include that it could be made entirely from glass and have an edge-to-edge display with an OLED screen, a significant step forward from the LCD screens the company currently uses. 

Separate rumours have suggested that Apple could release two 5.5-inch versions of the iPhone in September, one with a dual-lens camera that will be called the "iPhone Pro". 

What new features will it have?

The most significant changes anticipated for the new phone include an upgraded camera, the introduction of a pressure-sensitive home button and the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The bigger "Plus" model is expected to have an even-more powerful "dual lens" camera, and possibly a smart connector that allows accessories such as keyboards to be attached to it.

Killing the headphone jack

Rumours have consistently indicated that Apple will rid the iPhone of the headphone jack, instead shipping the phone with a pair of Lightning EarPods or wireless "AirPod" headphones, featuring Bluetooth or some other wireless standard.

It is likely to be a controversial move, although Apple has faced opposition over changes before, such as when it introduced the lightning connector with the iPhone 5 in 2012. Apple is likely to unveil an adapter that will allow typical wired headphones to be used.

Upgraded camera

While we don't yet have any more details about the camera other than its larger appearance, it could have better low-light capabilities and take even sharper photos.

The 5.5-inch version of the handset could also come with a dual-lens camera, according to some leaked images. This could allow a huge increase in quality, with a second zoomed-in lens able to focus on important parts of the picture.

Pressure-sensitive home button

According to Bloomberg, the iPhone maker could replace the home button with a pressure-sensitive one that works like the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus' "3D Touch" display. 

Rather than being a switch that users have to physically press, the all-new button could use haptic feedback, which would allow Apple to make the phone bigger.

The forthcoming phone will most likely have a bigger battery than its predecessors and could feature a major upgrade to its specifications, giving the phone a big speed boost. There have also been suggestions the phone could feature faster charging technology.

There are also indications in the beta version of iOS 10, the software the phone will ship with, that it could be more water resistant.

When will it be released? 

Apple has confirmed the date for its annual product launch event on September 7.

Apple's invitation to members of the media for its annual product launch event CREDIT: APPLE

In the past two years Apple has released its new phones to the public a few weeks after unveiling them in the second week of September.