iPhone 7S Plus release date, news and rumors

Update: Apple has sent out invites to its annual fall event, and it's happening on Tuesday, September 12 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. The iPhone 7S Plus release date, then, is imminent. Join us as we bring you live coverage from the iPhone launch, which begins at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 3am Wednesday September 13 AEST.

The iPhone 7S Plus release date just a few weeks away, if you believe all of the Apple rumors. If you're eagerly awaiting a new iPhone and don't want to pay for the undoubtedly expensive iPhone 8, this one is for you.

This 'S' upgrade will be one of three new iPhones for 2017, according to the new rumors that indicate we're looking at a lower-cost iPhone with new features.

And by 'lower-cost', we mean to say the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus will likely be the same price as previous iPhones – but cheap next to iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

That's okay, because we're still expecting Apple's iPhone 7S Plus to be a serious upgrade, one that's faster, has a better screen and a superior dual-lens camera.

Here are the iPhone 7S Plus rumors we've heard and our take on whether or not they sound accurate.

Everything you need to know: iPhone 8 | iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone Edition | iPhone 7S

Cut to the chase

What is iPhone 7S Plus? The next phablet iPhone
When is the iPhone 7S Plus release date? Probably late September 2017
What will iPhone 7S Plus cost? Likely the same as 7 Plus at launch

iPhone 7S Plus release date

For the last few years Apple has announced new iPhones at the start of September and released the phone later in the month, and that’s exactly when we expect the iPhone 7S Plus to launch in 2017.

In fact, we have about as close to confirmation as we can get: Apple has sent out invites to an event on September 12. It's then we expect to meet the iPhone 7S Plus, the smaller iPhone 7S, and the big reveal of the day: the iPhone 8.

While the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will likely go on sale a short time after this event, the iPhone 8 is said to be suffering delays due to complications with OLED display production and the fingerprint scanner - which may mean it doesn't appear at the same time as the 7S Plus, if it exists at all.

TechRadar’s take: We're pretty confidant the iPhone 7S Plus will launch in September, and it would make sense for it to go on sale a couple of weeks later.

Pre-register for iPhone 7S Plus
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iPhone 7S Plus screen

Hottest leaks:

Display likely to stay the same size and resolution
May feature a brighter, more colorful OLED screen

It terms of the size and resolution of the iPhone 7S Plus display, we expect things to stay the same in this iterative update, with the iPhone 8 more likely to see a bump in quality.

That would mean we're looking at a 5.5-inch screen with a 1080 x 1920 resolution on the 7S Plus, generating a more-than-acceptable pixel density of 401ppi.

Rumor has it Apple wants to upgrade the screen technology to OLED on all of its iPhone models, but demand for the tech is apparently too high, forcing Apple to stick with an LCD panel for the iPhone 7S Plus.

TechRadar's take: It makes sense for Apple to stick to the same size and resolution for the iterative 7S Plus. While having all models jump to OLED in 2017 would give Apple a VR and AR advantage, we don't expect all three models to switch to LCD right away due to supply constraints.

iPhone 7S Plus design

Hottest leaks:

A new glass back
An iterative update usually means a similar look

One of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus was the fact that neither had a new design, but don't expect any big changes from the iPhone 7S Plus.

Apple handsets from the iPhone 6 Plus onward look largely the same, and while big design changes look set to come with the 10th anniversary iPhone 8, the iPhone 7S Plus probably won't get the same treatment.

However, the materials used for it could change, as leaked images supposedly show a dummy unit with a glass back, rather than an aluminum one.

They also show that there might not be any antenna bands, which makes sense, as they wouldn't be needed with a glass back, but that the overall shape, along with the ports and buttons, seem much the same as the iPhone 7 Plus.

Indeed, the diagram below supposedly shows the phone, and the design is similar to its predecessor, but with slightly different dimensions of 158.38 x 78.1mm, where the iPhone 7 Plus was 158.2 x 77.9mm. Oddly, that would actually make the iPhone 7S Plus marginally larger.

And don't read too much into the all-screen front, as it seems that's just not had the details filled in, as the source claims the design is the same as the iPhone 7 Plus.

It's possible that there will be a new color scheme launched for the iPhone 7S Plus though. Apple added red to the mix for the iPhone 7 and it's rumored that a mirror-like finish is in the works for the iPhone 8.

It could be that this shade will be exclusive to the top-end model (for now known as the iPhone 8), but it's also possible that the iPhone 7S Plus and iPhone 7S will get it as well.

TechRadar's take: Don't expect too much to change on the design front for the iPhone 7S Plus. Apple could give it a glass back and make it a hair thicker due to new features like wireless charging, but on the whole we're expecting an almost identical device.

iPhone 7S Plus camera

Hottest leaks:

Dual-cameras tipped to remain
Optical image stabilization looks almost certain

The new dual-camera was arguably the biggest upgrade for the iPhone 7 Plus, and it set it apart from the single-camera iPhone 7, so we’d expect to see the same photo smarts on the iPhone 7S Plus.

Respected Chinese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested the dual-lens camera will remain limited to the Plus model, and that both lenses will benefit from optical image stabilization, where currently only the wide-angle lens features OIS on the iPhone 7 Plus.

TechRadar's take: Dual-cameras remain popular in 2017 with the LG G6, Huawei P10, P10 Plus and OnePlus 5 all donning double snappers on the rear and we see no reason why Apple would move away from this on the iPhone 7S Plus.

iPhone 7S Plus battery

Hottest leaks:

Likely to be the same size, 2,900mAh battery
Battery life could be improved with newer chipset and software

Moving onto the iPhone 7S Plus battery size, there's currently little word on what to expect.

However, with the design of the 7S Plus likely to be very similar to its predecessor we wouldn't be surprised if Apple stuck with the same 2,900mAh offering and improved efficiency with a newer chipset and software integration.

There have been suggestions that Apple could introduce wireless charging to its iPhones this year, most notably from the CEO of one of Apple's suppliers, who mentioned the tech was coming, and from the presence of a sound hinting at it in the iOS 11 beta, but this is something which it may save for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus - or not all.

We've also heard that problems with the software could mean that wireless charging is enabled after the new handsets launch, via a software update.

New X-rays of the device leaked to the web seem to suggest that wireless charging will indeed make it into the phone. As does the fact that it seemingly has a glass back (which works better with wireless chargers than a metal one).

TechRadar's take: Looking at Apple's previous iPhones, it makes sense for the 7S Plus to sport a similar size battery to the iPhone 7 Plus, with improvements in battery life made on a chipset and software level.

I'm finally convinced the iPhone 8 will have wireless charging

iPhone 7S Plus OS and power

Hottest leaks:

A new iOS 11 operating system
More powerful chipset, possibly more RAM too

iOS 11 will be ready to run on the iPhone 7S Plus, and we now know a lot about it, as Apple announced the new software at WWDC 2017.

Features include a new look for the App Store, a focus on augmented reality, improvements to Apple Pay and a whole lot more.

In recent years new iPhone launches coincided with the release of the new version of iOS, and there's no reason to believe things will change in 2017.

The iPhone 7 Plus launched with A10 Fusion chipsets, so we’d expect a new quad-core chip on the iPhone 7S Plus and it's likely to be called the A11 Fusion, or just A11.

The iPhone 7S Plus could pack either 3GB again. The 7 Plus has 3GB, while the iPad Pro has 4GB, so there's an outside chance Apple may up things here.

TechRadar's take: A new A11 chipset is almost certain, while a minimum of 3GB of RAM is also highly likely.

iOS 11 release date, news and features

iPhone 7S Plus other features

Hottest leaks:

A Smart Connector for accessories
Iris scanner and facial recognition tech

There’s a chance the Smart Connector from the iPad Pro could launch on the iPhone 7S Plus.

The long rumored iPhone 7 Pro was meant to feature the Smart Connector, for accessories such as small keyboards, but Apple may be waiting to launch it on the iPhone 7S Plus instead. Though recent rumors haven't mentioned the connector at all, so we wouldn't count on it.

Other rumors for the iPhone 7S Plus point towards the addition of an iris scanner and facial recognition as ways to further secure your phone.

It’s a technology Samsung has included on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, and we wouldn't be surprised if Apple followed suit with it on the iPhone 7S Plus (and iPhone 7S).

TechRadar's take: With Samsung adding more biometrics to its S8 handsets this year, Apple could well offer the same security features with the 7S Plus.

iPhone 7S Plus price

We’d expect a similar price for the iPhone 7S Plus as there was for the iPhone 7 Plus.

The 32GB model costs $769 (£719, AU$1,229), while the 128GB version costs $869 (£819, AU$1,419). If you want an even bigger 256GB version you have to spend $969 (£919, AU$1,569).

TechRadar's take: The iPhone 7S Plus is sure to cost at least as much as the iPhone 7 Plus. This year's price hike is likely coming with the iPhone 8.