iPhone 7S release date, news and rumors

Apple will announce the iPhone 7S in a few hours, and while we're unsure of the name, its new features, price and release date aren't that big of a mystery.

That's going to make it the right choice for a lot of people who want to upgrade their iPhone and shy away from a potential expensive, experimental iPhone 8.

Yes, if true, Apple would be embracing choice with its smartphones, releasing an iPhone 7S, and iPhone 7S Plus, and then a super-premium new iPhone.

But what will make the iPhone 7S better than the iPhone 7? It won't be size, but it may pack plenty of speed, wireless charging and a new glass design.

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

Cut to the chase

What is iPhone 7S? The next iterative Phone from Apple
When is the iPhone 7S release date? September 12 launch, released a week or two later
What will iPhone 7S cost? At least as much as the iPhone 7

iPhone 7S release date

The iPhone 7S release date is going to be announced tomorrow at Apple's big launch event in Cupertino, California. But we already have a feel of when it'll be

Pre-orders usually go on sale the Friday after an event, so you'll be able to order the iPhone 7S on September 15 when the clock strikes midnight in California..

As per usual, expect the actual in-store release date and the delivery date to be on a Friday. That just leaves three days in September when it could release:

Friday, September 15, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017

We're leaning on the latter half of the month of September for the iPhone 7S launch this year due to rumors of production delays.

Pre-register for iPhone 7S
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iPhone 7S price

For now, all we can go on is the iPhone 7’s price, which is $649/£599/AU$1,079 for the smallest size. A similar starting price for the iPhone 7S is likely, but we may see it increase just a tiny bit.

iPhone 7S screen

Hottest leaks:

The same 4.7-inch size as before
Won't get an OLED display

The iPhone 7S will be upgraded, but not when it comes to its display. It's going to stay the same in both size and screen technology.

Why? Because Apple is reportedly saving the better OLED displays for its premium iPhone, the iPhone X (formerly thought be called iPhone 8).

This means we're expecting a 4.7-inch display size with a 1334 x 750 display in order to keep the cost down. It's Apple's entry-level iPhone for 2017 (though the older iPhone SE remains on sale for now).

TechRadar’s take: A change to OLED is looking likely... for the basic 2018 iPhone. Apple won't be able to secure enough OLEDs to mass produce the iPhone X, nevermind the iPhone 7S, so you're going to be looking at the same beautiful LCD display. It just won't have the all-screen tough or deep blacks.

iPhone 7S design

Hottest leaks:

A glass back
A fingerprint scanner on the back

The iPhone is due a design change and it could get a big one for the iPhone 7S, with rumors pointing to a glass back, in place of the metal body the iPhone 7 has.

Leaked images supposedly show the iPhone 7S Plus with a glass back, and if that gets one then the iPhone 7S probably will as well.

We've also heard that Apple might be preparing a new mirror-like finish for the next iPhone, though again, it's not clear whether that would just be for the premium anniversary iPhone or for all new iPhone models.

TechRadar’s take: A glass body is believable. Whatever happens, we’d expect significant changes though, especially as the iPhone 7S’s launch will mark the tenth anniversary of the iPhone.

iPhone 7S camera and battery

Hottest leaks:

A single-lens camera
Wireless charging

We’re not expecting a huge change to the camera on the iPhone 7S, with just a single-lens rumored for the entry-level new iPhone.

In all cases there are sure to be some improvements though. The iPhone 7S Plus for example is said to have optical image stabilization for both lenses, rather than just one as is the case on the iPhone 7 Plus.

That’s according to a research note from respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

Everything else is speculation, but a change in megapixel count is possible, at least on the rear cameras (which currently sit at 12MP). It’s less likely that the front-facing camera’s count will change, as Apple only recently upped it to 7MP.

There's also the possibility of 3D cameras, which could add augmented reality functions to the phone. Though these likely would require a dual-lens snapper, and might be reserved for a more premium model. You can see rough sketches supposedly showing a 3D camera below.

As for the battery, there’s evidence that Apple might finally include wireless charging.

That stems from a rumor that Foxconn (which is involved in manufacturing iPhones) is experimenting with the tech, and from a research note obtained by 9to5Mac, which states that all iPhone 7S models will have wireless charging.

That rumor has been repeated since, more than once, and bolstered by the fact that Apple has now joined the Wireless Power Consortium (an industry group focused on the adoption of a wireless charging standard).

Opinion: Why I'm now convinced the iPhone 8 will have wireless charging

There's even evidence for it in the iOS 11 beta, with a hidden sound file possibly designed to play when you charge your phone wirelessly. It also showed up in leaked X-rays of the device, and with the phone likely to have a glass back it will be in a better position for wireless charging than if it had a metal one.

However, you might not be able to charge your iPhone 7S wirelessly at launch, as it's also rumored that while the hardware will be ready, the software won't, so it might be enabled as an update after launch.

TechRadar’s take: Expect a similar camera, but with improvements to the software and some new features. Wireless charging is likely too.

iPhone 7S OS and power

Hottest leaks:

Improved AR and VR performance
AN A11 Fusion chip inside
2GB of RAM

There aren’t many OS or power rumors yet, but this aspect is easy to take a guess at. For one thing, the iPhone 7S is likely to run iOS 11, given that we’re on iOS 10 now.

It’s also likely to have an A11 Fusion chip (up from the A10 Fusion chip in the iPhone 7). We’d guess this will be six-core processor, based on iOS 11 leaks. However, we expect it to stick with 2GB of RAM.

It may have a powerful graphics chip that would allow for improved augmented reality and virtual reality gaming. Why? Because a company that often makes parts of the A-series chipset has created just such a chip.

This isn't the only hint that augmented reality will be improved on the iPhone 7S either, as Apple is also rumored to have up to 1,000 engineers working on augmented reality tech, and is including augmented reality tech in iOS 11.