14 DAY TRIAL // This year’s iPhone is expected to bring only a small refresh over the model launched last year, which, in turn, brought just minor improvements as compared to the 2014 version, but it appears that there’s a whole strategy behind all these similarities.
Apple is believed to be changing the release cycle for iPhone models, planning bigger upgrades every three years, according to reports coming from the Nikkei newspaper (via MW).
This means that iPhone models with major overhauls, such as a new design, new types of screen, or significant camera upgrades, are only expected once every three years while all the other releases would be made on the same original version with rather small improvements.
Apple reportedly considers that the pace at which smartphone hardware improves these days makes it impossible for completely new models to come out every year, and this is one of the reasons the company is willing to change its release cycle. It would make much more sense to release major upgrades every three years because new hardware is developed in the meanwhile, and companies have more time to improve their products.
And while this does make sense for Apple, it can be a self-destructing strategy for the company if it’s the only one adopting it.
Companies are competing against each other for innovating, and Apple has rather stagnated in the last couple of years, while rivals such as Samsung have already launched products that are often deemed as being more innovative. The Galaxy S7, for instance, comes with waterproofing, wireless and fast charging, which are features that aren’t yet available on the iPhone.
If rivals keep innovating and offering new features while Apple waits to release major upgrades for 3 years, potential iPhone buyers could very well jump ship and purchase an Android device, so it’s all a very risky decision for Cupertino.
Possible iPhone 7 specs
Most of the rumors so far have indicated rather small design improvements on the iPhone 7 versus the 6s, and the aforementioned report claims that this is indeed accurate.
People with knowledge of the matter said that Apple would move antenna lines from the back to the top and bottom sides of the phone while the camera would be placed closer to the upper corner.
At the same time, Nikkei claims that improvements will include “water resistance and a better battery,” but no other specifics have been provided. This isn’t the first time when a water-resistant iPhone is said to be in the works, and it could actually be one of the reasons the company is trying to remove the audio jack.
A bigger overhaul of the iPhone is projected to launch in 2017, when an OLED screen and a completely new design could see daylight, thus aligning with rumors pointing to a major release every 3 years.