According to Japanese blog Mac Okatara, Apple may introduce a variant of the handset with a 5-inch screen and a dual-camera setup similar to what we have seen on the iPhone 7 Plus this year. The camera setup, however, will be arranged vertically rather than horizontally likely to maximise internal space for other components.
The report, which comes from a Taiwanese supplier, says that this new 5-inch iPhone will have specs similar to the “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus.” The final design and specifications of the 5-inch iPhone have not yet been finalised, with the final decision being taken by Apple and its suppliers in the second quarter of Apple’s 2017 fiscal year i.e. by the end of March 2017. It’s unclear if Apple will be switching to vertical configuration for the dual camera setup on the bigger Plus iPhone next year or not.
Earlier this month, Mac Okatara reported that the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus would retain the aluminum design of the iPhone 7. However, the report said the new phones would come in an all-new red color. Multiple reports have stated that there will be three new iPhone models in 2017, including updated 4.7- and 5.5-inch models with LCD screens and a premium model with an OLED display and glass casing.
The new report corroborates an earlier Nikkei report that said a new 5-inch iPhone would arrive in 2017. However, Nikkei reports that the three iPhone models in 2017 will have new glass-backed designs. In November, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it’s likely the 2017 iPhones will switch to new glass casings to support wireless charging.
While Mac Okatara was the first to report that Apple would replace the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and debut a new gloss black color, its track record is not perfect. In November, it reported the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would get a new “Jet White” color that has not yet materialized.
Source: Mac Otakara