The highly anticipated iPhone 7 has leaked again, this time showing off a large protruding camera that may disappoint those hoping for a sleeker design.
If the latest leak turns out to be accurate, Apple has redesigned the handset's antenna bands and made the camera lens notably larger, which also translates to a hefty bulge.
The leak shows the rear casing of the purported 4.7-inch iPhone 7, bolstering claims that Apple decided to move the antenna bands to the edges of the case. Previously, the antenna lines appeared as thin gray bands placed horizontally across the back casing. Some complained those lines were unsightly, so Apple apparently moved them to the top and bottom edges instead.
No major change there, but that purported camera has already stirred some backlash. Based on the photos and schematics leaked by reliable tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer, also known as OnLeaks, the rear camera will be protruding quite a lot.
The larger size of the camera lens, meanwhile, does not necessarily mean an increased megapixel count. The iPhone 7 is expected to have a larger aperture rather than extra megapixels.
While leaks should always be taken with a hefty grain of salt, it's worth pointing out that Hemmerstoffer is one of the most reliable sources out there. The tipster previously nailed the design of several flagships before they became official, including the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s.
That's still no guarantee that the latest iPhone 7 design leak is accurate, but it does add more credibility to the claim. At the same time, it also seems to bolster rumors that only the 5.5-inch model of the iPhone 7 will boast a dual-lens camera setup.
Otherwise, the iPhone 7 is not expected to sport any other major design differences compared with the current iPhone 6s.
Recent rumors also indicated that the iPhone 7 will be waterproof and support wireless charging, and it's expected to ditch the 16 GB version and start at 32 GB as the base storage. Other rumors suggested that Apple will replace the standard headphone jack with a Lightning port connector, which may come as bad news to some.
It's all based on rumors and speculation at this point, however, so it's best to maintain a dose of skepticism until Apple makes it official this fall. As always, we'll make sure to keep you up to date as soon as more tidbits of information hit the surface.
In the meantime, what do you think about this protruding camera? If this turns out to be accurate, would you still find the iPhone 7 design attractive? Let us know in the comments section below.
