Apple is criticised for many things, but design is rarely one of them. At least until the iPhone 7…
In recent months a series of leaks have revealed Apple’s new iPhone will look almost identical to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, but that isn’t the big problem. What the iPhone 7 surprisingly does worse than its predecessors is what will anger users…
Lighting up social media is the ever reliable Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka OnLeaks) after the leaker who famously nailed the iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 designs prior to release, revealed the first iPhone 7 real world photos as well as a new schematic.
And, surprisingly, it was not the photo which had everyone talking.
While the photo showed what we have been expecting: an iPhone 6S lookalike with revised antenna lines and a slightly larger camera (believed to increase aperture not megapixels), the schematic gave a more unsettling viewing angle showing the extent to which the new rear camera protrudes.
Interestingly such a design decision flies in the face of what Jonathan Ive has long preached (and Apple once famously tried to hide) with Apple’s former head of design vocal about his dislike of the smaller protrusion on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. As such it is probably no coincidence that the iPhone 7 camera design comes just one year after Ive’s hardware focus at Apple was expanded to give him a broader role also designing Apple stores and even elements of the new Apple campus.
So will iPhone fans stomach the iPhone 7’s new big bulge?
Given the minimal external alterations (new iPhone design years always – rightly or wrongly – provoke greater customer excitement), the omission of the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual camera and the controversial removal of the headphone jack, the bulky rear camera could prove one bitter pill too many for some Apple fans to swallow.
Then again I’d urge calmness. With most iPhone owners putting their handsets inside protective cases the new protruding iPhone 7 camera would still have a flush finish. Am I grasping at straws? Apple will hope not…