With less than six months to go for the launch of iPhone 7, the tenth generation of Apple’s flagship device, I take a look at what would be my perfect iPhone. I am trying to set realistic expectations, so don’t expect me to mention SD Card slot, USB Type-C connector, etc. as it is not going to happen.
A lot of my expectations are also being set by what the competition has to offer, so I am not expecting a holographic display either.
So without wasting any time, here are some of the features that I want in iPhone 7, which will make it the perfect iPhone.
#1. Wireless Charging
If there was one feature that would get me to upgrade to iPhone 7, it would be Wireless Charging. Wireless Charging is available on many Android-based smartphones but has its downside. The device must maintain contact with a charging pad to charge the device, but I think it is still a more convenient than connecting the iPhone to a charger using a Lightning Cable.
If Apple does get rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack, then there is a very high likelihood that it will include support for Wireless Charging as otherwise people won’t be able to listen to music with the Lightning headphones and charge the device at the same time. Our readers don’t seem to be too happy about the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, but there could be a major backlash if they remove a feature and introduce this limitation.
Apple doesn’t seem to be convinced that the wireless charging feature in its current form adds much convenience. So I expect Apple to introduce a revolutionary wireless charging feature that gets rid of the requirement of maintaining contact with a charge pad. So I hope the rumors that Apple is developing long range wireless charging technology turn out to be true, and Apple can deliver on its promise of cutting the cord.
We also won’t have to worry about Lightning cables which have the propensity of getting damaged very quickly.
#2. Fast Charging
One of my favorite features of the Nexus 6P, that I’m currently using as the secondary device, is the fast charging capability. It is able to charge from 0 to 40% in 30 minutes, and up to 80% in an hour’s time. There have been numerous occasions when I realize I need to charge the device only a few minutes before stepping out. The Fast Charging feature comes in very handy in such circumstances. Apple has already introduced fast charging in Apple Watch, so it is high time Apple brings it to the iPhone.
#3. Better Battery, not Form Factor
The iPhone 6s is 7.1 mm thick, which is already too thin. So I don’t want the iPhone 7 to be thinner. iPhone 6s is marginally thicker than iPhone 6, which measures 6.9mm. It was good to see Apple compromising on its obsession to make devices thinner, to incorporate 3D Touch in iPhone 6s.
I hope Apple will continue to focus on functionality over form factor. Though rumors seem to suggest that iPhone 7 could be as thin as the iPod touch, which is only 6.1mm. I think that would be ridiculously thin and could make the device more uncomfortable to hold.
While battery life is not such a major concern when it comes to the bigger iPhone 6s Plus. It is a problem with the iPhone 6s, and a $99 battery case is not the solution. It is an acknowledgment that the battery life is not good enough. So while it may be wishful thinking, I would prefer it if Apple uses the available space to include a bigger battery so it can help in improving the battery life.
#4. Shatterproof Display
iPhone 6s comes in a beautiful unibody aluminum chassis and glass front panel that is curved around the edges of the display. The 7000 series aluminum used for the iPhone 6s’ chassis gives it a premium feel. But we hardly get to enjoy it, as we are too scared of breaking the screen, so we ruin the experience by putting a case.
One improvement I think almost all iPhone users would welcome is a stronger, shatterproof display similar to that on the Motorola Droid Turbo 2. The Droid Turbo 2 comes with a second lens — the “exterior protective lens,” which makes it robust. Thanks to its proprietary hardcoat, this lens withstands impacts to prevent the layers beneath it from becoming damaged when you drop your device. But there are some
I am hoping that someday we don’t have to worry about covering the iPhone with a case, and go naked.
#5. Design
On the design front, I would love to see a redesigned iPhone 7, and hope that Apple finally gets rid of the ugly antenna bands. Though iPhone 6s is one of the best-looking smartphones and feels very premium, it does not have the iconic look like the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5. It doesn’t really stand out. So while that is not the most important aspects I look at while selecting a device, you expect companies like Apple to push the bar when it comes to design. The perfect iPhone should come with much thinner bezels or edge-to-edge screen, which will make the device much smaller, and make it more comfortable to hold. The bezels at the top and below the screen should also be reduced as a shorter device will make it a lot easier to put the 5.5-inch iPhone in the pocket.
But Apple may not be able to pull off the edge-to-edge screen without switching to OLED display, which has their advantages and disadvantages.
#6. Better Low-Light Camera Performance
One of the smartest thing Apple did from the beginning was to continue improving iPhone camera with every new model to stay ahead of the competition. However, in the last couple of years, Apple has been eclipsed in some areas by rivals like Samsung.
One area that the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus camera disappoints is in low-light camera performance. Samsung uses a wide f/1.7 aperture camera lens in the Galaxy S7, whereas iPhone 6s comes with only a f/2.2 aperture camera lens. The wider aperture allows the Galaxy S7 to absorb significantly more light, which allows it to take vastly better photos than the iPhone 6s in low-light. So Apple needs to up the ante by significantly improving the low-light performance of the camera. There are rumors that iPhone 7 will come with a dual-lens camera. I hope it helps in improving iPhone’s low-light camera performance.
So these are the 6 features that I think will make iPhone 7 perfect, and a must-have device in 2016 when it launches later in September. It remains to be seen if Apple will stir up some excitement in the smartphone space with the launch of the iPhone 7 later this year. There is no better company to do it.
What’s on your wishlist for iPhone 7? What will be your perfect iPhone 7?
