iPhone 7 release date, news and rumors

There's a understandable yearning for sweeping iPhone 7 changes when it launches in a few weeks: think a whole new design, piles of power and a bunch of new features.
We've collected all the latest from around the web, sifted through the likelihood of each rumor and given you our expert take on what to expect from Apple's launch - so read on to find the authoritative take on your possible next phone.
Fancy Android instead? Here's our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S7. Looking for something smaller? Then you'll want to check out the iPhone SE - while our iPhone 7 Plus rumors page should cover all your big screen needs.
Want to know about the next-gen rivals? Well, check out our expert analysis on the new Samsung phones for 2017 - including the Galaxy S8 release date and all we know on the Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge.
In a rush? Get the latest iPhone 7 news in our video roundup below:

Cut to the chase
What is it? A rebooted iPhone, with new powers, features and design
When is it out? Almost nailed on for September 2016
What will it cost? Very likely the same as the iPhone 6S
iPhone 7 release date
If we were betting folk, we'd bet the house on the fact the iPhone 7 will launch in September 2016. Apple sticks to a schedule and the last few iPhones have all been launched in the month of September.
Oh, there's a possibility it could be earlier, as according to a 'reliable source' Apple might actually bring it to market earlier. Sadly, how much earlier is unclear and we hear this rumor every year. It never happens.

It will take a while to finish development and manufacturer of the phone, so we wouldn't expect to see it before September. Autumn is exactly when iOS 10 is due. It just makes sense for September.
TechRadar's take: Don't book holiday in the first half of September if you want to see everything about the launch...
More: What WWDC secretly told us about iPhone 7
iPhone 7 cost
Hottest leaks:
Prices to remain static
Smallest storage size to increase to 32GB for same cost
The iPhone cost rarely varies from year to year, and price rumors from Weibo suggest just that.
That means the iPhone 7 price will be around US$649 (£539, AU$1079), but here's the good news: for that money you'll apparently get 32GB of storage rather than 16GB.
At the top end it will be more expensive than the US$849 / £699 / AU$1379 iPhone 6S 128GB, but you'll apparently get 256GB of storage.
There's some confusion over whether there will be a 64GB or 128GB 'middle option': a leak from WeChat, spotted by BGR, agree on the prices for all three sizes, with the middle choice coming in at 6088 yuan, which is the same price as the mid-sized (64GB) iPhone 6S in China, around £619 / US$749 / AU$1229.
The sources can't agree on is whether you'll get 64GB of storage or 128GB for that money - 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options seem the most likely.
TechRadar's take: A larger base storage option, but very little price rise as the iPhone is already at the top end of acceptable cost.
iPhone 7 design
Hottest leaks:
Water resistance
Bezel-less metal body

Redesigned antennas

While we were expecting big design changes for the iPhone 7, we've got bad news for Apple fans: it might be very similar outside of a few tweaks here and there.
We could get a new color option though, with rumors suggesting Apple will add a 'Space Black' shade to the mix, likely similar to the black Apple Watch option. That's not been seen on an iPhone since 2012's iPhone 5.
You can see the likely shape of it in the image below, which could be our clearest look yet at the phone, showing off the redesigned antenna bands and a single lens snapper. Another similar shot has appeared on nowhereelse.fr.

Slimmer model

It's also said to be slimmer than the 7.1mm-thick iPhone 6S; Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities reckons it'll drop to between 6mm and 6.5mm. That sounds unnecessarily slim to us, especially as it could cause the battery life to take a hit, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 is only marginally thicker at 6.8mm, so it's possible.

If TSMC makes the chips, as has been rumored, then some space could be saved, which might help Apple slim it down without making sacrifices in other areas. Another report claims Apple will use fan-out technology to save space and reduce the thickness of the iPhone 7.

A waterproof phone?

The iPhone 7 could be built to last too, as according to Mac Otakara there are a number of iPhone prototypes with "ruggedized" features, which could mean a water and dust-resistant phone is on the way.
In fact, that's exactly what we'll get according to a supply chain source. Apple screen supplier Japan Display has come up with a new technology called "Pixel Eyes", that is now in its second generation and makes it easier to use the screen while you have wet fingers.
However, another report has suggested Apple will opt for a slimmer phone rather than a waterproof iPhone 7. Apple will likely get a new LCD display technology as well, which could allow the iPhone 7 to be 1mm thinner than before.

No more camera bump or antenna bands

A design tweak rumor which will likely please many is that Apple will ditch the camera bump which has been present since the iPhone 6/6 Plus - with the firm going for a sleeker finish on the iPhone 7.
As well as being totally flat the back could also be uninterrupted, as the same report points towards the removal of the antenna bands.
That tallies with an image leak picked up by Nowhereelse.fr, which claims its snapshot shows the iPhone 7 to have no antenna bands and a larger camera.

The lack of antenna bands seems very likely, as other leak shows, a chassis design with a smart new way to hide the antennas - so a smooth back is very likely incoming.

Same shape as the 6S?

The overall size and shape of the iPhone 7 may not change much, as a sketch complete with dimensions shows it as being the same length and width as the iPhone 6S, as well as having similarly curved corners. That would be surprising for a new numbered model though and the sketch could easily be a fake.

Two separate leaked of the back panel have emerged to help corroborate these claims. The first is on MobiPicker, showing the phone in gold with a rounded design, antenna lines at the top and bottom and a new camera module, which could be a laser autofocus. It corroborates the reported changes, but has more than a whiff of fakery around it.
The newer image shows off the alleged back of the iPhone 7 itself. It looks like it could have been manipulated, but with most design rumors lining up it could still be close to the truth.