Apple iPhone 7 may come with touch-sensitive home button --reports

To rival the top end Android smartphones this year, Apple is believed to include high-end and improved design elements and innovative technologies in its next generation of iPhones. The tech giant is said to incorporate a 3D Touch sensitive home button into the new iPhone 7, according to unofficial reports.

Apple is speculated to test a capacitive home button for the upcoming iPhone 7. Citing its supply chain sources, Taiwanese website DigiTimes reported that Apple might be testing prototypes of the purported iPhone 7 with a touch-sensitive home button.

The 3D Touch-enabled home button will be pressure-sensitive.

This report, however, contradicts previous rumours which claimed that the tech giant would get rid of the physical home button and adorn a top-to-bottom display. Last year, there were rumours that Apple is apparently testing five different prototypes of the anticipated iPhone 7.

According to a report in GforGames, Apple might opt for eliminating its iconic home button altogether and integrate a fingerprint sensor on the display of the iPhone 7.

The report by DigiTimes also indicates that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Pro (Plus) might also be fully water and dust proof.

Apple’s iPhone 6s is water resistant but not fully water proof.

The iPhone 7 is speculated to be only 6.1 mm thick like the sixth-generation iPod touch, 1 mm thinner than the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Prevailing rumours also suggests that the redesigned new iPhone 7 come without the iconic antenna lines from the rear panel.

The iPhone 7 is also expected to arrive without the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Moreover, according to the predictions of Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz, Apple would miss out its iconic overhauled ‘S’ variant and upgrade the iPhone series in 2017, as reported by MacRumors.

Apple is yet to confirm the iPhone 7 release date. Speculations indicate that Apple would announce the iPhone 7 at its annual fall event in September.

Related: Apple iPhone 7: 10 things to expect from Apple’s next iPhone