Apple iPhone 7 specs update: Device may ditch physical home button

The rumoured iPhone 7 will not feature a physical home button, according to unofficial sources.

Real images obtained by Apple Insider display an iPhone without a physical home button. The displayed handset in the image also lacks the 3.5mm circular headphone jack.

Apple’s iPhone 7 has long been anticipated to boast the first ever top-to-bottom display screen.

This means, that the next generation of iPhone will come with a fingerprint scanner integrated into the display screen or feature a biometric recognition technology.

For years, speculations have persisted that Apple will eliminate its home button on the iPhone. The Cupertino-based tech company has long been rumoured to be working on a new iPhone design which will make the entire front panel as the device’s display.

Removal of the physical home button from the iPhone will be a significant move for Apple. The iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s have physical home buttons sporting Touch ID fingerprint scanners for unlocking the handsets as well as Apple Pay authentication.

Speculations are rife that Apple will also ditch its 3.5mm circular headphone jack to make the device slimmer than ever. The company is said to bring in a new range of headphones connected through lightning ports.

The next generation of iPhone is expected to come in two variants. The top-end iPhone 7 Plus (iPhone Pro) is slated to sport a dual-lens camera module. A recently leaked image, displaying the back panel of the of the premium iPhone 7 Plus, shows protruding dual-lens camera unit in a pill shaped enclosure.

Related: Apple iPhone 7 specs update: Device may feature massive 256GB internal storage

There are speculations that the tech giant will finally do away with its 16GB model for the iPhone 7 and pack the iPhone 7 Plus with a whopping 256GB of internal memory.

Apple is yet to announce the official iPhone 7 release date. But the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 7 lineup at its annual fall event in September 2016.