Apple iPhone 7 specs update: headphone jack to be electronically sealed-off to enable waterproofing
'Electrically controlled shutters' will do the job
Following the rumor of a "waterproofed exterior," Apple might either seal off or forgo the ports and jacks in the upcoming iPhone 7, said news reports.
Based on a newly filed patent in the USPTO titled “Electronic Devices With Housing Port Shutters”, the upcoming Apple iPhone 7 could feature “electrically controlled shutters” that prevent water from seeping through the ports. Open ports are a huge threat to a phone immersed in water, and new sensors that ascertain the existence of moisture or liquids seek to counter this problem.
A phone with shutters allows handset owners to keep their phones closed until there is a need to open them. To top it off, this mechanism can be applied to any port from the headphone jack to the SIM card slot, according to Apple Insider.
In addition, Phone Arena says the iPhone 7 could come coated with a “hydrophobic” material. This material is reportedly similar to the “nano” coating seen in the Moto series of devices that make them water-resistant.
Meanwhile, the ever-credible KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted the upcoming Apple handset will feature 3 GB of RAM. The device is also believed to come with a thickness of 6 mm, whereas the iPhone 6s came in 7.1 mm thick.
Site Macotakara, on the other hand, says Apple is mulling the idea of getting rid of the 3.5 mm earphone jack altogether. In place of a dedicated port, a Bluetooth headset or the Lightning connector can be utilized.
The tech giant might pack earpods along with the device bundle that can be used via the Lightning port. Nevertheless, readers are advised to take the reported iPhone 7 specifications with the proverbial pinch of salt as the tech titan hasn’t officially confirmed any details thus far.
As far as the iPhone 7 release date goes, Apple will reportedly introduce the device in the usual time frame, which in 2016 will be in September.
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