iPhone 7: Apple’s next iPhone could be waterproof, leaks suggest, but it might not tell anyone
The company has been gradually, secretly making its phones less likely to break
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The next iPhone might be able to swim, according to leaks – but it might be kept secret.
The company is working on making its newest iPhone waterproof, according to numerous leaks. The latest suggestion is a patent granted this week for a technique that lets Apple’s mobile devices take pictures properly underwater – apparently suggesting that it is working on letting those devices go underwater safely in the first place.
It is just the latest rumour in a run of leaks about the new iPhone that seems to suggest Apple is working towards a waterproof phone. Some have suggested, for instance, that Apple will be getting rid of its headphone jack in part so that it can seal up the phone, and it is also getting rid of the traditional home button as another way of stopping the water getting in.
The company has been gradually working to make its handsets more resilient. That hasn’t just included waterproofing but also making them more able to stand shattering – the newer phone’s use different glass that makes them far less likely to break when they fall out of a pocket or down the toilet.
Doing so helps make people more happy with their phones. It also presumably allows Apple to keep repair costs down, since many of the people who break their phone through contact with water end up taking it to the Apple Store.
But it isn’t clear that if Apple does make the new phone waterproof, it’ll actually market it that way.
The iPhone 6s, for instance, appears to be able to stand being thrown in water – videos on the internet show it being put into bowls of liquid and surviving. But the company hasn’t talked about waterproofing at all, and actually dropping it into any liquid is still not recommended.
Some have even suggested that the Apple Watch – which is marketed as splashproof – can actually handle going underwater.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments