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iPhone 7 will have a sleek new design, but it still won’t be waterproof

Published Aug 2nd, 2016 4:21PM EDT

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With the iPhone 7 release date now just a little bit more than a month a way, rumors surrounding Apple’s next-gen iPhone are starting to come in at a much faster clip. The most recent leak comes to us via a post from the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. Allegedly posted by a Foxconn insider, the post adds a few crumbs of new information about the iPhone 7 will also lending credence to a number of previously circulated rumors.

MUST SEE: 10 awesome Galaxy Note 7 features you won’t find on any iPhone

First, the Foxconn leaker notes that the iPhone 7 home button will not be a mechanical button that users can depress. Instead, the leak indicates that the iPhone 7 home button will implement a touch-based design. Notably, this aligns with previous rumors we’ve seen emerge over the last few weeks. Just a few days ago, for instance, we came across a report claiming that the iPhone 7 home button will be touch-sensitive and will sit atop of sensors that will provide haptic feedback to users when touched. The goal here is to give users the illusion that the home button is mechanical, similar to what Apple has already implemented on its MacBook.

What’s more, the home button on the iPhone 7 is said to be pressure sensitive, thereby providing another avenue for Apple to implement 3D touch functionality.

Second, the report claims that the iPhone 7, contrary to some previous reports, will not be completely waterproof. A few months ago, we saw a few rumblings suggesting that the iPhone 7 would come with an IP68 rating and would therefore be completely dust and waterproof. As it turns out, the iPhone 7 will be more water-resistant than the iPhone 6s, but will not be marketed as a completely waterproof device.

Third, the Weibo post corroborates a slew of rumors claiming that the iPhone 7 will not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Indeed, the lack of a headphone jack on the iPhone 7 may very well be the worst kept secret in tech at this point. Additionally, the iPhone 7 camera is said to be larger and more convex than what is currently found on the iPhone 6s. Indeed, leaked photos of devices purporting to be the iPhone 6s show a much larger camera module that protrudes to a greater degree than we’re used to.

Lastly, the Weibo post lends even more credence that Apple’s iPhone 7 will ship in Space Black. More than likely, the iPhone 7 will be available in the following color options: Gold, Rose Gold, Space Grey, Space Black and Silver. Notably, a sketchy rumor pointing to a Dark Blue iPhone 7 model was recently debunked.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.