iPhone 7 Release Date, Specs Rumors: Wireless Charging and Replaceable Battery Features on Wish List

Smartphone consumers have become so demanding and technology-savvy. Barely two weeks after Apple Inc. started selling its top-of-the-line iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, people are already aching to know the shape and features of the next-generation iPhone 7 which is expected to be unveiled sometime next year, presumably also in the month of September.

Although the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus already raked in a humongous 10 million units in the first weekend since their release on Sept. 19 this year, some consumers have become so finicky and so choosy that they want more from Apple.

They are among those who were quite disappointed when they didn't find the features they were expecting to see in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

No bendable phone

Consumers were also not happy that the thinner iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units tend to bend out of shape in their pockets. They wondered why Apple, the alleged king of hi-tech, would allow its latest gadgets to suffer from low-tech rigidity problems. They felt that the Cupertino, California-based company overlooked this basic problem in their attempt to make their new phones thinner.

Consumers expect that iPhone 7 will have none of this rigidity problem. Apple insiders say this concern is being addressed and that iPhone 7 will have stronger casing.

Scratch-resistant sapphire display

They had also expected that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will have scratch-resistant sapphire display. To their dismay, the two new phones only had Corning Gorilla Glass display.

Apple said it will use such the sapphire screen on its new Watch which it expects to unveil early next year.

Reversible USB cable

A reversible USB cable is another feature that consumers would love to see in their next iPhones.

Apple has already developed a so-called Lightning cable, which is similar to the new USB Type-C, to replace the standard Universal Serial Bus. The USB Type-C will not be compatible with current ports since it is much smaller than the common USB plugs. The new cable's reversible design means that a user can connect a Type-C cable without worrying about the plug's orientation or the cable's direction.

Wireless charging

Another item on iPhone users' wish list is for the next Apple phones to incorporate wireless charging technology. Apple has already won a patent for this technology earlier this year. The company just needs to develop it further for mass production.

Apple's technology uses near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) for wireless charging.

Higher resolution display

Consumers are also craving for a higher resolution display on the iPhone 7. The iPhone 6's 4.7-inch displays has already been graded by reviewers as "very good" while the iPhone 6 Plus display has received an "excellent" mark.

The only problem is that Samsung's top-of-the-line Galaxy Note 4 has an even better display. Reviewers have described the Galaxy Note 4 as having the "best smartphone display ever."

Replaceable battery, removable storage

Apple fans had also expected a replaceable battery in iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. But their wish didn't come true. A replaceable battery prolongs a smartphone's replacement cycle.

Moreover, users want a bigger storage capacity, up to 32GB, for the next iPhones. They were not at all happy that iPhone 6 only has a built-in 16GB of storage space. Although it could be expanded to 64GB, the expansion would rocket the cost of the unit to unpalatable heights.

Aside from bigger storage space, Apple fans would love to have a microSD slot in iPhone 7.

Better front camera

Apple fans also wonder why the tech giant has remained stuck with its phones'1.2MP front-facing camera. Other smartphone brands have bigger mega pixels for their front camera in recognition of the "selfie" craze worldwide. They expect iPhone 7 to have a better camera, both front and back.

Gesture control

Apple die-hards also expect the next iPhones to have the gesture control feature, just like in Samsung, Apple's top rival. The feature allows users to control the display without touching the handset.