iPhone 7 release date rumours, new features and images: iPhone 7 'gets super-toughened screen with built-in Touch ID sensor'

When is the new iPhone 7 coming out? What new features and design changes can we expect in the iPhone 7? And will it even be called the iPhone 7?

The iPhone 7 is already a hot topic, even though the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have only been out for a few months. You may be surprised by how much speculation there is about the iPhone 7 already: rumours about the iPhone 7's release date, its design, specs and features, and even its name.

In 2015 we're sure to see a next-generation iPhone. But what will the new iPhone 7 (or perhaps iPhone 6s or simply 'New iPhone') be like? What new features can we expect in the iPhone 7? And when will the iPhone 7 come out? We round up the evidence to bring you everything there is to know about the iPhone 7 so far.

Bookmark this page and come back regularly for the latest iPhone 7 information, clues, hints and rumours, as well as any leaked photos of the iPhone 7 that emerge; we'll update the article whenever we hear any worthwhile new information on the subject.

Main sections in this article:

• Introduction: What is the iPhone 7?
• iPhone 7 launch date rumours
• iPhone 7 specification rumours
• iPhone 7 new features rumours
• iPhone 7 design rumours (updated, 13 Feb, with rumours about a super-toughened glass screen with a built-in Touch ID sensor)
• iPhone 7 images and videos: leaked images, concept illustrations etc

If you're looking for information about the current iPhones, by the way, visit our iPhone 6 review and iPhone 6 Plus review, and our comparison article: iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus. You can also read about the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6c release date and rumours.

Plus, find out what's in store for the rest of this year: Apple rumours and predictions for 2015

iPhone 7 rumours: What is the iPhone 7?

Sorry if that sounds obvious, but it's not as simple a question as it sounds. The iPhone 7 isn't the seventh iPhone (the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were the ninth and tenth iPhones respectively, so that ship sailed a long time ago) but it's what we are for convenience calling Apple's next large-screen (phablet-form) iPhone launch.

At the moment Apple sells iPhones in three sizes: with 4-inch screens (the iPhone 5cand iPhone 5s); with a 4.7-inch screen (the iPhone 6) and with a 5.5-inch screen (theiPhone 6 Plus). We're currently working on the basis that Apple will make at least one new model in all three sizes, and for now we're choosing to call those theoretical devices iPhone 6c, iPhone 6s and iPhone 7.

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(However, an anonymous source in Apple's supply chain recently claimed that the company isn't currently planning to make another 4-inch iPhone. We're not sure about that - and think it would be a mistake for Apple - but you can read more about the rumour in our iPhone 6c round-up.)

iPhone 7 rumours: What will the next iPhone be called? Will it be iPhone 6s or iPhone 6c instead?

Before we get on to specs and other technical details, one of the first things we want to address is the name of the next iPhone. If Apple sticks to its traditional naming conventions, then it's more likely that the 2015 iPhone will be called the iPhone 6s instead of the iPhone 7. (This could be accompanied by a cheaper iPhone 6c.)

However, it's been rumoured for a few years now that Apple is considering dropping the 'S' naming convention (and the more recent 'C' convention), as it's beginning to be perceived negatively. After all, it does make it seem like it's not a completely new device, but rather a stepping stone to the next iPhone.

We won't know what the next iPhone is called until Apple confirms it, of course.

Another option that's been proposed by keen Aple followers is that the iPhone 7 will be called the iPhone Air, following the example of the MacBook Air and iPad Air lines. But that's a bit wacky for our tastes.

iPhone 7 release date rumours: When is the iPhone 7 coming out?

If Apple sticks to its traditions, we can expect the iPhone 7 to arrive in mid-September 2015. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were unveiled on 9 September 2014 (and released to the public on 19 September); the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5swere unveiled on 10 September 2013; the iPhone 5 was unveiled on 12 September. There's a pattern there. 

How to tell which version of iOS you're on: What operating system do I have on my iPhone or iPad?

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There are several reasons why you might need to know what version of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, your iPhone or iPad is running. If you're downloading a new app and want to check whether it's compatible, for example, or perhaps you need to find out how to do something with a method that differs depending on which version of iOS you're using.

In this article, we show you how to quickly and easily find out what mobile operating system your iPad or iPhone is running.

You might also like: How to speed up a slow iPhone and iPhone tips and tutorials

What is iOS?

First things first, let's address what exactly it is we're talking about. iOS is what Apple calls the software that you're using when you're using your iPhone or iPad, or your iPod touch. It's pre-installed on all of Apple's mobile devices. So, when you're interacting with your device, you're getting the experience that Apple's software team has designed, from the way it looks right through to the way you navigate between apps. You can find out more in our what is iOS article.

Apple updates iOS regularly, with a major update coming approximately once every year, normally in September alongside the launch of a new iPhone model. The latest version, released in September 2014, is iOS 8.

Apple also releases smaller updates to fix bugs and add small tweaks. Currently, iOS 8 is on version 8.1.3. You can find out more about iOS 8 and its various small updates in our iOS 8 release round-up.

You might also like: iOS 8 vs iOS 7

How to tell which version of iOS you're on

Not many people would be able to tell you which version of iOS your iPhone or iPad is running just by looking at it. That's why it's handy that there's a quick and easy way to find out exactly which version of the operating system you're using.

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First go to your iPad or iPhone's Home screen, and tap on the Settings icon. There, you'll need to click General, and then tap About.

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You'll now find lots of information about your device, including how many songs, videos and photos it's storing, how many applications you've got, what the capacity is and the amount of remaining space, and then 'Version,' which is what we're looking for.

Ours is version 8.1.3, which means it's the iOS 8.1.3 version that we mentioned earlier. Your number may be different, but whatever the number, that's what version of iOS you're running.

If you're concerned that it's not the latest version of iOS but you want it to be, you simply need to go back to General, and then tap 'Software Update'. From there you'll be able to download and install any available updates. See: How to update your iPhone or iPad

Additionally, you can find out what version of iOS your device is running on your computer, by opening iTunes, connecting your device using your USB cable, and then selecting the device when it appears in iTunes.

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Click 'Summary' and you'll see the iOS version number in the panel on the right.

If you're excited about the next version of iOS, expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2015 in June, check out our iOS 9 rumour round-up.