iPhone 7 release date, news & rumors: analyst speculates most intriguing feature ever

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Fox News reported that Gene Munster, an analyst from Piper Jaffray, states that the newest iPhone model will come in a new design without its signature home button.

"While we are still almost a year away from the next iPhone launch, we believe it is worth considering what the next cycle may bring. Given a number change cycle, we expect the iPhone 7 to sport a unique design from the iPhone 6/6S," Munster wrote in Barron's blog. "We believe a home-buttonless iPhone has a 50-percent chance for the iPhone 7.

He added that ditching the home button will make way for a bigger screen or making the handset smaller. However, the home button contains the Touch ID so it would potentially be moved to another part of the phone to which he claims could be at any of the sides.

In addition, Apple may also be looking to increase the iPhone's battery life to which he said is the "biggest areas of potential improvement and one that might be most welcomed by customers." The iPhone 7 may also be installed with a sapphire screen similar to what was used on the Apple Watch.

The Week reports that the iPhone 7 may also be waterproof as the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus were released with "silicone seal around the logic board" and a wider frame making it more water resistant than the older models.

The new iPhone may have a wraparound display. International Business Times reports that Apple filed a patent for "sidewall displays" on Sept. 29 this year which shows a phone with a display that goes around the device.

"A large majority of portable electronic devices have settled into a standard form factor, namely a flat planar form factor with a display on one side and an opaque housing that contains the electrical components covering the rear surface of the device," Apple states in their patent.

"Unfortunately, this popular form factor leaves the sides and rear surfaces of the device unused or at best configured with buttons and switches with fixed location and functionality."

Apple adds that because the buttons and switches have "fixed functionality," third party applications may be useless and must therefore find a new way to incorporate these functions in another way.

However, Apple has not confirmed or denied any of the rumors so the speculations may just remain as they are.