The iPhone 7 release date this 2016 promises at least four new feature upgrades that reports said are already past the development stage, meaning the chance of the functionalities ending up with the next iPhone launch is quite high. 

Lightning audio port

Reports are widespread that Apple plans to kill the 3.5mm audio jack in time for the iPhone 7 unboxing and for a good reason - the tech giant also wants to introduce a more advanced noise-cancelling technology with its upcoming flagship. And it appears that to achieve this end, the iPhone maker will make use of the Lightning port as the new and better audio connector.

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"Apple is working with its longtime audio chip partner Cirrus Logic to adapt the audio chipset in the iPhone to work with the Lightning port," Fast Company said in a new report. And apart from doing away with the aging mobile sound standard, Apple is apparently looking to pack more listening pleasures that fans would love, likely offsetting the perceived backlash to be generated by the reported shift to a new system.

Waterproof features

And with the old headphone jack going away soon, it seems a lot easier for iPhone engineers to finally make the next model waterproof, which already is a feature included in a number of Android flagship phones. According to Fast Company, the sequel to the iPhone 6S will likely include full waterproofing features, which could prove a huge draw for many smartphone buyers.

Wireless charging

The same report also suggested that another popular Android device feature will soon be enjoyed by Apple fans - wireless charging. The tech giant will finally give a green light on the feature, which Fast Company was actually in serious consideration as early as the iPhone 5S.

DSLR-like camera capabilities

Lastly, the next iPhone is believed to be capable of producing images with DSLR quality. This has been suggested in a series of patent document filing traced to Apple, all of which pointed to the introduction of an iPhone camera system that is laced with dual-lens. Equipped with the dual camera hardware assembly, the iPhone 7 will also permit users to easily produce 3D contents, BGR said in a new report.

Quoting a blog story published last year by Apple watcher John Gruber, the report said that two-lens camera will enable the next iPhone shooter into producing "DSLR-quality imagery," adding that it could be "the biggest camera jump ever," for an iPhone model.

Apple is seen to follow its usual rollout calendar and make the iPhone 7 release date happen September 2016 though there were rumors that claimed launch time could come earlier, likely by June or July this year.