Leaked Photos Show Apple A10 Chips Destined for the iPhone 7

Pictures have surfaced that allegedly show Apple’s A10 chips, which could be destined for the next-generation iPhone expected to be officially announced next month.

The image was leaked by a user of the Chinese social media website Weibo. The same user shared a recent leak showing an alleged iPhone 7 running test software, according to the Dutch-based new site Techtastic.nl.

Although all leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, the chips in the picture are either genuine, or pretty convincing fakes.

Even the production code, 1628, corresponds for a July manufacturing date. Either the chips are real, or the person who faked them spent a lot of time getting all of the little details right, according to BGR.

These pictures follow closely on the heels of a slew of other leaks related to Apple’s next-generation phone, some of which have been debunked.

For example, a photo was leaked on Weibo that seemed to show a couple iPhone 7 logic boards, but without any A10 processor chips installed.

Also earlier this week, a number of publications were fooled by a series of purported A10 GeekBench tests — which were later found out to be fake, according to John Poole of Primate Labs. But despite these leaks, the A10 processors — and later A11 chips — are allegedly going to be manufactured solely by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Apple’s silicon production partner, according to DigiTimes.

The new chipset is reportedly going to pack in 3 gigabytes of RAM for one of the iPhone 7 models, but in a slimmer design, which could allow for a bigger and more powerful battery.

The iPhone 7 — which many theorize is what Apple’s next-gen handheld will be called — will have a slew of other features and changes beyond a more powerful processor too. For example, it’s rumored that the iPhone 7’s home button will no longer “click,” and instead will be a static button that will rely on haptic feedback.

This would aid in the increased water resistance that many sources say the iPhone 7 will feature.

Additionally — in a pretty controversial move — Apple is reportedly going to remove the 3.5mm audio jack from the iPhone 7, and all subsequent models.

Users of the next-generation phone will have to rely on Bluetooth headphones, or will have to plug directly into the Lightning port — whether with a special pair of headphones, or by way of an adapter.

Additionally, reports say the new phone will come in two versions. A 4.7-inch phone with a traditional, single lens camera, and a 5.5-inch device that will feature a dual-lens camera setup. A third version — a single lens, 5.5-inch iPhone 7 — was allegedly cut from the lineup earlier this year due to the stiff competition from other smartphone manufacturers.

Apple is expected to reveal the two versions of the iPhone 7 sometime next month.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]