iPhone 7 release date, specs: What differences can you expect in iPhone 6s successor?

Apple may come up with something different and unique for its upcoming flagship device, dubbed as the iPhone 7, after all the flaks it received for last year's iPhone 6s. Most people inferred that the device lacked innovation. So the new device could be the game-changer for the company.

The Cupertino technology giant maintains utmost secrecy when it comes to its products, especially iPhones, and the iPhone 7 is no exception. But going by the tradition the company has been following over the years, it appears like the upcoming next-generation device will be released in September. It holds some waters as the iPhone 6s will complete a year cycle in the market by this time.

A report by DigiTimes has claimed, citing sources, that that chips suppliers, including Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices (ADI), have already "requested their foundry and backend service providers reserve a significant portion of their production capacities in the second and third quarters." 

[Read: Apple's iPhone 7: Suppliers get ready for chip production]

According to reports, the iPhone 7 will be very different from its predecessors, from design to specifications. It is expected to have a flat metal look sans headphone jack and measure between 6.0 and 6.5 mm in thickness, compared to 7.1 mm seen in iPhone 6s. It is also reported that Apple's iconic Home button will not be discarded in the upcoming smartphone.

The device is also expected to do away with the protruding camera and replace it with a smaller but powerful dual camera. DigiTimes also reported that Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices are among the major IC providers of Apple and will play a vital role in slim and dual-lens design of the device.

[Read: Apple's iPhone 7: Concept design fancies flat metal handset]

If all goes well, the iPhone 7 could boast of a unique feature that is not seen in any other device. Apple has filed a patent titled "Electronic Devices With Housing Port Shutters," which suggests shutters for speaker and microphone ports to prevent intrusion of contaminants inside the device. Some reports have suggested that the patent could be introduced in the upcoming device. 

In terms of specifications, the iPhone 7 is expected to sport a 4.7-inch LCD display and powered by an A10 chip. It is expected to come packed with a 2GB/3GB RAM and a 10 MP camera or a two-lens DSLR-style camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS).