A sketchy report on the Chinese site Wechat backs the idea that the iPhone 7 may be offered in three variants – iPhone 7, Plus and Pro models. It also supports previous rumors that Apple is finally abandoning the 16GB tier.
However, while earlier rumors have suggested 32/64/256GB tiers, this latest report lists them as 32/128/256GB. In particular, it suggests these same tiers would be offered for all three models, leading us to view it with some caution.
While we’ve long argued that the 16GB tier is becoming an embarrassment to Apple, the company does move slowly when it comes to storage upgrades, and has long used storage tiers as a way to boost average selling price. If 128GB were offered as the middle tier, relatively few buyers are likely to opt for the top tier, so a doubling across the range seems unlikely. However, a previous rumor has suggested 32/128/256GB for the Pro model.
Spanish site iPhoneros points to the same source leaking iPhone 6s boxes, but close comparison of the photos supplied and the real thing doesn’t lend confidence. In particular, the spacing on the side of the box shown in the photos is tighter than on the actual box.
Pricing is shown as the same as the iPhone 6s for the bottom and middle tiers, and a little higher for the top tier. The pricing shown is similar, but not identical, to the previous report.
All-in-all, we’re not giving too much credence to the specifics of this particular report, but it’s interesting that rumors of a Pro model do seem to be gaining ground. Catch up with the key stories on the iPhone 7 in our new guide.
