Following tradition, Apple is now offering a SIM-free version of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus handset via its online store in the United States.
The SIM-free option allows customers to buy an unlocked iPhone without choosing a carrier.
SIM-free versions of the iPhone 7 Plus in all capacities list shipping estimates of three to four weeks, with the exception of the Jet Black SIM-free iPhone 7 Plus, which lists a shipping estimate of six to eight weeks.
Well, this is sort of a mess.
Apple is presently working on a fix for an issue that can cause the new Lightning EarPods designed for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to stop working properly, the company said in a statement issued on Monday
When using the EarPods, there’s an occasional bug that can cause the remote portion of the accessory to become unresponsive. While audio will continue to play, the remote does not work, so there’s no way to control the volume, access Siri, or answer a phone call.
As of now, the glitch seems to be intermittent and random and it’s been reported that unplugging the Earpods and plugging them back in seems to temporarily resolve the issue.
Apple plans to issue a fix in an upcoming software update, albeit there’s no word on when it might be released. It’s not known if third-party Lightning-based headphones are affected, but there have been reports of similar bugs with the Lightning adapter. Some headphones, such as Beats headphones with a 3.5mm connector, appear to have a non-functional remote when plugged into an iPhone with the Lightning adapter.
If you’re looking to snag a jet black iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus tomorrow, you might be out of luck already.
Apple has issued a statement citing that the iPhone 7 Plus, especially in its jet black color, would be in short supply for walk-in customers without a reservation.
The statement also indicates that Apple’s jet black iPhones and all iPhone 7 plus models in all colors have sold out completely in the initial online ordering period and that no inventory will be available.
In what could be construed as a fairly prominent departure from years past, Apple apparently doesn’t plan to disclose first-weekend sales of its upcoming iPhone 7 handset.
Apple has disclosed the figures for its new iPhones the past eight years. Last year, for example, Apple said it sold 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus phones in their first three days of availability, up 30% from initial sales of the iPhone 6 models the prior year.
Some analysts and investors have viewed the numbers as a gauge of enthusiasm for the new phones. Apple said the figures are less relevant than in the past.
The iPhone SE has arrived for a few users and the official teardown have begun.
As of Wednesday, Chipworks posted a teardown report of the new handset, citing its composition of parts that had largely been borrowed from the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6/6s, with a few new chips thrown in to keep the platform fresh.
The major difference, though, appears to be the A9 processor, which is currently also found on Apple’s flagship iPhone 6s handset.