Apple iPhone 7: Photo Of A10 Chip, Rumored To Power Next iPhone, Surfaces Amid Concerns Of ‘Disappointment’

At a time when Apple Inc. is widely rumored to announce its next-generation iPhone, dubbed the “iPhone 7,” sometime next month, a new photo of what is claimed to be the chip to power the upcoming handset has leaked online.

The alleged images of the “A10” chip, which is expected to be featured in the iPhone 7, first appeared on the Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo, which had witnessed similar leaks in the past, including a purported iPhone 7 running Apple test software, Apple Insider reported.

The chipset in the photo is apparently labeled with a 1628 date code, which reportedly indicates a mid-July production. The image, however, is not of the complete A10 chip, but rather of the RAM layer placed on top of the A10 wafer, MacRumors reported, adding that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is likely to be the sole supplier of the faster processor.

Rumors also have it that the new processor could pack in 3GB of RAM for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, helping the larger screen and rumored high-resolution dual-lens camera system perform better than the existing models of the flagship handset.

While Apple enthusiasts are gearing up for a massive product launch next month, some analysts believe that not as many people as expected will upgrade to the iPhone 7.

“Right now everyone is looking forward to the iPhone 7. ... I think it can only disappoint,” CNBC quoted Steve Grasso, director of institutional sales at Stuart Frankel, as saying, adding that the Cupertino tech giant’s shares are not an ideal choice for investment right now.

Craig Johnson, technical analyst at Piper Jaffray, also warned investors that they shouldn’t expect Apple stock to help grow their money, at least for now.

“The stock has been very resilient, it's found support four times at that $90 level,” CNBC quoted Johnson as saying on “Trading Nation.” “[There's] more upside to come, but again this isn't going to be one of those big long-term winners.”

Apple reported its third quarter earrings in late July, beating analysts' expectations partly due to the success of the smaller iPhone SE model, which overshadowed a worrying sales decline of the company’s iconic smartphone.