Apple's next iPhone will be a third variation of the iPhone 6 generation instead of an entirely new generation, which many expected to be called the iPhone 7.
That's according to a report posted on Tuesday by Japanese news site Nikkei found by 9to5Mac.
Ever since the iPhone 3G generation, Apple has released two models within a generation. The iPhone 3G had the 3GS, the 4 had the 4s, the 5 had the 5s, and the 6 has the 6s.
Nikkei's report didn't offer any possibilities for this year's model name, but if true, it could very well have "iPhone 6" as part of its name.
Nikkei makes the claim based on slowing innovation in the smartphone industry, as well as a slowing market for smartphones. At 9to5Mac notes, that means Nikkei's report could be total speculation.
At the same time, Nikkei's report could make total sense, as rumors about the iPhone that's expected to be released this year (which we've been calling the iPhone 7) help back up Nikkei's claim. If some of the rumors are true, this year's iPhone will look more like an updated model of the iPhone 6s rather than a totally refreshed generation.
According to rumors, this year's iPhone will have nearly identical designs and dimensions as the iPhone 6 family, which wouldn't be characteristic of a brand new iPhone generation. Instead, we'd normally expect a totally refreshed design.
So far, the biggest design change in this year's iPhone is said to be new antenna lines that aren't as visible as the ones you'll find on the iPhone 6 and 6s.
Other rumors also suggest that it won't have a headphone jack, leaving users to rely on wireless Bluetooth headphones or the iPhone's Lightning port to connect headphones.
And finally, the Plus model of this year's iPhone is said to come with a dual camera, while the regular-sized model will have an updated single camera.
Rumors about the iPhone that's expected to be released in 2017 also line up nicely with Nikkei's report. The iPhone 8, as it's being called, is said to have a totally refreshed design, including an all-display front surface without borders or bezels. We might also see an all-glass build similar to the iPhone 4 generation, too.
It's not entirely clear in Nikkei's report if Apple would change up its release cycle for this specific generation, or if we'll see three iPhone per generation instead of two from now on.
Either way, Nikkei's report doesn't confirm anything about this year's iPhone. We'll know for sure this fall, when Apple typically launches new iPhones.
