A new patent by Apple has raised hopes that the highly anticipated iPhone7 might be the first waterproof iPhone.
Fresh Patents suggests that Apple is working on making waterproof speakers for the iPhone 7.
This week a patent application from Apple was published by the US Patent and Trademark office stating: "The membrane may include an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one inwardly-extending region that is indented toward the inner surface."
Futhermore, the supporting structure may be "coupled to the membrane and include a support structure that mates with the concave region of the membrane when the speaker is subjected to a hydrostatic load."
"In various implementations, the support structure may be shaped to correspond with a shape of the concave region. In this way, the membrane may be resistant to tearing or rupture due to hydrostatic load."
The patent also notes that the device can only be waterproof to a certain limit. It adds that even something deemed "waterproof" is only water resistant "up to a particular hydrostatic load exerted by a particular depth of water"
Rumours surrounding Apple's iPhone 7, which is expected to be released in September this year, are popping up almost every day, with some speculating that the phone may be called "iPhone Pro," and will have a dual use headphone jack/charging port, dual-lens camera, upgraded processors, two screen sizes and redesigned antenna bands.
A report in The Next Web suggests that Apple is planning to use a haptic engine rather than mechanical movement for the Home button on the iPhone 7.