Thinner, faster, more memory, water resistant, these are just a few of the many features we may or may not the next flagship phone offering from Apple Inc. Despite the company remaining silent about its follow-up to the iPhone 6 and 6s handsets, the whispering rumor mill surrounding the iPhone 7 suggests what we can expect for 2016.

Apple's global suppliers can't help but spill the tea about the anticipated next-gen installment while industry analysts tap their resources and identify trends. As IBTimes reports, here's what the iPhone 7 may have to offer next year.

Display

According to previous reports, the iPhone 7 will feature a 4.7-inch display, no surprise there. Like its previous unveil, Apple is expected to repeat history and release a super-sized 5.5-inch version alongside the primary device, the iPhone 7-Plus.

Thinner Design

Apple Inc. wants to make the iPhone 7 thinner than the iPhone 6, going for a 6.5mm thick device to mimic the slenderness of the iPod Touch media player. Comparing this new number to Apple's current iPhone lineup--the iPhone 6 measures 6.9mm thick, the iPhone 6 Plus and 6s both measure measure 7.1mm thick, while the iPhone 6s Plus is the thickest of the bunch at 7.3mm.

Six-Core A10 Chip

Apple Inc. could release the iPhone 7 with an whopping six-cores A10 processor. This would be a huge bump up from the dual-core chips found under the hood of the iPhone 6 and 6s. More cores means that the iPhone 7 will be able to process additional data as well as execute commands at the same time. Barron's Asia said in a new report that Samsung may no longer produce the chips for Apple's iPhones. In lieu of the Korean giant, rival Taiwan chip maker TSMC will supply Apple with the A10 CPUs for the iPhone 7.

3GB RAM for the iPhone 7 Plus

This giant version of its flagship device could arrive with a generous 3GB of RAM which along with the aforementioned A10 chip will step up the phone's multitasking capabilities. The current iPhone 6 Plus boasts a single GB of RAM and it wasn't until the iPhone 6s Plus was released that Apple added an extra GB for a total of 2GB of RAM.

All-in-One Lightning Charging/Audio Connector

Part of achieving the thinnest device possible, Apple will have to remove a "rib" from the iPhone flagship. This means the 3.5mm will disappear, only to be replaced with an all-in-one Lightning connector that will enable you to either change the phone or plug in compatible Lighting headphones for your audio applications.

Wireless Charging

The iPhone 7 could offer us wireless charging freedom, rumor has it that Apple is entertaining the idea. Published in October, a patent application indicates that Apple could use an integrated speaker coil or a vibration motor to serve as a cord free charger. Alternatively, Apple could tap Qualcomm for its technology that enables wireless charging through the body of a metal bodied smartphone. This move would be an example of Apple taking a page out of Samsung's book, which offers a line of smartphones that support wireless charging including the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5.

Dust and Water Resistant

For the accident prone members of society, a water resistant the iPhone 7 would be a welcome solution their problems. Japanese blog, Mac Otakara says that Apple may add dust and water resistance to its upcoming flagship, a feature that would survive water splashes or a brief swim in the toilet or lake. Apple is said to be possibly testing out up to five iPhone 7 prototypes that also feature dual cameras and a fingerprint reader built into a multitouch pressure sensitive display.

Release Date

While the iPhone 7's release date remains a mystery at this time, it's speculated that it could arrive during the second half of 2016 if Apple sticks with tradition. New rumor reports point to an early release date for an iPhone 6c 4-inch smartphone to fill the niche market for consumers who prefer smaller smartphones.

Tags: iPhone 7 iPhone apple Rumors iphone 6 iPhone 6s Plus