Apple's next iPhone to debut next week

Apple has issued invitations to a product launch event on September 7 United States time at which it is expected to unveil its latest generation iPhone. 

It will mark the fifth year in a row that Apple has launched new products, most famously the iPhone, in early September.

As usual Apple is tight-lipped on what can be expected at the event, but the new iPhone will reportedly boast only minor differences to the current 6s and 6s Plus models.

One major change that is expected, however, is the removal of the smartphone's headphone jack. Reports have been swirling that the jack would be swapped out for a Lightning connector to 3.5 mm jack dongle.

This would allow Apple to make the next iPhone slimmer and also ensure the device is more water resistant.

The new iPhone is also anticipated to have fewer antenna lines and a dual camera system for the larger model.

The tech giant will debut its new iPhone amidst a legal storm in the US initiated by former iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users who have launched a class action lawsuit over malfunctioning touchscreens.

The ex-customers claim Apple is failing to address a design defect that renders touchscreens unusable on their devices.

They claim the problems surfaced due to Apple's decision not to properly protect its touchscreen controller chips, as it did with the previous iPhone 5 via a metal shield.

The touchscreen issue occurs when the chips come away from the controller board. Repair is difficult given the chips need to be re-soldered to work again, according to iFixIt.