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According to the Japanese Apple rumors blog Mac Otakara, several posts on China's Weibo social network suggest the next iPhone will sport a new design.
The so-called iPhone 7 could be the first iPhone since the iPhone 5C to have a non-metal body and instead opt for a "frame using a new material next year."
What material will replace the super strong -- but heavier -- 7000-series aluminum used on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus? Apple could return to plastic, but it's possible we could see a device made from LiquidMetal. Apple owns a number of patents and renewed its exclusive rights with Liquid Metal Technologies, Inc., earlier this year.
The report also claims next year's iPhone(s) will have a "completely flat LCD," which could mean Apple won't be releasing any kind of device remotely similar to the Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge.
Lastly, the iPhone 7 will reportedly be waterproof and dustproof, if early prototypes turn out to be the real deal. This is particularly interesting since Apple has been hesitant to release an iPhone with even water-resistance while rivals like Samsung and Motorola have.
As always, these rumors should be taken with a huge grain of salt. Mac Otakara has posted accurate rumors on new Apple devices well before their official announcements, but the website has also been wrong before.