This is probably our first look at a real iPhone 7

With just four months to go until Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are released, leaks are definitely starting to pick up pace. It makes sense in light of the recent news that iPhone 7 production is now underway — Apple has never been able to keep a lid on things once workers at its manufacturing partners' plants get their hands on new iPhone parts.

If you haven't already seen them, be sure to check out all of the big iPhone 7 leaks you missed f-rom this past weekend. Once you're done there, we have an even bigger treat for all the eager Apple fans out there: In all likelihood, the leaked photo below is our first look at a genuine iPhone 7 in the flesh.

MUST SEE: Your iPhone could look so much better than it does right now

Apple news cycles in mainstream media bounce dramatically between positive and negative. Things were generally pretty downbeat as the company's iPhone business made its climb, but then things reversed completely following the record-shattering launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Now that reporters and analysts have come to terms with the fact that Apple's iPhone business couldn't grow at breakneck speed forever, things have gotten negative again.

As part of the overall negativity on Apple right now, the idea that the upcoming new iPhone 7 is going to be "boring" has begun to permeate through the media. This downbeat attitude is based solely on rumors surrounding the new iPhone's design. People in the know have suggested repeatedly that the new iPhone 7 will look a great deal like the current iPhone 6s and 2014's iPhone 6, but nothing has really been confirmed at this point.

Until now, perhaps.

We've already discussed why a "boring" new iPhone 7 design probably wouldn't be such a big deal. You can read about why in our earlier post. Apple had better hope that most of its customers feel the same way because it looks like next year's iPhone 7 will indeed look strikingly similar to the current flagship iPhone.