The iPhone 7 is expected to be Apple’s slimmest handset to date, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be capable of delivering some phat sounds.

A patent filing unearthed by 9to5Mac suggests the Cupertino firm is working on a new speaker solution that uses the entire handset as audio chamber.

This method increases the amount of air that can pass through the speaker system, boosting both the volume and sound quality.

“As portable electronic devices get smaller and thinner, there are increased difficulties in providing the same or greater functionality in a smaller area,” reads the document.

“The one or more speakers [of this new system] can produce audio sound that can be directed (e.g., by way of one or more acoustic chambers) to one or more audio output openings.”

Apple’s efforts to make the next iPhone slimmer are also said to include replacing the 3.5mm headphone jack with a resized alternative, a rumour thathasn’t gone down well with sections of its fan base.

The iPhone 7, which is expected to come with an all-new design, has been tipped to make the jump to OLED display technology, six-core processors, and more advanced cameras.