As Apple inches closer to the launch of new smartphones, more leaks and rumors keep surfacing online, and the latest is a set of images depicting iPhone 13 series dummies and case renders. For reference, this is not the first time that the design of the iPhone 13 series has appeared on the internet. Just last month, an iPhone 13 Pro Max dummy model was shown in a video, and concept-based renders showcasing the smaller siblings have also been doing the rounds on social media.
The iPhone 13 is touted to be a minor upgrade over the iPhone 12, as the design language will reportedly be almost identical. Apple is known to use a fresh design language for at least two generations, so it is quite likely that the iPhone 13 series will take inspiration from its predecessor and flaunt the iPhone 12’s glass-and-metal sandwich build with flat sides. However, there will be some changes inside and it also likely that a couple of new color options will be on offer this year.
The minimal design changes is precisely what a leaked image of iPhone 13 series dummies by Sonny Dickson show. For the two iPhone 13 Pro models, they look virtually identical to their respective iPhone 12 counterparts. The camera lens placement is the same, a familiar matte finish can be seen on the rear panel, and the sides are flat as well. Things do look a bit different on the vanilla iPhone 13 and its mini sibling, however. The camera lenses on these two phones are now positioned diagonally, instead of the linear alignment seen on the iPhone 12 and the less popular iPhone 12 mini. The LED flash has also changed position and now sits in the top-right corner.
Less Focus On Design, More On Internal Upgrades
Recent case renders (courtesy of Sonny Dickson) also show a familiar design and seemingly confirm a smaller notch. Apple has reportedly shrunk and rearranged the Face ID hardware to make the notch smaller. In an age where Android phones have experimented with solutions including a teardrop notch, pop-up camera and hole-punch cutout, it remains an oddity to see Apple still holding tightly to an outdated design element that was introduced years ago. While the design remains mostly unchanged, there will be some notable internal upgrades and possibly a pricing surprise too. A recent market intelligence report predicted that the iPhone 13 series pricing might be the same as the iPhone 12 family, with Apple wanting to maintain a competitive edge. In terms of the hardware, Apple is likely to outfit the iPhone 13 series with its next-gen A15 Bionic chip, based on TSMC’s 5nm+ fabrication node.
There has been speculation that Apple might equip the iPhone 13 with an M-series chip similar to the new MacBooks and iMac, considering both the A-series and M1 follow the same architecture. However, that is unlikely to happen due to thermal limitations that come with the small form factor of an iPhone. Other rumored iPhone 13 improvements include a better wide-angle camera and the switch to sensor-shift image stabilization technology across the whole family. Apple has reportedly managed to boost battery life as well, while an always-on display courtesy of the LTPO OLED tech is also said to be in the pipeline. With a fall season debut for the iPhone 13 series likely, it remains unclear if the ongoing global semiconductor crisis might lead to an Apple smartphone delay.
Source: SonnyDickson/Twitter