The iPhone 2021, whether it be the iPhone 12s or the iPhone 13, is about to be a minor upgrade of the iPhone 12. Although we are still months away from its launch, rumors are about what we can expect from the 2021 iPhone. upgrade is starting to take hold.
Read on for a full overview of everything we know so far about the iPhone 12s or iPhone 13.
Appointment
At first glance, it is unclear whether the iPhone will be called the iPhone 12s or the iPhone 13 this year. According to a report, Apple internally refers to this year as an S-year upgrade, which involves minor changes compared to the existing iPhone 12.
However, this does not mean that Apple will use ‘iPhone 12s’ as the marketing name for the 2021 iPhone series. It’s possible that this year’s devices are called the iPhone 12s or iPhone 13, or that Apple decides that 2021 is the year it’s moving away completely from the numbers. It follows in the footsteps of what Apple has done over the years with the iPad series.
iPhone 12s / iPhone 13 screen, design and size
In terms of design, the 2021 iPhone series is expected to look almost identical to the existing iPhone 12. One report has suggested that the iPhone 13 will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 12. The height and width of the devices will reportedly remains unchanged, but the thickness will increase by 0.26 mm.
While the iPhone 12 mini apparently experienced a weaker-than-expected demand than Apple expected, there are currently no indications that Apple intends to drop the form factor this year. A Macotakara supply report said all four iPhone 13 models will feature the same overall form factors as their iPhone 12 predecessors.
This means that we can expect four different devices in three different screen sizes:
- One 2021 iPhone model with a 5.4-inch OLED screen
- Two 2021 iPhone models with 6.1-inch OLED screens
- One 2021 iPhone model with a 6.7-inch OLED screen
But while the screen sizes are likely to remain the same, Apple plans to upgrade the iPhone 13 with 120Hz ProMotion screen technology.
Apple’s trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the iPhone 13 is likely to use LTPO technology to reduce the screen’s power consumption. In turn, Apple is giving the battery cap to enable 120Hz features next year. Apple first adopted LTPO – or low-temperature polysilicon and oxide screen – technology in the Apple Watch Series 4, so it makes sense to extend the power-saving feature to the iPhone series next year.
Finally, what about the notch? The recess and Face ID cutout are expected to shrink annually, but so far there has been no major change to the design.
Macotakara reported that it may change in 2021, with the iPhone 13 having a smaller notch compared to the iPhone 12. Apple has reportedly changed the position of the top receiver to reduce the size of the TrueDepth camera, which recess of the notch makes it possible to shrink in size.
Camera
First, for the rear cameras, we can see some interesting changes in terms of design with the iPhone 13. The camera bump will remain, but Apple may add a sapphire crystal that will cover all three lenses to make it look like a to make single camera look. instead of having three separate lenses.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have offered significant improvements in terms of their camera technology. In 2021, Apple is expected to expand a number of new camera enhancements to the rest of the iPhone 13 series.
A Macotakara report noted that the camera module of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will have the same size, indicating that the smaller Pro model will have the same camera lenses as the 13 Pro Max – which is the ultra wide lens with sensor-shift stabilization . Last year, Apple included better stabilization and 2.5x optical zoom only on iPhone 12 Pro Max.
With the release of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple has added a new LiDAR scanner to the rear camera range for in-depth observation features, which can also be seen on the iPad Pro. According to a supply chain report, Apple will expand the LiDAR sensor further than the ‘Pro’ models with this year’s iPhone 13.
It’s very likely that Apple is planning other camera enhancements for the iPhone 12s series, whether it’s improvements in computer photography, new hardware features or something else. We will surely update this post as we learn more.
Performance
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic processor. As Apple continues to improve its own silicon work, we expect the iPhone 12s / iPhone 13 to be powered by Apple’s latest processor, probably called the A15 Bionic processor.
It is not yet clear what the A15 Bionic processor is up to, but a report from TrendForce said the chip would be built on a 5nm process similar to the A14 Bionic processor. The change is that Apple is using a new 5nm + technology to improve performance.
As we explained in November:
TSMC refers to 5nm + as N5P, and describes it as a performance-enhanced version that will combine greater power with improved power efficiency to improve battery life (or, as likely with Apple, enable smaller-capacity batteries).
What exactly this equates to quantifiable performance and efficiency has yet to be seen, but we expect to learn more soon.
Connections
5G connectivity was one of the key features of the iPhone 12 last year, but only US iPhone 12 Pro models support mmWave 5G, probably because of the extra cost for Apple.
This year, a report has already suggested that Apple has added an additional supplier of mmWave 5G antennas and is placing a large order for this in anticipation of the iPhone 13. This implies that Apple intends to expand mmWave 5G beyond the US to knit. versions of the iPhone 12 to the rest of the world.
Gateless
Reports have also suggested that 2021 could be the year Apple launches an iPhone without a Lightning port. It would be the everyday iPhone without port, and recently Bloomberg reported it as something being tested internally at Apple.
It’s unclear if this is something Apple will launch this year, but Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted in 2019 that Apple would launch an iPhone without a Lightning port in 2021.
Best iPhone Charging Accessories:
Touch ID
Could 2021 be the year that Touch ID returns to the iPhone and coexists with Face ID? There are several signs that indicate “yes”.
The trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo announced in August 2019 that he will be releasing an iPhone with both Face ID and Touch ID under the screen in 2021. In addition, the trusted leak L0vetodream also reported that Touch ID on the screen will soon be released. way to the iPhone.
Recently, Bloomberg reports that Apple is testing the support of an on-screen fingerprint reader for this year’s iPhone. It’s ultimately unclear whether this feature will make the cut for the iPhone 12S, but it’s something to test.
Offering Touch ID and Face ID will increase the overall ease and speed of unlocking the iPhone. A user registers their fingerprints and face signature, and the phone can unlock as soon as the recognition passes. There is also the common problem that Face ID does not work with face masks, which can be solved by having Touch ID also available as an option.
Finally, if users want their iPhones to be as secure as possible, they can theoretically enable both Touch ID and Face ID, and the iPhone will only unlock after both forms of biometric authentication have been successfully recognized.
Release date and prices for iPhone 12s / iPhone 13
The iPhone 12 was launched later than usual, probably due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The iPhone 12 launch was also staggering, with Apple first releasing the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, followed by the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro max a month later.
This year, Kuo reported that the mass production schedule of the iPhone 13 will be the same as for previous iPhone models before the 12 series. This means that by September 2021 we can expect all iPhone 13 models except any delays.
There is no word on whether Apple is planning price changes for the iPhone 12s series this year. Like marketing names, iPhone pricing information rarely leaks before it is announced.
Exit
As you can see, the iPhone 13 / iPhone 12s will not be a radical upgrade compared to the iPhone 12. The design will remain largely the same, we still expect four different models, and key features like 5G and camera upgrades will still be a big reason for iPhone 11 users and older to upgrade.
That said, the rumor mill certainly indicates that there are a variety of potential changes in the store to entice iPhone 12 users to upgrade. These include things like Touch ID, a smaller notch and continuous performance improvements.
What do you think of the rumors we’ve seen so far about this year’s iPhone series? What do you think we can expect in terms of nomination and prices? Let us know in the comments!
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