The notch, featuring Apple’s smart Face ID scanning technology, has remained an important aspect of the iPhone design since the iPhone X in 2017. But it looks like the rumors were correct, and the notch will be reduced when the iPhone 13 arrives in September.
Mac Otakara got a 3D-printed model of the iPhone 13 Pro. As you can see in the photos and video below, the notch is significantly reduced if the total phone size is the same when held next to the iPhone 12 Pro.
If you are struggling to judge how much smaller the iPhone 13 pro notch is, the photographer takes a ruler to both devices. It’s actually slightly higher at 5.35mm to the old notch’s 5.30mm, but it’s significantly thinner, with the new notch clocking in at 26.80mm, lower than 34.83mm on the iPhone 12 Pro .
The crude mockup also reveals how Apple made the change without affecting the functionality: it looks like the earpiece was pushed into the ring of the iPhone 13 Pro. It looks like the front camera has also been moved from the right side of the notch to the left side.
Photos on the back of the phone show no changes, with the same triangular three-chamber series in a small, square hump in the upper left corner.
Although Mac Otakara does not share the full dimensions of the model, the iPhone 13 Pro model does not look completely different from its predecessor, which suggests a recurring update in terms of design.
But appearance can be misleading. Not only do we expect the usual improvements to the performance and efficiency of a new Apple A chip (the 5nm A15 is reportedly starting production), but Apple apparently has plans for its battery technology introduced in the iPhone 13 family can start.
According to reports last year, Apple will introduce batteries with fewer layers, which will lead to greater capacity with a smaller physical footprint. This means that the iPhone 13 Pro can improve the disappointing endurance of its predecessor without the need for a thicker body to compensate, and this is apparently Apple’s plan. This will be useful, as Apple is also expected to introduce 120Hz panels to the iPhone 13 Pro models.
The iPhone 13 is also expected to offer better camera performance, thanks to the stabilization of sensor shift that extends across the entire range, a larger aperture for the ultra-wide lens and perhaps astrophotographic features to capture the night sky.
This iPhone 13 dummy unit is certainly not proof that the new iPhones are getting a smaller notch, but the evidence is growing that Apple is going in this direction.