Oh snap!
17/7/19: YouTuber MKBHD has got his mitts on dummy models of the so-called iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max and iPhone 11R (below), which he mopes offer an "underwhelming" upgrade over last year's models.
Still, his hands-on fondling gives us our closest look at the iPhone 11 line-up yet and confirms that all three models will feature a square-shaped camera bump. On the iPhone 11 and 11 Max this will house three lenses - standard, telephoto, and ultra-wide, while the iPhone 11R likely will boast only standard and ultra-wide sensors.
Beyond that, the dummy models show that the handsets will feature a similar design to the iPhone XS and XS Max; there's a Lightning port flanked by asymmetrical bottom speakers, and a notch around that front that houses "new" sensors for faster Face ID.
4/7/19: Apple might release a variant of the iPhone 11 with an in-display fingerprint sensor that will be made available exclusively in China. So says a report from cajing.com.cn, via The Global Times, which reports that the model will ditch Face ID in favour of "an under-display fingerprint function." Citing sources in the industry supply chain, the report notes that the move is likely to "save on costs."
24/6/19: Olixar has launched yet more accessories for the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, this time 'confirming' that the flagship duo will retain the Lightning port rather than switch to USB-C. The cases, available over at MobileFun, also show Apple will revert to an earlier design with the silence switch changing to a circular slider.
13/6/19: Apple's next-generation iPhones will take on the Pixel 3, and yet-to-be-announced Pixel 4, with a dedicated night mode for the camera.
So says tipster Max Weinbach who shared the information with YouTube channel EverythingApplePro. He claims the so-called might mode will activate automatically when low-light conditions are detected, but notes that users will also likely be about to manually activate the nighttime-shooting feature.
No further details about the feature were revealed, that Weinbach claims it'll be stack up to the Night Sight feature on Google's Pixel 3 and 3 XL, and the Night Mode on Huawei's most recent flagships. It's currently unclear whether the night mode will roll out to older iPhone models such as the iPhone XR and XR.
10/5/19: Apple might be about to ditch its proprietary Lightning port in favour of USB-C; while we've heard this rumour many times before, this time we finally have some proof.
As spotted by Twitter user Raphaël Mouton iOS 13's restore screen clearly shows a USB-C cable, rather than the Lightning connector shown on earlier versions of the OS. Don't go getting your hopes up, though - this is an early beta of the software and could refer to the USB-C port on the iPad Pro.
28/5/19: Apple's iPhone 11 might be its first to support two Bluetooth connections simultaneously. At least that's according to Japanese blog Macotoakara, which claims dual Bluetooth audio support will allow adopters of the next flagship iPhones to hook up two pairs of AirPods, for example, or connect both a car stereo and headphones at the time time.
14/5/19: The iPhone 11 has suffered yet another leak, once again adding more weight to rumours that it'll sport an ugly camera bump.
The latest leak comes courtesy of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who showed off alleged mouldings for the iPhone 11, 11 Max and iPhone XR 2 (below). All three sport a square-shaped bulge on their rear, and confirm that the higher-end iPhones will sport three cameras while the new XR will feature a dual-lens setup.
A second tweet from Gurman outs new colour options for the iPhone XR. The cut-price model will reportedly be available in new 'lavender purple' and 'green' models, which will replace Apple's current blue and coral offerings.
10/6/19: TSMC has started production of the A13 processor set to debut in Apple's 2019 iPhones, according to a report at Bloomberg, with volume production set to kick off this month.
The chip is expected to be built using chipmaker'' second-generation 7nm process, which will be the first to leverage extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography in order to reduce complexity and cut the cost and time associated with creating chips for clients.
According to Bloomberg's sources, the A13 SoC will feature inside all three of Apple's incoming iPhones; the so-called iPhone XI, XI Max and second-gen iPhone XR.
8/6/19: Renders of Apple's iPhone XR successor have surfaced online, confirming that it'll feature the same ugly camera bump as the iPhone XI and XI Max. The images, via Pricebaba, shows a dual camera inside the square-shaped protrusion, and while specs haven't been confirmed, it's likely Apple will use the same 12MP setup found on the current iPhone XS.
Pricebaba claims the 2019 iPhone XR will have the same 6.1in screen as the original, but will be thinner at 7.8mm thick, compared to 8.3mm. Under the hood will sit Apple's next-gen A13 Bionic chipset, according to the leak, and this will offer a "significant" improvement in performance compared to the A12 chip.
7/5/19: Apple's 2019 iPhones look set to benefit from improved reception thanks to a planned antenna upgrade, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note obtained by MacRumours, the analyst doubles-down on a claim he made last year; that Apple will adopt modified-PI (MPI) for the antennas in its upcoming iPhones, rather than the liquid crystal polymer used in the iPhone XS and XR.
Shifting to MPI will bring production improvements and lower the cost for Apple, according to Kuo, and will improve the iPhone's indoor navigation capabilities.
8/4/19: A report from Japanese blog Macotakara claims Apple will launch two brand-new iPhone models this year, alongside sequels to the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
The leftfield report claims the new models will boast OLED screens, USB-C and the previously rumoured triple-lens camera system. This will apparently add some heft to the iPhone duo; a 6.1in model will be around 0.15mm thicker than the iPhone XS, while a rumoured 6.5in variant will be 0.25mm thicker than the XS Max.
The report, which cites unspecified "trustworthy sources", adds that the new iPhones will also offer reverse wireless charging, enabling the devices to juice Apple's AirPods with Charging Case and other Qi-compatible gadgets.
With these new models set to showcase next-gen tech, Macotakara notes that the sequels to Apple's 2018 iPhones will likely feature little more than an updated chip.
2/4/19: Backing up earlier rumours, Apple oracle Ming-Chi Kuo has said the next-gen iPhone will support reverse wireless charging. This feature, similar to that found on the Galaxy S10, will allow users to charge other gadgets on the rear of the iPhone 11, such as Apple's new AirPods with wireless charging case.
Kuo is also predicting that the 2019's iPhones will sport bigger batteries, as reported by Apple Insider. He expects the iPhone XS successor to pack a battery that's 20 to 25 per cent larger, while the battery in the iPhone XS Max sequel could be around 10-15 per cent larger than last year's model. The iPhone XR replacement isn't expected to see such a big battery increased, with Kuo predicting it will grow between 0 and 5 per cent.
Elsewhere, Kuo reiterates earlier predictions that the iPhone 11 will retain the proprietary Lightning connector, rather than shifting to USB-C.
4/2/19: A mega-report from Bloomberg has shed some more light on Apple's incoming 2019 iPhones.
Aligning with earlier speculation, the report claims that Apple is planning sequels to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max - codenamed D42 and D43 - along with an update to the LCD-equipped iPhone XR, which seemingly isn't worthy of such a codename.
The successor to the iPhone XS Max will have a triple-camera setup on its backside that will help the device "capture a larger field of view and enable a wider range of zoom", Bloomberg's sources claim, noting that "other handsets could eventually come with the upgraded system"; likely Apple's 2020 iPhones.
To make the most of this new and improved camera system, Apple is reportedly plotting a new version of its Live Photos feature which will double the length of video from three to six seconds.
The report also backs up chatter that Apple's 2019 iPhones will be the first to ditch the proprietary Lightning port in favour of USB-C.
Bloomberg has some deets on Apple's next version of iOS, too. It claims iOS 13, set to debut on the iPhone 11, will offer a system-wide dark mode a la macOS, CarPlay improvements and new iPad-specific features including the ability to tab through multiple versions of a single app like pages in a web browser.
Apple will also integrate two new services, Bloomberg reports, including its long-rumoured magazine subscription and Netflix-a-like original video services.
The lengthy report also offers up some details about Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup, which Bloomberg's sources claim will feature a souped-up 3D camera system powered by a laser scanner that will allow users to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the real world. This, it claims, could be a prelude to an AR headset that Apple has been preparing for as early as 2020.
29/1/19: A freshly-leaked prototype of the iPhone 11, or iPhone XI, is doing the rounds online that points to a completely redesigned 'Cyclops' camera.
The official-looking images, which come courtesy of CompareRaja, show that the camera on the next-gen iPhone could be placed in a horizontal desigh, with three cameras plonked into the top middle of the rear of the handset.
CompareRaja also adds weight to earlier rumours that the iPhone 11 will adopt a triple-camera sensor for the first time, as Apple eyes up the likes of the Galaxy S10 and Huawei P30.
Elsewhere, the leak suggests the iPhone 11 will arrive in four colour variants, with the standard space grey, gold and silver joined by a new blue hue. It's also claimed that the iPhone 11 will share the same screen as the iPhone XS with thinner bezels, a USB-C port and no 5G connectivity support.
Finally, the 2019 iPhones look set for an upgrade in the battery department; the iPhone 11 will allegedly pack a 4,000mAh battery, the largest Apple will have included in an iPhone to date.
16/1/19: Apple's 2019 iPhones have been shown in legit-looking renders, 'confirming' the handsets' horizontally-stacked triple-camera setup.
The leak, once again, comes via @OnLeaks, who this week released new renders created in partnership with CompareRaja. The images, based on "100 per cent legit prototypes", shows off an iPhone with a trio of rear-mounted lenses aligned in a horizontal strip; debunking earlier talk of a protruding, square-shaped array.
CompareRaja notes that, with an additional camera on its rear, the so-called iPhone XI likely will be more expensive than the iPhone XS. However, a recent report at the Wall Street Journal (below) claimed that only the top-of-the-line iPhone XI Max will boast a trio of cameras, with the other two models set to stick with a dual-camera setup.
OnLeaks' latest renders don't tell us much else about the incoming iPhones, but the tipster notes that they will likely feature a smaller notch than Apple's 2018 models and slightly skinnier bezels.
11/1/19: Apple reportedly plans to release a new LCD iPhone in 2019, despite the lacklustre response to the current iPhone XR.
That's according to the Wall Street Journal, which reports that Apple will release three new smartphones later this year, including two OLED models and one LCD-equipped handset, the latter of which will arrive as the successor to the iPhone XR.
The underwhelming reception of the iPhone XR has seen Apple consider the possibility of dropping the LCD-based model entirely, claims the report's sources, which would result in a complete shift to using OLED displays for the iPhone range, as previously rumoured.
However, it looks set to keep an LCD model in its iPhone lineup for now, with the WSJ noting that Apple's project planning has progressed to a point where major features, like the display, cannot be easily changed.
7/1/19: We're still nine months away from the launch of Apple's next-gen iPhones, but the first alleged renders have already shown up online.
The renders (below), shared by usually-reliable tipster @OnLeaks, show a protruding Mate 20 Pro-esque square camera array comprising with three lenses, the third offset from the other two, and an accompanying flash and microphone. Previous rumours suggest that the third camera will be a 3D ToF sensor, but this remains speculation for now.
While this ugly sensor looks a far cry from Apple's usual, minimal design approach, the leak has been backed up by equally-reliable tipster Ice Universe, which suggests it's at least close to the real deal.
OnLeaks also backs up earlier rumours that Apple will launch three iPhones this year; successors to the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. It's likely that the model in the renders is the highest-spec XS Max follow-up, but this has not been confirmed.
10/12/18: Don't go getting too excited about next year's iPhones, as they'll allegedly look a whole lot like Apple's current lineup.
So says analyst Anne Lee of Japanese investment bank Nomura, who predicts that the design of the 2019 iPhones isn't going to change much compared to the current iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, 9to5Mac reports.
"We think the three new iPhones in 2H19F will likely have the same form factors (body size and displays) as the 2H18 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, with some added AR [augmented reality]-related features," Lee wrote in a research note.
2020's iPhones will be worth getting excited about though, according to Lee, who expects to see an all-new notchless design, 5G support and souped-up augmented reality (AR) functionality.
"We think 2019 could be the last year the iPhone uses the iPhone X design architecture, in preparation for initial hardware specs for 5G (sub-6GHz) and AR (augmented reality), before greater architecture upgrades in 2020F for 5G and a more comprehensive AR system," she added
4/2/18: Despite earlier rumours to the contrary, a new report claims that Apple's 2019 iPhones won't offer support for 5G networks.
A Bloomberg report co-authored by noted Apple oracle Mark Gurman claims that Apple won't introduce a 5G-capable iPhone next year, and will instead "hold off until at least 2020".
People "familiar with Apple's plans" suggested that the delay could be related to the company's feud with Qualcomm, noting that its new BFF Intel won't have chips available in time to support 2019 phones.
Regardless, it's a risky move from Apple, as some of its biggest competitors are gearing up to launch 5G devices next year, including Huawei, OnePlus and Samsung, the latter of which is expected to launch a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 in February.
"Apple has always been a laggard in cellular technology," said Mark Hung, an analyst at Gartner, told Bloomberg. "They weren't impacted in the past, but 5G is going to be much easier to market. But if they wait beyond 2020, then I think they'll be impacted."
12/11/18: Apple's next-gen iPhones will adopt new antenna technology to prepare for the arrival of a 5G-capable handset in 2020.
We're still 10 months away from the launch of Apple's next iPhones, and we've already heard murmurs of a notch-less full-screen design, upgraded Face ID tech and a fully OLED lineup.
Apple oracle Ming Chi-Kuo is the latest to offer up some premature predictions about what we can expect from the devices. In a research note seen by 9to5Mac, Kuo says he expects Apple to shift away from Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) antenna technology in favour of a combination of Modified PI tech, primarily to improve yield rates and simplify the production process.
LCP is more "brittle" than alternatives, Kuo notes, and causes issues with yield rate, while the Modified PI antenna "can be as good as LCP thanks to the improved fluoride formula."
Kuo expects Apple to rope in five suppliers to equip it with MPI tech, and predicts that the 2019 iPhone models will adopt four MPI antennae and two LCP antennae; currently, the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max are each equipped with six LCP antenna.
This all sounds well and good, and, er, fairly boring, and it's unlikely consumers will see noticeable performance benefits from the antenna switch-up. However, both LCP and MPI will be involved in the push towards 5G technology, and these latest rumours come just weeks after a report claimed that Apple will release its first 5G smartphone in 2020.
According to these online murmurs, Apple has already signed up Intel as its 5G modem supplier; the firm is reportedly using Intel's 8160 chip for testing but hopes that the 10nm 8161 will provide faster speeds and greater efficiency for the finished product.
As a backup, Apple will turn to MediaTek. Of course, Qualcomm also has its own X50 modem for 5G, but given the escalating legal battles between the chip giant and Apple, you would imagine that a deal will only be struck there once hell freezes over. µ
