Rumors are that Apple will release the iPhone 13 in September, featuring processor and camera upgrades. There’s also likely going to be a bigger battery inside the latest model and many new color options. “I’m hoping Apple finally introduces a touch fingerprint reader ‘under the screen’ or ‘built into the screen,’” Alan Elterman, an Apple sales manager from electronics retailer Abt, told Lifewire in an email interview. “This will help most users who have issues with Face ID. This should also help unlock the phone a bit quicker, especially with some of us still wearing masks.”
When to Expect the iPhone 13
An analyst has suggested that the new iPhone models are likely to be announced in the third week of September this year. That’s in line with previous iPhone announcements, which are usually made in the fall. For example, last year’s unveiling of the iPhone 12 Plus and 12 Pro came on October 13. Don’t expect an overhaul of the iPhone’s design. The iPhone 13 family is likely to look similar to the iPhone 12 series with a few minor differences. Leaker Jon Prosser says that, based on the CAD (computer-aided design) files that he got his hands on for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, they’re “slightly” thicker than previous models. The much-debated notch on the display of the iPhone is likely here to stay. But rumors are flying that the size of the notch may change. One Japanese site shows a picture of a purported iPhone 13 with a smaller notch, for example. A fingerprint scanner may also be in the works. One leak claims the company may debut an under-display fingerprint scanner similar to the technology on some Android phones.
Many Shades of iPhone
If you like different color options with your iPhone, there may be more shades to look forward to with this year’s iPhone 13. One leaker says there will be a matte black option, while others say rose pink is on the way. The performance of iPhones gets boosted with every release, so it’s no surprise that this year’s model will see an increase. Just how much of a processor jump we will see is still up in the air, though. A report claims that users will see only a small performance upgrade with an A15 chipset. “Apple usually updates its processor year to year to make the iPhone run faster and smoother,” Elterman said. “This includes updated cameras, speakers, different size screens, and different storage capacities as well as releasing a new update for the phones to optimize them for the future.” Despite the upgrades, the prices of the iPhone 13 models are expected to be similar to the current lineup, according to a report by TrendForce. “Even though prices of some key components have risen due to tightening supply, Apple is taking into account the growth in the revenue of peripheral services in relation to the growth of iPhone sales,” the report states. The display is another area where the iPhone 13 is likely to see some changes for the better. Rumors indicate a 120Hz refresh rate display will make games, videos, and scrolling look smoother. Analyst Ross Young tweeted that the improved displays will be coming to all of the latest iPhone models. The most exciting upgrade to the iPhone 13 display might be the introduction of an always-on capability similar to the one in the Apple Watch Series 6, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in a recent report. One thing that’s not likely to change, according to Gurman and other sources, is the size of the lineup. You should be able to choose from a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max.
