Apple's 2019 iPhones to wirelessly charge other devices, sport bigger batteries and froste...

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited February 2019
Apple's 2019 iPhone lineup allegedly won't look much different from the company's current offerings outside of some frosted glass, new technologies like "bilateral" wireless charging, ultra-wide band for enhanced indoor positioning, and a triple-lens camera, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

One mockup of a possible triple-lens design.
One mockup of a possible triple-lens design.


Kuo made the claims in a research note to clients issued late Sunday, seen by AppleInsider. The analyst maintains that all 2019 iPhone models will retain a Lightning connector rather than adopt USB-C, as the iPad Pro range has. iPhones are also expected to keep Apple's TrueDepth camera and an associated display notch.

TrueDepth may see an update with a higher-power flood illuminator for better Face ID recognition, Kuo said, while a new 6.1-inch LCD model might be upgraded to incorporate 4GB of RAM, up from the current 3GB in the iPhone XR.

As rumored, Kuo believes the top-end iPhone will net a triple-lens camera system with wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide options. Whether the shooter will make its way to both 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED models is unknown. AppleInsider has reported on the rumored camera technology previously.

All or part of the lineup is slated to get UWB (ultra-wide band) for indoor positioning and navigation, a frosted glass casing, and larger batteries. One interesting addition is so-called "bilateral" wireless charging, which would allow the phone to charge other devices wirelessly, acting as a charging pad of sorts.

Unmentioned by Kuo is a rumor that iPhones will be getting a laser for rear-facing depth mapping. That could aid not just in photography but in augmented reality, though its effective range may be just 15 feet.

Multiple rumors from as early as the summer of 2018 suggested that the iPhone would shift to USB-C in 2019. USB-C on the iPhone in 2019 would shift all of Apple's mainline devices to the technology, allowing for one cable to be used across the entire lineup for data and charging, but would spark complaints about accessory incompatibility, like it did when Apple shifted from the 30-pin connector to Lightning in 2012.

Apple will most likely announce 2019 iPhones at a September press event, and ship them shortly after.
«1

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 22
    k2kwk2kw Posts: 2,075member
    I wish they would put QualComm modems back in so that when they say the new phone is "The Best iPhone we ever made" it would be true.
    That title still rests with the iPhone 7/7+ which was the last to have QC.
    muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 2 of 22
    Ok dumb question but what is Ultra Wide Band?
  • Reply 3 of 22
    k2kw said:
    I wish they would put QualComm modems back in so that when they say the new phone is "The Best iPhone we ever made" it would be true.
    That title still rests with the iPhone 7/7+ which was the last to have QC.
    It must be exhausting dwelling on things the world has moved beyond and very few care about.
    DAalsethmwhiteentropysradarthekaturaharanetmageMplsPwatto_cobrajony0
  • Reply 4 of 22
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    k2kw said:
    I wish they would put QualComm modems back in so that when they say the new phone is "The Best iPhone we ever made" it would be true.
    That title still rests with the iPhone 7/7+ which was the last to have QC.
    When Qualcomm is sued into oblivion and goes bankrupt from record fines, and loses 100% of Apple's business, and no more... that title will be true.
    watto_cobrajony0
  • Reply 5 of 22
    radarthekatradarthekat Posts: 3,842moderator
    The triple lens camera alone would move me to upgrade.  Been happily carrying the 8+ For 13 months.  Love the cameras. 
    tmaySpamSandwichwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 22
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,152member
    Oh, we are THAT point of the Apple Product Cycle. The “unsourced rumours coming from out of Asia of an amazing, unannounced product” stage. 
    That said, if ever there was a year all the rumours could be true, it would be this one. The need the proverbial rabbit in Mr Cook’s top hat.
  • Reply 7 of 22
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    I hope they reconsider the camera bump design.  Even if it's just centralising the thing, it's just so damn ugly and lopsided and sticks out like a sore thumb..
    netmage
  • Reply 8 of 22
    eriamjheriamjh Posts: 1,631member
    crowley said:
    I hope they reconsider the camera bump design.  Even if it's just centralising the thing, it's just so damn ugly and lopsided and sticks out like a sore thumb..
    Charging other devices would be a good reason to had the extra 0.5mm to the entire body for more  battery, but I’m skeptical of it (both a thickness bump and the bilateral charging).   

    It seems unlikeky that we’d go from “I need more battery life” to “I have so much battery I can charge my watch.”   

    Plus, what else is there to charge from your phone?   Another phone?  Seems a little gimmicky and unapple like.  
    Worldspinningwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 22
    tmaytmay Posts: 6,312member
    crowley said:
    I hope they reconsider the camera bump design.  Even if it's just centralising the thing, it's just so damn ugly and lopsided and sticks out like a sore thumb..
    It looks like the lens are at an equilateral positioning, which one could assume has design intent for computational imaging. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 22
    tmaytmay Posts: 6,312member

    entropys said:
    Oh, we are THAT point of the Apple Product Cycle. The “unsourced rumours coming from out of Asia of an amazing, unannounced product” stage. 
    That said, if ever there was a year all the rumours could be true, it would be this one. The need the proverbial rabbit in Mr Cook’s top hat.
    Not seeing all that much urgency on Apple's part. It's likely timed to available technology, and has been on Apple's roadmap. I'm curious if we will see one or more of the new Sony 48 MP binning imagers. That would add to both the resolution and the IQ of images and add even more flexibility for computational imaging.

    https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/23/sony-48-megapixel-smartphone-sensor/
    edited February 2019 netmagewatto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 22
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 7,625member
    These rumoured changes are all welcome but were introduced on competing phones last year. Playing catch-up to those phones via a refresh in September/October 2019 (in reality the phones will be for most of 2020) when those competing phones are literally days away from taking another tech jump, means the distance between iPhones and competitors could remain pretty much the same.

    The only other thing missing from the rumour is wired reverse charging.

    It would have been nice to plan quad cameras for the top phone and tri cameras for the XR successor.

    Unless Apple has some battery tech improvements ready to go for this year (including fast charging out of the box) we might see higher capacity and physically larger batteries on iPhones (after all, reverse charging means you have power to spare).

    Lithium-silicon batteries might come to Android phones sooner rather than later and its use has already been confirmed for use in the mobile space.

    Either way, these rumoured features are necessary IMO.
  • Reply 12 of 22
    k2kw said:
    I wish they would put QualComm modems back in so that when they say the new phone is "The Best iPhone we ever made" it would be true.
    That title still rests with the iPhone 7/7+ which was the last to have QC.
    Apple is working on building its own modems. Forget about partnering with Qualcomm ever again.
    netmagewatto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 22
    avon b7 said: Playing catch-up to those phones via a refresh in September/October 2019 (in reality the phones will be for most of 2020) when those competing phones are literally days away from taking another tech jump, means the distance between iPhones and competitors could remain pretty much the same.
    You don't think competitors have anything to catch up on? That must mean you're taking the "close enough/most users won't notice the difference" approach with things like the A-series or FaceID and the "minor differences are a big advantage" approach with cameras and batteries in Android phones. 
    netmagetmayrandominternetpersonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 14 of 22
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 7,625member
    avon b7 said: Playing catch-up to those phones via a refresh in September/October 2019 (in reality the phones will be for most of 2020) when those competing phones are literally days away from taking another tech jump, means the distance between iPhones and competitors could remain pretty much the same.
    You don't think competitors have anything to catch up on? That must mean you're taking the "close enough/most users won't notice the difference" approach with things like the A-series or FaceID and the "minor differences are a big advantage" approach with cameras and batteries in Android phones. 
    Competitors have some areas to catch up on but they are not compelling.

    You only have to read some comments here from peolpe who have said they are holding off on upgrading until things like tri cameras are available on iPhones. By the time that happens (if the rumours are true), Apple will be a full 18 months behind. In that time, tri cameras will be stock elements on mid range Android offerings.

    Apple has been lacking in modem technology for a while now. The same with batteries and exterior finish. The frosted glass rumour is nice because the competition has been putting out stunning finishes for a few years now. Etc, etc.

    By definition, as you move down the price bands the 'good enough' line of thinking becomes an acceptable trade-off as long as the 'new' phone is a marked upgrade from the user's old phone.

    Both situations (high end feature rich, and mid range good enough) are compelling in their own rights to some people.

    Apple's recent phones are seen as overpriced and lacking available features by some people. That is one of the reasons for the current sales problem (flat).
    flyingdp
  • Reply 15 of 22
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,905member
    Not easy decision on iPhone to move to USB-C but if Apple planning to move to it in 2020 than better do it in 2019 and done with. Hope iPhone XR is differentiated upgrade form current version.
  • Reply 16 of 22
    Apple will upend the technology world and lessen our phone addictions by putting the frosted glass on the front.

    Mmm. Frosting.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 22
    Featured copied from the Huawei Mate 20 pro. You forgot to mention that in your article
  • Reply 18 of 22
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    laoban00 said:
    Featured copied from the Huawei Mate 20 pro. You forgot to mention that in your article
    All androids are knockoffs of iPhone.

    Huawei pays employees to steal Apple tech.

    You have to be stupid to think Apple saw a knockoff iPhone and tyhought "Derrr, we gotta copy that!"
    Apple builds technology from the ground up from their software to hardware inventions.
    The meme is dead and you iKnockoff Knights keep repeating them.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 22
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    avon b7 said:
    avon b7 said: Playing catch-up to those phones via a refresh in September/October 2019 (in reality the phones will be for most of 2020) when those competing phones are literally days away from taking another tech jump, means the distance between iPhones and competitors could remain pretty much the same.
    You don't think competitors have anything to catch up on? That must mean you're taking the "close enough/most users won't notice the difference" approach with things like the A-series or FaceID and the "minor differences are a big advantage" approach with cameras and batteries in Android phones. 
    Competitors have some areas to catch up on but they are not compelling.

    You only have to read some comments here from peolpe who have said they are holding off on upgrading until things like tri cameras are available on iPhones. By the time that happens (if the rumours are true), Apple will be a full 18 months behind. In that time, tri cameras will be stock elements on mid range Android offerings.

    Apple has been lacking in modem technology for a while now. The same with batteries and exterior finish. The frosted glass rumour is nice because the competition has been putting out stunning finishes for a few years now. Etc, etc.

    By definition, as you move down the price bands the 'good enough' line of thinking becomes an acceptable trade-off as long as the 'new' phone is a marked upgrade from the user's old phone.

    Both situations (high end feature rich, and mid range good enough) are compelling in their own rights to some people.

    Apple's recent phones are seen as overpriced and lacking available features by some people. That is one of the reasons for the current sales problem (flat).
    The problem is, Apple haters will compare 1 iPhone to 50 different iWannabes as if they're one device.

    Apple never plays catch up as they're playing their own game.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 22
    I don’t trust Kuo’s making things up based on prevailing theories, but it would be nice if Apple were to skip a generation of phones and really push hard on innovation to leave the knockoffs in the dust.
Sign In or Register to comment.