Apple's 'iPhone 13' rumored to adopt slimmer TrueDepth notch, flush rear camera module

AppleInsider

Apple's next iPhone model, expected for release this fall, could feature a slimmer TrueDepth "notch" and a slightly thicker body that could be related to tweaks to the rear-facing camera array, according to a new report.

Citing sources from within Apple's Chinese supply chain, Mac Otakara reports "iPhone 13" will integrate small but important design changes to allow for a slimming of the phone's TrueDepth package.

Specifically, the unit's ear speaker is expected to be repositioned toward the edge of the display near the chassis. While not detailed in today's report, the design could see the speaker take up residence in iPhone's bezel.

Current iPhone models with Face ID cradle the speaker between important -- and physically large -- components, with the system's dot projector and front-facing full-color camera to the right, and infrared flood illuminator and infrared camera to the left. Apple miniaturized certain TrueDepth components in iPhone 12, but the process failed to yield a smaller "notch" region as rumored last year.

Similar rumors circulated in April 2019, when supposedly leaked schematics illustrated plans to push the receiver into the bezel region above TrueDepth. Those changes were initially predicted to materialize in iPhone 12, but the current lineup's TrueDepth array is largely identical to preceding models.

Today's report also notes that "iPhone 13's" rear camera unit will be 0.9 mm thicker on all next-gen models. Instead of a camera "bump" with protruding lenses, the new design will boast an integrated unit with each camera module flush mounted and potentially covered by a slab of sapphire glass, sources said.

Further, camera units in the so-called "iPhone 13 Pro" and "iPhone 13 Pro Max" are said to be identical in size, suggesting the lower tier model will gain sensor-shift optical image stabilization in 2021. Apple expanded the camera bump on iPhone 12 Pro Max to accommodate a 47% larger wide angle sensor, which was also the first iPhone camera module to benefit from sensor-shift stabilization.

Finally, "iPhone 13" is expected to carry over the iPhone 4-inspired design that debuted with last year's handset, though chassis thickness will increase by 0.26 mm, the report said.

cornchip

Ever closer to perfection.

tshapi

Eventually Apple will be able to fit all of the components in the bezel 

rayz2016

I would still like to see the return of TouchID. 

FaceID is better, but not during pandemics. 

dewme

A flush camera module would be awesome. The current camera bump on all high end phones makes a case mandatory. The camera bump/wart has always felt like a design compromise and afterthought to me and spoils the cohesiveness of the phone’s physical design.

jasonfj

Apple need to milk the shrinking of the notch over the next few years to give us a reason to keep upgrading.  Expect a notch-less screen on iPhone 15. 

simply258

Rayz2016 said:

I would still like to see the return of TouchID. 

FaceID is better, but not during pandemics. 

I’m sure Apple can program it to work with only the top part of the face. In fact FaceID does sometimes work for me with a mask on, as long as I use the same mask continuously.

kuyangkoh

Rayz2016 said:

I would still like to see the return of TouchID. 

FaceID is better, but not during pandemics. 

I know its a hustle using face mask and face ID (temporarily) just like eating w a mask ... need to remove mask. How about both perhaps? In the  back T-ID?

9secondkox2

Dang. Another notch? 

If Samsung can banish it surely apple can. 

superkloton

No notch and a minimum 90 Hz screen were the preconditions for me buying a new iPhone. Today I add flush cameras to that list, I didn't even dare to hope they would consider that. That's awesome if true!

Until then, my iPhone X works just fine.

jeff fields

9secondkox2 said:

Dang. Another notch? 

If Samsung can banish it surely apple can. 

Samsung hasn't banished it. Their "notch" is a hole-punch, instead, and at the cost of considerable functionality and quality that Apple doesn't want to give up.

I prefer Apple's choices..

jeff fields

jasonfj said:

Apple need to milk the shrinking of the notch over the next few years to give us a reason to keep upgrading.  Expect a notch-less screen on iPhone 15. 

Could we please just not with these half-baked, zero-evidence, don't-pass-the-laugh-test conspiracy theories? They are tiresome. 

entropys

Rayz2016 said:

I would still like to see the return of TouchID. 

FaceID is better, but not during pandemics. 

The mini is my first phone with Face ID. I can’t believe how much better it is than Touch ID.

kingpacific

Jones’s meet Apple,, Apple, meet Jones’s

beats

Of course Apple will continue to innovate their IP.


Hate it when knockoffs claim they're better than Apple because they have a smaller notch that doesn't have half the features and still have a chin. lol

beats

jeff fields said:

9secondkox2 said:

Dang. Another notch? 

If Samsung can banish it surely apple can. 

Samsung hasn't banished it. Their "notch" is a hole-punch, instead, and at the cost of considerable functionality and quality that Apple doesn't want to give up.

I prefer Apple's choices..

iKnockoff morons claimed Apple copied Essential Phone iKnockoff when they developed the notch because Essential had a camera hole.

Fast forward and Sammy makes a camera hole on their knockoff iPhones and it isn't a "notch" anymore.

iKnockoff morons conveniently change definitions to make Sammy look like some innovator. 

avon b7

Beats said:

Of course Apple will continue to innovate their IP.


Hate it when knockoffs claim they're better than Apple because they have a smaller notch that doesn't have half the features and still have a chin. lol

A smaller notch is better than a bigger notch. No notch would be the best option of all. 

Huawei not only made it smaller but added more functionality (AI screen rotation, 'always on' display but only when you are actually looking at the screen, AI Private View, horizontal unlock etc) . They also made the bezels smaller.

Then they took the notch and put the same contents in a pill hole punch. 

Which is better? That depends on your viewpoint. Right now, if you were to ask me, I'd say that a hole punch looks better. 

I have a notch on my phone and it's never been a problem for me but I can understand that it is for some people. Notches now also look very dated. 

Yes, course Apple will continue to develop their IP. Why wouldn't they?

Everyone else will develop theirs too. 

mplsp

Rayz2016 said:

I would still like to see the return of TouchID. 

FaceID is better, but not during pandemics. 

Agreed. On balance (and in the absence masks,) FaceID is better, but there are times when touchID works better a d having a choice or even the ability to use both would be very nice.