9to5Mac

Roundup: The iPhone 13  is coming next month;  here’s what we know so far

By Chance Miller

August 5, 2021

The fall is shaping up to be a busy one for Apple and the iPhone. With all rumors suggesting that the iPhone 13 lineup is on track for announcement sometime in mid-September, this means we’re just over a month away from seeing what’s next for the iPhone.

It’s still unclear whether this year’s iPhone will be the iPhone 12s or the iPhone 13, as Apple is able to keep marketing names under wraps until the last minute. That being said, one recent supply chain report suggested that the 2021 iPhones will indeed be called the iPhone 13.

iPhone 13 naming

In terms of new features, the rumors certainly suggest that this year’s iPhone will be a bigger upgrade than an “S” year, lending credence to the “iPhone 13” theory for this year’s naming.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are expected to be nearly identical to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro in terms of form factor. We expect the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, each of which will feature the same dimensions as their predecessors but be slightly thicker.

Design

One thing Apple has started doing annually is introducing new iPhone colors. A report suggested that the iPhone 13 Pro will be available in a new matte black color. This color will reportedly replace the graphite color and be much darker, closer to a true black rather than gray.

9to5Mac had a chance to go hands-on with the iPhone 13 Pro Max design in the form of a dummy unit, which you can see in detail in the video below.

The iPhone 13 Pro is likely to use a new LTPO display technology, which will allow Apple to lower the display’s power usage. Apple already uses this technology on the Apple Watch, and now, it’s expected to come to the iPhone 13 Pro to enable a ProMotion display. This will enable refresh rates up to 120Hz, similar to the iPad Pro.

Display

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are expected to feature an upgraded ultra-wide camera, going from 5P (f/2.4) and fixed focus (FF) to 6P (f/1.8) and autofocus (AF). This should bring notable improvements to the ultra-wide camera, which has notably lagged.

Camera