Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 13 Rumor Recap: Smaller Notch, Larger Batteries, 120Hz for Pro Models, Improved 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and More

Curious about 3 things:

1. Will the iPhone ever get high-accuracy GPS tech? A qualcomm chip came out like 3 years ago that some android phones used. Haven't heard anything about this for Apple.
2. Will new macbook pros this year also get wi-fi 6e? Pleeeeeease Apple.
3. They better keep a mini model!
 
This looks like an S cycle to the iPhone 12 (I still think they are going to call them iPhone 12S, but time will tell). S cycle is usually the one to get and this will probably be what I replace my iPhone 11 with!
 
  • Like
Reactions: cwwilson
Populus said:
What about Touch ID under the display? In the middle of a pandemic, where it is more and more difficult to unlock the phone wearing masks, I won't understand Apple not implementing it on the 2021 lineup. I understand that they didn't implement it on the iPhone 12 lineup because the design of an iPhone takes years. But hell, even on the Side button, like the iPad Air 4!

I was seriously thinking on getting this year's iPhone mini, but if we have to rely only on FaceID to unlock the iPhone, I am waiting yet another year. And nope, I don't have an Apple Watch.
Click to expand...
By September I suspect that's going to become a moot point. Mass vaccination is accelerating worldwide and as countries reach heard immunity covid restrictions and masks will start disappearing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
Assuming the 13 Mini battery is better than the 12 Mini battery I'll be upgrading from my 1st gen SE.

The battery life of my SE hasn't been great even after getting the battery replaced.
 
bodonnell202 said:
By September I suspect that's going to become a moot point. Mass vaccination is accelerating worldwide and as countries reach heard immunity covid restrictions and masks will start disappearing.
Click to expand...
Maybe on the USA, or UK, where I've read they're getting a good vaccination rate. Or even Israel (awesome what they're doing there). But in other countries, like for instance, here in Europe, our vaccination rate is as slow as a snail. Here in Spain we've vaccinated nearly 3% of the population. In 2 months.

I think this year is crucial to implement some sort of Touch ID. As you say, maybe in the future (2022, 2023) it could be less critical, although our government is saying masks are here to stay for now, and even shortly after the vaccinations. I'll keep wearing masks, but that's a personal decision.

And, yeah, I agree with you that this looks a lot like an S cycle. iPhone 12S would be a perfect name for this year's iPhone.
 
Last edited:
CJ Dorschel said:
I’m probably in the minority but I’m less interested in 5G etc than anything else. I’m always on WiFi and if I am out WiFi hotspots are everywhere. Transit systems, stores, parks, etc.

I do hope they add Touch ID even if it’s not on the display but on the power button as with the iPad Air. That would be useful for those of us without an Apple Watch and in general.

Magsafe should be improved although it’s a feature I could live without. Seems there are more issues with it for some - not all of course.

The notch never bothered me but if they found a way to keep Face ID and sensors without it then great.

USB-C would be nice as a standardized cable across electronics is convenient to users and also beneficial to the environment - less need for a plethora of proprietary cables is a win/win but I realize it’s less water proof than lightning. The recently discovered patent for a MagSafe connection in lieu of a lightning port is interesting although I doubt Apple would go that route when they seem committed to MagSafe on the back of the device. If Apple goes port-less I do wonder what will happen if a device needs to be in DFU mode or an update bricks a devices, etc. Does a MagSafe cable connected to a Mac or PC offer the same connectivity as a lightning cable? This is also important as backing up Health app medical data is only possible to a Mac or PC with an encrypted backup.
Click to expand...
That amount of WiFi coverage is so cool, here in US there is only WiFi in stores that choose to have it and some places you have to ask for a password....which at times necessitates purchasing something. Maybe one day our country infrastructure will get improved. That are large parts of the country that can't even get broadband.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos and CJ Dorschel
I will wait with bated breath for Apple to reduce the notch on the 12S/13! Even better yet, just slightly increase the bezel to house the sensors using the most optimal space possible to give us a completely unobstructed full screen.
 
Mike_Trivisonno said:
Stupid notch. Even stupider camera bump. Why Tim Apple, why? It's 2021, we should have to suffer such aesthetic insults.
Click to expand...
Camera bump is so easy to fix....make the device body thicker. There is no magic physics that will make the cameras thinner as far as the amount of elements in the lens as they get to be better, higher resolution.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Populus said:
Maybe on the USA, or UK, where I've read they're getting a good vaccination rate. Or even Israel (awesome what they're doing there). But in other countries, like for instance, here in Europe, our vaccination rate is as slow as a snail. Here in Spain we've vaccinated nearly 3% of the population.

I think this year is crucial to implement some sort of Touch ID. As you say, maybe in the future (2022, 2023) it could be less critical, although our government is saying masks are here to stay for now, and even shortly after the vaccinations. I'll keep wearing masks, but that's a personal decision.

And, yeah, I agree with you that this looks a lot like an S cycle. iPhone 12S would be a perfect name for this year's iPhone.
Click to expand...
Things were initially very slow here in Canada as well (it felt like it was going to take years), but things have recently sped up and our government is now saying that all adults who want the vaccine should be able to get it by the end of June. Vaccine supplies are ramping up quickly and countries like the USA which have manufactured domestically to focus on their own population first will soon have large quantities of vaccine available for export since they are now predicting that mass vaccination within their borders will be complete by the end of May. While it's unlikely that worldwide mass vaccination will be complete by September I suspect that wealthy nations (which is where Apple does most of it's business) will be pretty close.
 
I don't mind the notch so much... but I'd say making the wings on the display up there persistently black with the same white text and colored battery icon would make it so much better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
Let’s be realistic, you’ll probably get two of those improvements and a smaller notch is not one of them.
 
John Connor said:
It's looking more like an 'S' upgrade to me. So far.
Click to expand...

^ Macrumors members comment every year on Apples latest iPhones:

“Meh, looks like another menial ‘S’ upgrade. Going to pass.”

*************************

I honestly think members on here forget that not everybody upgrades every year. And Apple doesn’t expect consumers to upgrade their phones every year either.

The 120HZ displays should be a decent upgrade, especially for those who know what I’m talking about with the iPad Pro-motion.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NetMage
bodonnell202 said:
By September I suspect that's going to become a moot point. Mass vaccination is accelerating worldwide and as countries reach heard immunity covid restrictions and masks will start disappearing.
Click to expand...
not everyone who wants Touch ID back is because of masks. I returned the 11 on launch date because of Face ID .
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: apdg and NetMage
John Connor said:
It's looking more like an 'S' upgrade to me. So far.
Click to expand...
Though the rumour mill has latched on to ‘iPhone 13’ I really wouldn’t be surprised if this years model was branded the 12s and any/ all design changes (notch or otherwise) don’t happen this year. There’s a bit of a tick-tock-tock cycle going at the moment:

6-6s-7 (plus 8 I guess though that was alongside the X)

X-Xs-11 Pro

12-12s-13 fits the pattern well such as it is. So the iPhone 13 might come with a smaller notch and slightly tweaked design, but it will be for September 2022, not this year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Populus
Guacamole said:
not everyone who wants Touch ID back is because of masks. I returned the 11 on launch date because of Face ID .
Click to expand...
That day is coming where Touch ID embedded under the display and face ID will co-exist. Stay tuned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back