Apple may not announce the 2021 iPhone until the second half of the year, but that hasn’t stopped the rumors.
With a new report this week coming out from reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo says Apple will release four different iPhone models in 2021 that will come in the same sizes as the 2020 lineup. That means the mini variant will stick around for at least another year. Corroborating a report last month from well-known leaker Max Weinbach and others, Kuo said the iPhone 13 Pro models will feature energy-efficient 120Hz LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) displays. The Pro models will also include an updated ultra-wide camera that will feature a faster f/1.8 aperture lens that includes autofocus.
The 2021 iPhones could include a smaller notch, the area that houses the Face ID camera system, increasing the phone’s usable screen space. They will also have larger batteries thanks to a new internal space-saving design, improved 5G modems and better cameras, according to the note.
Still, Kuo predicted that the 2021 iPhones will be the same size as the current phones: a “Mini” device with a 5.4-inch screen, two models with 6.1-inch screens and a “Max” model with a 6.7-inch screen. They will continue to have a proprietary Lightning connection for data and power, Kuo predicted.
Kuo’s latest research suggests that after a year when Apple changed up its iPhone lineup with new designs, new screen sizes and 5G connectivity, leading to a major boom in sales, this year’s models will end up being closer to what used to be called “S” models, in which Apple makes largely internal changes to its existing lineup.
Kuo’s note also includes some tidbits about Apple’s 2022 and 2023 iPhone lineups. According to the analyst, at least some iPhone models next year will feature a Samsung-style punch-hole display cutout. Whether the entire lineup abandons Apple’s divisive notch will depend on panel production yields. Kuo didn’t say what the move will mean for Face ID. Apple is also reportedly preparing a new SE model with 5G connectivity and a faster processor the company could release in the first half of 2022.
