Is a notchless iPhone in our future?

Is Apple going to introduce a notchless iPhone in 2020? Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (a.k.a. MKBHD) points out that the Apple Support's Twitter account features two different kinds of iPhone, with one of them seemingly without a notch. Other Twitter users were saying it could just be because of a glare in the photo. But there have been rumours that at least one of the iPhones coming out next year will do away with a notch.

Of course, we wouldn't get a confirmation from Apple until the company launches the device. But some of the other rumours surrounding the next-generation iPhone includes OLED displays, 5G connectivity, and bundled AirPods. What do you want to show up in the next iPhone?

New iPhone XI leak shows triple camera setup

It might be a bit too early for us to even think about it but the rumour mill continues to churn for the next iteration of the iPhone and it looks like the reports of the next iPhone getting a redesign might be gaining ground. Industry insider Steve Hemmerstoffer a.k.a. @onleaks recently showed off what’s reportedly the biggest change coming to the 2019 iPhone or iPhone XI. And it’s an entirely new triple camera setup at the back of the phone. If true, it’ll be the first time the company toys with this kind of setup. Apple is reportedly working on incorporating long distance Time of Flight technology into its phone. What this tech will do is allow iPhones to create detailed 3D maps of anything within five meters. This could affect everything from security, to gaming, to augmented reality applications.

Hemmerstoffer said that the iPhone XI is still in the Engineering Validation Test phase, so this design isn’t final yet, excusing the rather unattractive look of the setup. We agree with Forbes’ Gordon Kelly point of Apple being obsessed with a symmetrical design. We’re not sure this look is it. But we’re sure to hear more about the device in the coming months anyway.

Apple might get rid of Touch ID for ‘iPhone 8’

The next-generation Apple iPhone might be getting rid of a key feature: Touch ID sensor. GSMArena shows leaks of what is supposedly a complete iPhone 8 display assembly. It can’t be said from the image if this will be an OLED display or if it will have an edge-to-edge design but it does check out on some other rumours about the device. The two new circular cutouts at the upper left side of the phone are said to be for the iris scanner. The bigger circular cutout on the right is also for the scanner, while the smaller hole one the right is for the FaceTime camera.

The Touch ID sensor, though, isn't visible on the panel. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is ditching the embedded sensor completely. And Apple is said to be using the iris scanner in its place. Some other rumours have previously said that Apple was considering putting Touch ID underneath the glass, among other methods to retain the sensor. But as, Apple Insider reports, a recent HomePod firmware update seems to back Kuo's claims. There are lines of code linked to the phone's “FaceDetect” software, which is referred to as “Pearl ID” in the update. It shows tie-ins with Apple Pay authentication. If there is some veracity to these rumours, we can't say yet what biometric security Apple plans to use for the next iPhone and how secure that will be. With the new device tipped to come out next month, we might not have to wait too long.

LG rumoured to be sole battery supplier for ‘iPhone 9’

Sure we’re still waiting for the ‘iPhone 8’ to come out but the rumour mill doesn’t stop. And this time we’re talking about the battery supplier of the next iPhone, which we shall just call iPhone 9 for continuity. A new report by Korea Economic Daily cites an unnamed source that says Apple has picked LG Chem as its exclusive battery supplier for the iPhone 9, which is expected to come out in the second half of 2018. LG Chem has supposedly invested “hundreds of billions” of won to have dedicated battery manufacturing facilities that’ll be up and running for full-scale product early next year.

The report claims the iPhone 9 will have a “bent” battery module or one that’s extended to one side at the bottom and form an “L” shape. This type of battery doesn’t just maximize space but is also meant to improve charging speeds and battery life. Apple has been using the standard rectangular “jelly roll” lithium-ion batteries for its iPhones since the beginning. Again these are all just rumours and it’s definitely a long way away before we hear anything official.

Source: Apple Insider