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Tag: XS

  • iOS 13 beta 7 asset hints at possible September 10th iPhone media event

    Sometimes it’s the beta code that gives away the coolest tidbits of information.

    Apple’s iOS 13 beta 7, which was released to the developer community on Thursday, apparently contains a new asset that suggests an event date of September 10th.

    The asset shows an image of Tuesday, September 10th, and it named “HoldForRelease.” This is also a precedent set and held to by Apple in previous years.

    Apple is currently expected to unveil three new iPhone models, including the ‘iPhone 11 Pro‘ at its September event. An analyst earlier this week suggested that Apple is on track to release all three new iPhone models at the same time this year. As you may remember, the past two years of iPhone releases have been slightly staggered.

    The 2019 iPhone lineup is expected to consist of the iPhone 11 as well as a followup to the iPhone XR. The followup model will reportedly feature two cameras on the back, an upgrade from the single camera on the current iPhone XR.

    The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are expected to feature triple-lens camera setups. It’s also expected that the iPhones will feature the A13 processor, a revised Taptic Engine, and new camera features.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and iHelp BR

  • Rumor: Apple could opt for “Pro” monicker with next-gen iPhone models

    Apple may go the “Pro” naming route with the next-gen iPhone models.

    CoinX, a noted and reliable Twitter leaker, said that Apple looks like it will use the Pro suffix branding for the new iPhone.

    The source previously corrected named the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR a week before their debut. They also stated the exact weight of the XS Max, described the default wallpaper set and even the asymmetric grille hole arrangement seen in the iPhone XS line.

    While CoinX doesn’t clarify the naming, he stated that there are several ways Apple could incorporate the “Pro” moniker into its upcoming iPhone lineup.

    This could mean that Apple is readying an “iPhone” and “iPhone Pro” tiered lineup, using the new XR as the “iPhone” and the triple-camera iPhone 11 as “iPhone Pro”.

    Apple could also retain the numbers and opt for both “iPhone 11” and “iPhone 11” product names upon launch.

    The “Pro” features could model themselves after the current rumors and incorporate a new square camera bump which incorporates a third, ultra-wide, lens. The three lenses are arranged in a triangular configuration. There have also been some discussions of a new matte texture for the back glass.

    Other rumors for the next-gen iPhones center around new antennas for precise indoor positioning, the 7 nanometer A13 processor, and bilateral wireless charging that will allow users to charge their AirPods by placing them on the back of the iPhone.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Twitter

  • iPhone 2019, 2020 rumors surface, focus on camera changes, new screen sizes, and 5G modems

    Even though the 2019 iPhone models have yet to be officially announced, the rumor mill is buzzing with details as to what to expect from the 2020 iPhones.

    Granted, these are to be taken with a hefty grain of salt, but there’s some interesting speculation to be had at present.

    As of now, the cool cats at Digitimes claim that Apple plans to use VCSEL time-of-flight (ToF) sensors on the rear camera of the 2020 iPhone.

    VCSEL stands for Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser. This functions a type of semiconductor that emits a low-power laser (usually infrared) that is used in a lot of consumer devices today for simple range-finding. The general notion is that this will assist in augmented reality, Apple would use a more complex chip that fires a big grid of lasers, then measures the time-of-flight for that light to determine distance. Effectively, this would produce a low-res “image” where each pixel has depth info rather than color.

    In short, this would allow the device to receive a much more accurate 3D representation of the scene in front of the camera, which could help with both computation photography as well as augmented reality.

    According to generally-very-accurate analyst Ming-Ching Kuo, Apple will stick with the three-model lineup it introduced with the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR in 2018, but will switch to 5.4-, 6.1-, and 6.7-inch OLED screens.

    Finally, and as expected, Apple is thought to be adding 5G modems to the 2020 iPhone. Kuo stated that the faster connectivity will be limited to the XS and XS Max, with the XR retaining LTE 4G for at least a year. He also notes that Apple is working on its own 5G modem, which the company hopes will be ready by 2022 or 2023. 

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld, MacRumors and Digitimes

  • Apple shaves iPhone SE, 6, Plus, and 6 Plus from Indian marketplace

    In spite of its history of selling older models alongside newer models within the country, Apple has ceased sales of its iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6s Plus in India, a new report indicating that Apple has changed its regional strategy.

    The Indian marketplace, which has traditionally been dominated by low-cost smartphones, has also included older iPhones for a number of years. Some models, including the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s, are even produced in the country, but it seems a change has been made to Apple’s retail strategy. 

    Per unnamed executives, Apple has left only the iPhone 6s at the low end.

    Supplies for the models were halted in June, while distributors and Apple’s sales team have reportedly advised to traders the new entry-level model will be the iPhone 6s once existing stock of the iPhone SE and iPhone 6 generations have been exhausted. 

    Where the iPhone SE was available for as little as 21,000 rupees ($306), the iPhone 6s currently costs 29,500 rupees ($430), thereby raising the price for its low end smartphone within the country.

    Apple currently offers other models produced in the market, such as the iPhone 7, which is assembled by Wistron within India and starting to be exported to the European market. On Thursday, it was suggested Apple was preparing to launch Indian-made versions of the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, bringing the current-generation iPhones to the locally-produced roster. 

    In March, it was noted that Apple was looking to reestablish its position as a premium device producer in India. As such, it appears that this slimming of devices could be part of that plan.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Economic Times

  • Rumor: 2020 iPhones to feature OLED screens, 5G connectivity

    Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s report released Monday speculated that Apple will launch its first 5G iPhones in 2020. The report also stated that all three 2020 iPhone models will feature OLED displays, and arrive in 6.7-inch, 5.4-inch, and 6.1-inch screen sizes.

    The 6.1-inch OLED model is apparently the successor to the iPhone XR and will support LTE only. The new 6.7-inch and 5.4-inch phones would support 5G mobile data.

    The report’s 5G timeline syncs with expectations in the rumor mill, while the size specifications seem on point as well.

    It’s thought that the 5G compatibility in the 2020 iPhone would support the current leading standards, and function with both sub-6GHz and mmWave Technology. Millimeter wave spectrum is what is being deployed across the United States.

    Kuo’s report indicated that Apple’s in-house 5G baseband chip won’t be ready until 2022, leaving the company dependent on Qualcomm baseband chips to connect to high-speed 5G cellular networks. Kuo also stated that Apple is designing its own power amplifier and RF antenna units.

    It’s thought that the 2019 iPhone models will largely resemble the current iPhone XS and iPhone XR units in physical appearance. The 2019 flagship iPhones are believed to feature a triple-camera system, a faster A13 chip, indoor location improvements, AirPods power sharing, and larger internal batteries. The 2019 iPhone XR successor will be upgraded from a single to a dual-camera module.

    Finally, Kuo stated that in spite of its departure from the modem business, the 2019 iPhone models will use Intel basebands. This is partly due to the fact that component suppliers for the upcoming handsets were more or less set in stone by the time of the Apple/Qualcomm settlement and when Intel broke the news as to its future plans for its modem business.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac