While the overall chassis design of the iPhone 13 is expected to remain almost identical in appearance to the iPhone 12 units, the rumor mill has issued word that the notch will be getting smaller.
The display notch first appeared on the iPhone lineup with the iPhone X in 2017, when Apple shrank the screen bezels dramatically. The design and size of the notch remained unchanged with the following three generations of iPhone. It seems this year Apple is finally ready to make some design improvements in that area.
Based on a trio of images leaked by one DuanRui on Twitter, pictures of alleged screen protectors for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini’s notch, seem to be getting smaller in width while the inset height remains about the same.
Apple is apparently reclaiming this space by hoisting the earpiece upwards and into the top screen bezel. The infrared and camera components remain in the visible notch region. The photos show how the screen protectors accommodate for that change by intentionally not occluding the earpiece.
By overlaying the photos, it’s estimated that the new notch is about 30 percent smaller in width than its predecessors, allowing for a bit more screen real estate for the iPhone 13 to show content. Still, this comes across as more of an aesthetic change to make the design of the iPhone more modern in the face of competition from Android smartphones, many of which have already advanced to punch-hole style display cutouts.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and @DuanRui