This year’s iPhone 13 line will always include a screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, improved camera capabilities for astrophotography, stronger MagSafe magnets and a finer matte finish on the back, according to Max Weinbach (via the EverythingApplePro YouTube channel).
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Weinbach is a well-known leaker and has shared information through the YouTube channel in the past about the 2020 iPhone 12 line, some of which came true. Take the following with a grain of salt. According to its sources, Apple plans to include a screen always in the series “iPhone 13”, with a technology similar to that always shown in the Apple Watch Series 5 and later.
Always-on screens are typical of most Android smartphones, and allow users to view information on the screen at all times, without having to turn on or unlock the device. Since the iPhone X, which was the first iPhone to feature an OLED screen, many have speculated that Apple will provide this feature to “iPhone” users.
OLED screens consume less power than LCD screens, as each pixel is individually controlled, unlike LCD panels that use backlighting and illuminate all pixels, even just to display small information on the screen. With OLED displays, Apple can only illuminate the pixels needed to show users the time, battery, or some kind of indicator for app notifications, without using a significant amount of battery power.
Weinbach claims that the always-active screen will look like a “dimmed lock screen,” where the clock and battery charge are always visible and past notifications are displayed using “a bar and icons.” When users receive a notification, the notification will appear normally, except that the screen does not turn on completely. Instead, “it will show it as you’re used to right now, except attenuated and only temporarily,” according to the leaker.
The leaker also “confirms” that a 120 Hz ProMotion update frequency is occurring on the Pro 21iPhone 2021 models, a feature that was rumored to appear on the iPhone 12. An always active screen and ProMotion would not require a change in physical design, and this translates into the fact that Weinbach reports that there will be no changes to the actual chassis of the iPhone 13 compared to the iPhone 12 range. The only possible hardware change will be a matte back with a “more snug and comfortable” feel, similar to the finish on the back of the Google Pixel series.
Internally, MagSafe will become “considerably” stronger, according to the leak. The honeiphone 12 features MagSafe on the back that allows users to magnetically connect different accessories and offers an alternative way to charge the device, but the magnets have been criticized by some for being weak. Apple seeks to alleviate these concerns by adding stronger magnets, though the addition is not expected to be the only reason for a rumored increase in device thickness. As for the cameras, Weinbach reports that Apple is stepping up its efforts in astrophotography.
Astrophotography, astronomy photography, usually requires complicated camera configurations to capture in depth the dark night sky. The integration of the capability into the iPhone is expected to be seamless, as the leak states that the iPhone will automatically switch to mode when you register a user pointing to the sky. The mode will allow the phone to detect different artifacts such as the moon and stars and adjust settings such as exposure accordingly. Corroborating Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the leak says the ultra-wide-range camera will get an improved sensor and lens.
The latest leak information points to the possibility of making videos portrayed on this year’s Iphone. Users have been able to take photos portrayed since the launch of the iPhone 7 Plus, but it has remained completely limited to photos. Portrait mode adds a sense of depth to photos, blurring the background and keeping the center focus fully subject. With videos, the task becomes much more difficult as the subject actively moves, making it harder to add a real-time depth effect.
The new information joins a long list of features we look forward to for the 2021 “iPhone.” Bloomberg the report suggests that the main key feature of the training will be the reintroduction of Touch ID on the iPhone. According to this report, Apple is trying to bury the Touch ID sensor located below the screen, allowing users to unlock their device if Face ID is deemed unusable, such as when wearing a mask. Unlike the iPhone 12 which caused delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iPhone 13 is expected to be launched on time in September.