Roger Fingas
Although Apple is expected to deliver significant upgrades to the rear-shooting camera on 2019 iPhones, other components may not follow suit, a rumor claimed on Wednesday.
One of the rumored modifications is the inclusion of a 10-megapixel front-facing camera, according to CompareRaja, citing information from Steve Hemmerstoffer, better known by his @OnLeaks Twitter handle. That would mark a significant jump versus the 7-megapixel camera on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
Apple is also reportedly making improvements to its TrueDepth system, used for Face ID and Animoji. These weren't specified, though the site pointed to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in November indicated that Apple might increase the output of the system's flood illuminator to minimize the impact of ambient infrared light.
A previously-mentioned triple-lens rear camera may include 10- and 14-megapixel sensors, but details of the third sensor are unknown. One possibility is that this will support a "time of flight" (TOF) system for depth maps, useful in Portrait shooting and augmented reality.
Repositioning of cameras is allegedly forcing Apple to adjust iPhone's internal design, changing to a nearly square-shaped battery and placing the logic board above the battery instead of parallel to it. However, either rumored camera alignment would occupy more internal space than Apple would likely find acceptable.
The company is said to be keeping a Lightning port, at least in prototypes. Speculation has suggested that Apple might move to USB-C as it did with 2018 iPad Pros, which would expand accessory compatibility.
CompareRaja and @OnLeaks recently posted two renders said to represent camera placement on Apple prototypes — one with a square corner module, the other with a centered horizontal alignment. Because Apple is still in engineering validation testing, it's possible that neither layout could be adopted, even if some aspects of the rumors prove authentic.
A standard September 2019 launch date is anticipated.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
27 Comments
Plenty lightening cables around so it's all good if 2019 iPhone stays with Lightening port. But in future if Apple going to move iPhone to USB-C than sooner is better. I don't see another physical port standard on horizon unless everyone move to Wirless for charging and Data/music transfer.
If Apple can develop a TrueDepth camera that has a narrower point of view it would be a Godsend.
Animoji tend to stop working when you get close at normal distances for example.
Lightning should be the last port on Apples consumer devices.
I think the Lightning connector is physically superior to USB-C (having used an all-USB-C MBP since late 2016). I do see the need for USB-3 speeds, especially when setting-up a new phone or pad, but I continue to believe that Apple could engineer that into Lightning in a backwards-compatible fashion.
Putting USB-C on the other end of the cable seems more important to me. With my MBP 2 years old and Apple's apparent drive for USB-C, I couldn't believe that my new iPhone XS needed a dongle to connect to my MBP. So let's have a brave drive for the future at the charger/host end of the cable first.