In less than 24 hours, Apple will officially announce what we’re expecting to be the “iPhone 11” and “iPhone 11 Pro”. They’ll be the most advanced iPhones ever (because of course they’ll be).
With new cameras (two on the iPhone 11 and three on the 11 Pro), they’ll likely push photography and video recording to new heights.
Nothing wrong with better cameras, but if you’re hoping for Apple to wow with iPhones that are, perhaps, more revolutionary instead of iterative, you’ll probably have to wait until 2020.
If all the rumors and leaks ending up being correct — they’re almost always right these days — the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro will be somewhat modest updates.
From the front, the iPhone 11 should look like the iPhone XR and the iPhone 11 Pros should resemble the iPhone XS and XS Max: same screen sizes, notches, and bezel thicknesses.
The cameras will likely be better, too: dual cameras on the iPhone 11 and triple cameras on the iPhone 11 Pros.
Inside, Apple is expected to improve performance with a new A13 chip and Ultra Wide Band wireless technology in an “R1” sensor for more precise location tracking (possibly related to the rumored Tile-like item tracker), more responsive Face ID unlock, and reverse wireless charging for juicing up AirPods and Apple Watch.
All of these features will no doubt be good additions to the iPhone, but will they drum up the same kind of mass hype that past iPhones used to? Probably not.
Next year’s iPhones, however, could be the real deal — the first major update to the iPhone since the iPhone X was released in 2017.
It’s way too early to declare any rumored features for the iPhone 2020 are a lock. But considering the source, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, has a long history accurately predicting new features based on information from the supply chain, the rumors have more weight.
So what are we hearing? A lot, actually.
Redesign: Apple last gave the iPhone a physical refresh with the iPhone X, ditching the rectangle display and home button for an edge-to-edge display with rounded corners and Face ID. For 2020, Kuo says Apple’s cooking up an “all-new form factor design.”
What that actually means is unclear. I, personally, would love a boxier industrial design with flat edges similar to the iPad Pro. I’d also like to see the camera bump become flush with the body again, too.
Regardless, the iPhone X design will look super outdated by 2020. Hopefully, Apple has something dazzling up its sleeve.
New display sizes: Along with the design revamp, Kuo says Apple might introduce new display sizes. Currently, the iPhone lineup includes a 6.1-inch iPhone XR, 5.8-inch iPhone XS, and 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max.
For 2020, Kuo says Apple’s gonna switch to a smaller 5.4-inch iPhone and larger 6.7-inch iPhone. No word on whether the 6.1-inch iPhone will also get shrunk or enlarged.
New screen sizes could appeal to people who miss smaller iPhones of yesteryear and people who want an almost tablet-like experience.
In-display Touch ID: The iPhone X killed Touch ID and replaced it with Face ID, but the fingerprint sensor might return inside the 2020 iPhone’s display. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, another reliable source on Apple, says the 2020 iPhone will have an in-display Touch ID that’ll be complementary to Face ID.
Gurman’s report corroborates an earlier investor note from Kuo, who also predicts Apple will add an in-display Touch ID sensor.
If you dislike Face ID because it’s slower than Touch ID, 2020’s iPhone could bring the good ol’ finger biometric.
5G: Wireless carriers have started lighting up select cities with 5G and companies like Samsung and OnePlus already have 5G-enabled phones. The popularity of iPhones, however, will no doubt help usher in faster 5G networks in big ways. Who doesn’t want gigabit download speeds that’ll burn through your monthly data plan in seconds?
USB-C port: Apple switched to the reversible Lightning port in 2012 with the iPhone 5. Lightning did its job, but it’s time to move on to USB-C, which is also reversible, and is capable of faster data output.
Apple’s other devices like the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro and MacBook Air all switched to USB-C. With a redesign, when better than to switch to the unofficial universal port?
How to wait until 2020
As you can see, there’s a lot to look forward to on the iPhone 2020 (assuming these features end up shaking out, of course).
But the wait until the fall of 2020, when Apple’s likely to release these new iPhones, is a long one. How can you hold out until then?
If you own an iPhone and the battery no longer lasts as long anymore, consider getting the battery replaced or opt for a battery pack, like Apple’s Smart Battery Case.
Updating your device to iOS 13 will also breathe new life into it with new features like Dark Mode and a revamped Photos app.
