Apple's iPhone 2019 may be all about the camera
The iPhone 11 release date is likely in September, but Apple is already rumored to be testing out several new iPhone 2019 concepts months in advance, as you'll see below.
There are plenty of iPhone 11 leaks to pore over on this page, and all of them point to a more significant upgrade than last year's rather incremental iPhone XS design.
Update: The iPhone XR 2 might come in two new colors according to the latest leak, while that square camera block we've seen rumored for the range looks ever more likely.
Update: The iPhone XR 2 might come in two new colors according to the latest leak, while that square camera block we've seen rumored for the range looks ever more likely.
It may not be a radical top-to-bottom change considering the iPhone X redesigned launched in late 2017, but the rear camera may get a big upgrade if you turn your attention to the back of every new iPhone 11 concept we've seen.
That's good news because Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as previously forecast, so its next flagship has to wow everyone or come down in price to stay competitive.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The iPhone 11 will be Apple's next flagship
- When is it out? Launch is likely to be mid-September 2019
- What will it cost? Likely no more than last year's iPhone XS
Having analyzed previous Apple events, we predict that the iPhone 11 launch date will be on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
With three iPhones launched in 2018 – the standard iPhone XS, larger iPhone XS Max and budget iPhone XR – we expect Apple to repeat the trifecta this year with the iPhone 11 possibly launching alongside the iPhone 11 Max and the iPhone 11R (names TBC).
So what new features will the iPhone 11 have, and will it still have a notch? Let's investigate what we expect from Apple's next flagship iPhone.
New iPhone 11 design
We're seeing iPhone 11 renders (shown below) months ahead of Apple's expected launch event, and all of the attention so far has been to the back.
The images show three cameras in a central block on the back, a back which looks to be made of glass, as we'd expect, while the front retains the notch from the iPhone XS. We've seen this design rumored a second time now, so it could be accurate.
However, it's not the only design doing the rounds, with another showing a triple-lens camera in the left corner. That would be more in line with where Apple currently places the camera.
These image also show a likely glass back and the same arrangement of buttons as the iPhone XS, and multiple leakers have claimed they're right.
The leaked case dummies that you can see above show how the triple-lens rear camera might look. Respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has weighed in to say that one of these lenses might be almost invisible, adding at the same time that the selfie camera will get a boost from 7MP to 12MP.
One of the sources of the earlier images added that three new iPhone models are in the works – successors to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. It looks very much like we'll get three models again this year.
Speaking of the iPhone XR 2, reports suggest that it will come in new lavender and green shades, as well as black, white, yellow and likely also red. That would mean that the iPhone XR's coral and blue colors would be dropped.
You can see evidence of these new shades in the tweet below, which also includes case moldings of the three phones, once again showing off that square camera block - a design that we've also seen in case renders.
Alleged next iPhone case moldings show what we discussed in our story last week in terms of new cameras. 3 on the high end, 2 on the new XR. Plus all models apparently getting a square, at least based on this one mold floating around. twitter.com/markgurman/sta…
And here’s what appear to be your next-generation iPhone XR colors (lavender purple and green instead of blue and coral) as @idanbo reported earlier this week: macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/ent… pic.twitter.com/7k3WZC2ZUi
The most comprehensive new iPhone 11 design leak however comes via CashKaro and OnLeaks, who have produced the video below featuring 3D renders of what they believe the new iPhone will look like.
Front-on it looks like the iPhone XS, but it may get the iPad's smaller, circular mute slider on the side, while on the back it's all change with a large bump housing three cameras.
Details leaked alongside the video claim the iPhone 11 will have a 5.8-inch screen measure 143.9 x 71.4 x 7.8mm, although it'll be 9mm thick at the camera bump.
New iPhone 11 display
We've heard that the iPhone XI will have a 5.8-inch display, just like the iPhone XS, but with smaller bezels, and that it won't support 5G, but that it will, surprisingly, have a 4,000mAh battery and a USB-C port. The same source says to expect space grey, gold, silver and blue colors.
The size of the phone is a hotly contested one though – while some reports say it'll stay the same size, others suggested the main iPhone 11 will be a bit bigger, and there are too many contradicting voices so we can't say anything with any degree of certainty.
However, another source says it won't have USB-C, adding that the front camera will be upped to 10MP (from 7MP on current models), and that the rear camera will have 14MP and 10MP lenses, as well as a third, currently unknown one.
New iPhone 11 camera
Most of the rumors we've heard point towards there being three cameras on the iPhone 11.
We've seen schematics which seem to be for an upcoming iPhone and match the camera layout mentioned in the 'Design' section.
Not only that, but part of a chassis supposedly intended for the iPhone 11 has also been caught on camera as you can see below, and it matches the schematic, showing cut-outs for three cameras in the top left corner.
However we've also heard from another source that only the highest-end iPhone 2019 (which we'll call the iPhone 11 Max for now) will have three rear cameras, so it's possible the 'lite' and flagship phones won't.
The same source says that the other two handsets will have dual-lens cameras and that the iPhone XR successor will stick with an LCD screen.
In fact, we're hearing this from multiple publications now. The iPhone 11 Max may be the one version with a triple-lens camera, while the smaller handsets in the iPhone range may get them "eventually," reports Bloomberg - so possibly not the 2019 models.
Interestingly, a laser-powered 3D camera was supposedly destined for the iPhone 11, but said to have been delayed to the iPhone 12 (or whatever Apple calls its iPhone 2020 model). This iPhone roadmap suggests Apple is going all in on augmented reality (AR).
As well as a better front-facing camera though, the iPhone 11 could also pack the snapper and related sensors into a smaller notch, as a new tech created by one of Apple's camera component suppliers allows for some of the sensors to be placed under the screen.
There's no confirmation that Apple will use this tech, but we'd expect the company will be looking for ways to shrink the notch.
Those looking for a new iPhone XR 2, there's some potentially good news for the more affordable handset as the latest rumors suggest Apple will upgrade the single rear camera from the XR to a dual camera setup on the iPhone XR 2.
Apparently it'll use the same dual cameras as the iPhone XS and XS Max, which would give the handset some solid shooting credentials.
New iPhone 11 features
We've now heard multiple times that it won't get USB-C, so don't count on a change from Lightning.
One new feature it might get though is two-way wireless charging, allowing you to use the iPhone 11 as a charging mat for other devices. It's a rumor we've heard more than once now so it definitely seems to be on the cards.
In order to make the most of that feature the battery could grow, with reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting that the iPhone 11 could get a battery that's roughly 20-25% bigger than the 2,658mAh one in the iPhone XS.
The iPhone 11 Max's meanwhile could grow around 10-15% larger than the 3,174mAh one in the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR successor could get one 5% larger than the 2,942mAh one in the iPhone XR. That would all apparently happen without making the phones any thicker, as the laminate on the screen would instead be thinner.
The same source for the first reversible charging tip adds that we might see a frosted glass back, and ultra-wide band connectivity, which would allow for improved indoor positioning. That could help with navigating interiors or might benefit AR applications.
The new iPhones may even be easy to use in the rain. A new report claims Apple is experimenting with a new tech that allows you to use the phone's screen underwater.
What's more, a patent suggests the camera on a future iPhone would be able to tell when you're underwater and alter settings accordingly, so that underwater photographs look better.
In other news, one report points to the inclusion of Sony's next-gen 3D sensorsin the new iPhone, which could in turn offer quicker face unlock, better Portrait mode depth-sensing and some potentially cool 3D modelling features and (AR) implementations. We recently watched a sample of Sony's AR camera capabilities.
We did also see a patent that suggested the iPhone 11 could have sub-epidermal scanning to unlock, in which the front camera would scan the veins and blood vessels in your face using IR to make sure it's actually you unlocking the phone.
Another patent meanwhile points to the return of Touch ID, but not as you know it. Rather, the patent talks about a system that would recognize your fingerprint when placed anywhere on the screen.
So it would be an in-screen scanner that works across the whole display, though we're not convinced Apple will actually use this - lots of weird and wonderful things get patented with nothing coming of them.
For something else a little bit weird, a patent filed by Apple shows a system in which a sensor monitors chemicals in the air, in order to 'smell' odors – including body odor. This could be used in the iPhone 11 or Apple Watch 5, or perhaps a later device.
Meanwhile, another iPhone 11 leak suggests the new handsets could support input from the Apple Pencil that currently only works with iPads.
Apple usually introduces a new chipset with its new iPhone launches, and the A13 chip is being touted for the iPhone 11, with analysts claiming a manufacturer is already lined up to produce the A13 chip.
Inside the device we've heard talk that the iPhone 11 will include support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 connection standards – though 5G tech might have to wait until the 2020 iPhones.
New iPhone 11 release date
- iPhone 11 launch date: September 10, 2019 (TechRadar predicts)
- iPhone 11 pre-order date: September 13, 2019 (TechRadar predicts)
- iPhone 11 release date: September 20, 2019 (TechRadar predicts)
The iPhone 11 launch date may be a little later than previous years, as Europe's biggest tech show, IFA 2019 in Berlin, is set to run from September 6-11 this year - which may see Apple defer its new iPhone launch to the following week.
It's unlikely though, as the new iPhone launch has crossed over with the show a number of times (including 2014, 2015 and 2016), which means we're still most likely to see an announcement week commencing September 9.
Apple historically hasn't held its phone event on a Monday, with Tuesday or Wednesday the most commonly used days. With the Wednesday being September 11, a day of mourning in the US, Apple will most likely pick an iPhone 11 launch date of Tuesday, September 10 2019.
If Apple does opt to delay the launch by a week, we could be looking at a potential iPhone 11 launch date of either September 17 or September 18.
Apple hasn't launched an iPhone this late since 2011, when it announced the iPhone 4S on October 4, and we fully expect the Cupertino, California based firm to stick with a September arrival for the new iPhone in 2019.
As for the iPhone 11 pre-order date, Apple tends to open them on the Friday following the launch, which would be September 13 by our calculations.
Finally, the new iPhone 11 release date - the day when you'll actually be able to get your hands on the handset for the first time - could be just a week after the pre-orders open, so September 20 if our analysis is correct.
These dates could quite easily shift though, and we wouldn't be surprised if Apple followed more recent tradition and launch the new iPhone 11 on September 10.
New iPhone 11 price
- iPhone 11 price likely to start around $999 (£999, AU$1,579)
- There could be a new price strategy
Even without the official iPhone 11 price, we know it'll cost a lot. After all, Apple priced the iPhone XS and iPhone X starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,579). We could see identical prices for the iPhone 11.
With news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it previously forecast, there's a chance the iPhone 11 price will offer a more affordable look - although we reckon a price freeze, rather than a reduction, is a more likely move by Apple.
It could mean good news for the successor to the well-received iPhone XR, with the main complaint about the first handset being it was still a little steep price-wise. If Apple can reduce the price on the iPhone 11R, it may help soften a lofty iPhone 11 price tag.
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