A new report claims Apple will launch two brand-new iPhone models this year, alongside sequels to the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
A new supply chain report today from Japan’s Macotakara (via MacRumors) suggests that Apple will modestly rebalance the sizes of its followups to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, enabling each model to offer larger rear camera arrays and other features rivalling Samsung’s latest Galaxy S10 phones.
The report suggests Apple is preparing two new OLED models for 2019 alongside the sequels to the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, featuring 6.1-inch and 6.5-inch screens. Each model is expected to have a triple-lens rear camera housing, as well as a bidirectional rear wireless charger that will be able to refuel the recently-released AirPods wireless charging case and perhaps certain Apple Watches.
The report claims the two new iPhones for 2019 will be specially designed for the triple lens camera system that has been heavily speculated. Apparently, Apple is making the chassis of the new models thicker to offset the increase in the size of the triple camera bump.
The first OLED model is said to have a 6.1-inch display and be 0.15 mm thicker than the iPhone XS, but the camera bump will be reduced by 0.05 mm. The second model, which features a 6.5-inch display, will be 0.40 mm thicker than the iPhone XS Max, but, similarly, the camera bump will see an 0.25 mm reduction.
Regardless of the sub-millimetre level tweaks, the report suggests that Apple may increase the sensor sizes of the rear cameras, and use lenses that are bigger than the iPhone XR’s large rear camera. It also leaves open the possibility, however unlikely, that Apple could merely tweak last year’s iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max with A13 processors while keeping the current casings.
The Cupertino company is not expected to make significant cellular improvements to the 2019 iPhone lineup. The company is expected to wait on both 5G modems and more substantial device changes until 2020, instead relying on camera and chip improvements to fuel sales this year.
With these new models set to showcase next-gen tech, Macotakara notes that the sequels to Apple’s 2018 iPhones will likely feature little more than an updated chip.
