Rumors Persist of Triple-Lens Camera in Square Bump on Higher-End 2019 iPhones

The next iPhone XS Max and possibly ‌iPhone‌ XS will feature a triple-lens rear camera system within a square bump like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing information from Chinese suppliers. The report includes a few renders of what the new design could look like.

The renders are largely consistent with earlier ones shared by OnLeaks, who also expects at least one 2019 ‌iPhone‌ to have a triple-lens rear camera. One difference is that the camera lenses are more symmetrically aligned in the renders above, whereas the lenses are asymmetrical in the OnLeaks render below.

The Wall Street Journal in January reported that the next iPhone XS Max will feature a triple-lens camera, with the next ‌iPhone‌ XS and iPhone XR featuring dual-lens rear cameras. However, Mac Otakara says there is a high probability of a triple-lens camera on both the next ‌iPhone‌ XS and ‌iPhone‌ XS Max.

Mac Otakara's sources claim Apple is readying official ‌iPhone‌ cases with "large holes" on the back, presumably for the square bump.

Many other sources have backed up the triple-lens camera rumor, including the well-connected Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman. Apple would be following in the footsteps of Android smartphone makers like Samsung and Huawei by adding a third lens, which should result in improved 3D sensing and other benefits.

Apple is expected to stick with 5.8-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.5-inch displays for its 2019 ‌iPhone‌ lineup, with other rumored features including frosted glass casing, larger batteries, and bilateral charging of other devices like AirPods.