The iPhone 12 premiered with a new design, featuring squared-off edges and slimmer bezels, but questions around the design of 2021's iPhone 13 have already started gathering pace.
Well-connected display analyst Ross Young expects the iPhone 13 lineup to look very similar to iPhone 12 lineup, encompassing one 6.7-inch "iPhone 13 Pro Max" model, one 6.1-inch "iPhone 13 Pro," one 6.1-inch "iPhone 13," and one 5.4-inch "iPhone 13 mini" model.
Supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also reiterated Young's prediction of four models in the same sizes as the iPhone 12 lineup. With each model retaining the same screen size as its predecessor, it follows that it is unlikely that the devices will see significant changes to design or form-factor.
It also is important to consider the fact that the iPhone 12 saw a considerable design overhaul. Apple does not usually follow a major redesign with another redesign the year later, so it is highly likely that the designs will remain largely the same. It is not out of the question, however, that the iPhone 13's color palette will be refreshed, but there have not yet been any reliable reports about this.
One leaker believes Apple will introduce a smaller notch on the iPhone 13, refining the existing front design. Rather than being shorter in width, they suggest that the notch may have a reduced height to make it less noticeable and better able to blend into the top of the iPhone. It therefore seems that the iPhone 13 may be more of an elevation of the iPhone 12's design rather than a complete overhaul.
Beyond design, other notable rumored iPhone 13 features include a 120Hz-capable ProMotion display, the A15 chip, and an upgraded ultra-wide camera.
Although Apple's iPhone 12 lineup did not launch in September as expected due to production delays, the 2021 iPhone lineup will likely be unveiled in the fall of 2021, with the company likely aiming to return to its traditional September launch timeline.
Updated: Before the iPhone 12 lineup was revealed, Mac Otakara revealed some 3D-printed mockups of a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, reportedly based on information from sources inside Chinese company Alibaba, which now appears to be the theoretical successor to the iPhone 12 mini.
Although the design is similar to the iPhone 12 mini, there are some noteworthy changes. Most obviously, the mockup features no notch for the TrueDepth camera system, and instead, there is a FaceTime front-facing camera located under the display. The mockup also comes with the suggestion that the iPhone 13 may replace the Lightning port with a USB-C port.
Overall, the design retains the squared-off edges of the iPhone 12, and in light of the other rumors to date, it seems likely that the general design of the iPhone 13 will be the same as the iPhone 12, with internal upgrades being more significant.
