iPhone 13 New Design Release

iPhone 13 tech specs
The next generation of iPhones will feature boosted specifications across the board, from upgraded processors to improved cameras. Here's what we've seen rumoured so far.

A15 Bionic processor
We don't know much about the A15 just yet, except that it will be faster than the A14 (obviously) and based on an improved 5 nanometre (5nm) production process from supplier TSMC. This will make it more efficient than the A14 chip you'll find in the iPhone 12 series.

The big jump in terms of processors, however, is likely to come in 2022. The A16 in the iPhone 14 will be 4nm and we can therefore expect major gains in energy efficiency: this could mean a jump in battery life, a lighter device with a smaller battery unit, superior performance, or a combination of all three.

Battery performance
We don't yet know the capacity of the batteries in the 13-series handsets, but we're starting to get an idea of the comparative performance we can expect.

Apple won't yet have access to the potentially game-changing battery improvements that will be made possible by the 4nm A16 processor in 2022 (as outlined above), but two other changes should see solid improvements. The 5G modem in this year's iPhone will support better battery life; as will the expected use of energy-efficient LTPO displays (discussed elsewhere in this article).

As ever, the question is how much Apple cares about battery performance. For every improvement in efficiency gained via tech upgrades, the company may choose to cut back on the size of the battery itself to create a slimmer phone, or increase energy demands by increasing screen resolution or adding power-draining new features.

Based on the frequency of customer complaints about iPhone battery life, however, we're optimistic that Apple will make this aspect of the phone's performance a priority.

Cameras
Sources say the iPhone 13 will have much better cameras than the iPhone 12. At this point sceptics will be shouting at their laptops a) that's both extremely vague and extremely obvious and b) exactly how much better do cameras need to get?

Let's get a bit more specific.

Based on news that Apple has come to an agreement with Sony for the latter company to provide LiDAR scanners for the next three years it is thought that all iPhone 13 models will feature LiDAR (this technology is currently only offered by the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max models).

The LiDAR technology enables users to measure and map a 3D space. This can be used for probably for AR (e.g games and interior design), and for photography improvements (e.g focusing in the dark or low light). Read our guide to LiDAR for more information.

The Taiwanese outlet DigiTimes, meanwhile, expects Apple to add sensor-shift optical image stabilisation across all models of iPhone 13. Again, this is something currently offered on the top-end model only.

In terms of glassware, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has floated the idea that the ultra-wide-angle lens (which we expect to appear in the two Pro models only) might have its aperture changed from f2.4 to f1.8. This will double the amount of light that can be admitted and improve low-light performance. The ultra-wide lens will also get autofocus, which should improve close-up work.

(Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O'Malley, meanwhile, argue that all four iPhone 13 models will be equipped with an upgraded ultra-wide-angle camera.)

However, in later guidance in January 2021 Kuo suggested we will not see new camera lenses in this autumn's iPhone update. For more detail on this story, read iPhone 13 camera lenses will be same as 12.

A January 2021 report suggested the cameras of the iPhone 13 could be about 0.9mm larger and be entirely covered with sapphire glass. Read more about that story here: iPhone 13 will have smaller notch and bigger camera.

And looking further afield there are already rumours about the iPhone 14, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming that by 2022 the iPhone will have 10x optical zoom. For the full story, read Analyst: In two years iPhone will have 10x optical zoom.

We round up all the rumours about the cameras in the new handsets here: iPhone 13 camera features coming in 2021.

mmWave 5G
iPhone 12 models sold in the US offer mmWave, but elsewhere this form of 5G isn't offered. That may change with the iPhone 13. Apple is said to have made a large order for mmWave antenna - which should mean that the UK and other countries will get faster 5G with the iPhone 13.

The theoretical maximum speed for mmWave is 1-2 gigabits per second, compared to the 100-400 megabits offered by Sub-6 GHz. However, Sub-6 GHz offers a longer range, which is to the benefit of users outside the big cities. We have a separate article where you can read about the 5G coverage problems faced by the iPhone 12 in the UK.

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