Fresh from trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo: this year's iPhone lineup will receive camera upgrades, and one of the shooters will be an ultra-wide lens.
In addition, Apple apparently plans to upgrade the front camera from 7 megapixels to 12 megapixels. Kuo also claims the rumored triple-camera system will appear on both the 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch OLED variants, both with a brand-new ultra-wide 12-megapixel lens.
Both these aforementioned cameras will be coated in black, says Kuo, so they blend better with the surrounding bezel for an "inconspicuous" look.
A 6.1-inch iPhone XR might also be on the cards, and it'll apparently adopt a dual camera system. It's not clear if it'll launch alongside the two main iPhones, but that's likely the case this year, much like last year's lineup.
2019 iPhone Camera Upgrades
Going back to the front camera upgrades, it seems there'll more beyond just an increase in the number of megapixels. Apparently, the camera will also change from the existing four-element lens to a five-element lens component. What exactly this change implies remains uncertain. The new front camera will appear on all three iPhones to be released this year, including the revamped iPhone XR.
As for the ultra-wide lens, which will likely skip the iPhone XR and appear only in the two main models, the component will be manufactured exclusively by Sony. The lens is a 12-megapixel 1um sensor, says Kuo.
Camera Cutout
The jury is still out about the design, but rumors point to the new iPhones having a new square camera cutout on the back, which is never before seen on any iPhone. The aforementioned black lens coating might help it look more aesthetically pleasing, however. Apparently, the idea is to cover it up to the point that the cutout is basically indistinguishable from the bezel, improving their symmetry.
2019 iPhone Release Date
Apple is expected to announce brand-new iPhones this fall. They always get released shortly thereafter, so expect a similar pattern for this year's devices. Beyond a new processor, Apple could add more RAM, a bigger battery, and other refinements such as reverse wireless charging. Face ID will most likely make a return as Apple's staple biometric and authentication feature. It's not clear what the models are going to be called, though. Similarly unclear is the pricing scheme for these new devices, but don't count on them being cheaper than last year's lineup.
Make sure to check back with Tech Times as we learn more.
