Apple again rumored to use triple-lens camera in square bump on iPhone XI
Apple is again rumored to be planning to introduce a new triple-lens rear camera on the iPhone XI within a square camera housing ike the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing information from Chinese suppliers.
The report reiterates previous claims from sources who said Apple had been experimenting with various iPhone XI prototypes including one particular test unit which featured a square camera unit housing and three rear cameras aligned non-linearly next to an LED flash and a microphone.
According to the new reports, Apple will add the new triple-lens rear camera to both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max predecessors rather than keeping the 3 lens camera setup exclusive to the larger “iPhone XI Max” as seen with the iPhone 7 Plus which had one extra camera lens compared to the smaller sized iPhone 7.
Mac Otakara claims Apple is also preparing official iPhone cases with “large holes” on the back, presumably for the square bump. Asides from reiterating the earlier claims regarding the square camera housing the report doesn’t share any further details regarding the next-generation iPhone.
Everything we know about the iPhone XI
Asides from the triple-lens rear camera, Apple is expected to shrink the size of the notch of the iPhone XI.
The idea suggests Apple should only use the notch to house the TrueDepth Camera system and move the built-in stereo speaker and microphone to the top of the bezel just above the camera unit. – So far we’re without any firm evidence Apple will reduce the size of the notch in 2019, but this is certainly high up on our iPhone XI wish-list.
Rumors have suggested Apple may remove the Lightning connector from the iPhone XI in favour of USB-C, although these reports should be taken with a pinch of salt, especially now that reliable Japanese blog Macotakara has said in an effort to help reduce component costs Apple will keep the Lightning connecter until at least 2020.
iPhone XI may see the end to 3D Touch, claims Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates who cite sources in Asia who suggest following the removal of the feature from the iPhone XR last year, Apple will pull 3D from the iPhone XI to help reduce component costs and the overall retail price of the device.
The naming of Apple’s next flagship iPhone is unknown, however with the company using the Roman numeral X for the iPhone X, pronounced “iPhone Ten”, it isn’t so hard to believe the next major iPhone release, the iPhone 11 will be called the iPhone XI, the Roman numeral for 11.
Alongside the release of the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max Apple is also expected to release an updated version of the iPhone XR, featuring a dual camera system (similar to the one found on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max) in addition to battery improvements and possibly the reduced size notch rumored to arrive with the iPhone XI.
Image: Mac Otakara