Apple iPhone 13: From camera upgrades to screen boosts and when it’s launching

No buttons, ports, a secret fingerprint scanner — we separate the wild iPhone 13 rumours from what’s more likely to become a reality.

Apple’s next iPhone could launch in September 2021.

Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 13 is likely to be unveiled within days after the tech giant issued invitations to a global announcement taking place in the early hours of September 15.

Under the headline “California streaming,” Apple revealed plans to host a virtual event from its Apple Park headquarters, kicking off at 3am Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Despite a late launch in 2020, the company typically releases new iPhones in September.

And what will the company reveal? We’ve combed through the rumours to work out what you’re likely to see in the new iPhone handsets and what features may have been delayed.

WHEN IS THE IPHONE LAUNCH?

Apple’s “California Streaming” invitations point to September 15 for an iPhone launch, despite earlier rumours there could be delays.

The ninth month of the year has typically been prime time for new iPhones, hosting eight of Apple’s phone launches to date.

Questions had been raised about whether Apple could keep to this schedule in 2021, however, thanks to component shortages suffered by manufacturers worldwide, including capacitors used in iPhones.

Apple launched iPhones of several sizes in 2020.

A supply chain report released earlier this year did tip an iPhone launch in late September, however, and Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives specifically named the third week of September as a possible launch time in a note to investors.

Apple’s invitation also indicates the event will be broadcast online, rather than held as an in-person event. It will take place after the company cancelled its September return-to-the-office date for staff following the Delta outbreak.

HOW MANY IPHONES ARE COMING?

Like last year, expect to see many iPhone choices.

Analysts are tipping the arrival of four iPhone 13 models, from the high-end Pro and Pro Max to the standard iPhone 13 and its little sibling, iPhone 13 Mini.

This rumour was seemingly backed up by a video leak of what appeared to be iPhone 13 Pro Max cases.

NEW MESSAGING SYSTEM

In what could be a big spoiler, some pundits are predicting a new type of messages for iPhones this year.

Expect a virtual launch for this year’s Apple iPhone unveiling. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nicholas Eagar

While text messages are green, iMessages are blue, these could be grey and indicate that they’ve been delivered while out of mobile network range.

Apple reportedly intends to use low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver messages, which could be handy in an emergency or just a blackspot.

The news came from long-time tipster Ming-Chi Kuo, though his timing has been iffy before.

BETTER SCREEN

Those who stream TV or play action-packed games on the small screen should appreciate this year’s potential iPhone screen update.

The new iPhone models are expected to get double the screen refresh rate, going from 60 to 120 hertz.

The upgrade would deliver smoother video, as seen on the current generation of iPads.

CAMERA UPGRADE TIME?

Analysts are forecasting a handful camera upgrades for the iPhone 13 handsets.

Tips range from better ultra-wide lenses for the Pro models that will be able to capture images in lowlight with less distortion to sensor-shift image stabilisation being introduced to more than just the top model.

Apple introduced RAW image capture in its iPhone 12 range.

There could also be new appeal for iPhone users who capture video: Apple is expected to launch ProRes video capture for its phone cameras, capturing resolutions up to 8K.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

Remember when the iPhone lost its big chin but gained a notch at the top of its screen?

That notch could be disappearing this year or at least diminishing, if the rumours are true.

The newest Apple iPhones are also tipped to receive a faster chip (the A15), more storage (up to one terabyte), and to keep their Lightning ports even though other phones and tablets have now swapped to USB-C connections.

A very remote possibility is an in-screen fingerprint sensor, though this was reportedly delayed for a later model. A button-free iPhone has also been discussed, as has the removal of a charging port for a completely wireless experience, though this seems unlikely.

Originally published as Apple iPhone 13: From camera upgrades to screen boosts and when it’s launching