iPhone 13 may have a smaller notch, new rumors suggest

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Apple will apparently streamline the chip used in the front-facing camera on next year's iPhone 13 range, according to DigiTimes.
Jon Prosser (reliability: 88.46%) has also recently weighed in on this claim in a recent video, saying that at least one iPhone 13 prototype includes a smaller notch.
“The new iPhone will have a new 3D sensing module that will see a reduction in the size of the notch.” - BGR
All credible sources reiterated that it is still early in the design process, and that it may be too early to know for sure.

According to DigiTimes, Apple will apparently streamline the chip used in the front-facing camera on next years iPhone 13 range. Allegedly, this will allow the company to shrink the notch - something users have been asking for since the iPhone X. Jon Prosser (reliability: 88.46%) has also recently weighed in on this claim in a recent video, pointing out that Apple has apparently been looking into reducing the notch size for years now, and that at least one prototype includes a smaller notch.

From BGR:

Based on the report, the iPhone 13 will come up with a smaller than usual notch we are used to seeing on the current generation iPhone models. The new iPhone will have a new 3D sensing module that will see a reduction in the size of the notch. Hence, the iPhone 13 will retain its notch but you can expect it to be smaller, complete with earpiece and the front camera.

All credible sources note that it’s still too early to say whether this one will make it into production. As for the LiDAR scanner – which acts as a depth sensor for the rear cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max – it’s entirely possible we’ll see that extended to the rest of the range. But at the same time, Apple is going to want to keep some features for the Pro models, so we wouldn’t count on that rumor just yet. Check out our list of iPhone 13 rumors.

From Forbes:

According to the report, two breakthroughs are key to the smaller notch. The first is Apple has managed to significantly shrink the sensors which make-up Face ID. The second is a streamlined VCSEL chip in the front camera, which both reduces volume and adds improved depth sensing capabilities - a boon for Portrait Mode selfies.

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Published to Apple Scoop on 30th December, 2020.

Flynn Lo Faro

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Flynn has been covering technology for over a decade, with a deep focus on all things Apple. As the Editor-in-Chief of Apple Scoop, Flynn ensures the team delivers the most accurate and up-to-date information on Apple news, rumors, and product releases. His passion for tech journalism and editorial expertise guide the site’s vision and maintain its high standards.

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