Rumors about Apple’s 2019 iPhones have been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Apple hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, but multiple leaks have indicated that the biggest of the three 2019 iPhone models – dubbed iPhone 11 Max for now – would sport three camera lenses on the back, similar to Huawei’s P20 Pro. Fresh leaks coming out of China have revealed the iPhone 11 Max’s battery size and other details.
iPhone 11 Max: A bigger battery, better camera, faster refresh rate
A Weibo post from Chinese user C Technology claims the iPhone 11 Max would sport a huge 4,000mAh battery. If it turns out to be true, it will be a significant jump from 2,658mAh in the current iPhone XS and 3,174mAh battery inside the iPhone XS Max. The cheaper iPhone XR sports a 2,942mAh battery.
It will be a challenging task for Apple to pack a 4,000mAh battery in the iPhone XS Max successor because the overall form factor of the device is expected to remain the same. Reliable tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer has said the new iPhones would look similar to the 2018 models, except for the rear camera and a smaller notch. The Cupertino company is already struggling with space limitations to accommodate the triple camera system on the back.
The Weibo user added that the 2019 iPhones would get 15W wireless fast charging, a significant jump from the current 7.5W charging. Apple introduced Qi wireless charging with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, but it offered a ridiculously slow 5W maximum charging speed. The company later increased it to 7.5W charging via an iOS software update. While the 2019 iPhones are rumored to have 15W charging, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S10 is said to move from 15W to 20W or 27W wireless charging.
According to C Technology, the iPhone 11 Max will get a 3x telephoto lens on the back. The current iPhone XS and XS Max sport a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens on the back that offers 2x optical zoom. Previous reports have indicated that the 2019 flagship would feature a wide-angle lens, a super wide-angle lens, and 3x telephoto lens. If it turns out to be true, the setup would be similar to the triple cameras on the Huawei P20 Pro, which also offers 3x optical zoom.
Lastly, the Weibo user revealed that the iPhone 11 Max’s display would have a refresh rate of 90Hz to 120Hz. The latest iPad Pro models have a 120Hz refresh rate. A faster refresh rate leads to smoother animation and more responsive experience, but it consumes more battery. Apple uses the ProMotion technology in the iPad Pro that adjusts refresh rates automatically between 24Hz and 120Hz to optimize performance and battery life.
Last month, Korean site ETNews reported that the 2019 iPhones would feature Samsung’s new Y-OCTA display technology that would make the devices thinner, lighter, and cheaper. The current flagship iPhones have a separate touch-sensitive layer on top of the OLED screen. The Y-OCTA technology integrates the touch-sensitive layer into the display, reducing the thickness and weight of the phones. It’s also cheaper and easier to manufacture.
C Technology’s report should be taken with a pinch of salt at this point. The Weibo user has a spotty reputation – it has provided accurate leaks as well as incorrect information about iPhones in the past. According to Steve Hemmerstoffer, the 2019 iPhones are still in the Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) phase, which means the company hasn’t finalized the design yet. A lot could change between now and September.
What will it look like?
Earlier this month, Hemmerstoffer shared two different iPhone 11 renders. One of them had a square camera bump in the top right corner to house three lenses in a triangular configuration along with an LED flash and a microphone. The other one had the camera module in the center where the three lenses were arranged horizontally with a ring flash in the middle. The two camera setups are entirely different.
https://twitter.com/OnLeaks/status/1081902300434780161
https://twitter.com/OnLeaks/status/1085248937815089152
It’s possible that Apple is working on multiple prototypes and would decide which one would enter production at a later stage. In both the renders shared by Hemmerstoffer, the display notch has been reduced dramatically. It’s possible to reduce the notch by relocating the speaker to above the display glass. Not all iPhone users like the notch but it’s going to stay until Apple figures out a way to integrate the TrueDepth camera system under the display panel.
Recent reports claimed that Apple was planning to replace the Lightning connector with USB-C port for charging. Hemmerstoffer’s renders don’t shed light on the USB-C connector for charging. Separately, Barclays analyst Blaine Curtis predicts the 2019 iPhones would come with the new WiFi 6 standard, which would bring better performance in crowded places, higher speeds, and improved capacity. Apple fans waiting for 5G will be disappointed because the first 5G iPhones won’t hit the store shelves until 2020.
