Apple Leak Reveals Radical New iPhone XI

The knives are already out for Apple AAPL +2.03%’s next-generation iPhone after plans for an ugly redesign leaked last week. But new information suggests Apple is planning something a lot more impressive…

Working with CompareRaja, the prolific and always reliable industry insider Steve Hemmerstoffer has revealed the controversial triple camera iPhone design he leaked is not Apple’s final design. And he has now revealed another.

Apple iPhone 11 prototypeSTEVE HEMMERSTOFFER / COMPARERAJA

The design you can see above is notable for two things.

First, and most obvious, is the return to a horizontal camera setup (as seen on the iPhone Plus ranges) with a circular flash fitted around the main camera in the middle and the mic just below it. I suspect that for many, this will be a far more pleasing way for Apple to integrate three lenses than what came before.

And for those wondering, the additional lens is expected to house a potentially revolutionary 3D sensor.

Second, and far more subtle, the new iPhone has both a smaller notch and slightly thinner bezels. Hemmerstoffer notes the latter will be almost impossible to see with the naked eye, but the latter clearly frees up a lot more of the display left and right of the notch. This would be of great use to notifications.

iPhone 11 prototype showing a smaller notch and new three lens camera systemSTEVE HEMMERSTOFFER / COMPARERAJA

No, this isn’t as impressive as the stellar Face ID technology recently announced by Apple supplier AMS. But it might just be enough for Apple to keep the next-generation iPhone looking modern when compared to the high profile cut-out designs that will also launch in 2019.

It is important to note that Hemmerstoffer stresses both iPhone designs he has revealed so far are genuine, but they are also part of Apple’s EVT (Engineering Validation Testing) process which means we may see one, both (split between models) or neither come launch time.

Whether either design does enough to compensate for what is perhaps the next-gen iPhone’s most controversial omission remains to be seen. But it is clear Apple is working had to reignite customer interest after disappointing sales of the current range. After all, Apple can’t keep slashing iPhone prices forever…

[“source=forbes”]