2019 iPhone Design Rumors

In 2019, Apple is expected to continue offering iPhones in multiple sizes and at multiple price points to provide customers with choice. 2018 brought the iPhone XS (5.8 inches), the iPhone XS Max (6.5 inches), and the iPhone XR (6.1 inches). The two XS devices have higher price tags starting at $999, while the XR is priced starting at $749.

We're expecting a similar lineup in 2019, perhaps with a continuation of both the iPhone XS and XR devices, with rumors suggesting we'll see 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones along with a 6.1-inch LCD iPhone. We don't yet know what Apple will call the new iPhones, but iPhone XI or iPhone 11 are possibilities for the iPhone XS successors. Given that naming is up in the air, we're going to be referring to the upcoming iPhones as the "2019 iPhones" for now.

Rumors about the 2019 iPhones started before the iPhone XS and XR were even announced, and we've heard quite a few details on what we can expect. Design wise, the 2019 iPhone lineup will look similar to the 2018 iPhone lineup, but Apple may be planning to use a new frosted glass design for the back of the 5.8 and 6.5-inch devices. The 6.1-inch iPhone, meanwhile, could come in new lavender and green shades.

Apple is expected to continue using OLED displays for the 2019 devices, and while some rumors suggest Apple may go with an all OLED lineup, doing away with the LCD displays of the iPhone XR, other rumors believe Apple will stick with LCDs because of the high price of OLED displays. The new iPhones may be about a half a millimeter thicker.

All 2019 iPhones are likely to adopt upgraded A13 chips from TSMC, Apple's chip supplier. Chip upgrades typically bring improved performance and efficiency, and the A13 will be no different.

A mockup of what the 2019 iPhone models might look like based on current rumors

Rumors suggest the next-generation 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch OLED iPhones will feature triple-lens rear cameras, while the successor to the iPhone XR will feature a dual-lens camera with a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens.

We don't know for sure what the triple-lens camera setup will look like, but renderings have surfaced suggesting a square-shaped camera bump with lenses arranged in a triangle. A triple-lens camera has the potential to include benefits like better 3D sensing for augmented reality purposes, 3x optical zoom capabilities, up from 2x optical zoom in the 2018 iPhones, and better performance in low light.

We may also see a revamped front-facing TrueDepth camera system, with rumors suggesting either a smaller notch, though information is mixed and at least one reliable source has said there will be no design changes to the notch at all. All three of the front-facing cameras in the 2019 iPhones are expected to be 12 megapixels, up from 7 megapixels in the 2018 models.

Apple eliminated 3D Touch in the iPhone XR, replacing it with a new Haptic Touch feature, and rumors have suggested the same thing could happen in the 2019 iPhone lineup, with 3D Touch set to be removed. Bigger batteries are expected, perhaps to accommodate the new camera technology.

Rumors suggest we're going to see faster WiFi (thanks to the adoption of WiFi 6) and LTE speeds, and we're also expecting the new iPhone models to feature a bilateral wireless charging feature that will let them wirelessly charge other smartphones and devices that support wireless charging like the AirPods.

There have been some rumors of Apple Pencil support in the 2019 iPhones, which would allow the devices to work with Apple's stylus, but we've heard nothing concrete just yet.

Keep an eye on this roundup, because we'll be updating it regularly with all of the rumors about the 2019 iPhones ahead of their launch. We're expecting to see the 2019 devices debut in September 2019, in line with Apple's traditional yearly iPhone launch schedule.

Alleged Renderings and Part Leaks

5.8 AND 6.5-INCH OLED IPHONES

Renders of the 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones coming in 2019 surfaced in April, and are said based on information shared by leaker OnLeaks, aka Steve Hemmerstoffer, who has, in the past, shared accurate details on unreleased Apple devices.

The two iPhones look similar to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, but in given dimensions, are described as being slightly thicker. The current iPhone XS, for example, measures in at 143.6mm by 70.9mm by 7.7mm, while the next iPhone XS is said to measure in at 143.9mm by 71.4mm by 7.8mm.

The larger 6.5-inch iPhone coming in 2019 is said to measure in at 157.6mm x 77.5mm x 8.1mm, compared to the current size of 157.5mm x 77.4mm x 7.7mm. In the case of the next-generation 6.5-inch iPhone, if it is as described, it could be noticeably thicker than the current model.

Design wise, the iPhones look nearly identical to the current-generation iPhones, with the exception of wide square-shaped camera bump at the rear housing three lenses in a triangular configuration. The rear panel of the two devices is said to be made from a single pane of glass, a design meant to minimize the camera bump.

There may also be a redesigned mute switch that's circular in shape rather than pill-shaped, but otherwise, there are no other design changes.

Rumors have suggested Apple is has considered two possible prototype designs for the triple-lens camera, including the square-shaped camera bump seen above, and a more mainstream-looking rear camera in a horizontal layout with a flash located around the middle of the three lenses.

Recent information seems to suggest Apple has decided on using the square-shaped camera bump that arranges the three lenses in a triangular shape, though beyond these renderings, no sites that provide reliable information have commented on the iPhone's design.

An alleged schematic for one of the 2019 iPhone models appears to depict cutouts for a triple-lens camera arranged in an offset manner that would require a square-shaped camera bump. It's not clear if this is an accurate schematic, but it is in line with other leaked triple-lens camera renderings.