While it may be at least four months until the iPhone 11 is officially announced by Apple, the rumour mill is already churning away as insider information and leaks relating to the specifications and software features of this handset enter the public domain.
This month a number of hot stories concerning the latest iPhone have broken, suggesting that it could be the device which manages to catapult Apple back to the top of the league when it comes to photography, kicking rivals such as Huawei and Google into touch.
Before we investigate the camera capabilities, here are a few of the other anticipated hardware updates that could arrive with this range.
Screen & Security
Apple was one of the first manufacturers to offer a built-in fingerprint scanner, way back when its phones still had a home button. With the iPhone 11, the scanner is thought to not only be embedded as part of the front-facing display, but also to offer total screen coverage.
The upshot of this inclusion will be that users can place their registered fingerprint anywhere on the screen and it will be scanned to unlock the device, rather than being limited to a specific area as with the current generation.
Such a high tech screen will no doubt be an expensive addition, meaning that if it becomes damaged, it will be costly to repair or replace. Having adequate mobile phone insurance will protect owners from this eventuality and will also provide coverage for any faults that the undoubtedly sophisticated iPhone 11 may develop further down the line.
Design & Camera
The iPhone 11 is unlikely to diverge significantly from its predecessors in terms of overall design; expect it to be rectangular, slender and stylish, with curved corners and a pleasing feel.
Where the design will really change is the camera; the rear-facing array will reportedly feature a trio of lenses organised in an unusual configuration which is unlike anything seen on the likes of the Huawei P30 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S10.
A triple lens setup will allow for improved performance in all lighting conditions and should give competitors a run for their money in terms of pure image quality for still shots as well as video capture.
The addition of this new camera array will result in one notable compromise; this will protrude from the rear surface of the phone, meaning that it is not completely flat. Some will accept this concession to improved photography as a necessary evil, while others may be less enamoured with the decision.
The main thing that the iPhone 11 must do is reignite interest in Apple’s smartphone line up. While it is still one of the biggest brands around, it has not enjoyed the same sales success in recent years as it once did.
It is not enough for Apple to tread water with its next flagship mobile phone; it needs to really turn heads. If it doesn’t, we can expect to see more consumers jump ship to embrace innovative Android-powered alternatives.