A smartphone chassis, allegedly destined for the 2019 iPhone, has leaked out on Chinese social media.
The metal plate seems to indicate Apple’s next-generation handset will have an additional rear-facing camera. And just as other rumors have hinted, they will be arranged in a strange triangular formation.
We all have our own wish-lists for the 2019 iPhone. Many of us want a smaller notch in the Super Retina display. We would all like faster wireless charging. Some would even like to see USB-C connectivity.
The reality is that the iPhone probably won’t change a great deal this year. But one area where we can expect to see a big improvement is in its cameras.
2019 iPhone could pack triple camera system
The rumors have promised that this year’s flagship iPhones will feature three rear-facing camera sensors. And in recent weeks, we’ve started seeing hard evidence that corroborate these claims, like leaked schematics.
Now a supposed 2019 iPhone chassis has appeared in the wild.
It matches the previous schematics perfectly, with three cutouts for camera lenses arranged in a triangular formation, and another two for an LED flash and microphone. There’s also a large hole in the center for a charging coil.
The image of the chassis was posted to Chinese micro-blogging network Weibo. It was spotted by tipster Ben Geskin, whose “iPhone 11” mockups have previously depicted what the iPhone’s new camera system will look like.
What will that third camera do?
It’s not yet clear what that third camera lens will be used for. On new Android flagships, the third lens enables ultra-wide panoramas, as well as significantly improved low-light performance. It could also enable better optical zoom.
We expect at least one of Apple’s next-generation iPhones to feature a third lens — likely the largest model. But some reports have warned that the smaller iPhone XS successor will stick with just two rear-facing cameras.
We’ll know more this fall when Apple makes the new iPhone lineup official. In the meantime, we can expect to see many more leaks like this one.