Apple might shrink iPhone 13 screen notch

By

The iPhone 13 notch size supposedly might shrink a bit.
The iPhone 13 notch might be shorter than the current version.
Artist’s concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone 13 will will still have a screen notch but it’ll be a bit thinner, according to information leaking out of Apple’s Asian supply chain.

Plus, the same source says Apple will cover the camera lenses of its upcoming handset with sapphire glass.

Putting the iPhone notch on a diet

Apple uses a screen cutout to hold the iPhone’s front-facing camera, speaker, and the TrueDepth sensor used for Face ID. This latter feature is getting moved closer to the edge of the iPhone 13, which will allow the notch to get more narrow, according to Mac Treasure Tracing Club (AKA MacOtokara).

An unconfirmed report from several months ago also predicted a slimmer screen cutout.

The notch was controversial when it first appeared in 2017’s iPhone X, but most Apple users have since become accustomed to it. Still, few are likely to complain about it getting slimmed down.

Apple could finally use sapphire glass

The Mac Treasure Tracing Club’s source in Apple’s Chinese suppliers seems to have access to iPhone casings but not full hardware details. Still, the leaker claims that Apple is changing the appearance of the rear-racing cameras in the iPhone 13. Rather than individual lenses protruding, the camera hump will be thicker and flat because it’s covered in sapphire glass.

Several years ago, Apple tried to use this material to cover iPhone screens, but it proved impractical. iPhone 13 would include a much smaller piece, however.

The overall design of the four iPhone 13 models supposedly isn’t changing, except they’ll be 0.01 inches (0.26 mm) thicker.

AppleTrack gives MacOtokara a 68.6% accuracy rate on Apple predictions. In event days, the Japan-based site brought unconfirmed reports about the upcoming iPad Pro, iPad mini and basic iPad.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.