The notch in this autumn’s iPhone 13 will slim down noticeably, according to pictures that supposedly show the front glass panels of the upcoming handset. None of the components will be removed, just rearranged.
The image with an reconfigured screen cutout was leaked to MacRumors by iRepair, a company based in Greece.
iPhone 13 Front Glass Reveals Smaller Notch With Earpiece Relocated to Top Bezel https://t.co/3eAmyPSCq0 by @rsgnl pic.twitter.com/0xnzkYVuoS
— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) March 23, 2021
If real, the picture shows that the iPhone speaker being moved up into the display bezel. That allows the notch to become less wide.
But seeing isn’t necessarily believing. There are plenty of Androids that copy the iPhone design. This picture could be of components for one of these in three different sizes.
iPhone 13 might shrink the notch in some way
Debuting in the iPhone X, the notch has been part of all iOS handsets with edge-to-edge screens. And unchanged during all that time. But numerous unconfirmed reports indicate it’s finally going on a diet.
However, not everyone can agree on how it’ll shrink. The prevailing theory is that it’ll slim down in a different way than is shown in the iRepair image. A couple of tipsters have indicated it’ll be just as wide but not as tall.
No escaping the screen cutout. Yet.
Apple uses a screen cutout to hold the iPhone’s front-facing camera, speaker and the TrueDepth sensor used for Face ID. Many iPhone users don’t mind the notch. Few will protest if it’s removed, but it won‘t be easy because eliminating it would require finding alternatives for the components that make it necessary.
Still, a reported analyst says Apple is looking into using a hole-punch design in future handsets.