Apple Reportedly Planning iPad-like iPhone Design, Smaller HomePod

Apple usually releases new iPhones later in the year, and this year, things won’t change — despite the coronavirus pandemic. The company is reportedly planning four new iPhones for later this year, as well as two other products to accompany the launch fo the new phones.

Apple will have two iPhone Pro models this year, and two cheaper models as part of its latest generation of iPhones. The Pro models will succeed the iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max, while the cheaper variants are expected to succeed the iPhone 11. The new high-end devices will apparently get rid of the rounded corners of the current generation of iPhones. Apple is planning to go back to the flat stainless steel edges with the next-generation devices, according to Bloomberg. 

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The new phones will also feature flat screens instead of the sloping edges of the current iPhone design. The company is even apparently “investigating” the idea of removing the notch that houses its Face ID sensors and selfie camera, and it’s possible the next generation of iPhones will reduce the size of the notch. Its highest-end iPhone that will succeed the iPhone 11 Pro Max is expected to have a slightly larger screen as well.

The new iPhone Pro devices will feature a LIDAR scanner in the camera module for improved AR capabilities, just like the newest iPad Pro. The devices are expected to include three cameras on the back, where the regular, cheaper variants will continue to have two cameras.

Apple’s launch of the newest iPhones could be delayed by a few weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company is planning to launch other new hardware, too. That includes a smaller new HomePod speaker, that will cost less and will allow Apple to compete better with the likes of Amazon. Apple’s original HomePod didn’t succeed much in terms of sales, and the company hopes to change that with a cheaper model. It’s much talked about item tracker, the Apple Tags, are still apparently planned to be released sometime this year.

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Conversation 6 comments

  • eugberan

    13 April, 2020 - 11:21 am

    <p>They shouldn't call them Apple Tags. </p><p><br></p><p>They should call them Apple Seeds.</p>

    • safesax2002

      13 April, 2020 - 11:34 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#538138">In reply to EugBeran:</a></em></blockquote><p>I like it. :)</p>

  • rmlounsbury

    Premium Member
    13 April, 2020 - 12:14 pm

    <p>I'm really happy that Apple is going back tot he iPhone 5 style body vs. the design they've used since the 6. Those rounded corners make the iPhone a devil to hang onto if you aren't using some sort of case. This could get me to trade in my Xr for the new iPhone this Fall. </p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    13 April, 2020 - 2:08 pm

    <p>I’m down for this. The 4/5 was my favorite design for the iPhone. To me the current style is just lacking in personality.</p>

  • truerock2

    13 April, 2020 - 4:20 pm

    <p>This sounds to me to be a more functional design.</p><p>The first time I picked up an iPhone with rounded edges at an Apple Store I dropped it.</p><p>The rounded edges and rounded screen edges were interesting but not functional.</p><p>I think smart phone manufacturers did the rounded edges because:</p><ol><li>It was something new they couldn't have done previously</li><li>It was different and something new to do</li></ol><p><br></p><p>I very much liked the design of the iPhone 5 – although I have always thought that the 4.5"x2.5"x.5" iPhone 4S was the optimal size.</p><p>The issue with iPhone design before the iPhone X was the enormous bezels at the top and bottom. I guess they were necessary for the first few generations of iPhone given technical limitations of the technology at that time – after the iPhone 4S I think Apple kept the enormous bezels because they didn't want to mess with a successful design. They should have eliminated giant bezels when the iPhone 5 was designed.</p><p><br></p><p>The idea of having the opposite extreme of no bezels was almost a stupider idea than having giant bezels. I think it was probably Ivy who dreamed that up. I'm glad Apple fired him… he just had too many stupid ideas and that didn't work. Steve Jobs died and there was no one around to tell Ivy when his ideas were bad.</p><p><br></p><p>Anyway, I think a small, thin bezel at the top of an iPhone would be better than the notch… or, at least make the screen areas on either side of the notch fixed for just status-information and completely separate from the OS/application display area.</p><p><br></p><p>Unfortunately, Apple will never make a normal size iPhone like the iPhone 4S again. God, I wish Steve Jobs had not died.</p>

  • khatarnakideas

    14 April, 2020 - 7:43 am

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