The production gears will soon rev up in line with Apple's preparations for the large-scale manufacture of the iPhone models to replace the existing ones. For starters in Asia, the fabrication of the next-generation processor, dubbed as A13 SoC, to power the iPhone XI lineup has already commenced, claimed a new report.
"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has started production of a new chip for Apple Inc.'s next line of iPhones launching later this year," Bloomberg reported.
The news is a solid suggestion that the iPhone maker is bent to deliver the next installment of its flagship device without delays. As early as April this year, TSMC has started on the testing phase of the A13 production route, further indicating that the company's manufacturing calendar is unfolding as planned.
Expected to arrive with the iPhone 2019 editions are feature upgrades currently not found on the models issued last year but it's unlikely that they will pack 5G capability. This was hinted by the recent deal inked by Apple with Qualcomm, in which the likelihood of an iPhone 5G model pointed to a 2020 release at the earliest.
Yet with the A13 SoC good as confirmed to be the next iPhone power-driver, Apple fans can safely anticipate the new set of handsets to boast faster processing muscle but with significantly improved efficiency. The latter would mean longer operating hours in a single charge for would-be iPhone XI buyers.
A13, the Bloomberg report further claimed, will find its way on the three iPhone versions scheduled for debut in the last quarter of 2019. Citing an unnamed Apple insider, the same report indicated that the handset models already in the works are codenamed D43, D44, and N104. The first two codes refer to the sequels to the iPhones XS and XS Max.
The N104, on the other hand, is the device to bump off the iPhone XR, which Apple has introduced in late 2018 as its budget model.
All three will sport the design language used on their respective predecessors, thus panting a picture of fresh iPhone releases that are copy-cats, in terms of build and design, of the present line.
The more expensive models though will vary on two crucial departments. The replacements for the XS and XS Max will be equipped with a triple camera system on the rear and possibly will rock a larger battery. The latter scenario was suggested by Bloomberg's claim that handsets D43 and D44 "will be about half a millimeter thicker."
It's still unknown when exactly the 2019 iPhone release date is happening but typically Apple sets the grand intro in September and to be followed by the actual availability in November. This has been the pattern employed by the tech giant in recent years and there is no indication things will change this year.
