After a series of leaks about 5G, battery power, and pricing, Apple patents reveal a couple of radical iPhone features. It appears that the Cupertino tech giant is planning to conceal the sensors and cameras of the iPhone under the screen, aside from the design that shows displays are going to fill the front of the flagship smartphone. And, it seems that the beneficiary of this radical features is the upcoming 2020 iPhone series.
The details of the new 2020 iPhone's design are courtesy of LetsGoDigital. The images revealed over a series of design patents seem to confirm that Apple is working on several features of its upcoming iPhone series. "Apple Inc. has applied for three notable design patents in Japan, showing an iPhone without a notch. The documentation was published by the JPO (Japan Patent Office) on December 23, 2019, and includes four images per patent (1, 2, 3)... for a new smartphone design without a notch and Face ID. Instead, the new iPhone incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor and an under-screen camera."
It is important to note that the 2020 iPhone series is almost bezel-free and nearly lacks the traditional notch. The almost bezel-free design aligns with earlier leaks, which includes the 3D model of the iPhone 12 Pro shared by Japanese tipster Macotakara. The leaked render reveals Apple dropped the rounded corners of the current generation iPhone series and introduced once again the square design that we saw on iPhone 8.
The near removal of the notch on the 2020 iPhones, while may appear like a part of the design, has some implications, according to Forbes. The patent description has no sign of any pop-up camera that we usually see in Chinese smartphones. This could mean that the Face ID technology, as well as the forward-facing cameras, are either tightly squeezed under the upper bezel or under the screen itself, adds the report.
Considering that the speaker cutout is visible, the possible assumption is that the critical technology is underneath the screen. Several Android smartphones have under-screen fingerprint readers. Oppo and Xiaomi released smartphones with under-screen cameras this year.
So, it is no longer a surprise if Apple will release its 2020 iPhones with the same radical feature. Based on earlier reports, the Cupertino company might reveal its 2020 iPhones or iPhone 12 in September. While these patents reveal interesting features, it is worth mentioning that this is not a guarantee that we will actually see these features in the 2020 iPhones.
Apple, like all other tech giants, has a habit of filing patents, which most of them do not end up in production.
