The iPhone 11,
which was revealed earlier this month, bears more than a passing
resemblance to both the iPhone X and iPhone XS. That's a bit of a
bummer, since we'll have been stuck with roughly the same design for
three years (not to mention that the notch is still there). Apple
analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, however, says that the design will be replaced
with something closer to that of the iPhone 4 for the 2020 lineup of
phones.
While Apple typically uses the iPhone to introduce new design language, last year's iPad Pro may be taking the lead this time around. Kuo,
whose predictions are typically accurate to a degree, describes 2020's
reworked design as a segmented metal frame sandwiched between two layers
of glass or sapphire. That sounds pretty similar to current iPhones,
but given the angular look of the iPad Pro, it wouldn't be a stretch to
assume the metal frame will have flat edges reminiscent of the iPhone 4,
as opposed to the X's rounded frame.
Unifying the designs across iPhones and iPads seems like an obvious
step, but Apple usually doesn't change much for its "S" refreshes. The
new design may indicate that Apple will simply skip the iPhone 11S and
go straight for the iPhone 12 like it did when transitioning from the
iPhone 7 to the 8.
The new look will be a selling point for customers, but Kuo warns
that production prices will likely rise thanks to the reworked frame.
Apple has faced more backlash than usual for its high prices, but
seemingly has tried to curb complaints with the iPhone 11's $699 base
price. Raising prices again won't be well received, so hopefully Apple
absorbs most of those increased costs.
The iPhone X's silhouette
was stunning at the time, but after several years, every design gets
old. Whether the next iPhone borrows from the iPad Pro or goes in a
completely different direction, it will be sure to create buzz.
Hopefully Apple figures out how to get rid of that notch, though.
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