Leaked iPhone 11 Features: Are They Worth the Hype?

INQUIRER.NET U.S. Bureau / 12:31 AM February 28, 2019

The unveiling of the first iPhone made a lot of headlines, and almost 12 years later, it continues to dominate the smartphone arena worldwide. In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced this iconic device, and it’s safe to say that our lives were never the same again. But even Apple, the multinational technology company that is expected to launch the iPhone 11, has its fair share of controversies.

Last year, Apple revealed its latest additions to its iconic iPhone brand: iPhone X, XS, X Max, and XR. These premium phones were designed to “outperform” Huawei’s flagship phones and bring back Apple’s former glory as the second-largest phone maker in the world, the first being Samsung. However, The iPhone X family fell short, and it failed to dominate the sales charts like previous models.

Nonetheless, Apple strives to regain the coveted top spot as the leader in mobile technology. Based on the previous release dates, you may expect to see newer iPhone models around September of this year. Here’s a sneak peek of the newest features offered on the iPhone 11:

Rumors About iPhone 11

For loyal iPhone users, the release of the iPhone 11 is something to look forward to this year. As most of us know, Apple is keen on keeping the new features a secret until the release date. However, in 2019 rumors are already spreading about the new iPhone. The question is, are these new additions and specifications worth the Apple hype?

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iPhone 2019 Rumor #1: Release Date

Unlike other smartphone brands, Apple abides by tradition when it comes to their release dates. Its most recent flagship iPhone models were all revealed in the same month (September). It makes perfect sense then that the iPhone 11 will follow the same announcement and release schedule. If so, you’ll be able to purchase your new iPhone in October, just in time for the holiday season.

iPhone 2019 Rumor #2: Rear Camera

Previously, Apple released the iPhone X family, which included the iPhone X, XS, X Max, and XR, all equipped with rear dual cameras. This upgrade allows these iPhone models to perform better in a low-light environment. The company also rebuilt the sensor, making it larger and faster than its predecessor. An image signal processor was also added for better colors and textures.

For the iPhone 11, CompareRaja, an Indian technology website, claims that Apple’s new flagship smartphone will have a “cyclops” rear camera. In other words, the camera will sit in the central position rather than in the top corner as the iPhone X camera does. Here’s what the iPhone 11 may look like:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvXiXzAPyi/

Additionally, iPhone 11 may have a triple-array rear-camera setup, similar to the Huawei P20 Pro. This camera layout will result in enhanced 3D sensors that use stereoscopic vision for augmented-reality purposes.

iPhone 2019 Rumor #3: Stylus

Apple’s late founder, Steve Jobs, rejected the idea of using a stylus on the previous iPhone models, but this might just be the next upgrade that iPhone 11 receives. Incorporating a stylus, however, isn’t new to this tech company. It has launched two iterations of the Apple Pencil, which came with the iPad Pro in 2015 and 2018.

iPhone 2019 Rumor #4: Processor

With the latest batch of iPhones, Apple utilized the A12 Bionic, the industry’s first ever seven-nanometer chip. This is considered one of the smartest, fastest chips in the smartphone industry. This chip contains a six-core CPU, a four-core GPU, and an updated Neural Engine for AI tasks. This smartphone chip remains so unbeatable that even Qualcomm’s new 7nm Snapdragon 855 and Samsung’s 8nm Exynos chip can’t compete.

For the iPhone 11, many people expect a more efficient and faster chip that can outshine the A12 Bionic. The A13 (the predicted name for the next Apple-nanometer chip) may be able to cram even more transistors into less space.

iPhone 2019 Rumor #5: Dimension

For the past few years, Apple’s latest phones almost always debut alongside a beefed-up sibling, such as the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone 8 Plus. If the iPhone 11 follows the same routine, there will be two handsets that will look almost identical from the components but will be distinguished only by the displays, batteries, and price tags.

iPhone 11 2019: Will It Help Bring Apple Back to the Top?

After Huawei took the spot for the world’s second-largest smartphone brand, Apple seems to be struggling to keep their sales up. Earlier this year, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, warned investors that there will be a weaker than expected first-quarter earnings due to fewer iPhone upgrades. Cook explained that the lower earnings guidance is due to the earlier launch time of the iPhone XS and XS Max, compared to the iPhone X, and other supply constraints.

The harsh truth, however, is that people aren’t buying as many new iPhones as Apple had expected. But why is this the case?

Many companies are launching much cheaper Android phones compared to the iPhone. People are also starting to question whether Apple is setting a reasonable price tag for their products and brand. The competition is also becoming fiercer as many budding tech companies are creating fast and reliable Android phones at an affordable cost.

The only way Apple can turn around the momentum is if the iPhone 11 surpasses its competitors. This new iPhone model should have unique features that will set it apart from the competitors. Of course, it should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing since Samsung and Huawei are constantly modifying and upgrading their devices.

What People Would Like to See in the New iPhone 11

The development of 5G support is a hot topic that even loyal iPhone users can’t wait to see. It’s said that 5G support can offer download speeds of up to 20Gbit/second, which is enough to download a one-hour television show in less than six seconds. Intel, however, will release the XMM 8160 chip, which provides 5G support, in the latter part of the year. This could mean that any iPhone equivalent is unlikely to surface before that time. However, this is all just mere speculation. Maybe Apple is cooking up something that will turn the entire industry upside down.

With the recent decline in sales, Apple has to step up its game in order to rise back to its former dominance. People are expecting more from this tech giant on the iPhone 11, especially since Samsung, Huawei, and other smartphone brands are continuing to raise the bar for mobile device standards.