Apple's iPhone 11: The Top 11 Rumors

The company’s event Tuesday is expected to feature the unveiling of three new iPhone models, although a 5G iPhone is not likely to appear.

Apple has a major challenge ahead with its expected launch of new iPhones this month.

While the company is faced with the need to revive sagging iPhone sales, the truly blockbuster update—the addition of 5G capabilities—won't likely be coming to the iPhone until 2020.

[Related: Apple CEO Tim Cook Says iPhone Prices Aren't Too High]

How does Apple try to prompt upgrades even with many users looking to wait for 5G? We’ll find out Tuesday: Rumors suggest that plenty of enhancements are coming to the new slate of iPhones, which are expected to be unveiled Sept. 10.

What follows is our roundup of the top rumors for Apple's new iPhones.

Lineup

A number of reports suggest Apple will again debut three new iPhone models for 2019, following the same framework as last year's lineup.

That means you can expect to see two new OLED iPhone models—with display sizes of 6.5 inches and 5.8 inches—along with a 6.1-inch LCD iPhone model.

Naming

Apple may change up the iPhone naming scheme again, as well. Reports, including one from typically reliable Bloomberg, indicate that some of the new iPhones will feature "Pro" branding (following on the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro naming conventions).

Potential names being floated for the new devices include the iPhone 11 Pro (the 5.8-inch successor to the iPhone XS); the iPhone 11 Pro Max or iPhone 11 Max (successor to the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max); and the iPhone 11R (as the follow-up to the sole LCD model in last year's lineup, the 6.1-inch iPhone XR).

Rear Camera (Pro Models)

While the overall sizes of the new iPhones may not be changing for 2019, there are still expected to be some very noticeable changes to the outside of the devices—at least for the "Pro" models. Bloomberg reports that the iPhone Pro models will be moving to a three-camera system on the rear. The design has been described as a "camera square."

Alleged next iPhone case moldings show what we discussed in our story last week in terms of new cameras. 3 on the high end, 2 on the new XR. Plus all models apparently getting a square, at least based on this one mold floating around. https://t.co/BhAFTZZL6u pic.twitter.com/QlNJTsApzX

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 13, 2019

The third camera that's being added will serve as an ultra-wide-angle sensor, for capturing large scenes (perhaps akin to the ultra-wide camera in the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10). The camera will take three images at once and deploy AI technologies to "automatically correct" the combined photo, such as in cases where a person wasn't captured in the frame, Bloomberg said.

Rear Camera (R Model)

A camera expansion is rumored to be coming to the iPhone 11R model. Whereas the iPhone XR has just a single rear camera, the 11R is reportedly going to receive a second camera on the rear, which will be used for optical zoom.

Like on the iPhone 11 Pro models, rumors suggest that the 11R will also have a camera square design for the rear cameras.

Front Camera

Potentially, we will also see the launch of slow-motion selfie video-taking with the iPhone 11 models. The front-facing camera on the new models may be enabled with slow-motion video recording at 120 frames per second, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

Face ID

Apple is still working to perfect its current method for biometric log-in, Face ID facial recognition. Bloomberg, however, reports that the company will make some major strides with the new generation of iPhones. Face ID will now include a multi-angle sensor, the outlet reported in order to capture a "wider field of view so that users can unlock the handsets more easily—even when the devices are flat on a table."

Phone As Wireless Charger

Apple may be looking to be a fast follower when it comes to enabling its new iPhones to serve as wireless charging pads. The feature—which lets a smartphone power up other wirelessly chargeable devices by placing them on the back of the phone—has appeared in smartphones this year such as Samsung's Galaxy S10 and Note 10.

Rumors suggest wireless power-sharing will now be included as a feature in the new iPhones, with potential uses such as charging up the latest version of AirPods.

Durability

For the inevitable iPhone accident, Apple is rumored to be planning an upgrade around both water and shatter resistance. Water resistance will be "dramatically enhanced" for the forthcoming iPhone models—with the devices capable of withstanding submersion for "far longer" than the current rating of 30 minutes—while new shatter-resistance technology will also provide greater drop protection, according to Bloomberg.

New Colors

The purported iPhone 11R model will follow in the footsteps of the XR by offering an array of color options—reportedly including at least one new color, a green (potentially dark green) color. Rumors have suggested the possibility of a purple color for the phone, as well.

Meanwhile, rumors suggest that certain colors of the new iPhones may ditch the glossy finish on the back for a matte finish.

Other Updates

Additional iPhone updates are expected to include the ever-significant, but rarely surprising, upgrade to the processor. Reports suggest a speedier new processor, the A13, is coming to the iPhone 11 models. The chip may include a new co-processor component to handle "math-heavy tasks," Bloomberg reported.

Another update could include a new version of the mute switch on the iPhone. That's notable because the mute switch has "remained essentially the same since the first model," The Verge says. Rumors suggest the new mute switch may now move up and down, rather than sideways.

What Won't Be Coming

It should also be mentioned which rumored iPhone updates are not likely to arrive with the iPhone 11 models, and thus be saved for 2020 or beyond. Those include 5G capabilities—a near-certainty for the 2020 iPhone, particularly following Apple resuming its relationship with modem maker Qualcomm.

Other updates we probably won't see until 2020 or later include an in-display fingerprint reader (which would mark the return of fingerprint reading to the iPhone); a foldable iPhone; and swapping in a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port.