Is This Our First Look at the iPhone 13?

Speculation about the iPhone 12 is running rampant with features, design, and even launch date predictions. Looking beyond the iPhone 12, Apple likely is already working on the iPhone 13 for release in 2021.

We’ve already heard a few rumors about the iPhone 13, but now we possibly may have our first look at next year’s iPhone model thanks to this leaked prototype mockup.

The prototype appeared on the Japanese website Macotakara and was reportedly obtained from sources inside Alibaba.

The 3D-printed mockup device sports a USB-C connector instead of a Lightning port. The presence of a charging port contradicts previous rumors from well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo’s sources claim Apple may ditch the idea of an external charging cable and may rely entirely on wireless charging. 

According to the leaked Macotakara mockup, the iPhone 13 also may have a notch-less design that allows the screen to extend completely from one edge of the phone to the other. If this rumor pans out, the iPhone 13 may have a skinny bezel lining its 5.5-inch display, giving it a completely different look from the rumored boxy iPhone 12. 

Speaking of displays, rumors hint that Apple may use Samsung’s under-display technology in its notch-less design. This technology allows the True Depth and FaceTime camera to work even if they are positioned under the display matrix. Macotakara also claims the iPhone 13 will include a “bottom-of-screen” camera, but this is a rumor we haven’t heard corroborated yet.

On the backside of the device, the mockup has five dots that suggest the iPhone 12 will ship with not two, not three, but four distinct camera modules. This corroborates a previous rumor hinting that Apple might be using a four-camera lens setup with the iPhone 13. The fifth module in this array would include a LiDAR scanner.

According to the source, this is only one prototype of many currently under development. As a result, it may not be the final design that Apple ends up using for the iPhone 13. Macotakara even admits that this is most likely not the final design for the iPhone 13. We probably will see many revisions between now and the fall of 2021.