Will Apple Change the Rear Camera Arrangement Diagonally on the iPhone 13?

Rear Camera Array Changed to Diagonal Arrangement
Reduced Left and Right Length of Front Top 'Notch'

The rear camera lens arrangement of the diagonally changed 'iPhone 13' (tentative name) (Photo by Ninetech Eleven)

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Rendered blueprints of Apple's 'iPhone 13 Pro' (tentative name), expected to be released in the second half of this year, have been leaked. The arrangement inside the rear camera module has notably changed to a diagonal layout.

On the 15th (local time), IT specialized media PhoneArena revealed CAD (Computer Aided Design) images created in collaboration between concept designer 9TechEleven and Ian Zelbo.

According to the released images, the rear camera arrangement stands out the most. In this model, the cameras are arranged diagonally, differentiating from the usual horizontal or vertical alignment. The position of the ultra-wide camera has changed, and the LED flash and microphone are located at the top right and bottom left corners, respectively.

Regarding the camera arrangement change, PhoneArena evaluated it as a change intended to help the public easily identify the latest iPhone. PhoneArena explained, "It is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate smartphones every year," and added, "Apple's diagonal arrangement of the rear cameras is interpreted as a strategy to make it easy to distinguish who is holding the latest iPhone."

They also added that there are technical reasons. The diagonal arrangement may have been adopted to create more space for the camera sensors. PhoneArena explained, "The diagonal layout could be a way to increase the size of the rear camera module without enlarging it and to ensure compatibility with cases for the iPhone 12."

Additionally, the rendering images revealed that the camera bump still includes the LED flash and LiDAR (a device that emits lasers to measure surrounding terrain and objects) sensor, just like the previous model.

The notch at the top front is also expected to be smaller than the previous model. Contrary to earlier expectations that the notch's vertical height would decrease, the released images show that the width has been reduced. It appears that the top earpiece, previously located in the middle of the notch, has been moved to the edge to reduce the notch size.

Meanwhile, according to previously leaked information, the iPhone 13 Pro model will feature the same 15.5 cm (6.1-inch) display as its predecessor. It is also known to adopt a larger capacity battery, making it slightly thicker than the iPhone 12 Pro. In addition, it is expected to be released in September equipped with ▲120Hz refresh rate display ▲A14 Bionic chip ▲3585mAh battery, among other features.