iPhone 13 Release Date, Price, Design & Specs Rumours

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The iPhone 13 series is expected to arrive later this year, and if rumours are true then Apple fans have plenty to look forward to in the next generation of iOS smartphones.

We take a look at what you may see when the iPhone 13 arrives later in 2021.

WWDC 2021 – Apple’s annual developer conference – also kicked off with our first look at iOS 15; the software that the next iPhones will ship with. Read our full guide to everything you need to know about iOS 15 for more on the new software tricks the iPhone 13 will launch with.

When will the iPhone 13 be released?

Apple’s release cycle for the iPhone is predictable, albeit with the global pandemic disrupting things in 2020. Usually, the new models are announced at the beginning of September and then become available a week or so later. 

In the past few years though, there have been a few devices that have been announced in September but appeared slightly later, with the iPhone XR coming in October 2018, while the iPhone X arrived in November 2017.

Due to the problems caused by COVID-19, we also saw the iPhone 12 delayed until October, but if things return to some semblance of normality, then we would expect the traditional September release for the iPhone 13 in 2021.

That’s backed up by a prediction by the ever-accurate Ming-Chi Kuo, who told investors that Apple is due to revert to the traditional September launch with the iPhone 13 in 2021. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives agrees, going even further to suggest it’ll make an appearance on the third week of September 2021.

The Elec has added weight to that prediction, reporting in early June that production has already begun on the phones’ display panels by Samsung and LG. That’s a month ahead of the equivalent schedule last year, suggesting Apple is back on track for a September debut.

As reported by French iPhone fan site Consomac, previously unseen iPhone models have also passed through the EEC (the Eurasian Economic Commission, which covers Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia).

Seven models (A2628, A2630, A2634, A2635, A2640, A2643 and A2645), thought not to be discreet models but include different storage capacities of the same few variants, are listed; reinforcing the notion that this generation is on track for a September launch.

How much will the iPhone 13 cost?

Prices for the standard iPhone have been going up and down with recent releases, as you can see from this list;

  • iPhone X: £999/$999
  • iPhone XS: £999/$999
  • iPhone 11: £729/$699
  • iPhone 12: £799/$799

The arrival of the iPhone 11, with the sudden price drop, is more easily understood when you take into account that it coincided with the release of the iPhone Pro range. Why the iPhone 12 saw an increase by £70/$100 is less clear, but it does mean that the current Apple smartphone range now has a very regimented feel, with options at most price points. Here’s how the iPhone catalogue breaks down;

  • iPhone 12 Pro Max – £1,099/$1,099
  • iPhone 12 Pro – £999/$999
  • iPhone 12 – £799/$799
  • iPhone 12 Mini – £699/$699
  • iPhone 11 – £599/$599
  • iPhone XR – £499/$499
  • iPhone SE – £399/$399 

As you can see, the iPhone 12 sits just above the middle, £100/$100 more than the new iPhone 12 mini but £200/$200 less than the iPhone 12 Pro. The lower end of the list is made up of previous iPhones that have been kept around to offer buyers the chance to enter the world of iOS without spending around £700/$700.

With this model in place, we think there’s a good chance that Apple will replace devices like-for-like when it updates the line in 2021. So, the iPhone 13 is likely to cost £799/$799, with Mini and Pro varieties on either side.

That’s backed up by predictions from market research company TrendForce too, suggesting in a June 2021 report that “retail prices are expected to remain on par with last year’s release”. 


What new features will Apple bring to the iPhone 13?

  • Smaller Face ID notch
  • Improved cameras across the range
  • 120Hz refresh rate on Pro models
  • In-display Touch ID
  • Faster processor
  • Increased storage, up to 1TB

Obviously, with it still being many months until the iPhone 13 is unveiled, there isn’t much in the way of confirmed news about features or specs. That hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from going into overload though, with various leaks and prognostication about what Apple has in store. Here’s what’s been said so far. 

A thicker design

While it’s more than likely that the iPhone 13 range will look similar to that of the iPhone 12, rumours suggest it could be a little thicker this time around. Why? It could be partly down to the camera module – according to leaked documents shared by MacRumours.

According to schematics seen by MacRumours, the iPhone 13 Pro camera bump extends to 3.65mm, up by 1.7mm compared to the previous generation. It’s not exclusive to the Pro model either; the iPhone 13 camera bump allegedly protrudes by an extra 1.01mm, taking it to 2.51mm.

However, renders of what LeaksApplePro claims is the ‘finalised’ iPhone 13 Pro showcase a reduction in the overall camera bump, and the leaker is confident of its’ legitimacy.

That also seems to be the case with an image shared by leaker Sonny Dickson allegedly depicting dummy models of the entire iPhone 13 range, also confirming the rearranged camera module detailed below. 

Separately, Mac Otakara suggests that the overall thickness of the range will increase by around 0.26mm, and that the new models could be heavier than their predecessors due to larger batteries. 

A smaller Face ID notch

Since the launch of the iPhone X, the notch at the top of the screen that houses the Face ID cameras has been something of a Marmite issue. Some like it, others have just grown used to it, while a further group actively hate it.

Now, it does seem unlikely to disappear in the iPhone 13, but a rumour from Ice Universe suggests that the notch will be slimmed down so that it protrudes less into the display.   

That’s backed up by the ever-reliable MacOtakara, also reporting that the iPhone 13 will feature a smaller notch thanks to the shrinking of the TrueDepth camera system.

LeaksApplePro has shared renders of what’s claimed to be the ‘finalised’ iPhone 13 Pro, seemingly confirming the reduced notch.

However, a competing tweet from reliable tipster @MauriQHD suggests that an upcoming iPhone could ditch the notch altogether, albeit at a cost of slightly thicker bezels.

The tipster was upfront in stating that it’s unclear whether it’ll come to the iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, and given the sheer number of rumours detailing a smaller notch, it’s likely that this display change is still some time away.

Ming-Chi Kuo also believes that the notch will shrink on the iPhone 13, and even goes as far as to suggest Apple will move a holepunch-esque setup with certain iPhone 14 models expected in 2022. 

120Hz refresh rate

Regardless of the notch, the display itself is expected to see significant upgrades, with lots of expectation that the iPhone 13 will move up to a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate that would allow ProMotion scrolling and catch the Apple smartphones up with the majority of Android flagships.

There’s also the chance that the new model with benefit from switching to Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) panels, as found on the Apple Watch. These would bring increased energy efficiency over the current OLED panels, which in turn could add a chunk of time to battery life. 

That’s backed up by a report from The Elec, claiming that both the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max will sport 120Hz refresh rates, and even goes a step further, reiterating previous rumours that the two Pro models will use LTPO OLED display tech. A later report reiterates the claim, suggesting that the panels will be made exclusively by the Samsung Display division, while LG will provide simpler LTPS OLED panels for the 13 and 13 Mini.

Max Weinbach, via the EverythingApplePro YouTube channel, also claims that 120Hz LTPO displays are coming, but that’s not all – the leaker also suggests always-on display tech is on the way.

The feature, exclusive to the 120Hz LTPO display, is said to mimic your lock screen, with your clock and battery icon constantly visible, and notifications appearing temporarily on-screen. 

As well as generally being more battery efficient, the LTPO tech allows the display to automatically adjust the refresh rate without any additional hardware. As the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini are rumoured to use existing LTPS tech, they’ll likely be capped at 60Hz. 


Improved camera setup

When it comes to the camera setup, rumours suggest that small – but significant – changes are in store.

Mac Otakara suggests that the rear camera setup of the entire iPhone 13 range will be covered in sapphire glass, and that the iPhone 13 Pro will sport the same camera module as the 13 Pro Max, complete with sensor-shifted OIS. DigitTimes Asia claims that Apple has increased VCM orders far beyond what’s usually expected – a component that could be used in the sensor-shift OIS system – suggesting the feature could indeed be coming to more models of iPhone 13. 

That’s not the only change though; the EverythingApplePro report claims that the ultra-wide camera is due to get an upgrade across the entire iPhone 13 range, with improved low-light performance.

It’s also been predicted that every phone in the iPhone 13 will include LiDAR tech on the rear cameras. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives made the claim in an investors note seen by MacRumors, though it’s worth noting that Ming-Chi Kuo disagrees, asserting earlier this year that LiDAR would remain limited to the Pro models, and that was reiterated by a TrendForce report more recently in June 2021.

There’s also said to be the introduction of an automatic astrophotography mode, and a portrait video mode too.  

Indian tech blog MySmartPrice shared 3D renders of what it claims is the standard model of iPhone 13, detailing a familiar design with a notable change to the rear camera layout.

The render depicts a diagonally arranged rear-facing camera setup, and while it’s not clear why this is the case, it could be to facilitate the new sensor-shifted OIS detailed above – the size of the camera unit does seem to match up with that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, after all. 

Processor & storage

It’s a pretty safe call to say that the iPhone 13 will arrive with the latest version of Apple’s own A-series processors. Just as the iPhone 11 sported an A13 Bionic and the iPhone 12 arrived with the A14 Bionic, it’s a good bet that the iPhone 13 will come with a new A15 Bionic. How this will improve things is still to be determined, but expect performance boosts and better energy management with the updated silicon. 

One interesting tweet that appeared in October 2020 from tipster Jon Prosser is that the iPhone 13 will offer a 1TB storage tier. 

This would double the maximum currently available on the iPhone Pro lineup and quadruple that of the iPhone 12 standard model. 

More recent rumblings, this time from Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives, also claim that the next-gen iPhone will offer a 1TB storage option, lending more credibility to the rumour, although market research firm TrendForce disagrees, suggesting it’ll stick with its current storage options for another year.

The storage options for the iPhone have remained the same since the release of the iPhone XS back in 2018, and Samsung started offering a 1TB option back with the Galaxy S10, so it’d be a good time for Apple to refresh its offering to reflect the higher quality videos and larger apps we’ve got on our phones in 2021.  

The return of Touch ID

This one has been rumoured for quite some time, with some suggestion that it’d be a feature of the iPhone 12, but as we now know, that wasn’t the case. 

The current…

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