Here's what you can expect from this year's iPhones based on all the rumors we've heard so far.
WHEN WILL THE APPLE IPHONE 11 BE OUT?
If we had to take a guess, we'd say September. Why? Because Apple almost always launches its iPhones in September. That's why.
We haven't heard anything specific about its 2019 plans in this regard, and it's worth noting that the iPhone XR didn't ship until October. However, keep in mind that in 2017, the iPhone X released in November and Apple still followed it up with the iPhone XS (shown) the following September. That's the usual Apple window.
New iPhone 11 price
- iPhone 11 price likely to start around $999 (£999, AU$1,579)
- There could be a new price strategy
Even without knowing the official iPhone 11 price, we know it will cost a lot. After all, Apple priced the iPhone XS and iPhone X starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,579). We could see identical prices for the iPhone 11.
With news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it previously forecast, there's a chance the iPhone 11 will be priced more affordably - although we reckon a price freeze, rather than a reduction, is a more likely move by Apple.
It could mean good news for the successor to the well-received iPhone XR, with the main complaint about the first handset being it was still a little steep price-wise. If Apple can reduce the price on the iPhone 11R, it may help soften a lofty iPhone 11 price tag.
New iPhone 11 design
The main leaked iPhone 11 design doing the rounds shows a triple-lens camera in the left corner. That's in line with where Apple currently places the camera, but would make for a different shape and an extra lens.
These images also show a likely glass back and the same arrangement of buttons as the iPhone XS, and multiple leakers have claimed they're right.
The leaked case dummies that you can see above give a clear look at how the triple-lens rear camera might look. Respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has weighed in to say that one of these lenses might be almost invisible, adding at the same time that the selfie camera will get a boost from 7MP to 12MP.
One of the sources of the earlier images added that three new iPhone models are in the works – successors to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. It looks very much like we'll get three models again this year.
Don't expect 5G
While other smartphone makers are offering 5G phones this year, including Samsung, LG and OnePlus, it looks like Apple is sitting out the first wave.
A report in Bloomberg says that Apple likely won't deliver a 5G iPhone until 2020. (In fact, Apple could be rolling out as many as three 5G-capable iPhones in 2020, according to an analyst report from J.P. Morgan Chase.) This may not be a huge deal, as the major carriers will be rolling out their networks throughout 2019.
New iPhone 11 display
We've heard that the iPhone XI will have a 5.8-inch display, just like the iPhone XS, but with smaller bezels. The same source says to expect space grey, gold, silver and blue colors.
The size of the phone is a hotly contested one though – while some reports say it'll stay the same size, others suggested the main iPhone 11 will be a bit bigger, and there are too many contradicting voices so we can't say anything with any degree of certainty.
There's seemingly some confusion over the iPhone 11 Max screen as well, with one report claiming it'll have the same sized display as the iPhone XS Max (at 6.5 inches), while a separate claim reckons Apple will increase it to a sizable 6.7 inches.
One of the more recent leaks takes the form of CAD (computer-aided design) images of the three rumored phones, complete with screen sizes of apparently 5.8 inches for the iPhone 11, 6.5 for the iPhone 11 Max, and 6.1 for the iPhone 11R. Those sizes are our best guess for now, but still far from certain.
We've also heard that the iPhone 11R might have an LCD screen, while the other two are OLED.
New iPhone 11 release date
- iPhone 11 launch date: September 10, 2019
- iPhone 11 pre-order date: September 13, 2019
- iPhone 11 release date: September 20, 2019
The iPhone 11 launch date may be a little later than previous years, as Europe's biggest tech show, IFA 2019 in Berlin, is set to run from September 6-11 this year - which may see Apple defer its new iPhone launch to the following week
It's unlikely though, as the new iPhone launch has crossed over with the show a number of times (including 2014, 2015 and 2016), which means we're still most likely to see an announcement week commencing September 9.
Apple historically hasn't held its phone event on a Monday, with Tuesday or Wednesday the most commonly used days. With the Wednesday being September 11, a day of mourning in the US, Apple will most likely pick an iPhone 11 launch date of Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
Better battery life
We say this ever year, but the fact remains that iPhones still aren't the strongest performers when it comes to battery life.
The iPhone XS provided an improvement in battery over the iPhone X, but as we noted in our review, it's still "a long way from the best on the market."
It's time Apple really got to grips with battery life, giving the new iPhone 11 a power pack that will see it comfortably through one day and into the next without a panic about finding a charger overnight.
Battery technology isn't going to give us the multiple days of battery life we saw from feature phones back in the early 2000s, but an iPhone that could stretch to two days from a single charge would really get people talking.
eSIM only
The latest round of iPhones (the XS and co.) offer dual SIM capabilities, but they can only hold one physical SIM. That's because the other one is an eSIM, which is built into the handset and can be assigned to a network upon activation.
Having to slide a SIM card into a new phone feels rather old fashioned in 2019, so we'd like to see the physical card ditched in favor of a dual eSIM setup in the new iPhone 11.
We'd also want an easy to use setting that allows us to easily jump onto a network of our choosing at a tariff of our choice and, more importantly, be able to easily switch to a different network when our current deal expires.
Plus, it would also mean the removal of the SIM tray, allowing for a sleeker design and potentially freeing up some precious additional space inside the handset for new features (or more battery!).
This is only partly on Apple however, as carriers around the world would have to fully support eSIM technology and at the moment only a handful do so.
However, with the introduction of 5G in 2019 and the presence of eSIM already inside one generation of iPhone, this ask isn't totally out of the question.