Apple iPhone 13 Release Date

Despite the recent release of the iPhone 12, Apple is now believed to be preparing to introduce the iPhone 13. According to trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we could be seeing the next flagship smartphone sooner than expected. Kuo is predicting that we will see Apple hold its usual September Keynote event, after being skipping its tradition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also expected that the event will unveil four versions of the new phone iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Mini, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. If Apple follows its previous pattern of releasing a new phone about a week and a half after an unveil, the iPhone 13 could release around the third week of September.

In the investor note obtained by 9to5Mac, Kuo writes that all 2021 iPhone models will include a Lightning connector, ruling out the possibility of USB-C or a port-less design completely, at least in 2021. Kuo specifically writes that the iPhone 13 will be available in “four models and the same screen sizes.” This is the strongest evidence yet that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini design will stick around for another year.

The analyst also corroborates that the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max display will use more power-efficient LTPO technology and add 120Hz support, similar to the ProMotion display on the iPad Pro. The iPhone 13 will also include a “reduced notch area” as one of the “main hardware specification changes.”

The camera will feature serval changes with the iPhone 13 lineup. Kuo writes that the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will feature an upgraded ultra-wide camera, going from 5P (f/2.4) and fixed focus (FF) to 6P (f/1.8) and autofocus (AF).

What about Touch ID? Kuo says that he’s not quite sure about this just yet, but it doesn’t sound like it’s happening:

    The market expects the iPhone to abandon Lightning in favor of USB-C and equip the power button with the Touch ID sensor, but our latest survey indicates that there is no visibility on the current schedule for the iPhone to adopt these two new specifications.

    We believe that the iPhone will significantly improve the user experience if it adopts the power button with the Touch ID sensor. However, currently, there is no visibility on the timing of adopting this new specification.

Other tidbits on the iPhone 13:

    iPhone 13 will include a larger battery capacity compared to iPhone 12, making the devices heavier.
    Internally, Apple is adopting new space-saving designs such as integrating the SIM card slot with the mainboard, reducing the front optical modules’ thickness, and more.
    LiDAR still only available on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
    Qualcomm’s 5G modem upgraded to the 5nm X60M (vs the iPhone 12’s X55M made by 7nm).

Apex Legends is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 9th

Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch very soon. Today, EA announced that the portable version of its sci-fi battle royale will debut on Nintendo’s tablet on March 9th. Chad Grenier, Apex’s game director, says the new version will include “cross-platform play, our latest seasonal content, and full feature parity with the other versions of the game.” Apex Legends originally launched in early 2019, and a Switch version was announced last June.

 

It’s developed by Respawn, the studio behind games like Titanfall and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The Switch version launches not long after the game’s eighth season, which launches today. To make up for the difference, EA says that “since we’re launching a few weeks after the start of season eight, Switch players will be granted 30 free levels for their season eight battle pass. For the first two weeks after launch, playing on Switch will also earn you double XP.” Nintendo’s device is steadily becoming a great portable option for some of the biggest free-to-play multiplayer games around, with Apex joining titles like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Spellbreak.