iPhone 13 leaks add up to a lot of meh — except for one upgrade

The iPhone 13 promises a wide range of improvements based on the many leaks thus far. But when yous start weaving all the rumors together you lot kickoff to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Don't get me incorrect. I'one thousand by and large interested in some of the things we've been hearing. And I personally love the idea of beingness able to experiment with astrophotography features (I've never been able to get a adept shot of the Moon with an iPhone).

iPhone xiii vs iPhone 12: Biggest changes to expect
The all-time iPhones right at present
Plus: Google Pixel half-dozen leak only revealed a huge redesign

But then I began analyzing the other "big" rumored upgrades for the iPhone 13 — and I sincerely hope that the leakers are missing some game-changing features. Because right now the iPhone thirteen sounds more like an iterative iPhone 12s. All the same, there'due south 1 feature that could become me to upgrade.

120Hz Display: Late to the political party, but all-time?

Rumor has is that Apple will include a 120Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Other Android phones fabricated this bound a while ago. In fact, Apple tree is said to exist using Samsung'due south ain LTPO applied science and displays.

Then how can Apple tree stand out here? For one, Apple is very good at ability management, and if the iPhone xiii Pro tin calibration from 120Hz all the mode down to 1Hz, I conceptualize that you won't meet much of a power penalty from having a faster screen refresh rate.

More of import, Apple needs to demonstrate a handful of killer apps that have full advantage of the iPhone 13 Pro's ProMotion display, including games and video streaming apps.

Cameras: No big zoom this year

iPhone 13 Pro Max dummy unit — (Image credit: Unbox Therapy/YouTube)

The iPhone 13 cameras are rumored to offer notable improvements, including sensor-shift stabilization across the unabridged lineup. Previously, this was limited to the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

In add-on, the iPhone 13 is tipped to become a better ultra-wide camera, with a jump to an f/1.eight, half dozen-element autofocus lens. That'southward certainly an upgrade over today'south f/ii.four, v-element fixed focus lens, and you should expect brighter and crisper images when shooting ultra-wide shots.

What'southward missing? A powerful zoom. Granted, the 100x Infinite Zoom on the Milky way S21 Ultra is overkill at the max level, but I've seen truly remarkable results from 20x out to 50x. And the iPhone thirteen Pro serial isn't expected to go a major zoom boost; a periscope lens isn't expected until the iPhone fourteen.

That means Apple will accept to wow with any software improvements and computational photography upgrades they make to its iPhone 13 cameras. For example, the rumored portrait mode for video sounds cool.

A smaller notch: Hurray?

iPhone 13 notch vs iPhone 12 — (Image credit: DuanRui)

It seems like every other week we're seeing leaks of a smaller iPhone xiii notch. And that's squeamish — I would like to see more of the screen when watching videos, playing games and only using apps. Just a slightly smaller notch doesn't really get me excited.

Meanwhile, Samsung is said to be readying its kickoff phone with an under-display camera, which could be the Samsung Milky way Z Fold three. The thought is that the photographic camera would appear when you need it and disappear when you don't.

Apple has unique challenges with the iPhone 13 considering its TrueDepth photographic camera has more components than the punch pigsty cameras found on Android phones. So it will likely exist at least another year before we see something similar from team Cupertino.

Faster 5G!

If your eyes accept already rolled to the dorsum of your head I tin can understand. The iPhone 13 is expected to characteristic Qualcomm's latest X65 modem, and that should result in faster speeds. That'southward because the modem is aggregate data from both mmWave and sub-6Hz signals simultaneously.

At the aforementioned fourth dimension, the carrier's 5G networks are improving all of the time, and so it'due south generally good news for shoppers who have non yet upgraded to a 5G iPhone. I just don't see this being a large driving force for upgrades.

Bear on ID: The i upgrade that could sway me

iPhone with Touch ID — (Prototype credit: Redmond Pie)

Nonetheless some other feature Apple could copy from Android phones is a fingerprint sensor built into the display for the iPhone 13. Even with more and more than people getting vaccinated, we will likely be required to wear masks in public for many months to come up, and Face ID just con't recognize you lot with a mask on.

Apple tree has come upwardly with a workaround in iOS xiv.5 that lets you quickly unlock your iPhone while wearing an Apple Scout. Only you shouldn't need to fork over at least $169 just then you don't have to type a passcode. The return of Impact ID in the display (or maybe the power button) would make our lives easier.

Lesser line

As a tech journalist, I'yard keenly interested in the iPhone thirteen and all the latest leaks. But equally a shopper I'm on the fence about upgrading at this stage.

My iPhone eleven Pro Max still offers nifty cameras, swift performance and long enough battery life. And Apple will truly have to wow me to fork over some other $1,000 or more for a new flagship. Here'southward hoping that in that location'south an exciting "ane more thing" we oasis't about yet.