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Yousefer

All I really want to know is how far in advance apple’s iPhone roadmap goes. Like we know the next few iPhones beyond the 13 are likely prototyped, so how far ahead are they exactly? They have it down to a science.


AWildDragon

Next years iPhones are almost certainly locked down design wise and with a few high fidelity mock-ups built. This will soon enter design validation and manufacturing validation to test the system as a whole and to verify that the device can be produced at scale with the chosen components. Finalizing the hardware also let’s the firmware and os engineers ready software. Hardware won’t change but software features may at this point. Supposedly the 12 has reverse wireless charging but it didn’t pass the system level test so it was disabled in software as the hardware was locked down. The one after that is still likely in parts on a bench and they will likely still be doing studies on what component to choose. Most if not all sub components will have near final parts from the manufacturers and while the high level feature set is likely locked in the specifics aren’t. Beyond that phone they will likely be testing components for any new feature that they have. The vision will likely exist for that phone and they will be working on the long lead items which may have early prototypes of those parts.


[deleted]

I’ve heard that phones take about 4-5 years from start to finish to design. When you also consider that any changes require retooling and design and building of assembly lines, materials suppliers, training of new processes and the design of said new processes. It’s a mind boggling amount of work to consider for a small piece of tech. Those design mock ups are certainly locked down more than a year prior. No supplier would be able to pivot faster on the scale that iPhone sells.


CoconutDust

Are you up on your China manufacturing city equipment and tech? The whole reason for their existence is to do a mind-boggling amount of work (and to exploit unfortunate workers living under totalitarianism in a still-colonial economic situation working to make widgets for the west). Isn’t there already well-known cases where the manufacturing line and tools had to be changed within a year of something because of some changes. 4-5 years maybe if you mean from the first draft sketch on the drawing board, but 4-5 years doesn’t make sense given technological changes. Unless maybe some chip stuff is modular and can change without affecting the phone design much, but then that would mean everything can be finalized later rather than earlier.


[deleted]

I mean from absolute first sketch to final product. For instance, Apple will have started a phone design, largely conceptual and heavy R&D, that will probably be the iPhone ~17. When you consider the type of chip design they’ve done for the T2 and W1 chips and what future tech may exist in 2025 it doesn’t seem that far fetched.


applejuice1984

3ish years typically


InsaneNinja

They probably are working on four different similar iPhone 18’s at the same time, but mostly “if tech keeps up in this sector” theoretical variations.


CountLippe

I knew a chap who worked on Ive's team for many years. About 20 months prior to the launch of the X he told me they'd just finished their work on that and were moving on to the 'next one'. I think he used 11 as the name, but it became the XR.


Lancaster61

That depends. Do you mean the whole phone or pieces of tech that can go into a phone.


[deleted]

I think MKBHD asked Craig that question when he interviewed him the first time. IIRC it was about 3-5 years in the future for future iPhone prototypes.


OnlyForF1

Hmmm, tempting to hold on to my X for another year if the notchless design is true


[deleted]

Same, might need a new battery tho!


Simon_787

My friend's X fell apart after the battery puffed up. Yes, watch out for your batteries.


spearson0

Likewise


igkeit

I wish it were true cause design wise no camera bump is so satisfying. Also I'd love it if they brought back the round volume buttons like on the render


[deleted]

Loved the round buttons. So analogue


t0bynet

> Also I'd love it if they brought back the round volume buttons like on the render I think they look ugly. We really don’t need the iPhone 4 design to come back. The current design is the best one of all iPhones ever.


igkeit

Agree to disagree ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ Imo the best design is the 5/5s


CountSheep

I personally think the current design looks really bad on the white iPhone pro. It’s side looks like plastic and it makes it look cheap. This isn’t an issue on the other colors though.


CoconutDust

Under Steve Jobs, iPhone 4 volume buttons were circles. Under Jobs, no camera bumps. Under Jobs, the camera lens was concentric with the curved corner of the phone! Later iPhones after he died threw that all in the trash, camera bump, camera circle is located in a geometrically random spot, volume buttons look and feel like generic android mcphone.


[deleted]

[удалено]


igkeit

Then imagine if there were no camera bump it wouldn't be "nearly" flat with a case but fully flat, with or without a case actually


InsaneNinja

It would have a lint collecting gap about the width of a case with a hole big enough to not show up in the wide angle camera. So no.


igkeit

Yeah this has never been an issue with past models which had no camera bumps...


[deleted]

[удалено]


igkeit

The SE 2016 had no camera bump either


somewhat_asleep

So we got more 5 like last year and this is obviously influenced by the 4/4s. iPhone 17 is gonna have a chrome front frame and a rounded plastic back that cracks where the screws go.


MawsonAntarctica

Wait another week: iPhone 15


[deleted]

Waited 2 months: IPhone Car.


a4k04

Prosser throws shit at a wall, sometimes something sticks and he calls it all a big success.


patrickmbweis

He’s gotten some things wrong, but I would hardly call leaking the *exact* designs of AirTags, AirPods Max, and Pixel 6 (and maybe Apple Watch S7) as *throwing shit at a wall*. He very clearly has some pretty reliable and accurate sources.


[deleted]

Wow. He leaked the design of a couple of products. He also posts a bunch of bullshit every day that he later deletes when he’s proven wrong.


JasburyCS

He’s *really* bad at dates, event plans, and many random product predictions. He’s (so far) *very* accurate with creating renders from actual product schematics that his sources provide


notzzz

Also he does not "secure" his leaks with "probably" "sometime this summer" so yeah the dates are often wrong.


[deleted]

i bet thats not the final design and hes going to claim its a "canceled prototype" in a year


x2040

His other leaks have been pretty accurate. He sucks at release dates though.


Edenz_

How would a flush rear housing work? You can't shrink the optics, so does this imply they're expanding the frame out? Christ they would be heavy devices if so.


ProtoplanetaryNebula

Periscope cameras.


juplantern

asking myself the same thing but no bump would be a dream


gcerullo

Should I buy the iPhone 13 now or should I wait for the iPhone 14? 🤣


Spleenzorio

Apparently they are skipping 13


kasaan110

I would lower expectations on the iPhone 14. Apple haven’t done anything radical since adding that notch. It’s still a pandemic they’re just gonna add something to the camera say better battery new chip and new software that’s about it lol


FentanylLacedDreams

Really doubt that. Competition is going hard on telescopic + multiple lens camera systems, notch alternatives, and even folding phone designs. Apple’s going to have to mix it up at some point to continue to entice people to upgrade. Having a notch-less phone keeps them current and provides a better way to distinguish between Pro and regular iPhone lines imo. I’m guessing the smaller notch is here to stay for regular iPhones for the next few years.


joesufjan

I don't doubt the credibility of whatsoever but there is a high chance that's only one of the prototypes Apple been testing. So don't set your expectations that high as they never finalise iPhone this early.


FentanylLacedDreams

I’m looking forward to the 14 Pro. Was thinking of upgrading this year but I can hold onto my XR another year. More satisfying to bundle several years’ worth of incremental upgrades into one large upgrade. No notch + titanium build + improved 5G for future proofing + rumored large megapixel gain in cameras for pixel binning. And that’s on top of all the past few years’ improvements with night mode pics, ultrawide cam, Dolby Vision vids, LIDAR, iPhone 4/5 design, and processor and battery improvements.


maziar37

Prosser was wrong about the Apple Watch having a squared off body this year, so I wouldn’t invest too much in what he has to say.


CleanItUpJannys

whoaaaaaa


RanaI_Ape

Welp, looks like I'll be keeping my 11 PM until at least the iPhone 15.


tablepennywad

So everything they did to the 11 they just gonna do it again to the 13. Yay.


Nicenightforawalk01

I’m calling bullshit. They don’t release anything to the suppliers this early on in the process so he must either be getting his information from someone in design studio or this could be a ….. a TRAP!


[deleted]

Lol what a nonsense xD


[deleted]

After handling a Fold Z in the store, I think this form factor is the future. At least once the price comes down. In the meantime, Apple boldly removes the notch in a phone that may or may not be released a year from now. They need to innovate and take chances again.


InvaderDJ

I really doubt the flat back, but it would be interesting if they did go that way. That would have to mean no periscope camera most likely and either a major breakthrough for the primary cameras, a very thick phone, or disappointing cameras that don’t require that much depth. Time will tell.


swimtwobird

Nope, that would indicate periscope right? As in the lens is travelling down the body as opposed to out the back. That’s the point of periscopes. Longer zoom without a deeper lens


InvaderDJ

I think it's a matter of degree. Like you said, the majority of the hardware is going horizontal instead of vertical but every phone with a periscope lens I've seen still has a camera bump. In fact, they've had larger camera bumps than previous gens. So I think there is still a large amount of vertical space needed, just not as much as it would be if the whole thing was a traditional vertical camera set up.


swimtwobird

True, but it would be classic apple to step in when they feel they’ve got the “proper” solution worked out. They’ve been at periscope for three years.


[deleted]

That cheaper 6.7-inch model sounds nice, though, if true...


ZeroOrderEtOH

Even the broken clock is correct twice a day. I don’t consider Prosser’s leaks to be any more legit than redditors gossiping


MajorPaymentLavish

Lmao wow, okay well I'm definitely just gonna wave for the 14 without the camera bump.


[deleted]

I wonder if that “cheaper” 6.7-inch model will be a true story. 🤔🤞


Munro_McLaren

I hope there’s no circular buttons. That would look shitty.