Apple's iPhone XI just leaked months before its announcement

The iPhone XI could look just like the iPhone XS & iPhone X

Commencing with the new details (or should I say old?), these renders showcase a front panel design that is extremely familiar. Once again, it looks as though the next-gen iPhone will make use of a large OLED display that features uniform bezels and a notch above.

Over the past few months, a multitude of rumors and reports have suggested that Apple’s next flagships would introduce a slightly smaller notch. In fact, one of the company’s alleged prototype designs featured a noticeably smaller alternative. But the design Apple has seemingly chosen means the Cupertino giant will reuse virtually the same front panel design for the third year in a row. 

From the look of things, Apple is holding on to its trademark notch until a truly all-screen design is possible. As things stand, the silhouette of an iPhone is more or less unmistakable and Apple probably wants to keep things this way. After all, adopting a smaller notch or display hole could risk confusion with rival Android smartphones which probably isn't beneficial for the company's strategy, even if it does result in a slightly dated look.

Regarding a possible timeline for Apple's notch removal, the in-display technology required will be ready at the very earliest towards the end of next year. This means that, if Apple feels confident enough, its first 5G iPhones could also be the first to remove the notch. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see the removal delayed until 2021 when the technology has matured further.

There's no hiding the rear cameras

Following in the footsteps of January’s iPhone XI design leak, the smartphone envisioned today sports a very odd-looking square-shaped camera module in the top-left corner which is home to three separate sensors.

As seen on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the left column of sensors on the iPhone XI is expected to include the primary camera and the telephoto alternative. Both of these are expected to maintain the same 12-megapixel resolutions. Also, no major improvements to the iPhone’s zoom capabilities are expected at the moment.

The right side of sensors, on the other hand, is where things get a little more interesting. Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S10, LG V40 ThinQ, and Huawei P30 Pro, Apple’s iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max are set to include super-wide-angle cameras that boast 12-megapixel resolutions. 

In order to keep things looking a little sleek – it’s pretty difficult with such a large camera module – Apple is apparently covering the third camera with a special black coating that conceals the actual lens slightly and helps it blend in with the surrounding glass. Elsewhere on the right column of sensors is a quad-LED flash above and a microphone below.

While on the topic of cameras, it’s worth pointing out that all 2019 iPhones are reportedly ditching the existing 7-megapixel selfie camera in favor of a more advanced 12-megapixel sensor that’ll also take advantage of the special black coating.

The Lightning port returns... again

Aside from these physical details, today’s iPhone XI renders also point towards the presence of a Lightning connector on the flagship rather than a USB-C port. The latter had been rumored a few months back and was reportedly in testing, but from the look of things, Apple will be skipping the port once again.

On one final note, it’s worth pointing that the iPhone XI’s mute button could see a slight change. The renders released today show a circular piece that slides vertically down the side of the frame, rather than the horizontal switch seen today.