The iPhone 11 might not be Apple's next iPhone

Rather than releasing the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus as everyone was expecting, Apple went straight to the iPhone 8 branding. Minutes later, it also announced the iPhone X which was confusingly pronounced ‘ten’ in honor of the smartphone’s tenth anniversary. 

Last year, the Cupertino giant did very little to help the situation. Rather than selecting a different name, it stuck with the ‘X’ branding that few people pronounce correctly and subsequently released the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. But with the iPhone 11 now looming, it appears Apple could be preparing yet another marketing shakeup.

The iPhone Pro could be the name of the next iPhone 

According to tipster “CoinX” who revealed the iPhone XS/XR naming scheme last year and also confirmed the existence of a 10.5-inch iPad Air weeks before it was introduced, Apple’s next-gen iPhones will make use of the ‘Pro’ moniker. Specifics about what the company is planning weren’t divulged but it seems there are three possibilities.

Scenario 1: The models currently referred to as the iPhone 11 and 11 Max are branded as the iPhone Pro (5.8-inch) and iPhone Pro (6.5-inch). As for the iPhone XR’s replacement, Apple could launch it as the iPhone (2019). This is perhaps the most likely option as it coincides perfectly with the company’s iPad branding.

Scenario 2: The iPhone XS and XS Max successors are launched as the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max. The latter is a little clunky but certainly not impossible considering iPhone XS Max doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. In this particular case, the next-gen iPhone XR would still likely be branded as the iPhone (2019).

Scenario 3: The iPhone XS is replaced by the iPhone 11 and the iPhone XS Max is substituted by the iPhone 11 Pro. The 2019 iPhone XR model, on the other hand, would likely be called the iPhone 11R.

What differentiates the 2019 iPhone models from the XS/XR?

This year’s iPhones are set to be virtually identical to the 2018 models when it comes to the front panel’s design, but reports suggest Apple is planning a rather drastic change on the rear.

Much like Google’s Pixel 4, the 2019 iPhone series is expected to debut with a square-shaped camera module on the rear that positioned in the top-left corner. A main camera similar to the one found on current-gen iPhones is to be expected on all three models in addition to a telephoto alternative. But what will differentiate the Pro-branded models from the non-Pro device is the third camera.

According to multiple leaks, Apple is planning to include a 12-megapixel camera paired with an ultra-wide-angle lens. The setup will give next-gen iPhones the chance to better compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 or Huawei’s upcoming Mate 30 Pro, and it should also support an all-new feature called ‘Smart Frame.’ The exact details of this are yet to be confirmed but it reportedly captures extra information outside of a photo’s frame to allow cropping and other adjustments later on.

Moving away from the cameras, rumors suggest all 2019 iPhone models will include larger batteries and support for reverse wireless charging, the latter of which should mean AirPods and Apple Watch units can be charged wireless by placing them on the iPhone’s back. Completing the setup be Apple’s A13 Bionic and iOS 13.