New camera module forces Apple to make a change to the new iPhones that everyone will notice

by Alan Friedman / Aug 31, 2019, 2:28 PM

New camera module forces Apple to make a change to the new iPhones that everyone will notice

On September 10th, Apple is expected to unveil its three new 2019 iPhone models. All three will carry the controversial square camera module on the upper left corner of their rear glass panels and the trio will be powered by the A13 Bionic chipset manufactured by TSMC using its 7nm process. Two of the models could be "Pro" versions and will sport an AMOLED display. These units are rumored to bring support for the Apple Pencil and will both feature a trio of cameras on the back (a Primary + Telephoto with 2x optical zoom + ultra-wide-angle). The "non-Pro" iPhone 11 will have an LCD screen (the Liquid Retina Display, Apple calls it) and only two cameras on the back (Primary + Telephoto). All three phones could offer reverse wireless charging and sport larger batteries.

Just the other day, concept device designer Benjamin Geskin tweeted photographs of cases (via Redmond Pie) for the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models already found racked-up in a store. The design of these cases included a square cutout to match the rear-mounted camera module. And it appears that the size of said camera module will force Apple to move the placement of its iconic Apple trademark down to the center of the rear panel this year. The result will be, for the very first time, a more balanced look for the back of the iPhone.

The 2019 iPhones might have a balanced Apple logo on the back, but don't expect it to light up

This isn't a big deal in the scheme of things, but for iPhone fans who have always wanted Apple to do something with its logo on the back of the handset, this is a huge design change. Not as useful though as the "logo as notification light" rumor that surfaced during the summer of 2014 before the unveiling of the iPhone 6. Back in those days, with word of a major redesign on the way, any pie-in-the-sky thought was seen as a possibility. Leaked photos allegedly showing the rear casing for the device revealed a new plastic Apple logo that was thin enough to allow light through. Different colors were supposed to light up the logo, each indicating a different type of notification. Needless to say, this never happened. However, back in 2011, we told you about a kit that sold for $43 which turned the Apple logo into a glowing light. Making this type of customization would have resulted in the voiding of the device's warranty.

Mockups of the 2019 Apple iPhone line with centered Apple logo on the back

While Apple was forced into moving the Apple logo this year because of its new space-eating camera module, sometimes a company will do something to satisfy the desires of its customers. Take Motorola. Because its circular "batwings" logo was placed on the rear of its phones like 2016's Moto Z Force, many consumers mentioned that it would make a better location for a fingerprint scanner than the ugly square "button" found on the front of the device. In fact, the Nexus 6 was originally going to have a rear fingerprint scanner integrated into the Motorola "batwings" logo, but it was removed at the last second. Some consumers liked the idea of the logo doubling as a rear fingerprint scanner and sure enough, last year's Moto E5 was released with such a feature.

Cases for the 2019 iPhone models

Don't kid yourself, the Apple logo is a big part of the iPhone mystique. And that is the case even if you're not an obsessive fanboy that worries about the placement of every component of an iPhone. Some might even tell you that the logo is the most distinctive part of the handset since it tells everyone that the device you have in your hands is indeed an iPhone.

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19 Comments

1. Vancetastic

Posts: 1754; Member since: May 17, 2017

The fact that this is even a story says a lot about our culture, and it's not exactly good.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 3:06 PM 28

8. lyndon420

Posts: 6878; Member since: Jul 11, 2012

The concept of the logo that lights up (possibly with different colors) for notifications etc....I really like that idea. I want that on my androids... ...I miss something as simple as a notification LED like my htc One X had...

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 5:22 PM 6

17. oldskool50 unregistered

So you always want to look at the back of your phone? There are plenty of apps that give visual notifications if your phone of choice doesn't have an LED for it.

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 9:53 AM 0

2. technut

Posts: 205; Member since: Aug 03, 2012

That hideous camera bump is by far the ugliest I've seen to date.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 3:13 PM 27

4. Silva5 unregistered

If this is actually what the new iPhones will look like, they deserve the “most hideous smartphone ever created” award.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 3:47 PM 17

5. BL4NKF4CE

Posts: 151; Member since: Aug 06, 2017

Sierra Wireless Voq Professional. THAT is the most hideous smartphone ever.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 3:54 PM 0

7. Saioofi

Posts: 347; Member since: May 23, 2014

That titles should go to the new pixel

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 5:05 PM 0

19. Fred3

Posts: 583; Member since: Jan 16, 2018

The new pixel looks better. No notch so it won't cut out videos and the back camera looks better. I rather see the all black square other than the color square with big eye holes

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 12:43 PM 0

10. Ashoaib

Posts: 3309; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

Because Apple lack innovation. Give the designing to any chinese company and they will come out with a remarkable design. Johy ives was run out of design ideas many years ago. That's why finally he left apple. May be next year we will see any change. Apple simply has copied square camera bump from huawei mate 20 and stick it on old iphone design. Which made iphone even look more uglier.

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 12:45 AM 6

18. CreeDiddy

Posts: 2275; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

What’s most important is photo and video quality. Like the notch the camera look will disappear and become an icon to distinguish IPhone users.

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 12:33 PM 0

20. Vancetastic

I sold my iphone X because of the stupid notch. Some icon...

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 8:05 PM 1

3. scarface21173

Posts: 702; Member since: Aug 17, 2014

Fugly as hell

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 3:19 PM 12

6. darkkjedii

Posts: 31598; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Just not a good look to me.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 4:45 PM 9

9. BrickWall

Posts: 7; Member since: Aug 29, 2019

Because that balanced logo position will offset the ugly camera island with an even more balanced camera positions, or not to mention the outdated ugly notch.

posted on Aug 31, 2019, 5:24 PM 6

13. scarface21173

Yeah front and back fugly, sales will fall again.

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 3:02 AM 1

11. Tizo101

Posts: 597; Member since: Jun 05, 2015

So now both back and front look ugly lol

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 1:10 AM 2

12. kanagadeepan

Posts: 1277; Member since: Jan 24, 2012

They should have at least brought the camera island to the center...

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 2:28 AM 1

14. technut

At least if it was centered it would serve a dual purpose as a kickstand!

posted on Sep 01, 2019, 3:45 AM 1

15. itz_charlie01

Posts: 8; Member since: Aug 15, 2017

Hideous, fugly they say but when it launches reviewers will be like this is the most interesting design ever created. Remember the iPhone 7 plus and how it introduced the dual camera bump every one was like it looked hideous, yet it sold like hotcakes.