Photos of alleged Apple iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max molds surface

Hopefully, you got over the disappointment of learning that the phone that was in Foxconn CEO Terry Gou's hand yesterday was not the Apple iPhone 11. But today is a brand new day with a brand new leak related to some of Apple's 2019 iPhone models. A Weibo member posted a pair of images today (via SlashLeaks) that allegedly show molds that will be used to make third-party cases for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max.

Based on leaked schematics, the molds show the square camera housing on the back of both models where three cameras will reside. There is speculation that the three snappers will include a 14MP primary camera, a 10MP camera with a telephoto lens, and a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor. A ToF sensor measures how long it takes for an infrared light to bounce off the subject and return to the phone. This data is used to provide accurate information regarding depth and could allow Apple to offer a rear-facing Face ID, and more Augmented Reality (AR) features.

Earlier this month, a report out of Japan indicated that the iPhone 11 Max and iPhone 11 would feature OLED panels of 6.5-inches and 6.1-inches, respectively. The sequel to the iPhone XR is expected to carry an LCD (Liquid Retina) display of an unknown size. However, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that we should see the 2019 iPhones carry the same size screens as the 2018 models; that would mean that he expects a 6.4-inch iPhone 11 Max, a 5.8-inch iPhone 11 and a 6.1-inch iPhone XR (2019).

What we can't see from the molds is whether Apple has decided to offer USB Type-C charging for the 2019 iPhones. Last month, Kuo said that Apple will stick with its proprietary Lightning port for at least one more year. What we could find on the new models instead of a new charging port is something called Underwater Mode. Apple has already patented this feature, which will allow a user to navigate the phone with his fingers and snap photos even when holding the device underwater. But the patent really covered something very important related to Underwater Mode; using an ambient lighting sensor to measure the amount of light underwater, and circuitry designed to measure the depth of the image sensor, an iPhone in Underwater Mode might be able to automatically adjust the color balance of pictures taken while the user and the phone are both submerged. Without this capability, pictures taken underwater could look murky and dark.

Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max should be rated IP68. That means that the pair are protected from dust and can be submerged to a depth of nearly 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. We're not sure if Apple plans on upgrading the water protection for the iPhone XR sequel. The current model is rated IP67, which means that it too is protected from dust, and can be submerged in water just over 3 feet for up to half an hour.

The three new iPhone models should continue to follow tradition and be unveiled this coming September. The recent settlement that Apple made with chip maker Qualcomm gives the company a multi-year supply of 5G modem chips, but it is too late for Apple to offer a 5G iPhone for this year. Next year, we could see a total redesign for Apple's smartphones. In addition to a new look, Apple is expected to release at least one 5G handset and possibly a foldable iPhone as well. A patent published earlier this year shows technology dreamed up by Apple to protect a foldable screen from getting cold and brittle. During the winter months, low temperatures could make a flexible screen more vulnerable to damage. Apple's solution is to heat up portions of the display to keep it pliable when it is cold outside. Apple could be the last of the major phone manufacturers to offer a foldable model.