Apple’s new iPhone may be revealed next week, but will it be the iPhone 13?

[ad_1]

Rumors suggest that Apple’s new iPhone will be dubbed the iPhone 13, although it has been speculated that it could be called the iPhone 12S.

Andrew Hoyle / CNET

Is Apple Afraid of the Unfortunate Number 13? Despite the superstition, Apple is expected to call its next 2021 phone iPhone 13. It has been the subject of speculation that the tech giant could avoid the bad luck traditionally associated with the number and use the name iPhone 12S for its 2021 phone line. We won’t know for sure what the new smartphone will be called until Apple’s September 14 event, which will likely be when the next iPhones and Apple Watches are revealed.

An August report from 9to5Mac, which quotes Duan Rui on Twitter, appears to support the idea that Apple will proceed with a sequential naming convention. Rui tweeted an image, previously shared on the Chinese social media site Weibo, showing a possible Apple package with the name “iPhone 13”. In full, the packaging said “iPhone 13. Designed by Apple in California. Made in China”.

This mirrors a July report from Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News which says the tech giant will stick to tradition and use iPhone 13 as a moniker for its 2021 lineup. Apple will reportedly offer Mini, Pro and Pro Max versions of the ‘iPhone 13, similar to its iPhone 12 line. (Here’s how the noisy specs of the iPhone 13 compare to the iPhone 12.)

Patrick Holland / CNET

Previous rumors had suggested that iPhone 13 may not be Apple’s favorite moniker with the iPhone 12S expected to be the front-runner for this year’s series. A January Bloomberg article citing Apple engineers says that only minor updates are planned for the next lineup, which will likely be an “S” version of the iPhone 12. Frequent leaker Jon Prosser also pointed to an iPhone 12S. We’ve seen Apple use this naming scheme in the past with the 2015 iPhone 6S, which replaced the 2014 iPhone 6, and again with the 2018 iPhone XS, a follow-up to the 2017 iPhone X. However, another. report indicates that Apple switched to an iPhone 14 in 2022, completely excluding “iPhone 13” from its nomenclature.

Until Apple’s main event, however, there’s no telling for sure which name will be used, and the latest rumors don’t necessarily provide more clarity. Here are some of the reasons why it may not stick to traditional naming conventions.

Now Playing: Watch This: The 5 Most Exciting Voices About the iPhone 13

4:51

The name iPhone 13 can be harmful to the optics

It’s no secret that the number 13’s association with bad luck has answers in the real world. Just ask the real estate developers who omit the 13th floor from their skyscrapers, the throngs of couples who avoid getting married on the 13th, or the psychologists who treat patients for triskaidecaphobia, the fear of the number 13.

Apple knows this less-than-favorable perception could scare customers away from buying an iPhone 13. An online survey of 3,000 Apple users conducted by trade-in site SellCell in June found that nearly three-quarters of respondents would prefer the Apple name as next-gen iPhone anything but iPhone 13. iPhone 2021 was voted the most suitable name, obtaining 38% of the votes.

In the past, Apple hasn’t shy away from branding its products with the number 13, for example after releasing the A13 Bionic chipset and the iOS 13 software update. This is a higher branding exercise, however, as we’re talking about the iPhone, one of the most popular consumer products ever. A product that generates nearly 50% of Apple’s billions of dollars in revenue.

Read more: Apple’s iPhone 12 has led to more revenue and profits in its corporate history

The iPhone X (center), launched in 2017 alongside the iPhone 8 (left) and iPhone 8 Plus (right).

Sarah Tew / CNET iPhone 12S paves the way for a big update

By using the name iPhone 12S and skipping iPhone 13, Apple could also set the stage for a radical design overhaul when the iPhone 14 or 15 arrives, just like it did with the iPhone X. You may recall that Apple skipped the iPhone. 9 name in 2017, however, after the iPhone 7 of 2016 with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. And don’t forget that the iPhone X was the one that redefined design standards and paved the way for ‘Modern iPhone.

According to some, the iPhone 14 or 15 (or as Apple decides to call it) could be the company’s long-awaited entry into the world of foldable smartphones. To be clear, we can’t say for sure if a foldable iPhone will ever see the light of day, but hopefully it can happen as early as next year. A Bloomberg report, released in January, said Apple already has a working prototype of a foldable display for the iPhone, but hasn’t confirmed the launch. Other outlets, such as Taiwan’s Economic Daily, for example, have called 2022 the year when the foldable iPhone will come to fruition. Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated 2023.

Until Apple’s fall event, there are no guarantees as to which name will be slapped on this year’s iPhone. But if you’re interested in learning more about what we expect from the phone 13, or er, the iPhone 12S family, read our roundup of some of the coolest rumors about the iPhone.

Stay up to date on the latest news, reviews and tips on iPhone, iPad, Mac, services and software.

[ad_2]