The Elec: Pro variants next iPhones have camera hole instead of notch

Some of the iPhone models released in 2022 will reportedly not have a notch for the front camera. Instead, they get a punch-hole camera. The rumor ties in with previous coverage of the upcoming iPhones’ front-camera setup.

That reports the South Korean tech website The Elec based on its own sources. The Elec states that the 2022 Pro and Pro Max models will not get a notch, and the regular iPhone and Max variant will still get one. In addition, the Pro models would get an ltpo-oled screen, which allows a refresh rate of 120Hz. That distinction would be the same as with this year’s iPhones: the Pros offer 120Hz refresh, the non-Pros do not. The information from The Elec ties into renders Jon Prosser released in September and claims from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from March.

The Pro models would still get Face ID, but through a sensor that is behind the screen. A thicker housing is also expected, which will have the effect, among other things, that the camera island no longer protrudes. Kuo further stated in June that next year’s iPhones would also get Touch ID fingerprint scanners, with a sensor also located behind the screen.

Nikkei further wrote in November that next year’s new Apple smartphones will also have Apple’s own 5G modems. For this, the company works together with TSMC, which has been the only manufacturer of Apple socks for years. In particular, curbing modem power consumption would be a priority. Due to an ongoing agreement with Qualcomm, Apple will also continue to use modems from Qualcomm until at least June 2024, which means that not every model has a modem from the same maker. The iPhone 14 lineup is expected to launch in the second half of next year.