If the iPhone 12 began to be drawn last year thanks to the first rumors, we are now in the middle of the initial stage of the leaks of Apple phones for 2021. The Cupertino company is already beginning to explore the market while developing its upcoming phones and thanks to a filtered survey of users we can already get an idea of what is going through the heads of the leaders. We analyze it in this article.
In 9to5Mac they have recently published a report in which they talk about a survey made of iPhone users by Apple. This is not new, since in the past we have seen how the company has carried out this type of study in order to see how some changes would affect them. Without going any further, this year he asked about power adapters and only a few months later we saw how the iPhone 12 eliminated this accessory and it was extended to the entire range of phones.
Touch ID, back with Face ID?
Among the questions asked to users, they have been asked about the only biometric sensor that Apple has incorporated into its iPhone since the ‘X’ model launched in 2017, except for the second generation iPhone SE. The question revolves around users not satisfied with Face ID and among the possible answers to choose is “I prefer Touch ID”. This is really striking at a time when facial unlocking is losing its effectiveness with the arrival of masks to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time it was said that Apple could launch an iPhone with a fingerprint sensor on the screen and over the years and the tremendous efficiency and security of Face ID has been discarded. However, this year, for the health reasons already mentioned, indications have been found in patents and reports that suggest a possible return of the fingerprint sensor coexisting with facial unlocking. The fact that the iPad Air 2020 has incorporated Touch ID into the unlock button has also opened up more speculation. There are those who even point to versions of the iPhone 13 with the fingerprint sensor in this location and for the ‘Pro’ with a refined sensor under the screen. Will the responses to this survey affect Apple’s plans?
If the iPhone 13 arrives without ports …
The iPhone 12 had not been presented and there was already talk that the 2021 model could eliminate the charging ports from its design or at least in the ‘Pro’ versions. It’s still too early to tell, but with chargers like the MagSafe the door opens for the company to say goodbye to any wired connection next year. That would have advantages in terms of resistance to water and dust, although obviously the company would have to offer a charging method with an accessory included.
We are already seeing now how in some countries such as Brazil or France the company has to offer by law a power adapter with the purchase of the iPhone, despite the fact that it is sold separately in other territories and in these it has to be offered in a different box. The regulations in other cases such as that of the European Union as a whole establish that brands must offer a charging method that can be validated with the simple inclusion of the cable, but if that element is already eliminated, Apple would find serious problems in the old continent.
Other elements to trial
In the iPhone box you can continue to find accessories such as the SIM card tray extractor or the already classic stickers of the company logo, which have gone from being two to being just one in new devices. The company run by Tim Cook also asks about these items in its user survey. While the stickers may be attractive, but totally expendable, the same is not the case with the removal tool. Removing the SIM card tray is really complicated and not even some needles and pins offer ease for it and considering that it is not an expensive accessory nor that it severely affects Apple’s logistics, it would be very strange if they ended up eliminating it.
We will have to continue waiting for new news about Apple’s plans. At the moment we are not certain about anything, although it is very likely that it will not take long to see the first renderings based on the designs that the company is handling. If all goes as expected, the phones could be ready for sale in September, as it appears that the delays due to COVID-19 are beginning to ease.