iPhone 13 could miss this major camera upgrade

iPhone 13
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple's iPhone 13 might not be the major upgrade some are expecting when it arrives in 2021. A recent leak has hinted at a significant change to the phone's camera setup for next year, but now popular Apple tipsters have called that into question.

Jon Prosser has come out to claim that what we thought about the iPhone 13 isn't correct. His tweet is in response to a MacRumors story based on a tweet by leaker choco_bit, which claimed it had the designs for the phone's rear camera block. We already knew that reliable leaker OnLeaks had a dim view of this leak, but Prosser's statement continues to make it look less reliable.

The claims by choco_bit showed there would be five sensors on the back of the iPhone 13. The array would consist of upgraded versions of the main, ultrawide and telephoto cameras found on the iPhone 11 Pro, the LiDAR sensor found on the new iPad Pro, and an anamorphic camera for recording video at different aspect ratios.

Prosser himself has teased that he has information on the iPhone 13. This is why it's interesting that he's weighed in to make his own claim. He says the iPhone 13 will look like the iPhone 12, which has been widely rumored to use a similar square camera bump to the iPhone 11 series. So perhaps we won't see this fifth camera after all, or the numerous other upgrades to resolution and magnification described by the original choco_bit tweet.

It's also worth noting that Prosser calls the iPhone 13 the "12S" in his tweet. Apple has historically made major changes to its phones every two years, with the in-between years seeing an 'S' model launch with minor upgrades. While it looks like we're skipping the iPhone 11S this year due to the large number of changes that have been rumored, perhaps we're due to go back to Apple's slower-paced upgrade schedule in 2021.

So while it's still very uncertain what the iPhone 13 (or 12S) will be like, we've seen plenty of rumors and leaks for the iPhone 12. When the phone emerges in September, look out for four different models in three sizes, all of which will feature OLED displays, 5G connectivity and a new A14 chipset. 

On the iPhone 12 Pro, the rumors point to the addition of a LiDAR sensor along with the main/ultrawide/telephoto combination we saw on the iPhone 11 Pro, and potentially a 120Hz refresh rate for their displays.

Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

Latest in iPhones
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Apple iPhone 16 & 16 Plus hands-on.
Forget USB-C — a truly portless iPhone just got the all-clear from the EU
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
Latest in News
Severance season 2 finale
How to watch 'Severance' finale online – stream final episode of season 2 tonight
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 just tipped for three display upgrades — here's what we know
Samsung S95F OLED TV
Samsung is developing the successor to OLED TVs — but TCL might beat it to the punch
A still from "John Wick" spinoff "Ballerina" featuring Ana de Armas in a club
'John Wick' spinoff 'Ballerina' just got a new trailer — and I can't wait for it to hit theaters
Great Celebrity Bake Off 2025
How to watch ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off' 2025 online – episode 1 streaming now