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Until Apple’s landmark event in the fall, the guessing game about the name of the next iPhone family will continue. At CNET, we have referred to the next generation iPhone family as the iPhone 13 for the sake of continuity, but a recent wave of reports suggests that we can Never get an iPhone 13.
Among the possible names, it is rumored that the iPhone 12S will be the favorite for this year’s series. A January Bloomberg article quoting Apple engineers says that only minor updates are planned for the next line, which is likely to be an “S” version of the iPhone 12. Jon Prosser also pointed to an iPhone 12S. We’ve seen Apple use this naming scheme in the past with the iPhone 6S 2015, which replaced the iPhone 6 2014, and again with the iPhone XS 2018, a continuation of the iPhone X 2017.
But if other reports are accurate, there won’t be an iPhone 13 hitting the shelves next year. or: Apple is expected to jump to iPhone 14 in 2022, excluding iPhone 13 from its nomenclature. Here’s why.
Patrick Holland / CNET
The name iPhone 13 may be bad for optics
It is no secret that the association of the number 13 with bad luck has consequences in the real world. Just ask property developers to omit the 13th floor of their skyscrapers, the crowds of couples who avoid getting married on the 13th, or the psychologists who treat patients with triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13.
Apple knows that this less than favorable perception can scare customers into buying an iPhone 13, if it has ever launched one. In the past, Apple has not shied away from marking its products with the number 13, having launched the A13 Bionic chipset and iOS 13 software update, for example. This is a higher risk brand exercise, however, since we are talking about a consumer product, rather than a component or software. In addition, the iPhone is not only Apple’s most famous product, responsible for generating almost 50% of Apple’s billions of dollars in revenue. It is also one of the most popular consumer products of all time.
Read More: Apple’s iPhone 12 generated the highest revenue and profit in the company’s history
The iPhone X (center), launched in 2017 along with the iPhone 8 (left) and iPhone 8 Plus (right).
Sarah Tew / CNET
The iPhone 12S paves the way for a major update
By choosing the iPhone 12S and skipping the iPhone 13, Apple may also be setting the stage for an overhaul of the design when the iPhone 14 or 15 arrives, just like with the iPhone X. You should remember that Apple skipped the name of the iPhone 9 in 2017, instead of following the iPhone 7 of 2016 with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. And don’t forget that iPhone X was the one who redefined design standards and paved the way for the modern iPhone.
According to some reports, the iPhone 14 or 15 (or as Apple decides to call it) is considered the company’s long-awaited entry into the world of foldable smartphones. To be clear, we cannot say with certainty whether the Foldable iPhone you will never see the light of day, but we hope that it will happen next year. A report by Bloomberg, published in January, said that Apple already has a working prototype of a foldable iPhone screen, but has not confirmed the launch. Other vehicles, such as Taiwan’s Economic Daily, for example, considered 2022 the year when the foldable iPhone will become a reality. The famous Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, pointed to 2023.
Until Apple’s fall event, there are no guarantees about which label will be placed on this year’s iPhone. But if you are interested in knowing more about what we expect from Phone 13, or ahem, iPhone 12S family, read our summary of some of the most interesting rumors.