Latest iPhone 11 rumors point to new Taptic Engine, A13 chip, new front camera and no USB-C

Although some of the more interesting scuttlebutt surrounding future iPhones is focused on the 2020 model, well over a year away, 9to5Mac has scored some firmer details about the iPhone 11 launching this fall. Despite some suggestions to the contrary, the iPhone 11 will retain its Lightning port and won’t yet switch to USB-C like the new iPad Pros. However, it will lose the once vaunted 3D Touch but will pick up decent upgrades elsewhere.

To help offset the loss of 3D Touch, which has been largely unused by most iPhone owners, Apple is said to be introducing a brand new Taptic Engine. However, it is not yet clear how the new haptic feedback system will work, but is hoped that it will smooth over the loss of force touching the screen for power users. iOS 13 includes a new long longer press, similar to Android’s software-based 3D Touch equivalent, that should retain much (but not all) of the functionality 3D Touch brought with it.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 11 will feature Apple’s latest A13 chip known internally by the codename Cebu (model T8030). With the A12 and A12X already threatening the performance of most PC laptops, expect the A13 to be a performance monster keeping Apple at least 12 months ahead of the competition. The new third rear camera will offer wide-angle imagery for the first time while a new front-facing camera to support 120fps slow-motion video. All-in-all it looks like it will be a solid upgrade, but will it be enough to stop sliding iPhone sales?