iPhone 13 Leak Reveals New Coating Design To Minimize Fingerprints and Smudges

According to leaker Max Weinbach, Apple’s next-generation iPhone 13 will have a new form of coating designed to minimize the occurrence of fingerprints and smudges.

Though fingerprints aren’t a big deal, it can be a letdown when you spend hundreds of dollars on a new iPhone only to find it covered in smudges.

The special coating in question will be exclusive to Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro models. Overall, this isn’t shocking, considering that Apple has a history of saving some of its most advanced materials and innovations for its higher-margined products. Similarly, the iPhone 13’s alleged 120Hz ProMotion display will be limited to the Pro models.

Weinbach’s leak was first shared a few days ago on the EverythingApplePro YouTube site. “There’s also a new and improved coating on the stainless steel borders of the Pro models,” the video says, “This will make smudges and fingerprints stand out far less, something which Max says is desperately needed on the Gold color of the iPhone 12 Pro series.”

Weinbach also says that an iPhone 13 Pro model will be released with a texturized matte black finish that will make the smartphone easier to carry.

EverythingApplePro announced last month that “the matte back is getting refined.”

Other iPhone 13 Pro features include Portrait mode for video recording, possible new colors, improved sensor-Shift optical image stabilization, and improved low-light camera performance, in addition to the aforementioned new coating, matte back, and 120Hz ProMotion monitor.

While the iPhone 13 models’ overall form factor should be similar to that of Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup, the upcoming iPhone 13 will have a minor design change in that the notch on the handset will be noticeably smaller.

Dummy mockups of the iPhone 13 surfaced online over the weekend, showing how the iPhone 13 notch compares to the iPhone 12 notch.

According to reports, the latest notch would be 26.8mm long instead of the 34.83mm notch on the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 notch will also be slightly larger in height, measuring 5.35mm vs. 5.3mm on the iPhone 12.

A new always-on monitor, close to what we’ve seen with the Apple Watch, is one notable software update we might expect with the iPhone 13 and iOS 15.

“Always-On Display will have minimal customizability,” Weinbach said. “Current design basically looks like a toned-down lock screen. Clock and battery charge is always visible. Notifications seem to be displayed using a bar and icons. Upon receiving, the notification will pop up normally, except that the screen will not entirely light up. Instead, it will display it just like you’re used to right now, except dimmed down and only temporarily.”

Apple intends to unleash the complete iPhone 13 lineup in September, with a special event expected to occur earlier in the month.