iPhone 13 or iPhone 12S? Here's What The 2021 iPhone Might Be Named

Apple is going to launch a new iPhone in September — but what will it be called? Here’s the lowdown on the debate of iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12S.

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Apple is expected to release a new iPhone later this fall — but what it’ll be called remains a bit unclear. Some people think it’ll be called iPhone 13, others strongly think it’ll be the iPhone 12S. Here’s a recap of that debate and where it currently stands.

At this point in 2021, rumors for the next iPhone are in full force. There will likely be four models once again, smaller notches are anticipated, the Pro variants will get 120Hz displays, and there should be ample camera upgrades across the board. None of the expected changes are game-breaking, but they should all come together to create another year of top-tier smartphones from Apple.

Where things have gotten a bit confusing, however, is with the next iPhone’s name. Ever since the iPhone 12 was released, people have referred to its successor as the iPhone 13. Seeing as how previous releases have included the iPhone X (10), iPhone 11, and iPhone 12, it would only make sense for the next entry to be the iPhone 13 — right? As it turns out, that may not be the case after all. Apple leaker Jon Prosser said in February that this year’s iPhone would actually be called the iPhone 12S, and in a YouTube video uploaded on June 26, Prosser reinforced that point yet again. Furthermore, a SellCell survey of over 3000 Apple users in the U.S. found that 74 percent of respondents would “prefer a different name than iPhone 13.” Upcoming iPhone names usually aren’t that divisive, so why is there so much disagreement this year?

Why Apple Is Rumored To Skip IPhone 13 For IPhone 12S

For a lot of people, it all boils down to the unsavory nature of 13 as a number. Many countries worldwide consider 13 to be unlucky — as evident by things like Friday the 13th, some buildings omitting a 13th floor, and certain people being diagnosed with triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13). It may seem silly for Apple to change its current naming pattern solely on what some would consider being superstition. However, launching a product called ‘iPhone 13’ could have legitimate side effects for the company — such as scaring some customers off from buying the product. OnePlus did something similar when it went from the OnePlus 3 to the OnePlus 5. The number 4 is considered highly unlucky in China, and with much of OnePlus’s audience based in the country, it skipped the OnePlus 4 altogether. With the iPhone 13, Apple may choose to do something similar considering how 13 is treated in western culture.

With that said, there’s just as much reason (if not more so) to believe the iPhone 13 name is still in the runnng. On July 6, a report from supply chain sources commented that “Apple’s new iPhone this year has entered the countdown stage of stocking, and the supply chain has reported that this year’s new phone will be named iPhone 13.” A report from a supply chain has potentially more weight to it than an Apple leaker — especially one that doesn’t have a perfect track record. While nothing is confirmed until Apple says so, that’s a big reason to believe the iPhone 13 is the iPhone Apple releases this year.

Whatever it ends up being called, the fact remains that this year’s iPhone will be an improvement over the iPhone 12. It’ll be faster, have better cameras, and be a welcome upgrade for anyone with an iPhone XS or later. iPhone 13 or iPhone 12S, expect an announcement from Apple sometime this September.