The iPhone 13 launch may be virtual this year, like last year's iPhone 12. Apple is reportedly delaying its return to in-person work, which may have interrupted its plans to unveil the flagship phone.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise again, Apple appears to be taking safeguards for its employees. That is commendable. The company had previously asked employees to return to the office at least three days a week come September, but that obligation appears to have been postponed for at least a month.

However, this prompted Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (via Power On newsletter) to report that Apple made the iPhone 13 launch event virtual. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iPhone 12 was also virtual. If Apple employees had returned to their in-person jobs, the event might have been in-person as well. That would not be the case now.

However, Garman said the iPhone 13 is still scheduled for September. iPhone 12 was pushed back from October to November 2020 due to supply chain disruptions. This year, even with the supply shortages that have affected almost every manufacturing sector, it doesn't seem to be much of an issue. Apple is said to have ordered more than 100 million A15 Bionic chips, indicating that the company expects serious demand for the iPhone 13.

Earlier rumors suggested that the iPhone 13 could be released in the third week of September. Given past iPhone events, that seems quite likely; as is usual with Apple devices, there has been a lot of hoopla, rumors, and supposed leaks around the iPhone 13, making the phone seem to be more than just an iterative upgrade.

For example, the next iPhone may come in four models, like the iPhone 12. It may also feature a 120Hz display on the Pro model, an always-on display option (as seen on Android phones), upgrades to all four ultrawide cameras, a possible 1TB storage option, and many other features. Apple may also upgrade wired charging to 25W from the iPhone 12's 20W.