One of the most persistent iPhone 13 rumors is that the notch will be reduced for the first time since it was introduced on the iPhone X in 2017. Now, thanks to a DigiTimes report, we have a clue as to how and why Apple was able to make this change.

According to the report, Apple plans to reduce the die size of the VCSEL chip used in its Face ID scanner by 40-50%; DigiTimes says this could allow Apple to integrate new features into this chip, but the site does not is, but the site does not reveal what it might look like.

This iPhone 13 redesign should reduce the physical footprint of the notch, but if the leaks we have seen so far are anything to go by, those expecting a virtually invisible notch will be disappointed. In fact, a recent 3D printed mockup of the iPhone 13 Pro showed only a slight difference from the previous generation's notch, which went from 5.3 x 34.83 mm to 5.35 x 26.8 mm.

At the time, we attributed the notch reduction to the relocation of the earpiece, which was moved to the north side of the bezel, but the DigiTimes article suggests that this is only part of the puzzle. In other words, there could be multiple factors at play here.

For aesthetic reasons alone, one might conclude that reducing the size of the notch is probably not a game changer for the iPhone 13. However, Apple can produce more chips on a single wafer, thus reducing the number of wafers needed overall.

The notch reduction is just one of the improvements Apple will reportedly implement in the iPhone 13; not only will the Pro model reportedly feature the long-awaited upgrade to a 120Hz screen for smoother output, but Apple will also be able to use the iPhone 12's Achilles heel, battery life, is also likely to be addressed.

According to blueprints, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro will be 0.17mm thicker than the iPhone 12. This, combined with clever new soft battery technology that allows for more layers in the same space and a more efficient 5-nanometer X60 5G chipset, should give you more confidence in leaving your charger at home when the new phones launch in September It is.

In addition, the iPhone 13 will have faster 5G, an improved camera, and Touch ID under the display, giving us plenty of reason to look forward to the new iPhone.