Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
Apple Leads Singles’ Day Smartphone Sales as iPhone 17 Demand Surges 
TSMC Accuses Former Executive of Leaking Trade Secrets as Taiwan Prosecutors Launch Investigation 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Vietnam’s Growing Use of Chinese 5G Technology Raises Western Concerns 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
It is not strange for tech fans to start hearing about Apple's next premium smartphones even though the iPhone 12 was just launched a few months ago. While many leaks and reports are already referring to the next device as iPhone 13, Apple might skip that name entirely.
Why Apple might skip the 'iPhone 13' name
Guessing the names of upcoming Apple hardware products is relatively easier than other tech manufacturers. It is true, especially for future iPhones since Apple uses quite a simple numbering scheme. However, the iPhone 13 could be a special case.
In a recent Front Page Tech video, prominent leaker Jon Prosser said that the next device's iPhone 13 name might not yet be set in stone. His sources told him that Apple fans "probably won't ever get iPhone 13," for that matter. And one potential reason is quite interesting.
It is no secret that the number 13 has been associated with bad luck in many cultures around the world. This the simple reason many buildings, even in the United States, do not have a 13th floor. People who have had chances to travel around the world may have also noticed that many hotels skip 13 in numbering their floors as well.
The popular superstition is likely the same reason IF Apple chooses not to call any of its product iPhone 13 and it will not be the first tech company will do it. OnePlus has skipped the number 4 in naming its flagship smartphone series because that number is considered bad luck in China.
iPhone 'S' version is anticipated for 2021 with one much-awaited new feature
Another potential reason for Apple not to call its next iPhone series as iPhone 13 is that it could be an "S" version of its 2020 smartphones. It means the mobile devices launching this year is unlikely to get major upgrades and significant design changes like last year.
However, iPhone 13 (or whatever Apple will call it) is still rumored to launch with highly requested upgrades. In the same video, Prosser doubles down on the reports that the return of Touch ID through an under-display sensor is very likely happening this year. The next iPhone lineup, at least the Pro models, is also expected to launch with a 120Hz refresh rate display finally.
