When you want to know what's in store for Apple's devices, you generally turn to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo for eerily accurate predictions And the well-connected Apple watcher's latest research note contains many details about what's in store for the iPhone 13

Apple's phone, which will appear this fall, should have a smaller notch and a larger battery, Kuo said in a note obtained by both MacRumors and 9to5Mac Thre's one surprise in the mix, too That portless iPhone 13 we've been hearing about probably might not happen at all

Let's take a closer look at the iPhone 13 tidbits mentioned in Kuo's latest prediction

Multiple sources have suggested that Apple is considering reducing the size of the iPhone's notch, or possibly eliminating it altogether The notch will likely survive in the iPhone 13, but it will be smaller than previous iPhones have used, at least since Apple first introduced the design with the iPhone X in 2017

And the smaller notch will be used on all iPhone 13 models, with Kuo predicting that Apple will stick with the mini, Pro, Pro Max, and standard iPhones that make up the iPhone 12 lineup

Reducing the size of the notch makes sense for Apple, especially if the company could reduce the size of the sensor needed for the Face ID unlock feature The notch gives the iPhone a distinctive look, and while some Android phone makers have temporarily mimicked it, they are still cutting down on screen real estate in a way that other phones have made a thing of the past Of course, those devices do not have a face unlock feature as sophisticated as the iPhone, so Apple is willing to make that trade-off

With the exception of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, battery life is one of the most disappointing aspects of the iPhone 12 lineup Three of Apple's four models struggled to maintain the smartphone's average performance in our rigorous battery tests

Apple will apparently address this issue with the iPhone 13, and Kuo predicts that all four new devices will offer larger batteries than before

The change in battery size will be made possible by several changes Apple will make to the iPhone 13's internal design According to Kuo's notes, Apple plans to integrate the SIM card slot with the motherboard and make the Face ID component thinner This will leave more space inside the iPhone 13 model for a larger power pack

Adding a larger battery to this year's iPhone is a trade-off; Kuo expects the iPhone 13 model to weigh more than the iPhone 12 model

Previous iPhone 13 rumors (including one from Kuo) suggested that at least one new model would feature a portless design; Apple has already eliminated the headphone jack from the iPhone and adopted MagSafe wireless charging in last year's model Therefore, the idea seems to be that they will take the next logical step and release an iPhone without a Lightning port

According to Kuo, who says the Lightning port remains on all four iPhone 13 models, it may be discontinued

Other details in Kuo's new memo recapitulate many of the previous rumors about the iPhone 13, but it is good to see more evidence that these features are going to be included in this year's models

For example, Kuo reiterates that the Pro version of the iPhone 13 will feature a low-power LTPO display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz This feature would put the iPhone 13 on par with this year's Galaxy S21 models and ultimately provide iPhone fans with the fast refresh displays that are becoming more common on Android devices

The LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will continue to be included, but will be exclusive to the Pro model, Kuo said These iPhone 13 Pro handsets are also expected to feature an improved ultra-wide-angle camera with a 6-split lens and autofocus

Kuo reiterated last week's report that the iPhone 13 will use Qualcomm's X60 modem This is a 5-nanometer modem compared to the 7nm X55 in the iPhone 12 model

Finally, Kuo poured cold water on rumors that Touch ID will somehow return in this year's iPhone 13 models Some rumors had suggested that the iPhone would adopt the iPad Air's functionality and incorporate Touch ID into the power button But Kuo says there is "no visibility" about that particular design change in the iPhone 13