New iPhone 12 release date, price, specs and leaks

 

 

New iPhone 12 release date, price, specs and leaks

 

 

 

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro promise the biggest update in years. Here's what we know so far.

We're very close to finally getting to see the new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models from Apple. And these phones promise to feature some of the biggest changes to the iPhone lineup in a long time.

The iPhone 12 will reportedly drop the existing design for an all-new look, as well as add 5G connectivity across the range, Apple's highly-anticipated A14 Bionic processor and, for the Pro set specifically, LiDAR cameras. The 120Hz displays for the Pro models are in limbo based on leaks.

IPHONE 12: WHAT TO EXPECT

• iPhone 12 launch date: Sept. 8, Sept. 22 or Oct. 13/14
• iPhone 12 release date: October
• Models: iPhone 12 (5.4 inches), iPhone 12 Max (6.1 inches), iPhone 12 Pro (6.1 inches), iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7 inches)
• Prices: $649 (iPhone 12), $749 (iPhone 12 Max), $999 (iPhone 12 Pro), $1,099 (iPhone 12 Pro Max)
• Processor: A14 Bionic (all models)
• Screens: OLED (all models)
• Other features: 5G, LiDAR on Pro models

While we probably won't get our hands on the iPhone 12 in September like we typically do with new iPhone releases, rumors and leaks have painted a pretty full picture of what to expect from Apple's upcoming handsets, including their release dates, prices and specs.

The iPhone 12 is expected to come in four models: the 5.4-inch iPhone 12, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. All four are expected to tout a design the hearkens back to the iPhone 5's flat machined edges, along with a possibly slimmer notch. And plenty of other changes are in store, from the processor powering the phone to the cameras you'll use to snap photos.

Latest iPhone 12 news (updated September 11)

• Total lee has unveiled its line of iPhone 12 thin cases, which pretty much confirms the new flatter-edge design of the iPhone 12 range. 
• The iPhone 12 could make an appearance at the Apple Event on September 15, but the focus is supposed to be on the Apple Watch 6.
• A new report confirms that the iPhone 12 will use 7P lenses, which should improve image quality. And Android phone makers will be playing catch-up.

IPhone 12 specs (based on leaks)

 

	iPhone 12	iPhone 12 Max	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Price	$699	$799	$1049	$1149
Display	5.4-inch Super Retina OLED (BOE)	6.1-inch Super Retina OLED (BOE)	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (Samsung)	6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (Samsung)
Processor	A14 Bionic	A14 Bionic	A14 Bionic	A14 Bionic
RAM	4GB	4GB	6GB	6GB
Storage	64GB, 128GB, 256GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Cameras	Dual rear cameras	Dual rear cameras	Triple rear cameras + LiDAR	Triple rear cameras + LiDAR
5G	Sub-6GHz	Sub-6GHz	Sub-6GHz, mm Wave	Sub-6GHz, mm Wave
Battery	2,227 m Ah	2,775 m Ah	2,775 m Ah	3,687 m Ah
Body	Aluminum	Aluminum	Stainless steel	Stainless steel

 

 

 

Although new iPhones typically launch in September, multiple reports have pointed to a delayed release date for the iPhone 12.

During an Apple earnings call in July, chief financial officer Luca Maestro  noted that last year's iPhone 11 shipped in September, but added "this year, the supply of the new product will be a few weeks later than that."

That would seemingly point to an October release, which is what leaker Jon Prosser has said. Prosser also claims that the two iPhone 12 Pro models will arrive in November, so it would be a staggered launch.

A carrier promo leak for the iPhone 12 says that pre-orders end October 20, but that is a Tuesday. It's more likely that pre-orders would end on a Thursday and the phone would go on sale Friday. So for now we anticipate that the iPhone 12 release date will be October 23.

According to a report in Bloomberg, Apple is readying 75 million iPhone 12 units for launch, so it is anticipating a lot of demand. The report also corroborates that Apple plans to stagger the launch of the iPhone 12, with the cheaper models going on sale first.

IPhone 12 price

 

The iPhone 12 price seems to be a moving target. The most recent leak from @komiya_kj on Twitter says that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 will start at $699 for 64GB. The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max have a $799 price for the same amount of storage.

However, it's possible that the pricing could be cheaper should Apple decide to sell 4G LTE-only versions. The above pricing would be for 5G models of the iPhone 12. In fact, one iPhone 12 price report claims that Apple will release a 4G LTE iPhone 12 in early 2021, according to a research note form Wed bush Securities.

Previously, analyst Jon Prosser said that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 with two rear cameras will start at $649, which would be quite affordable at $50 less than the iPhone 11. The iPhone 12 Max with a 6.1-inch screen would cost $749.

The iPhone 12 Pro, which would have three rear cameras plus a LiDAR sensor, may start at $999 or $1,049. The iPhone 12 Pro could also feature a 120Hz Promotion display, but that's not a lock quite yet.

Last but not least, the iPhone 12 Pro Max would feature a 6.7-inch display and cost $1,099 or $1,149 to start.

IPhone 12 5G

All iPhone 12 models will reportedly ship with support for 5G networks, but it's possible that only one model will offer the fastest possible speeds.

According to a report from Fast Company, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will be the only device in the lineup to support mm Wave 5G. The other three models would support sub 6-GHz 5G. Apparently, only the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max will be large enough to accommodate both a mm Wave antenna and a battery large enough to compensate for the expected battery drain.

5G in this lower band offers longer range but slower data rates than mm Wave technology, which can reach up to 2Gbps. Verizon 5G is focusing, at least initially, on mm Wave, which delivers the fastest speeds but requires line of sight view to a small cell or node for service.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kio, Apple will ship only 4 to 6 million iPhone 12 devices with mm Wave modems this year. This is less than the “market consensus of 10-20 million” units. He cites the COVID-19 pandemic for a reduced number of mm Wave base stations being deployed. But Kio doesn't say which iPhone 12 models will get which flavor of 5G.

IPhone 12 performance

It's a foregone conclusion the iPhone 12 line will be powered by Apple's next-generation A14 Bionic chip. According to a report on the new 5nm processor made by TSMC, the CPU should provide a 15% performance boost while being 30% more efficient. And that's before Apple gets its hands on the chip.

Another iPhone 12 A14 Bionic leak suggests that the iPhone 12 could be a lot more powerful, with tipster @Komiya predicting a whopping 40% improvement in CPU performance and a 50% boost in GPU performance compared to the A13 Bionic.

IPhone 12 display: 120Hz refresh rate

One of the most anticipated iPhone 12 Pro features is up in the air. Both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have been tipped to feature 120Hz Promotion displays. The regular iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max will likely offer 60Hz displays.

Offering an iPhone Pro with a 120Hz refresh rate should mean smoother scrolling as well as more fluid video playback and responsive gameplay. However, while Apple may be able to pull off this feature in time, it looks like it could prove difficult.

Display analyst Ross Young says that while Apple may be able to source 120Hz displays, but the company doesn't have supplies of 120Hz driver ICs (integrated circuits). This could mean a delayed launch for the iPhone 12 Pro models.

IPhone 12 battery life and charging

One detail concerning battery and charging as it relates to the iPhone 12 will surely disappoint most buyers, no matter how you slice it. Multiple rumors — one of which comes courtesy of analyst Ming-Chi Kio — suggest Apple will forgo including a charging adapter with any iPhone 12 model. Not even a conventional, slow 5-watt charger.

As it turns out, Apple is developing a 20-watt brick to replace the company's existing 18-watt solution, but it won't actually ship with any of their new phones. That means buyers will have to shell out cash for a charger if they don't already have one that is compatible with an iPhone. The current price of an 18-watt first-party Apple charger and Lightning-to-USB-C cable is $48 together.

IPhone 12 Touch ID in display?

Back in April, it was reported by China's Economic Daily News that at least one iPhone 12 model could offer an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which would bring Touch ID back in a new way.

Advertisement

However, we haven't heard much to corroborate that. In fact, analyst Ming-Chi Kio has stated that 2021 could be the year to expect Touch ID to make a return, alongside Face ID.

Additionally, an Apple patent that's been recently unearthed by Apple Insider suggests Cupertino is working on its own approach for an in-display authentication system. While the iPhone 12 is much too soon to see something like this come to fruition, theoretically it could surface by the time the iPhone 13 emerges late next year.

IPhone 12 accessories

The iPhone typically ships with a set of earbuds and a charger. (In the case of the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, that's a fast 18-watt charger.) But Apple may have different plans for the iPhone 12.

We've already mentioned the rumor that Apple could skip including a charger with the iPhone 12. But analyst Ming-Chi Kio also expects Apple to leave Ear Pods out of the iPhone 12 box. 

That would seem like a curious omission, but Kio believes that Apple is going to try to get customers to upgrade to its wireless Air Pods by shipping its next iPhones without included earbuds for the first time ever. A subsequent report from analyst Dan Ives (via 9to5Mac) corroborates the missing Ear Pods.