The Apple October 2020 Event

Given the extraordinary circumstances in 2020, Apple’s October event was held virtually. Apple fans did not visit the Apple headquarters for the much-anticipated reveal of the new iPhones. Instead, the excitement was digitised and delivered through a pre-recorded Apple product announcement video.

Although it meant no physical interaction with the new devices, we have plenty of thoughts and reactions to unpack. Below, we shall delve into two significant unveils of this event.

HomePod Mini: Apple’s Smart Speaker

Let’s start with the HomePod Mini. I’m sure some remember my 2018 review of Apple’s original HomePod, where I referred to it as the ‘dumbest’ smart speaker. This was primarily due to its Siri power and lack of screen.

Fast forward to 2020 and we have a fresh addition, HomePod Mini, priced at $99 and significantly smaller. Despite its absence of display, it continues to focus heavily on audio quality. This new model comes with an S5 chip designed for computational audio. So it can listen to its environment and produce the best possible sound quality. Like most audio equipment, the true testament of its sound is an in-person test.

The HomePod Mini also comes with an ultra-wideband chip for improved direct control from an iPhone. This chip also facilitates a cool intercom feature which shares audio messages across connected Apple devices. A convenient addition in multi-devices households. Yet despite these features, whether the HomePod Mini can compete with Google Home or Alexa remains to be seen.

The New Line-up: iPhone 12

Of course, the main star, or shall we say stars of the event, were the iPhone 12 devices. This line-up includes iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. All of which share the key feature of 5G compatibility. While it’s certainly the future, the current coverage and infrastructure for 5G connectivity is yet to reach the majority. Therefore, consumers may not fully utilise this feature just yet.

Aside from that, the launch was imbued with promising gadgets and gizmos that potential iPhone 12 users may enjoy. Stay tuned with us to learn more.

New Features in iPhone 12 Heating Up the Tech Scene

Today, we explore the all-new iPhone 12 as it dumps onto the technology marketplace with its impressive features. From the eye-catching new design to the swift 5G network, the hit phone is taking an advanced stand in the smartphone world.

A notable factor in choosing the iPhone 12 now is the 5G network. Although it might not seem like it from the immediate viewpoint, it’s essential to consider the phone’s lifespan. People tend to keep iPhones longer than most phones. In the next three to five years, the 5G network will likely be more widely available. By then, you might regret having a phone that isn’t 5G compatible. Hence, it’s beneficial that all the new iPhones support 5G to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

Now, let’s delve into the details. The design of the iPhone 12 is rather appealing with its new flat-sided shape, like the iPad pro. There is an aluminium frame surrounding it coupled with a flat screen. Its distinct antenna positioning enhances it for 5G. The phone also boasts IP68 water resistance and a revolutionary ceramic shield specialised front glass. Apple refrains from calling it ‘glass’, emphasising its new composite material with crystallisation that’s prepared to offer four times better drop protection.

The iPhone 12 focuses on three primary components: the screen, charging, and cameras. The screen has been dramatically improved from the 720p LCD on the iPhone 11. It now flaunts a 6.1 inch 1080p OLED display with slimmer bezels, an incredibly welcome upgrade. Even though the notch is still present, the display now supports HDR10 certification. It’s brighter, offers more contrast and denser pixel resolution, enhancing the entire viewing experience.

When it comes to the camera, the numbers may remain the same, but don’t let that fool you. The phone possesses a new dual 12 megapixel system. It contains a newly designed ultra-wide camera and a standard camera with an f 1.6 aperture, which should significantly boost low-light and portrait performance. New software features like smart HDR 3 and night mode coming to the front-facing camera also contribute to the overall camera improvement.

iPhone 12 doesn’t introduce USB-C for charging, but the new magnet-embedded back of the phone sure is exciting. ‘Magsafe’ makes a comeback as iPhone brings a new and improved charging experience. It offers a larger wireless charger that uses the phone’s magnets to align it perfectly. It’s worthwhile to mention that the charging method still involves a wire, hence isn’t entirely without one. Yet, it does potentially provide users the ease of handling their iPhones while charging. An additional attractive feature is its affordability, with the iPhone 12 Magsafe charger already available in the Apple store for 39 bucks.

In conclusion, while hands-on experiences are pending, there is clear excitement in the air about the new iPhone 12 and its host of impressive features. Keep an eye out for more in-depth reviews, usability tests, and drop tests on digital platforms soon.

The recently unveiled iPhone 12 introduces several exciting features, an element that has faced a lot of anticipation in the tech world. Right on the spotlight, in terms of innovation, is its ‘MagSafe’. These are magnets that sit inside the new iPhones that align the phone perfectly with Apple’s wireless charger, making it easier for users to ‘snap’ their device into place. Not only does this make charging simpler and more efficient, but it also lays the foundation for an entire ecosystem of MagSafe accessories.

Consequently, a host of such accessories are already up in the Apple store, including a wallet that magnetizes to the back of the phone and a long list of MagSafe cases and chargers. It’s expected that as soon as the phones hit the market, numerous third-party MagSafe accessories will flood the store, catering to varied tastes and needs. This catapults iPhone 12 into a whole new scope of possibilities.

However, the magnetic attraction of the iPhone 12 doesn’t stop there. In a surprising suppression of conventional norms, iPhones will no longer include charging bricks in their boxes. This controversial decision explained in Apple’s environmental section, citing e-waste savings by offering a smaller box, hence more space-efficient shipping. Consequently, the box now contains the iPhone, a USB-C to lightning cable, and the paperwork, and nothing more.

On the trait side, iPhone 12 offers a variety of new colours — including blue, red, black, white, and green. This pairs nicely with the phone’s shiny exterior. As part of the yearly improvements, iPhone 12 is powered by an A14 Bionic chip, making it one to stand out, courtesy of its superior machine learning performance, image processing, and overall speed.

For those enthusiastic about sizes, Apple has also released the iPhone 12 mini version, introduced a month after the standard model. It embodies all the new features but in a petite package. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone and Pro versions come with certain specificities like different sizes, colours and upgraded cameras. All in all, the vibrant collection of the new iPhone 12 model certainly gives its users a lot to look forward to!

Introducing iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

The latest iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are the epitome of Apple’s technological prowess. Housed in stunningly shiny stainless steel bodies, they are a symbol of luxury and innovation, replacing the aluminium bodies we have grown accustomed to. The colour palette has also been tastefully updated, including white, black, blue and notably an exquisite gold that could put even the most opulent brands to shame.

Camera Enhancements

The hallmark of the new iPhone 12 Pros is undeniably their camera modules; an array of features that promise to revolutionise mobile photography. The Pros sport an all-new hardware stack that comprises of standard, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras. Additionally, both Pros are equipped with deep fusion on all four cameras, the front-facing camera included.

A noteworthy addition to the camera is the LiDAR sensor, initially introduced in the iPad Pro earlier this year. However, the sensor is aptly more suited to the iPhones, potentially enhancing the quality of photos taken in low light.

The iPhones now also support a new Pro RAW image format. Nonetheless, be aware, as Apple’s website lists this feature as ‘coming soon’, suggesting it might not be available right away.

How do the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max Differ?

There is a slight differentiation in the phone versions’ camera systems. The 12 Pro Max sports a 2.5x telephoto camera, while the 12 Pro has a 2x telephoto camera. The Max uniquely employs sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, while the others incorporate it into the lens as usual.

Video Capabilities

The iPhones’ video capabilities have seen a significant upgrade. The Pros now offer 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR 4K 60 fps video, an unprecedented feature in mobile cameras. While it is too early to gauge the success of this feature, anticipation is high.

The Missing Piece: A High Refresh Rate

Disappointingly, one highly anticipated aspect is notably missing — a high refresh rate display. Despite their aim to push the envelope, Apple has not yet incorporated a 120Hz display into the new iPhones. Whether this was a decision based on less discerning users or due to challenges in acquiring high-quality display volumes, Apple enthusiasts hope it will make an appearance in future releases.

Design Continuity

The design familiarity has been maintained, with the tell-tale notches appearing identical on all iPhones, in shape and size. There is no mention of modifications to the Face ID as well.

Despite some omissions, iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max demonstrate Apple’s continued commitment to pushing tech boundaries and crafting luxury gadgets that delight their devoted customers.

Among the intriguing features of the new iPhone is its smart data mode, which intriguingly employs the 5G radios only when they are necessary. This perspective leads to the supposition that perhaps, similar to the high refresh rate on the iPad Pro, 5G may not always be in operation. Such a strategy would make sense in terms of optimising battery life, as 5G is known to consume a considerable amount of power. Therefore, examining when the 5G is turned on and off during usage will be an interesting element to investigate.

Apart from the much-discussed 5G feature, one more point to note is the rectangular cutout that has been observed on the side of the iPhone models. Confirmed as an antenna cutout for millimeter wave, this feature — along with the new sizes, materials, and colours — will be investigated further once the devices are available in hand.

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