Everything We Know About the iPhone 12
Here are all of the leaked features, information, and specifications we know and predict Apple’s next iPhone to have.
This fall, Apple is expected to release its brand new lineup, now with not two, not three, but four different phones: the 12, 12 Max, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max (these names are not set-in-stone, however). Apple is making bold and unique moves with these new smartphones and hopefully (for both the company and consumers), they work out and make the smartphones better than last year’s devices.
Chassis
The new devices are expected to come with three different display sizes: a minuscule 5.4 inches, 6.1 inches, or a whopping 6.7 inches! The iPhone 12, the cheapest device in the iPhone 12 lineup, will have a 5.4-inch OLED display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution. Both the iPhone 12 Max and iPhone 12 Pro are rumored to have a 6.1-inch screen OLED screens with 2532 x 1170 resolutions. Finally, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will sport an astounding 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 2778 x 1284 resolution. The two Pro devices are also rumored to have 10-bits of color, which will make colors appear more vibrant and realistic on the screens. Some of these may also support XDR, which would allow for 1,600 nits of peak brightness according to MacRumors, and ProMotion, which is what allows for a 120Hz refresh rate on the iPad Pro.
As for the chassis, the new iPhones will not have rounded edges anymore. Leaks are suggesting that the next iPhones will have flat aluminum (12 and 12 Max) or stainless steel (12 Pro and 12 Pro Max) edges similar to the edges of the iPad Pro and iPhone 4. Apple will still use two glass panels as the front and back of the phone, but now they are attached to flat edges, which have been requested by smartphone enthusiasts for quite some time. These new edges may also allow for longer network bands for the new 5G capabilities (more on that later). The phones may also be thinner, slightly taller, and have thinner bezels and a smaller notch. Additionally, according to popular leaker Max Weinbach, Apple may offer a new navy blue color variant for the iPhone 12 lineup. Unfortunately, if you are waiting for Apple to bring USB-C to the iPhone, you will have to wait another year as Apple will continue to use its Lightning port.
Internals
Apple’s next iPhones will contain its brand-new A14 Bionic five-nanometer chipsets, which will be faster and more power-efficient than their predecessor, the A13 Bionic. According to Bloomberg, this new processor aims to improve artificial intelligence and augmented reality capabilities. MacRumors also believes that the iPhone 12 and 12 Max will have 4 GB of RAM and will come with either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage while the Pro devices will have 6 GB of RAM and either 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of storage. Although 4 GB and 6 GB of RAM are measly figures compared to the RAM in most Android devices, it is sufficient due to the A14 Bionic’s power-efficiency.
The new iPhones will most likely have larger battery capacities, though the exact capacities are not confirmed. Also, there may be a new 20W fast-charging brick available for purchase. Unfortunately for some, the new iPhones will not come with charging bricks or EarPods anymore, as Apple is trying to make the box slimmer and more exquisite and is trying to help save the environment by reducing the amount of e-waste produced. Battery life may be worse however, as if ProMotion displays are added, the battery will be drained far quicker. Also, the new iPhones will have 5G capabilities, with the 12 and 12 Max having Sub 6 5G and the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max having both Sub 6 and mmWave 5G capabilities. Another exciting, new feature that may appear on at least one of the devices in the iPhone 12 lineup, according to Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News, is the reinstatement of Touch ID, but instead of a sensor on an external button, it will be placed under the screen. This feature has been confirmed by leaker Ming-Chi Kuo to appear in 2021, but there may be a possibility that it arrives this year.
Camera
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 12 and 12 Max will sport a dual-camera setup while their more expensive counterparts, the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, will sport a triple-camera setup and a LiDAR time-of-flight sensor. Other rumors suggest that only the 12 Pro Max will receive the new LiDAR sensor, but either way, it is nearly confirmed that the LiDAR sensor only seen on the iPad Pro will make its smartphone debut this fall. This LiDAR sensor will measure the distance between your phone and the object you are taking a picture of to take better Portrait Mode photos and create better AR effects. The two Pro phones may also receive an improved telephoto lens that will allow for 3x optical zoom. All of these phones will also get a new feature dubbed “sensor shift” that will allow for far better optical image stabilization and counteract shaky hands better.
Another major feature coming to the iPhone 12 is the ability to record 4K video at 120 or 240 fps. This will allow users to record high-quality slow-motion video. As for the front cameras, the new iPhones will sport smaller lenses to allow for a smaller notch. The sensors may also have a wider viewing angle so that you can use Face ID from more angles.
Future Information
The new iPhones are expected to be sold at a variety of prices. The iPhone 12 is expected to sell for $649, the 12 Max will be sold for $749, the 12 Pro will be sold for $999, and the 12 Pro Max will sell for $1,099. These prices are not very different from the prices of last year’s models, but this may be because of the decision to not offer a power brick or EarPods in the new, smaller box. This lineup is expected to be announced later than usual, anywhere from late September to mid-October because of the delayed product manufacturing caused by COVID-19. All of these new devices will come with Apple’s latest mobile software, iOS 14, which will bring new features like widgets and the App Library to make the iOS experience more customizable and easy-to-use.
Apple’s next iPhones will bring many new features that will significantly improve how we use our phones. The prospect of having Touch ID again or having a LiDAR sensor in a smartphone is exciting, and although we technically can’t confirm anything, all we can do is hope that the leakers are right. These devices will be much faster than their predecessors with their new microprocessors and 5G capabilities, and I am sure that these phones will sell rapidly. Now, we just have to wait as leakers uncover more information and the announcement event nears.
