New Apple iPhone 12 release

We’re getting close to the launch of the 2020 iPhones, which are expected to be announced on October 13, 2020, but there are already dozens of rumors about the upcoming devices. We’re expecting the 2020 iPhones to be called the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro if Apple follows the same naming scheme it used for the 2019 iPhone lineup.

The 2020 iPhones will feature major updates, introducing some of the first design changes that we’ve seen since the iPhone X was released in 2017. We’re expecting four iPhones in three display sizes which could come in at 5.4, 6.7, and 6.1 inches (x2).This summary video shows the 10 things you should know about the iPhone 12:

At a rumored 5.4 inches, the 2020 iPhone 12 mini will be the smallest iPhone Apple has released since the 4.7-inch iPhone SE. At 6.7 inches, the 2020 iPhone 12 Pro Max will be Apple’s largest iPhone to date, topping the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max. The two 6.1-inch models will be similar in size to the existing iPhone 11.

All iPhones in 2020 are expected to feature OLED Super Retina XDR display technology regardless of price. There were early rumors that the iPhone 12 Pro models could support 120Hz refresh rates, but more recent info indicates Apple will wait until 2021 to unveil that feature.

Design wise, rumors suggest the new iPhones coming in 2020 will feature a significant redesign with a metal frame that’s similar to the frame of the iPhone 4 or the iPad Pro. The iPhone 4 had a distinctive, flat look for its stainless steel frame, which will be replicated in the new iPhones, bringing the design in line with the 2020 iPad Pro models.

There were rumors that Apple would use a new TrueDepth camera system that cuts down on the size of the notch on the front, but leaks are mixed on this subject and it appears there will be a smaller notch on the 5.4-inch model while the other models will have a notch that’s the same size.

Rumors suggest the 6.7-inch iPhone and one 6.1-inch model will be higher-end devices with triple-lens cameras, while the 5.4 and 6.1-inch models will be lower-end iPhones with dual-lens cameras and a more affordable price tag. There are also rumors of a 3D triple-lens rear camera system that uses a laser to calculate depth information for objects in the room, improving both photography and AR capabilities. This is likely to be similar to the LiDAR Scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro, and it appears it will be limited to the higher-end 6.7-inch iPhone model.

2020 will be the first year that Apple introduces 5G support in the iPhone, allowing the new devices to connect to 5G networks that are much faster than 4G LTE networks. According to rumors, all of the iPhones in the iPhone 12 lineup will feature 5G connectivity, though it’s not yet clear if all iPhone 12 models will have super fast mmWave support, and reports suggest mmWave speeds could be limited to certain countries.

The iPhone 12 models coming in 2020 will use an Apple-designed 5-nanometer A14 chip manufactured by TSMC. The A14 chip is expected to bring both speed and efficiency improvements that could bring small gains in battery life to compensate for 5G, which uses additional battery.

Size comparison: iPhone 12 dummy models compared to existing iPhones

Apple’s iPhone naming plans have been confusing ever since the iPhone 8 debuted alongside the iPhone X in 2017, skipping the iPhone 9 entirely. Apple continued on with the confusing naming scheme in 2018 with the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, but things became clearer in 2019 with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.https://8ba654271b4ef17a7558dd79cb17f6b5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Apple previously did a numerical increase and then an “S” year, but because the changes expected in 2020 are so significant, it’s unlikely that we’re going to get an iPhone 11S or similar, and much more likely that we’re going to see an iPhone 12.

If the lower-end followup to the iPhone 11 is named the iPhone 12 (which is what we’ll be calling it), then we can expect the two higher-end devices that are coming in 2020 to be the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Below are the names that Apple has used since the iPhone first launched in 2007:

  • 2007 – iPhone
  • 2008 – iPhone 3G
  • 2009 – iPhone 3GS
  • 2010 – iPhone 4 (new design)
  • 2011 – iPhone 4s
  • 2012 – iPhone 5 (new design)
  • 2013 – iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c
  • 2014 – iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (new design)
  • 2015 – iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
  • 2016 – iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
  • 2017 – iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X (new design)
  • 2018 – iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
  • 2019 – iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

There have been rumors circulating that Apple will call its smallest 5.4-inch iPhone the “iPhone 12 mini,” which would be the first time an “mini” iPhone with a “mini” naming scheme has been released.

The “iPhone 12 mini” could be sold alongside the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 12, the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The iPhone 12 mini name has also been referenced in alleged stickers that are said to be for Silicone iPhone 12 cases from Apple. The stickers also feature the names “iPhone 12,” “iPhone 12 Pro,” and “iPhone 12 Pro Max.”

Size Options

Apple is planning to offer four iPhones in three different sizes in 2020, with Apple introducing new sizes for the first time in a few years.

Rumors indicate we’ll see a 5.4-inch iPhone, a 6.7-inch iPhone, and two 6.1-inch iPhones. 5.4 inches is smaller than the current iPhone 11 Pro, while 6.7 inches is bigger than the current iPhone 11 Pro Max. Rumors suggest the 5.4-inch device will be close to identical in size to the iPhone 8.

One 6.1-inch model and the 6.7-inch model will be higher-end “Pro” iPhones, while the other 6.1-inch iPhone and the 5.4-inch iPhone will be lower-end models and successors to the iPhone 11. The higher-end iPhones will feature newer camera systems with triple-lens setups, while the lower-end iPhones will feature dual-lens camera setups.

Try the 5.4-Inch iPhone

We designed images that let iPhone owners who have a full-display iPhone visualize the size of the upcoming 5.4-inch iPhone. The 5.4-inch iPhone will be the smallest iPhone that Apple has released in recent years, and should satisfy those who are looking for a smaller form factor.

Design

The 2020 iPhones will feature an overhauled design with a metal frame that’s similar to the frame of the iPhone 4. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the new iPhones will use a more complex segmentation design, and new trenching and injection molding procedures.

iPhone 12 dummy models vs. existing iPhones

The overall design, though, will resemble the iPhone 4 or iPad Pro with a squared-edged stainless steel or aluminum frame between two pieces of glass. Standard iPhone 12 models will feature an aluminum frame while higher-end Pro models will have a stainless steel frame and all four models will continue to use front and back glass for the body of the device, but Apple is allegedly introducing a new “Ceramic Shield” glass screen that could perhaps be more resistant to scratches and drops.

Japanese site Mac Otakara believes the 6.7-inch iPhone will have a thickness of 7.4mm, which would be quite a bit thinner than the 8.1mm thick iPhone 11 Pro Max. It’s also expected to be slightly taller than the 11 Pro Max. The 5.4-inch iPhone’s height is expected to be somewhere between the height of the iPhone SE and the iPhone 8. The 5.4, 6.7, and at least one 6.1-inch iPhone are expected to have different numbers of microphone holes along the bottom.

A mockup of what the new iPhone 12 could look like

Along with the iPad Pro-style design and size tweaks, leaked schematics that allegedly reveal Apple’s plans for the device also show several other minor design tweaks worth noting, as listed below:

  • Slightly larger camera lenses
  • Thicker antenna lines at the side for 5G
  • SIM tray relocated to the left side of the device
  • Smart Connector-like input on the right (which may actually be an antenna)
  • One less speaker hole on right side of the speaker grille
  • Slightly lower power button

There will be a Lightning port on the iPhone 12, with Apple continuing to use Lightning instead of swapping over to USB-C.

Colors

Multiple rumors have suggested that the iPhone 12 Pro models will come in a new navy blue finish, which will replace the midnight green color that was introduced as an option for the iPhone 11 Pro. The blue will likely be the same shade as the new blue Apple Watch Series 6, which Apple introduced as a new Apple Watch color in September.

Other iPhone 12 Pro colors will include silver, gold, and graphite, while the standard iPhone 12 models are expected to be available in black, white, red, blue, and green.

Schematics and Mockups

A rendering of the iPhone 12 Pro Max said to be based on leaked CAD designs was shared in April, and it lines up with many of the rumors that we’ve heard about the device so far. The new iPhone appears to take design cues from the iPad Pro, with a square-edged stainless steel frame between two pieces of glass and a larger 6.7-inch OLED display.

The render suggests the iPhone 12 Pro Max will be 7.4mm thick, quite a bit thinner than the 8.1mm thick iPhone 11 Pro Max. The camera bump is expected to be thicker, measuring in at 1.26mm, up from 1.21mm. The notch in the rendering is the same size as the existing notch.

It’s not clear if these renderings are entirely accurate, but given that they match well with the current rumors that we’ve heard about the upcoming iPhones, this could indeed be what the 2020 iPhones will look like.

Alleged iPhone 12 schematics that surfaced in April have suggested Apple will implement a smaller notch by integrating the front speaker for the device into the bezel. The updated hardware layout also features the ambient light and proximity sensors moved to a more central position within the TrueDepth camera system.

3D printed iPhone 12 mockups based on leaked schematics and info from Apple’s supply chain surfaced in June, providing a size comparison.

These mockups may not be entirely accurate as the camera setups depicted don’t feature the LiDAR 3D sensor that some of the iPhones are expected to include.