There have been a lot of rumours doing the rounds that the
fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic would impact on Apple’s plans for launching
a new iPhone this year. As far back as February, Apple was one of the
high-profile victims of the disruption caused to manufacturing in China by the
initial outbreak
With key Apple suppliers having to scale back production
as China imposed a strict lockdown, it was thought that Apple’s usual iPhone
development pathway would be thrown off course, and we might therefore not see
a new model this year.
However, iPhone fans have now had some much more positive
news. Analysts with an inside track on happenings at the tech giant have
reported that Apple is planning to push ahead with its now traditional September launch event. With production of the next iPhone series now believed
to be back on the right track, it is expected that at least two new handsets
will be unveiled initially, with two more possibly to follow later in the year.
Scaling up choice
So what can we expect from the latest incarnation of the iconic
iPhone? Going by Apple’s previous naming conventions, the smart money is on the
new range being called the iPhone 12 - although Apple has thrown a couple of
curve balls out in the past. It is expected there will be three or four main
handsets - a ‘standard’ and Pro model, with the latter boasting souped-up
specifications similar to the iPhone 11 Pro. Then there could be large-form
versions of both types, so an iPhone 12 Max and iPhone 12 Max Pro.
In terms of design, the rumours are that Apple is looking to
go back to the future by making the standard iPhone 12 more compact than recent
models. A 5.4” screen, which would be a throwback to the time of the iPhone 4 and 5, has been suggested. But
the understanding is that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max would both
feature a 6.1” screen, giving consumers a choice between a standard and
high-spec model in what has become the default iPhone screen size of recent
years. A 6.7” screen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max would complete the options.
It is most likely that Apple will stick with OLED
touchscreens, its preferred choice for its flagship models since the iPhone X.
It is possible that some or all of the iPhone 12 series handsets will feature a
120Hz refresh speed, an upgrade that would bring them in line with the Samsung
Galaxy S20 in delivering a faster, smoother experience.
The other main topic of conversation around the iPhone 12
series is whether or not it will support 5G. With Samsung launching the
5G-ready Galaxy S20 already, and other high-end 5G phones from the likes of
OnePlus and LG available, it is hard to see how Apple can overlook 5G
compatibility for another year. There is a possibility that it might make all
four new models available in 4G and 5G versions, which would make it the
biggest iPhone launch ever in terms of number of devices.
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*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.