What to expect from the iPhone 12

Apple has announced that the release of the iPhone 12 will be delayed due to the pandemic. Whether that is because of delays in the development process or an anticipated dip in sales is unclear. At any rate, the usual September release date will be pushed back to at least October 2020.

But what can we expect by way of features, functionality and appearance from the new iteration of the world’s favourite smartphone? Here are a few pointers about what the new iPhone might look like. One thing to be sure of: it will be great for using popular apps and games.

Size and appearance

The iPhone 12 will come in two sizes, as all models have since the 6 and 6 Plus came out in 2014. Size wise, the new models will be similar to the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, the two most recent releases: the 12 Max and 12 Pro will be 6.1in, while the 12 will be 5.4in, placing them smaller than the 11 Pro Max, but the 12 Pro Max will measure 6.7in, making it the largest iPhone so far. Sources suggest that the 12 Max and 12 Pro will be released before the 12 and 12 Pro Max.

Other design changes are thought to include a thinner chassis and bezels, and a possible smaller notch.

Hardware

A new A14 chip will be the centre of the iPhone 12’s hardware. A reduction in chip size (to 5nm from the previous 7nm) will result in performance gains of around 15% across the phone. Speed wise we can expect significant increases on its previous iterations: think smooth gaming experiences, from Fifa to NBA2K. One possible side-effect, though, is that battery life might prove slightly worse on the 12 than on its predecessors.

Camera

Some images have been created showing the 12 with four camera lenses on the back: an increase on the triple-lens 11 Pro Max. The fourth lens is more likely, some believe, to be a LiDAR sensor, like on the latest iPad Pro: something only a few users will take advantage of.

Features

A big talking point of the proposed models for the new iPhone is the possible replacement of the lightning port with a USB-C port instead. While Apple’s adamant loyalty to its standard ports over the more standardised USB-C is historic, it’s possible that EU regulations might force them to switch to USB-C across new devices.

The biggest possible new feature, though, is 5G. Apple is racing to catch up with Android and other phone manufacturers in this regard: 5G has been offered for a long time by their competitors, while Apple is still trying to find a manufacturer for the modem required. Intel, their most recent contractor, has abandoned 5G work, so it may fall to Apple to create the necessary parts in-house. If this happens, though, we won’t see 5G on an iPhone until at least 2021.

Touch ID has also been touted as a possible new feature. In its post-Home button iterations, iPhone has abandoned fingerprint ID in lieu of face ID, but as the technology is not always perfect, some users have had to revert to typing in a passcode to enter. With the new model, there is a possibility Apple will offer touch ID through the glass of the screen: a previously unheard-of feature.

OS

iOS 14, which will be the default in the new iPhone, has been unveiled already, and a beta version is available for the general public to download to their iPhones. Alongside the expected enhancements to apps such as Voice Notes, Maps and Notes, there will be features that allow users to place widgets on their home screen, and changes to the storage of apps in the App Library which will allow for easier navigation. It looks as though the new OS will make significant advancements on previous iOSs.

The editorial unit