The iPhone SE 2020 may be the latest device to join Apple's smartphone lineup. But it's not the only phone we're expecting to see from Cupertino this year. The iPhone 12 is coming, and we could be seeing as many as four new phones this fall.
That’s when the next iPhone is expected to arrive, at least assuming there are no delays triggered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And Apple is planning big changes for the devices set to replace the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 will likely be Apple's first device to support 5G networking. Other reports point to an all-new iPhone 12 design that gets rid of the iPhone’s distinctive notch while adding in-display Touch ID functionality. And a new type of camera could even appear on some models.
We’re still several months out from the next iPhone launch, and a lot can change — particularly the date when the phones might actually launch. But here’s what we know so far about the iPhone 12.
iPhone 12: What to expect
- Four iPhone 12 models are coming this fall, following the iPhone SE 2020's launch in April.
- Expect two iPhone 12 devices with 5.4 and 6.1 inch displays and two iPhone 12 Pro models at 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.
- Multiple iPhone 12 models will feature 5G connectivity via Qualcomm's 5G modem.
- The iPhone 12 Pro models will likely add a LiDAR sensor to the three rear cameras, which will aid AR performance.
- All new iPhones could feature OLED screens, while the iPhone 12 Pro series may offer a 120Hz refresh rate.
Latest iPhone 12 news (updated May 7)
- The regular iPhone 12 may not offer mmWave 5G, which means you won't get the fastest speeds on the most affordable model.
- A new series of iPhone 12 renders from PhoneArena offer the clearest, most believable look yet at the design of all four premium 2020 Apple handsets.
- We've seen additional reports on the price and specs for all four iPhone 12 models.
iPhone 12 release date: Delayed?
The iPhone 11 lineup debuted at an Apple press event on Sept. 10 last year, so it stands to reason that the new iPhone 12 would follow in September 2020. If Apple is able to stay on track and the phone comes out on the second Tuesday of the month, we could be looking at a iPhone 12 release date of Sept. 8.
That's a mighty big "if," though. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, multiple reports have pointed to a delay of the iPhone 12. The most recent report from The Wall Street Journal says that mass production has been pushed back by a month, so it's reasonable to expect that the devices will hit stores in October or later. Earlier reports from Bloomberg and Digitimes had suggested iPhone 12 production was on track.
Even if the iPhone 12 does arrive in September, the most premium model could be held back. According to an April 2020 supply chain report, the standard iPhone 12 series will enter mass production in September, while the rumored iPhone 12 Pro Max will follow suit in October.
The coronavirus pandemic has already forced Apple to move its Worldwide Developer Conference online. The event will still be held in June, so you can expect to hear about iOS 14 around that time. That's the updated version of Apple's mobile operating system that will debut on the iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 price
The iPhone 11 starts at a fairly affordable $699, while the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max cost $999 and $1,099 respectively. The wild card is how much 5G support will add to the price of the new iPhone 12.
Most 5G-capable phones arriving last year are priced at a premium compared to conventional models. Last year's Galaxy S10 5G and Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G both cost $1,299 — $200 to $300 more than their LTE counterparts. The newly introduced Galaxy S20 has 5G connectivity and costs $999, but that's still $100 more than what the S10 debuted at a year ago.
Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo strikes a positive tone about the pricing for the iPhone 12, saying “Apple will not significantly increase the price of 5G iPhones compared to this year's lineup.” He estimates between a $30 and $100 bump depending on the specific version.
The best look at potential iPhone 12 prices that we've seen so far comes from analyst Chung-Hoon Lee of UBI Research, who offered his analysis of pricing to Korean publication The Elec. Lee thinks iPhone 12 prices will start at $700 for the 5.4-inch model, while the 6.1-inch version could cost $750. The iPhone 12 Pro models are expected to come in at $999 and $1,099, respectively, matching what the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max cost. Those estimates could change depending on economic conditions, Lee warns.
Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech thinks those prices will start a little lower. He cites sources that told him the 5.4-inch model will cost $649, while the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 will start at $749. The iPhone 12 Pro models will keep the $999 and $1,099 prices of their iPhone 11 Pro predecessors.
iPhone 5G: Apple's first 5G phones
A report from Nikkei says that all iPhone 12 models will ship with 5G networking capability, but the flavor of 5G may vary by the model.
According to Apple analyst Jon Prosser, all four iPhone 12 models with ship with 5G networking support. However, the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 may not support mmWave technology, which offers the fastest download speeds. Instead, these more affordable devices would support only sub-6GHz 5G.
5G in this lower band offers longer range but slower data rates than mmWave technology, which can reach up to 2Gbps. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will reportedly offer mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G, giving shoppers the best of both worlds. Verizon 5G is focusing, at least initially, on mmWave, which delivers the fastest speeds but typically requires line of sight.
Because Apple bought Intel’s modem business last year, it's expected that Apple will eventually stop getting its 5G modems from Qualcomm and will design its own modems in house, the same way it does for its A-series processors. That's unlikely to happen in time for the new iPhone 12, though.
iPhone 12 design: Smaller notch, flatter sides and blue?
The iPhone 12's design is expected to bring back the flat metal-edge design of the iPhone 5. A report from Bloomberg has suggested this will come to pass, with the premium iPhone 12 variants expected to receive the new design treatment.
The above image from designer Jonas Daehnert shows what the iPhone 12 Pro could look like with the flat edges, a smaller notch and a fourth "camera," which would presumably be a LiDAR sensor for more immersive augmented reality applications. That feature was introduced in the iPad Pro that came out in March.
