IPhone 12 rumors: Everything we know about Apple's 2020 iPhones - Tom's Guide

Apple's iPhone 11 may be less than a month after its launch in the fall, but it's the Cupertino 2020 phones that attract so much attention for a good reason.

Next year, iPhones are reported to be the first to offer Apple 5G compatibility. At least one model will support 5G, and eventually all iPhones coming out in 2020 can use the faster network standard. Rumors say that Qualcomm and Samsung are modems providers. Apple intends to produce its own 5G chips in the future (although these chips are certainly not ready by 2020).

Obviously, it is still very early and many things may change by the end of next year. Nevertheless, we have some details about Apple's plans for his first iPhone 5G. That's what the rumor says about the iPhone 12.

Release date of the iPhone 12

If you're trying to plan the arrival of Apple 5G-compatible iPhones, we hope you invest in one of these 18-month calendars. With the launch of the iPhone 11 in September of this year (probably on September 10 ), it is logical that the iPhone 12 will follow a year later, in September 2020.

It's still possible for Apple to choose an earlier version in 2020 so as not to lose too much competition with phone manufacturers who have already launched the 5G models. However, this would be an unusual step for Apple, which tends to curtail the introduction of mobile phones in the fall.

iphone 12 price

Most 5G cell phones launched this year are more expensive than traditional models. For example, the Galaxy S10 5G costs $ 300 from $ 1,299 for the already-expensive Galaxy S10 + . The recently introduced Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G also costs $ 1,299, which is $ 200 more than the standard Note 10 Plus model .

One benefit that Apple could use for its 5G phone before 2020 is that the price of 5G components has dropped, allowing Apple to launch the iPhone 12 at the same price it would pay for an iPhone today , However, this is pure speculation for the time being.

5G networks will also be more advanced than today, with 5G coverage limited to a few neighbors in just a few cities. Although Apple will release 5G devices later than Samsung, LG and others, the iPhone 12 could come at a time when the 5G is becoming more relevant to more people.

iPhone 12 and 5G

Most of the current knowledge about the iPhone 12 comes from a report by analyst Ming Chi Kuo, which provides for three different iPhone models by 2020: one with 5.4 inches, the other with 5.4 inches 6.1 inches and the largest variant It measures 6.7 inches.

Apple's latest iPhone series

(Picture credits: Tom's Guide)

Earlier, Kuo said that only the 5.4 and 6.7-inch models will be equipped with 5G while the 6.1-inch phone will remain the successor to Apple's iPhone XR until 2020 and continue to be outfitted becomes LTE technology. Kuo, however, revised its guidance : thanks to the strong ability for Android phone manufacturers to sell cheap 5G phones for next year, Apple's interest in AR and the recent purchase of the sector. Telephone modems. Intel clever , now confident that the three iPhones 2020 have 5G .

All three phones will probably also be equipped with OLED displays. This means that Apple may offer a new iPhone with LCD in 2019. (The successor of the iPhone XR 2019 should have an LCD screen).

Could a successor to iPhone SE be in the works by 2020?

(Image credits: future)

Although none of it is set in stone, the news of a potential 5.4-inch model may inspire fans of the iPhone 4-inch iPhone , which has weakened Apple after its launch in 2016 and 2016 reached final state. of life. The iPhone 5.4 inches 2020 would probably be somewhere in the middle between the operating system and the current iPhone XS, with a size of 5.8 inches and a much better usable screen area than the SE, thanks to the new screen thin and slim Apple Lünettendesign

iPhone 12: mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G

Once the 5G begins to mature, two different types of 5G networks begin: millimeter waves (mmWave) and frequencies below 6 GHz.

Currently, most 5G wireless networks launched in the US are limited to the mmWave side of the spectrum. This type of infrastructure provides very low latency connectivity at gigabit speeds and warns of extreme sensitivity to physical obstacles. The lower than 6 GHz spectrum, on the other hand, is more like conventional LTE networks because it is much slower but can penetrate buildings and walls.

The only 5G smartphones in the US today In the US, both the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and the LG V50 ThinQ 5G use the Qualcomm X50 5G modem to connect to mmWave networks. However, Qualcomm's upcoming 5G modem, the X55 , will also support frequencies below 6GHz. This means that new hardware phones are better prepared to support the entire 5G range in all specifications. (The X55 will be available for some of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G models released later this year.)

5G X55 modem

(Image credits: Qualcomm)

Apple would work with Qualcomm and Samsung to equip their 2020 iPhones with modems from both companies that can connect to mmWave and sub-6GHz networks. According to Kuo (via CNBC ), Qualcomm's development has so far focused on mmWave, while Samsung has focused on frequencies below 6GHz, so Apple may prefer a particular company's chip to a region. depending on whether mmWave or sub-6GHz prevails.

Until recently, a continuing lawsuit between Apple and Qualcomm prevented the development of the iPhone 5G. For months, Intel was seen as the provider of Apple's first 5G modem in 2021, about two years after the launch of the 5G-compatible Apple phones. But then Apple and Qualcomm have settled their long dispute, Intel has completely withdrawn from the 5G chips and Apple has bought the Intel modem business . Qualcomm and Samsung are much more advanced in their development than Intel and pave the way for the iPhone 5G for another year.

Finally, Apple should cease to engage Qualcomm and Snapdragon for 5G chips, and develop its own modems like the A-Series processors, which is unlikely in the iPhone 12.

iPhone 12 camera

In addition to the size of the phones and the inclusion of 5G, we still do not know much about the new generation of phones from Apple. However, we can have ideas based on Apple's plans for this year's device bundle.

With the successors of this year's iPhone XS and XS Max expected to use triple-lens rearview cameras for Apple hardware for the first time, we expect this to continue for the 2020 versions of the phone. The iPhone 12 should also add a new lens: a flight time sensor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects such a supplement for at least two iPhone 12 models .

A flight time sensor can estimate distances more accurately. This helps to get better bokeh effects in portraits. This also means that the iPhone 12 can better support augmented reality applications, which is an increasingly important area of ​​activity for Apple in recent years.

Kuo's report picks up on an article by January Bloomberg stating that Apple could introduce in its 2020 list depth-sensitive flight surveillance cameras that can scan entire rooms.

Other features of the iPhone 12

It has also been reported several times that this year's iPhones will drop 3D Touch, allowing for pressure-sensitive context actions in current models. However, Apple significantly recovered the Touch ID in 2020 by enabling full- screen fingerprint recognition, according to analysts at Barclays MacRumors .

More recently, Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that it is possible for 2021 iPhones to have both a Face ID and a Touch ID .

Does the score go out?

(Picture credits: Tom's Guide)

In terms of the appearance of the iPhone 2020, the score is so well-known that its introduction by Apple on the iPhone X could disappear. An article in the China Times says that Apple wants to end this and that a Credit Suisse analyst predicts this for 2021, but the first high-quality iPhone is expected in 2020.

The screen of the iPhone 12 could provide a welcome improvement over the screens of many current smartphones. A tweet from the Ice Universe filter indicates that Apple plans to switch the iPhone between an update rate of 60 Hz and 120 Hz next year.

Apple is considering a switchable refresh rate of 60 Hz / 120 Hz for the iPhone in 2020 and argues with Samsung and LG. pic.twitter.com/4aoU303umu July 21, 2019

If you offer an iPhone with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, you will get a smoother scrolling than other devices. Currently, the OnePlus 7 Pro sets the standard for flagship phones with an update frequency of 90 Hz. The Asus ROG 2 phone has an update frequency of 120 Hz. However, this phone is centered on the game has not yet been sold

overview

Given the features programmed for the iPhone 12, it may be tempting to ignore this year's update and wait for next year's model. We understand the dynamics, although the best time to update your phone is when you need a new model, regardless of the features that can occur within a year.

We do not know much about the first 5G iPhones from Apple. See this center in the coming months as new information appears. In the meantime, please visit our Rumors page for the iPhone in 2019 all the news, leaks and reports about the iPhone that appear in this fall be .