Release Date

One of the first questions on everyone's minds is when this exciting new phone will come out. Apple typically unveils its iPhones in September, but this year's global events might push back the date. If it does come out in September, many expect a release date of Sept. 8 or Sept. 15, which would follow Apple's pattern of announcing on Tuesday in the second or third week of the month.  

On the other hand, some sources suggest that manufacturing might be delayed, resulting in later in-store availability. At first, it looked like Apple would enter mass production in July, with larger models to be rolled out later. Other sources say it might be pushed back a month, so you wouldn't expect to see the phones in stores until October or November.

As far as big changes go, people expect this phone to have a very different look from the last few iPhone iterations. It looks like Apple might eliminate the gentle, curved edges of the phone and make it flat instead — certainly a new look that should make it sleeker, though it harkens back to a nostalgic frame design. In some areas, Apple will be playing catchup to other big devices, such as including 5G support and 120Hz refresh rates.

Despite massive changes, the price point could drop, making the entry-level phone more affordable, possibly starting at $649. Though analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that some materials could cost up to 60% more on some models, but it is unclear how these prices will affect the retail price point. The entry-level phone is one of four, adding a 12 Max to the lineup so you can get a larger screen without the bells and whistles of the highest-end options. 

CONFIGURATIONS

iPhone 12
5.4 inches
$649

iPhone 12 Max
6.1 inches
$749

iPhone 12 Pro
6.1 inches
$999

iPhone 12 Pro Max
6.7 inches
$1,099

iPhone 12 Configurations & Specs

Before we get into the details, let's take a look at what options we're talking about. The whole collection will likely entail an iPhone 12, 12 Max, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. All models should have 5G, but not necessarily mmWave technology. That may be reserved for the 12 Pro and Pro Max.

Here's how big they'll be: 

•  iPhone 12: 5.4 inches
  
•  iPhone 12 Max: 6.1 inches  
  
•  iPhone 12 Pro: 6.1 inches 
  
•  iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7 inches
  

The 12 Max is a new player, as we didn't see that version in the 11 lineup. It basically offers the same tech as the 12 in a bigger package, so you don't have to pay for the upgrades just to get a larger screen. It will be closer in price to the base 12 than the Pro and Pro Max.

The 12 and 12 Max will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage options, while the Pro and Pro Max add a 512GB option. As with all iPhones, there won't be an option to add more storage with a MicroSD card, so you'll have to get enough storage from the start. Fortunately, the 128GB starting point is double the 64GB of the previous generation.

We can expect colors to be similar to the previous years' options, though there's talk of adding a navy blue color after the success of the 11's midnight green. Navy blue might replace that color or simply be a new addition. The colors for the base models will likely include some fun options and pastels, similar to what's offered on the iPhone 11. For reference, the 11 currently comes in red, yellow, green and purple, in addition to white and black.

Different sources place predicted costs at the following price points: 

•  iPhone 12: $649
  
•  iPhone 12 Max: $749  
  
•  iPhone 12 Pro: $999
  
•  iPhone 12 Pro Max: $1,099
  

Of course, additional storage will cost you extra. Typically, it's about $100 for every 128GB of data. 

•  Aura black
  
•  Aura white, which is more pearlescent
  
•  Aura glow, which is a unique, almost chromatic color that appears rainbow in the right light
  
•  Aura pink, a Samsung-exclusive color
  
•  Aura red, also a Samsung exclusive
  

The Note 10+ is available in aura black, aura white and aura glow. It's also available in aura blue, except the 5G model. There's even a special edition "Star Wars"-themed 10+, if you can get your hands on it. 

BUILD

Estimates for screen resolution are as follows: 

iPhone 12
2248x1084

iPhone 12 Max
2540x1174

iPhone 12 Pro
2540x1174

iPhone 12 Pro Max
2785x1293

Build

As mentioned, the build of the phone should get a significant overhaul. The curved edges will go away, replaced with a sleek flat edge like we saw on the most recent iPad Pro. This should slim out the phone and give it tighter, more square corners. It might even be a little less slippery. We can still expect a glass back, and the edges will be stainless steel, though that might be reserved for the Pro and Pro Max with aluminum framing on the other two models.

The iPhone 12 base model will be incredibly compact. With an edge-to-edge 5.4-inch screen, it could have dimensions even smaller than the SE, which has a 4.7-inch screen with bars on the top and bottom and a lower aspect ratio. For people who like tiny phones, this could be a big plus. 

The display itself will also see quite a few differences. It looks like the liquid crystal display (LCD) will leave entirely and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays will take over across all models. Currently, the 11 has an LCD screen, and the higher-tier models have OLED.

One source says that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will use Y-OCTA technology, which allows the screen to be thinner and cheaper to make. Of course, that's not a promise that it would bring down the cost of the phone at all, but it can still thin things out. It could also enable in-display fingerprint scanning, which we'll talk more about later.

Estimates for screen resolution are as follows: 

•  2348x1084 for the iPhone 12
  
•  2540x1174 for the iPhone 12 Max
  
•  2540x1174 for the iPhone 12 Pro
  
•  2785x1293 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max 

Another big design change that many are hoping for is a smaller or nonexistent notch. Currently, the small notch at the top of the screen houses your front camera, speaker and sensors for Face ID. If Apple can figure out how to put these elements behind the display, they can eliminate the notch altogether for a full-coverage screen. Even if it's still there, making it smaller is a nice way to maximize screen size.

All of the phones should maintain their IP68 waterproofing.

Power

The iPhone 12s will all boast an impressive 5nm A14 Bionic processor from Apple. While we don't know much about the specifics just yet, early benchmarking has shown it outperforming the Snapdragon 865 by leaps and bounds. The Snapdragon is what Samsung uses in all of its flagship phones, so this processor could give Apple a significant edge.

Forbes found that it may even rival a MacBook Pro. Benchmark tests give it a multi-core score of about 5,000, while the fastest Android phones usually hit around 3,000. In addition to the processor, Apple's also likely to increase the RAM on the Pro and Pro Max. Though the lower two tiers will likely have 4GB of RAM, the others will have 6GB. This prediction is pretty widespread.

Between these two power additions, this next phone is going to be lighting fast.

Another interesting new development in power that we might see is gallium nitride chargers. This technology allows for loads of power to be packed into a smaller adapter. You could find yourself with a 65W charging block, similar to the ones that power MacBooks, in the size of a traditional 12W adapter that you might use for your phone.

As far as charging ports go, Apple isn't likely to join its competitors with a USB-C port in this iteration, but increasing pressure might bring it to fruition in upcoming years. In an attempt to reduce electronic waste and make consumers' lives easier, the European Union has passed a ruling that will require manufacturers to use common chargers for all mobile devices.

Another way around this would be to move to a port-free design that relies fully on wireless charging. Of course, we may still be far away from that one, as wireless charging, while growing, doesn't seem ready to replace cables just yet. 

In-Display
Touch ID

120Hz
Refresh Rate

802.11ay
Specification

5G
Support

iPhone 12 Features 

Apple's competitors already have several features that fans are looking to see in their new iPhones. If history is any indication, Apple would rather do something well than do it first, so they may just be spending some time perfecting the technology.

Some of those features we would love to see include the following.

1. In-Display Touch ID 

While Face ID is a great piece of technology, there are times when it doesn't always work well or you simply would rather use a Touch ID system. As edge-to-edge screen designs have become the norm, some manufacturers moved their fingerprint scanners to the back of the phone. Others, like the Note 7, have used Y-OCTA technology.

This technology is incorporated with the OLED screen, making the whole thing touch-sensitive. Traditional OLED screens place the touch sensors on another layer behind the display. Adding Touch ID back to the phone would add more versatility and fast access options for situations where Face ID is troublesome or not working. 

2. 120Hz Refresh Rate

So far, the iPhones have 60Hz refresh rates, but Samsung made 120GHz available in some of its recent releases, and we're hoping Apple can follow suit. This high refresh rate makes movements incredibly smooth and much more enjoyable, and Apple's already used it in 2017 iPad Pros.

The issue comes in with battery life. A 120Hz refresh rate can drastically reduce usage time, and Apple might be spending more time on the tech so they don't have that problem. Other phones that have this feature tend to offer it as an option — users can select either 120Hz or 60Hz refresh rates. Apple may also want to make it so 120Hz is the default, not an extra option, or include a dynamic program that automatically switches.

We might not see 120Hz this time around, or it may be limited to the Pro and Pro Max, but it's certainly a feature that many fans would like to see. 

3. 802.11ay Specification

802.11ay is a type of Wi-Fi technology that can increase the speed at which phones can share data. It's the next upgrade in this series of tech and has a 60Hz frequency. It can boost speeds to 20-40 gigabits per second and even has an extended transmission distance of 300-500 meters. 

4. 5G Support

While you won't find 5G networks in every city just yet, availability is growing and plenty of Apple's competitors are offering phones that support it, even in the low- and mid-ranges. This new, faster network should be available for all of the iPhones. If this capability is a must-have for a buyer, iPhones are now in the running.

It's worth noting that mmWave technology probably won't be available across the board. That feature may only be in the Pro and Pro Max, with the 12 and 12 Max having sub-6GHz tech, but Forbes' Gordon Kelly breaks down why this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The range on the mmWave isn't as good as sub-6GHz, and the cost savings are significant.

The iPhone 12 Camera

Apple has always created stellar camera setups, and we're hoping for an exciting new addition this time around, too.

As far as lenses go, it seems like the 12 Pro and Pro Max will have a triple-lens system like the iPhone 11 line did. These lenses include wide, ultra-wide and telephoto, likely at 12MB. The other two models would just have dual lenses for wide and ultra-wide.

Camera rumors abound for the iPhone 12, with a few interesting technologies floating around. Some of the rumors include adding: 

•  3D functionality: Rumors have mentioned a 3D camera, a depth-sensing lens and a 3D sensor. If Apple were to add a 3D camera, it would likely only go to the top two models. This move would use a laser scanner to power the 3D camera, which could work up to 15 feet away.
  
•  Sensor-shift technology: Sensor-shift technology involves slightly moving the image sensor so it can better adjust to movement and vibrations. We might see this feature in the 12 Pro Max.
  
•  3x optical zoom: The iPhone 11 only features 2x zoom, so this bump would be an improvement to the 12 lineup. Other ways Apple may boost the camera include upping the hybrid zoom capabilities. 
  
•  7-element wide-angle lens: The "elements" in a wide-angle lens help to minimize distortions and aberrations, and the iPhone 11 only had a 6-element lens. One more should help to improve image quality.
  

The front-facing TrueDepth camera may also get an upgrade for a wider field of vision, so you'd be able to open your phone with Face ID from more angles.  

One popular rumor was the addition of a 64MP rear camera instead of the traditional 12MP. According to Forbes, Apple scrapped these plans after Samsung struggled with problems in the Galaxy S20. These issues stem from the sensor's lower density of focus pixels. Considering Apple's success with their 12MP cameras, they can probably handle sticking to a smaller sensor just fine. 

LiDAR Scanner

By far the most popular prediction is the addition of a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanner. If the iPad Pro released earlier this year is any indication, Apple could very well include a LiDAR scanner on the new iPhones. The iPad had this scanner situated in the rear camera setup to help it judge distances and depth.

The LiDAR scanner is a time-of-flight system that works by sending lasers out into the landscape. It captures their reflections and uses that information to calculate the distances between the phone and different points in the environment. With those distances, it can develop a 3D rendering or depth map. Apple's LiDAR Scanner can measure up to five meters away, using photon-level nano-second speeds.

So what does all of this mean for your phone? The data points from the LiDAR scanner are fed into an algorithm alongside camera data and motion sensors to provide an in-depth image of the scene. It can then inform augmented reality applications, with better motion capture capabilities. It can also improve measuring and open up more adjustment options for things like Portrait mode. 

iOS 14

Here's what TechRadar expects of the next
iteration of iPhone operating systems:

• Home screen widgets
  
• New app switcher
  
• App preferences 
  
• Fitness app
  
• iMessage additions 
  
• Offline translation
  
• CarPlay and CarKey updates
  
•  Find My updates
  
• Siri expansion
  

iOS 14

While iOS 14 won't be exclusive to the 12, Apple could very well announce it in anticipation of the release. Typically, they release a new iOS before a new phone comes out, and they had a virtual keynote on June 22, as part of the Worldwide Developers Conference. 

Here's what TechRadar expects of the next iteration of iPhone operating systems:

•  Home screen widgets: While you can have some limited-use widgets, it appears that more
  offerings will be available on the home screen.
  
•  New app switcher: The new iOS may have an app switcher closer to that of iPadOS. Currently, the switcher fans out the apps like a card deck, but iPadOS shows a thumbnail in each corner of the screen.
  
•  App preferences: Apple has a habit of only letting you set their apps as defaults. For instance, when you click a link, it might open in Safari or Apple Maps instead of an app you prefer. Some predict that Apple will open up preferences to include third-party apps as defaults.
  
•  Fitness app: Some sources are saying that Apple might add an app with guided videos to provide virtual workouts. With more people staying at home this year, these kinds of appeals to physical health may be more useful.
  
•  iMessage additions: Apple may allow you to tag other users, delete messages after they've been sent, remove typing icons and mark messages as unread even if you've already opened them.
  
•  Offline translation: You could be able to translate a webpage without an internet connection.
  
•  CarPlay and CarKey updates: CarPlay may offer more customization, while CarKey would let you unlock, lock and start your car with your phone. Developers identified CarKey through a beta version of iOS 3.4.
  
•  Find My updates: With Apple's "Find My" system, you may be able to get notifications if someone doesn't get to where they should be.
  
•  Siri expansion: Apple may grant developers the option to change Siri's voice through custom synthesizers, opening up new languages and dialect support. They may also include more text-based communication with Siri.
  

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