Apple has been really brave when it has come to releasing new products during the coronavirus pandemic. First it was the macbook, iPad pro and then the iPhone SE 2020. But now according to the Wall Street Journal, production will be delayed in Asia due to COVID-19. Earlier this month, Tim Cook acknowledged in a companywide virtual meeting that the coronavirus was a “stressful moment,” but highlighted Apple’s strong financial position and continuing investment in product research and development. The production delay however has not stopped the rumors about the upcoming iPhone 12 lineup.

IPhone 12 Design

CAD render of the leaked iPhone 12 design

Even though Apple is supposed to introduce its new iPhone lineup this September, the smartphone maker is supposed to be already done with the design. The new CAD renders reveal lots of new design changes, but it’s also important to note that the design you see here is about 70% finished. There’s still some work to be done with rear camera placement and the notch. The display would have significantly thinner bezels – around 0.9 thinner than the current ones and the notch, if finalized, will be a tad wider than the one on the OnePlus 6, for reference. This would allow for bigger display – 6.7,” but the body will be slightly taller and wider too.

The expected back camera design

Now forming a square shape for its quad-camera setup, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will include a LiDAR sensor as well, but it might be positioned differently. The camera arrangement still isn’t final. And finally, the speaker grille will adopt a different look while the loudspeakers themselves will get 10 to 15% bump in loudness.

The iPhone 12 Lineup

The current iPhone 11 lineup

With the possibility of new display sizes, rumors that Apple will expand its iPhone line have been swirling around. The current 5.8-inch size of the iPhone 11 Pro may be going away. So the 5.4-inch and one of the 6.1-inch models will be the lower-end devices, presumably called the iPhone 12. Then the more expensive phones will be the other 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, respectively.

IPhone 12 New Features

There will be some small and some big new upgrades in the new iPhone 12.

Bigger and Smaller Display Sizes Expected

iPhone 12 render by Phonearena

One of the more enduring rumors about the upcoming iPhones is that Apple may introduce new screen sizes. One of the iPhone 12s could have a 5.4-inch screen. And the iPhone 2020 Pro Max could go as large as 6.7 inches. There’s also speculation that the iPhone 12’s display will have a 120Hz refresh rate. Most phones refresh at 60 frames per second, or 60Hz, but other phones, like the Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 8 Pro refresh at 120Hz. With a higher refresh rate, a phone feels faster and smoother when scrolling through things like web pages and apps.

IPhone 12 with 5G Connectivity?

Several rumors are predicting that Apple will include 5G connectivity this year. More specifically, Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo expects the company to unveil three 5G phones and Fast Company reported that Apple may use its own proprietary 5G antennas. Apple’s previous partner of 5G modems, Intel is to ultimately exit the 5G phone modem business altogether. Apple later acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion. Apple is still working with Qualcomm, but it got started too late to launch a 5G phone last year.

3D Depth Sensor in Rear Camera

Since the iPhone X, newer iPhones have front-facing cameras that have 3D depth sensing known as Face ID. This feature scans your face for unlocking your phone and authorizing digital payments. It’s been rumored that Apple may take it up a notch and introduce that same system to the rear cameras. The setup would be similar to that of the current True Depth camera system used for Face ID on the front of the phone, except it would use a slightly different type of technology that could allow it to 3D map objects from farther away. This would significantly improve its augmented reality applications and take certain camera features like Portrait Mode to the next level.

IPhone 12 to Release in October?

Despite Apple’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, assuring investors it should still make its fall timeline, The Wall Street Journal reported that the iPhone 12 could face delays. This is due to the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on manufacturing demands.The report estimated that Apple may wait until October to announce the phone, which is about a month after the iPhone’s usual launch.

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