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New iPhone 12: Everything we know about Apple’s 2020 iPhones

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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 10)

iPhone 12 release date: Delayed?

(Image credit: EverythingApplePro)

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

(Image credit: EverythingApplePro)

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?

(Image credit: EverythingApplePro)

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 new 5.4-inch iPhone 12 could be shockingly compact. In fact, according to EverythingApplePro, the phone’s dimensions will be even smaller than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE. So you’ll get a full-size screen in something that’s easy to use with one hand.

A separate tweet from Apple watcher Jon Prosser says that Apple will manage to shrink the notch on the iPhone 12 by moving the speaker up into the phone’s top bezel.

(Image credit: Jonas Daehnert)

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.

Another iPhone 12 Pro Max video brings the CAD renderings and leaks to life. This video from is from YouTuber EverythingApplePro, who cites reliable leaker Max Weinbach as their source. The video shows Apple’s 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max with flatter sides, a built-in LiDAR scanner, flatter edges and a smaller notch – all wrapped up in a slightly taller-but-thinner design than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

But not everyone believes the notch is here to stay. Benjamin Geskin, who comes up with a lot of phone renders based on leaks and rumors, has put out a render of a 6.7-inch iPhone that drops the notch and instead houses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera components inside a thin bezel. Geskin tweeted that this is a prototype for a 2020 iPhone model.

In a subsequent tweet, Geskin said Apple’s testing out Face ID prototypes that feature components capable of fitting in the phone’s top bezel. However, there’s no source attributed to that claim, and so we don’t believe this design will materialize until 2021.

iPhone 12 renders (Image credit: svetapple.sk)

Another rumor says that Apple will spice things up by offering a blue color for the iPhone 12. The blue would replace the Midnight Green color offered on the iPhone 11 Pro and may be exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

iPhone 12: How many models?

Most of what we know about the new iPhone 12 thus far comes courtesy of a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who forecasts four different iPhone 12 models on tap for 2020: one at 5.4 inches, two at 6.1 inches and the largest variant measuring 6.7 inches. All four 2020 iPhones will have 5G, Kuo says.

Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

These four phones are also expected to incorporate OLED displays, which would mark a change for Apple. Like the iPhone XR before it, the iPhone 11 features an LCD display instead of an OLED panel.

As for other specs, an investor’s note from UBS has predicted that the two largest iPhone 12 models (the 6.7 and 6.1-inch versions), will have 6GB RAM, while the smaller two (the second 6.1-inch model plus the 5.4-inch model) will stick with the same 4GB RAM found in the current iPhone 11.

Incorporating 6GB RAM would make for the most memory found in an iPhone to date, which, combined with a new processor (likely the A14 Bionic) will keep Apple at the top of the smartphone performance charts. That’ll especially be true if the A14 is manufactured on a smaller, more power-efficient 5-nanometer process, as some rumors have hinted.

Lately, we received confirmation that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 model is more than a rumor. A Digitimes report on Apple’s supply chain notes that two display makers are teaming up to manufacture panels for a 5.4-inch iPhone. That would confirm there’s a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 in the works.

If you’re wondering how all four rumored iPhone 12 models compare, Front Page Tech’s Jon Prosser shared an image on Twitter showing the four models and their key specs.

iPhone 12 cameras

Given that the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max feature triple-lens rear cameras for the first time in Apple’s hardware, we expect that to continue for the 2020 versions of the Pro iPhones. It’s also widely expected that the new iPhone 12 will add a new lens — a LiDAR time-of-flight sensor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects such an addition to at least two iPhone 12 models, most likely the Pro versions. Subsequent reports on iPhone 12 specs have backed that claim.

Fast Company spoke to a source that confirmed the presence of a “world-facing” 3D camera on the back of the iPhone 12, so it looks like this feature is a go, especially after 9to5Mac spotted code in iOS 14 that confirmed the existence of a time-of-flight sensor on the iPhone 12 Pro models.  And, of course, the iPad Pro 2020 released earlier this year includes a LiDAR scanner, signaling Apple’s plans for the iPhone 12.

A leaked iPhone 12 Pro schematic shows what a time-of-flight lens might look like on the iPhone 12 Pro’s camera array, and where it fits alongside the main, telephoto and ultrawide lenses found on Apple’s current iPhone Pro models.

Expect the sensor to more accurately judge the distance between your phone and the object you’re shooting. That will lead to better portrait shots, while also enabling more accurate object tracking and effects in those AR apps Apple is so keen on. One rumored use would let users point their iPhone 12 at items in Apple Stores and Starbucks and see digital information appear on the phone’s display.

The iPhone 11 Pro’s three lenses could be joined by a time-of-flight sensor on the iPhone 12 Pro. (Image credit: Future)

Based on a patent filing, Apple is also working on a periscope-like telephoto lens that should provide a longer zoom range than previous iPhones. Apple is apparently trying to fit five-lens and three-lens arrays into a smaller space by using a prism to reflect light.

DigiTimes have published claims that the next iPhone will use “sensor shift“, a new kind of image stabilization technology, on its cameras. The technology works by detecting how the phone is moving, and then moving the camera sensors in the opposite direction using small actuators, keeping your picture stable. This is different from the fairly common optical image stabilization (OIS) on other modern smartphone cameras, which moves the lens rather than the sensor, and hopefully for Apple will be more effective at producing quality shots even in shaky hands.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the camera array in this fall’s iPhone 12 lineup could feature a 7-part (7P) plastic element. That’s an upgrade from the 6P element lenses used in current iPhones. Such an improvement would help with magnification on zoom lenses; it could also better handle distortions in images.

Last November, Sony began teasing its upcoming flagship IMX686 image sensor, which could make it into the iPhone 12. The sensor captures 64 megapixels, though it also has the ability to deliver optimized 16-megapixel shots with improved light sensitivity, thanks to Quad Bayer pixel-binning. The image sensors employed in all three iPhone 11 models are manufactured by Sony and rated at 12 megapixels. 

iPhone 12 performance

It’s a foregone conclusion the iPhone 12 line will be powered by Apple’s next-generation A-series chip. What we don’t know quite yet is how powerful that silicon will be, though a leaked Geekbench 5 score card suggests the upcoming range of iPhones will wipe the floor with competing Android flagships.

(Image credit: ITHome)

Even though Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset has somewhat closed the gap to Apple’s current A13 Bionic CPU, the rumored 5-nanometer A14 Bionic could once again blow Cupertino’s lead wide open. According to the leaked screenshot, the iPhone 12 could reach a peak multi-core score of 4,612 points. If true, that would be roughly 1,500 points higher than Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The catch, of course, is that leaked benchmarks are quite easy to fake. So while these purported numbers are very exciting, we recommend you wait for further leaks to corroborate these results before buying the hype.

iPhone 12 display: 120Hz refresh rate

The new iPhone 12’s display could support a welcome improvement over the screens on many current smartphones. A tweet from leaker Ice Universe claims that Apple is considering whether to let next year’s iPhone switch between a 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate, much like every new Galaxy S20 model can. This rumor received more weight in October 2019, when DigiTimes reported that the iPhone 12 will have the same 120Hz refresh rate as the iPad Pro.

Offering an iPhone with a 120Hz refresh rate would mean a smoother scrolling display than anything we’ve currently seen from many rival devices, especially if Apple can offer the feature by default. (On the Galaxy S20, you have to enable the 120Hz refresh rate, and the feature only works at Full HD+ resolution.) Right now, the OnePlus 8 Pro joins the S20 lineup with a 120Hz refresh rate, as does the ROG 2 Phone from Asus. Other devices from Google, OnePlus and Motorola sport the 90Hz refresh rate while the iPhone 11 lineup remains at 60Hz.

iPhone 12 Touch ID in display?

At least one model of the iPhone 12 could offer an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which would bring Touch ID back in a new way. This is according to a report in Economic Daily News.

The report says that Qualcomm, touch panel maker GIS and OLED display maker BOE are collaborating on the tech. Qualcomm currently provides similar technology for the Samsung Galaxy S20 series.

Where would the sensor be? A previous report said that Apple would enable fingerprint recognition anywhere on the display, according to information provided to MacRumors by Barclays analysts.

However, Ming-Chi Kuo said that it’s possible the 2021 iPhones could feature both Face ID and Touch ID. That would mean we’d have to wait until next year for an in-display fingerprint sensor.

USB-C charging? And new fast charging

Apple has given its iPhones its proprietary Lighting port since the iPhone 5. However, times are changing. The newest generation of iPad Pro uses USB-C — as does basically every other portable device manufacturer in the world right now — but more important than that is the influence of the European Union.

The EU has voted to make manufacturers use USB-C in order to increase consumer convenience and decrease waste. Apple has objected to this ruling, but it isn’t going to have much of a choice but to comply. Whether this law will go into force before the iPhone 12’s design is finalized isn’t certain, but it could be possible that the iPhone 12 will use USB-C as a result.

According to a new report, Apple, Samsung, Oppo and other manufacturers will very soon start making chargers that use new gallium nitride technology that cuts the size of power adapters while keeping the same wattage. That means that the iPhone 12 could deliver 65 watts of power in a compact charger instead of the huge brick that comes with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

A new use for Face ID

Today Face ID is used for unlocking your phone, approving app purchases, entering passwords and confirming Apple Pay payments, but one more use could be on the way. As reported by AppleInsider, Apple has been awarded a patent for Face ID that would introduce a very useful application. 

The patent explores using Face ID to determine the position of a user’s face relative to the phone. That would mean that even if they’re interacting with your handset while it’s lying flat on a table, or you’re holding the iPhone 12 on its side or up over your head, the device would know exactly which direction the screen should be oriented.

It’s possible that this feature could be issued as part of iOS 14 and make its way to all iPhones that support Face ID, as opposed to being an iPhone 12 exclusive.

iPhone 12 outlook

Based on the rumors surrounding the iPhone 12, Apple’s 2020 phone update sounds like an exciting one. Now we just need more clarity on when Apple will be able to release all the new iPhone 12 models.

It sounds like the biggest improvements will come in the areas of 5G connectivity and support for augmented reality apps with the time-of-flight sensor slated for some iPhone 12 models. The importance of 5G hinges heavily on how far along wireless carriers are with building out 5G coverage by the time the iPhone 12 ships. And we would expect more info on AR apps during whatever form the online WWDC takes in June.

Even with daily iPhone 12 leaks, there’s still so much we don’t know about Apple’s first 5G iPhones. So be sure to keep an eye on this hub over the coming months as new information surfaces.

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