The three new iPhone sizes. Photo: Marques Brownlee
Multiple separate leakers have now come forward with the same date: October 13th. That’s when Apple will reveal the new iPhone 12, with preorders for the new smartphone starting the following Friday, October 16th. Now Jon Prosser, a leaker with an increasingly sketchy reputation, has added more details. Suppliers are supposedly receiving the iPhone 12 on October 5th. He also confirmed a leak from L0vetodream, who stated that the iPhone 12 would come with 64GB options, while the iPhone 12 Pro will start at 128GB. Prosser also stated that the 5.4-inch iPhone would definitely be the “iPhone 12 mini.” Yes, with a lowercase ‘m,’ as Apple has done in the past for “mini” products.
If these leaks are correct, we’d know by October 6th. Apple usually sends out invites at least a week in advance for their releases, even for their socially distant reveals.
iPhone 12 Coming Soon
According to South China Morning Post, iPhone 12 production is running at maximum capacity at Foxconn’s plants. Overtime has increased significantly, and the company has restricted time off to just four days per month. Workers are reporting attractive compensation for working overtime and working for 90 days. Foxconn has begun operating 24 hours a day to meet early demand.
All of that is to get Apple’s iPhone 12 models out to retailers by next week, with the iPhone available on the 16th.
Early Preorders?
The leakers state that Apple will start taking preorders immediately after their October 13th event. They could try taking orders during the middle of the day, as they did with the Apple Watch Series 6 this year, or choose to wait until early morning the next day. In the past, the iPhone has gone on sale as early as 12am Pacific time (3am on the east coast), or 8am on the east coast (5am on the west).
These are uncharted territories. Other leaks claim that preorders will start on October 16th, as usual, with the release coming a week later, on October 23rd. This is more in line with Apple’s standard iPhone release schedule. However, with COVID-19, nearly all sales shifting online in the U.S., and production delays, anything’s possible.
Pro Delay?
We had previously heard to expect only the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro at launch. However, according to a report from Bloomberg’s incredibly well-connected Mark Gurman, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 will release before the iPhone 12 Pro models. It’s possible that features reserved for the Pro iPhone models took more time to manufacture. Introducing LiDAR and 5G connectivity to their high-end models may have increased the manufacturing complexity, delaying the devices.
The iPhone X released in November after a significant delay. It’s possible that Apple’s Pro models could release as late as November. Would the later release be worth it? The iPhone 12 brings the small iPhone many iPhone users have wanted since Apple introduced the iPhone 6. 5G connectivity is in few markets in the U.S., so it’s not an attractive selling point for every potential customer. Some may not understand or care how LiDAR changes their photos unless it comes with exciting new exclusive AR features. This year, like the two years prior, may mean the non-Pro iPhone models are the best ones to buy.
The iPhone 12
via AppleInsider
Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone 12 in October. It’ll come in four sizes. We expect a new smaller than ever full-screen iPhone 12 mini, with a 5.4-inch display, making it just a little larger than the iPhone 5. Apple will also have another 6.1-inch non-Pro iPhone 12. The smallest iPhone 12 Pro will get a new larger 6.1-inch display, up from 5.8 inches on the iPhone 11 Pro. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will have Apple’s largest iPhone display ever, coming in at 6.7 inches, 0.2 inches larger than the current largest iPhone.
The Pro models are expected to come with a new LiDAR module for improved AR and 3D mapping for photography. They may also be the only models equipped with 5G, with only the iPhone 12 Pro Max coming with the fastest version of 5G, millimeter wave.
With the launch date coming closer, expect more accurate leaking from multiple sources. For now, multiple independent sources—including two cellular carriers—are reporting an October 13th reveal date for the iPhone 12. It could be Apple’s most exciting iPhone since the iPhone X. Set your calendars!
Sources:
- Juli Clover, MacRumors, [2]
- Luke Dormehl, Cult of Mac
- Tim Hardwick, MacRumors
- Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac
- Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider