Apple is expected to unveil <http://9to5mac.com/guides/ios-14> iOS 14 and
iPadOS 14 at WWDC in June. Ahead of that release, a new rumor from French site
<https://iphonesoft.fr/2020/01/26/ios-14-ipados-14-liste-iphone-ipad-compatibles>
iPhonesoft suggests that this yearâs iOS release will support all of the
same devices as iOS 13 did last year, but iPadOS will make some cuts.
According to the rumor, iOS 14 will continue to to support the iPhone SE as
well as the iPhone 6s. Every other device introduced since then will also be
supported, the rumor says.
iOS 14 devices:
* iPhone 11 Pro
* iPhone 11 Pro Max
* iPhone 11
* iPhone XS
* iPhone XS Max
* iPhone XR
* iPhone X
* iPhone 8
* iPhone 8 Plus
* iPhone 7
* iPhone 7 Plus
* iPhone 6s
* iPhone 6s Plus
* iPhone SE
* iPod touch (7th generation)
Of course, iOS 14 will also support all of the 2020 iPhones, including the
rumored
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/26/ios-14-devices-rumor/9to5mac.com/2020/01/11/iphone-se-2-price-specs-features-roundup>
low-cost iPhone SE 2/iPhone 9, as well as the iPhone 12 lineup. Todayâs
rumor also hedges that itâs possible Apple may end up dropping support for
the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s depending on the next several months of development.
As for the iPad lineup, todayâs rumor says Apple will drop support for the
iPad mini 4, originally introduced in September of 2015, and the iPad Air 2,
introduced in October of 2014. These devices are powered by the A8 and A8X
chips.
* 12.9-inch iPad Pro
* 11-inch iPad Pro
* 10.5-inch iPad Pro
* 9.7-inch iPad Pro
* iPad (7th generation)
* iPad (6th generation)
* iPad (5th generation)
* iPad mini (5th generation)
* iPad Air (3rd generation)
This rumor should be treated with some skepticism, though. Last year,
iPhonesoft said that iOS 13 would
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/10/ios-13-not-support-iphone-6/> drop support for
the iPhone SE, but that ultimately was not the case. The site did accurately
predict that the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 would be left on iOS 12, however.
Apple has an incentive to keep as many iPhone and iPad devices on the latest
version of iOS 14 as possible, namely security and access to the latest
features of subscription services like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. That, of
course, is also part of the reasoning behind the
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/26/ios-14-devices-rumor/9to5mac.com/2020/01/11/iphone-se-2-price-specs-features-roundup>
upcoming iPhone SE 2/iPhone 9.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/26/iphone-12-features-release-date/> Everything
we know about the iPhone 12 lineup so far
This year is shaping up to be a busy one for the iPhone. Apple is rumored to be
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/11/iphone-se-2-price-specs-features-roundup/>
preparing a new low-cost iPhone that could be released as soon as March, as
well as <https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/05/kuo-iphone-2020-and-2021/> four
different iPhone 12 variants set for release in September. Read on as we round
up all of the specs, features, and design details that we know about the iPhone
12 so far.
iPhone 12 design
If you find yourself longing for the days of the iPhone 4, 2020 might be the
year for you. We expect the iPhone 12 to mark the return to slab-sided design,
with reports suggesting that the
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/09/25/2020-iphone-redesign/> device will heavily
resemble the iPhone 4. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said this will
come as part of a significant chassis redesign for the iPhone 12.
Kuo believes that the iPhone 12 will still feature curved glass edges around
the display, like the iPhone 11. The analyst has referenced 2/2.5D glass in his
various reporting on the 2020 iPhone lineup. Currently, the iPhone 11 Pro
features a blended design between the glass of the display and the stainless
steel edges. This differs from the iPhone 4, which was completely squared-off
around the sides.
A supply chain report has also suggested that the iPhone 12 lineup will be
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/20/iphone-12-sizing-rumors-design/> thinner than
the iPhone 11, with the largest iPhone 12 model coming in at 7.4mm thick.
Thatâs around 10% thinner than the 8.1mm iPhone 11 Pro Max. Whether or not
the rest of the iPhone 12 lineup will be slimmer remains to be seen.
Appleâs return to a boxier industrial design theme with the iPhone 4 makes
sense when you <https://amzn.to/37uSg0D> consider the design of the iPad Pro.
In 2018, Apple redesigned the iPad Pro with a flat-sided body. This redesign
has been very well-received by users, so itâs not surprising to see it
inspire the iPhone 12. The front-side of the iPhone 12 is expected to look
nearly identical to the iPhone 11. Some evidence has suggested a potential
minor reduction in notch size, but whether or not that happens remains to be
seen. All four iPhone 12 models will feature Face ID, and the TrueDepth camera
system that powers Face ID will be housed in the notch.
While we have a general idea of what the iPhone 12 will look like, additional
rumors will likely shed more light on additional details as the September
release approaches.
Display
For the first time ever, the entirety of Appleâs flagship iPhone lineup will
sport OLED display technology this year. All four iPhone 12 models are
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/05/kuo-iphone-2020-and-2021/> expected to feature
OLED screens, including the successor to the <https://amzn.to/2GuTHjv>
LCD-equipped iPhone 11. What about display sizing? Reports suggest that Apple
will shift the lineup slightly this year compared to the iPhone 11. Hereâs
what we know so far:
* One iPhone 12 model with a 5.4-inch OLED display
* Two iPhone 12 models with a 6.1-inch OLED displays
* One iPhone 12 model with a 6.7-inch OLED display
This means the iPhone 12 collection will include the smallest iPhone to ever
feature the edge-to-edge display introduced with the iPhone 12, as well as the
largest iPhone ever.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/20/iphone-12-sizing-rumors-design/> Reports say
that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 model will have a height that is âmidway between
the iPhone SE and iPhone 8,â while the 6.1-inch version will be midway
between the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The 6.7-inch iPhone 12 will be
âslightly taller than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.â
Other than OLED, this yearâs iPhones
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/28/digitimes-2020-iphone-to-feature-120hz-high-refresh-rate-promotion-display/>
are also rumored to feature 120Hz high refresh rate âProMotionâ displays.
iPhones to date have included 60Hz displays, but Apple introduced 120Hz refresh
rates to the iPad lineup in 2017. The refresh rate doubling dramatically
improves the responsiveness of the user experience with gestures more quickly
being translated into on-screen motion.
All in all, this may sound confusing, but the gist is: one smaller iPhone 12,
two iPhone 12 models the same size as the iPhone 11, and one larger.
iPhone 12 camera
Other than screen size, the biggest differentiator between the iPhone 12 models
will be camera technology. Essentially, Apple is planning two iPhones with
dual-lens camera systems and two iPhones with triple-lens camera systems.
The 5.4-inch iPhone 12 will feature two cameras on the back. This will likely
consist of ultra-wide and wide-angle lenses. The same setup is expected on the
lower-end 6.1-inch iPhone 12.
Things get a bit more interesting with the two high-end iPhone 12 models. Here,
we expect a triple-lens camera system that is likely similar to the iPhone 11
Pro: wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. But, these two iPhone models are also
expected to
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/29/kuo-apple-adopting-rear-time-of-flight-3d-sensors-in-2020-iphones/>
feature a new time-of-flight 3D sensor.
What does this mean? A time-of-flight (ToF) sensor is similar to the infrared
TrueDepth camera system used on the front-side of iPhones for Face ID. Adding a
ToF 3D-sensing system to the back camera would enable higher-fidelity 3D photo
captures, potentially opening up new augmented reality opportunities. The ToF
sensor would also be more powerful and work at longer distances than the
TrueDepth system due to its laser-powered technology.
In addition to augmented reality features, this ToF sensor could also improve
things that rely on depth data, such as Portrait mode.
In terms of software, the iPhone 12 models are expected to feature everything
currently available on the iPhone 11, including Deep Fusion and Night mode. It
also possible that Apple has more software image processing features planned
for this year, especially to take advantage of the new ToF technology.
What about the front camera? We donât know much yet, but there is certainly
room for improvement from the iPhone 11. Weâll update when we learn more
about the iPhone 12âs front-facing camera.
Power
The iPhone 12 lineup is expected to feature the next iteration of Appleâs
A-series processors, presumably called the A14.
According to a
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/02/tsmc-will-reportedly-start-production-of-a14-chip-for-this-years-iphones-in-q2-new-5-nanometer-process/>
recent supply chain report, Appleâs partner TSMC is on schedule to start the
production of the A14 processor using a new 5 nanometer process in Q2. The A13
was produced with a 7nm processor, so the A14 should be more power-efficient
and faster, thanks to the 5nm process.
What kind of performance should you expect? Early estimates suggest that, when
combined with the rumored 6GB of RAM, the A14 could make the iPhone 12 as
powerful as the 15-inch MacBook Pro. Game performance could be boosted by
upwards of 50% thanks to a special emphasis on multi-core performance.
These improvements are due mainly to the 5nm manufacturing process. You can
read more details on the A14âs <https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/16/a14-chip/>
expected performance here.
Outside of the new A14 processor, the iPhone 12 could feature improved Face ID
performance as well.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/16/iphone-12-face-id-3d-sensors/> Analysts from
Barclays say that iPhone 12 lineup will include a ârefreshedâ Face ID
system. What exactly the analysts mean by ârefreshedâ is unclear, but it
could imply that Apple will upgrade the TrueDepth camera system used for Face
ID with improved performance and other enhancements.
The iPhone 11 featured improved Face ID performance as well, but that was
primarily due to changes in iOS 13 rather than hardware upgrades. This year, it
looks like we might be in store for actual hardware improvements to boost Face
ID recognition.
Connectivity
Perhaps most notably of all, all four of the iPhone 12 models introduced this
year are expected to feature 5G connectivity. Despite some initial reports to
the contrary, all four are expected to
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/13/this-years-iphones-5g/> include support for
both versions of 5G: sub-6 GHz 5G and mmWave 5G.
Different carriers around the world are rolling out sub-6GHz and mmWave
networks in different deployments and on different timelines. mmWave is the
technology with more impressive gigabit-like speeds, but its range is much
smaller. In comparison, sub-6GHz 5G rollouts in the United States typically
achieve speeds in the 100-150 Mbps range.
All four of the models will reportedly feature support for both variations of
5G, which will be useful not only for users in the United States but also
around the world, where 5G rollouts are different.
While Apple is in the process of developing its own in-house modems for iPhone,
the iPhone 12 is likely
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/16/apple-qualcomm-5g-iphone-2020/> to feature
modems from Qualcomm.
Whatâs important to keep in mind, however, is that Apple supporting 5G is
only half the story: it also needs to be available from carriers. Although the
early rollout of mmWave 5G is underway, the extremely limited range means
broader rollouts beyond major cities and high-density locations are farther
away. If carriers botch the 5G rollout, then it wonât be nearly as notable
for the iPhone 12 to have support.
iPhone 12: Naming, pricing, and release
Ming-Chi Kuoâs <https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/05/kuo-iphone-2020-and-2021/>
prediction graphic for the 2020 iPhones
All current evidence points to this yearâs iPhone being called the iPhone 12.
This makes sense given the expected redesign, which makes it unlikely that
Apple will make 2020 an âSâ year for iPhone upgrades. How exactly Apple
plans to brand each of the four iPhone models, however, is unknown.
Much like naming, pricing of unreleased iPhone models is incredibly hard to
predict. Apple set a precedent in 2019 by dropping the entry-level iPhone 11
price to $699, but whether or not that continues remains to be seen.
And last but not least, analysts say that Apple is currently on schedule to
release the iPhone 12 this September. Given that we are still eight months
away, however, we canât rule out the possibility of delays. Itâs also
possible that Apple could stagger the release of the four different models.
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/25/iphone-9-spring-event/> iPhone 9, 13-inch
MacBook update, (RED) Apple Watch â is an Apple event around the corner?
Itâs still too early to call it, but there just might be enough rumors
circulating to predict a Spring 2020 Apple Event. From iPhone 9 (or SE 2) to
Product (RED) Apple Watches, itâs not hard to imagine what could pack a 90
minute presentation around March.
Spring events happen (sometimes)
There are two Apple events that are almost guaranteed every year: Appleâs
Developer Conference in June, and the iPhone event in September. Spring events
only happen when thereâs a specific story to tell.
Last year Apple spent two hours
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/29/apple-news-card-arcade-and-tv-event-thoughts/>
proving its dedication to Services with Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple TV+, and
Apple Arcade. Before that we saw Apple frame a new entry-priced iPad event
around
<https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/27/apple-education-event-announced-roundup/>
education and the classroom.
Some years pass without a dedicated keynote, however, while other years are jam
packed with new hardware. Remember the
<https://9to5mac.com/2016/03/21/watch-iphone-se-event-under-10-minutes/> iPhone
SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro keynote?
So how is this year looking so far?
iPhone 9
Apple isnât afraid to release awesome new products without a keynote. See the
second-gen AirPods, iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 3, AirPods Pro, and 16-inch
MacBook Pro last year.
A new iPhone tends to demand stage time however â even if itâs the iPhone 5
with the guts of an iPhone 6s inside.
Apple discontinued direct sales of the iPhone SE without a true successor, but
there are plenty of rumors about a new take on the long-awaited iPhone SE 2.
Apple updated the iPhone 5 with top-of-the-line specs in 2016. This year signs
point to Apple
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/21/iphone-se-2-production-release/> updating the
iPhone 8 in a similar way. Thatâs where the iPhone 9 nickname comes in,
although Apple is often one to surprise with marketing names.
See our
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/11/iphone-se-2-price-specs-features-roundup/>
recent roundup of what we can expect in a so-called iPhone 9 release this year.
13-inch MacBook updates
Apple made a lot of Mac users happy last year when it replaced the butterfly
keyboard-equipped 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with an
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/05/16-inch-macbook-pro-review-video/> updated
16-inch MacBook Pro that uses a more reliable Magic Keyboard with scissor
switches beneath the keys.
The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air still rely on
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/11/13/safe-to-buy-apple-macbook-keyboard-yet/> the
problematic Apple keyboard, however, and new Mac laptops look like theyâre
<https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/13/macbook-filing-scissor-switch-13-inch/> ready
to go. Will we see the Air and Pro update together, or will we have to wait
until summer or even fall for new Notebooks?
There are a few changes I would love to see personally:
* New processors in the 16-inch MacBook Pro (the new design was released
with chips from the 15.4-inch model)
* The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro updated to a 14-inch display with narrower
bezels and the Magic Keyboard
* The 13.3-inch MacBook Air switching to the Magic Keyboard
Distinguishing the Air and Pro line on screen size, not just power and weight,
would further clarify the steadily improving Apple laptop lineup.
(Product) RED Series 5
We learned about the possibility of a
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/30/product-red-apple-watch-series-5/> (Product)
RED Apple Watch at the very end of last year. While we donât expect this to
be a new version of the Apple Watch hardware introduced last September, it
would be the first time the Apple Watch was sold in a red finish.
Apple has previously released
<https://9to5mac.com/2018/04/09/apple-announces-special-edition-productred-iphone-8-and-8-plus-order-from-tomorrow/>
(Product) RED versions of iPhones months after standard colors first debuted.
Weâve also seen new colors of Apple Watches introduced mid-cycle with the
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/19/apple-watch-series-4-gold-bands/> first gold
and rose gold aluminum finishes.
Services for everything
Apple loves Services now so no keynote is complete without an update on how
things are going in Services Land. Apple TV+ appears to be in good shape and
Apple Card is slowly maturing, but there are areas in Services that need more
attention.
* Apple News+ could
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/11/14/apple-news-plus-subscribers/> benefit from a
rethinking of how to sell digital magazines and newspapers
* Services like Apple Music and TV+ are
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/11/14/bloomberg-apple-media-bundle/> begging for a
bundle value
* Apple Podcasts is
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/16/apple-podcasts-original-content/> clearly
growing up and itâs only a matter of time before it becomes a proper service
* iCloud⦠needs⦠better⦠storage⦠plans. 5G for free is tragic,
and 2TB at the top can be limiting. 50GB for free would be tremendous even if
the 200GB price didnât change.
And a final hardware wish from me:
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/10/mac-pro-silver-black-magic-keyboard-mouse-exclusive/>
silver and black Mac Pro accessories (Magic Keyboard, Mouse, Trackpad) sold
separately. I really want all three without paying a premium from Mac Pro
customers. ð
An <https://9to5mac.com/2019/09/03/is-a-new-apple-tv-coming-next-week/>
updated Apple TV lineup would also be great to see. Apple TV HD isnât the
best for Apple Arcade games, and the Apple TV 4K price is
<https://amzn.to/36qhhIP> hard to justify over Fire TV and Roku products.
Website:
www.9to5mac.com
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