Apple event dedicated to the iPhone 12: expectations and forecasts
Index
iPhone 12 AirTags and AirPods Studio Apple TV and Apple SiliconAfter waiting for it for the month of September, Apple has finally announced the official date of the event dedicated to the new iPhones. The appointment is set for Tuesday 13 October at 19:00 (Italian time) and will be held exclusively in streaming due to the particular situation we are experiencing. The name chosen by Apple for this occasion is "Hi, Speed", probably a reference to the speed of the new 5G modems present in the iPhone 12, or to the new high-performance A14 processor. In recent weeks, there have been several fairly reliable rumors regarding upcoming products and services. In the meantime we will therefore analyze what to expect from the Cupertino company for this event, also summarizing the technical specifications provided for the long-awaited iPhone 12.
iPhone 12
The main protagonists of the event will undoubtedly be the new iPhone 12. This year Apple is expected to present even four models, each with various characteristics and sizes in order to meet the different technical and economic needs. The design also changes, which should return to a more square shape, similar to that of the old iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and the most recent iPad Pro. In particular we will see the following lineup with the respective display sizes:
iPhone 12 mini, 5.4 "iPhone 12, 6.1" iPhone 12 Pro, 6.1 "iPhone 12 Pro Max, 6.7" The first two models, 5.4 and 6.1 inches will be in the more "economic" range, while the last two will be among the premium smartphones worth over a thousand euros. The main differences between them are the rear sensors of the cameras. The "economic" models will have only two lenses (wide-angle and ultra wide-angle), while the others will also be able to count on a third telephoto lens and a LiDAR scanner for the three-dimensional analysis of the surrounding environment.
Another rather important novelty will be the presence of OLED screens for all models of the lineup, but without the long-awaited "Pro Motion" technology. In fact, Apple would have preferred not to implement the 120 Hz refresh rate to extend the autonomy of smartphones. The OLED screens of the "Pro" models may still have some advanced features, such as better contrast and brightness. The modem for 5G connectivity will also be present across the entire iPhone 12 line with support for mmWave and sub-6GHz networks.
The beating heart of the iPhone 12 will be the new A14 processor, probably side by side for the first time from 6 GB of RAM. Thanks to the new 5-nanometer production technology, the processor will be more powerful and at the same time much more efficient. This could bring performance to the levels of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, a laptop dedicated to professionals.
As for availability and prices, pre-orders should begin on October 16th with delivery scheduled after a few days. The "Pro" models may not be available in large quantities, so they could sell out immediately or suffer a further delay in November. Prices should slightly increase compared to last year's models, especially for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. Here is the possible list for the models with the minimum memory cut:
iPhone 12 mini starting from 699 $ (64GB base model) iPhone 12 starting at $ 799 (64GB base model) iPhone 12 Pro starting at $ 1,049 (128GB base model) iPhone 12 Pro Max starting at $ 1,149 (base model from 128 GB)
AirTags and AirPods Studio
In addition to the iPhone 12, Apple may introduce a number of other products and accessories. Finally we will have to see the much rumored AirTags, devices as large as a two euro coin, able to communicate their position with the paired iPhone. By placing them in a wallet or by attaching it to a key ring, we will always be able to identify their position, thus avoiding losing them. The software part will be managed by the native application "Where is", present on all Apple devices. To each AirTag we can assign an image or a description to be able to easily recognize them on the map, or through the three-dimensional reconstruction of the LiDAR scanner.
Alongside the AirPods earphones and AirPods Pro, the new over-ear headphones called AirPods Studio could be announced. By partnering with Beats and Apple technology, these headphones could compete directly with industry leaders like Sony and Bose. Their design remains a mystery to this day, as well as further technical specifications. However, we know that it will use a technology similar to AirPods for pairing and subsequent connection through all Apple devices in our possession. iOS 14 will also allow rapid switching from one device to another, thanks to the special function introduced in this latest version of the operating system.
Apple TV and Apple Silicon
Among the other possible innovations present at the event we find a new model of Apple TV. The main novelty could be the new A14 processor, taken directly from the iPhone 12 to increase the performance of the Apple TV box. The new chip in fact promises to increase in-game performance by 50%, transforming the Apple TV into a small living room console with Bluetooth support for the various pads. In this way, Apple aims to push the Apple Arcade service, perfect both on the move and sitting comfortably on the sofa at home.
Finally, after giving us a taste of their potential at WWDC 2020, Apple could launch new Macs with processors made by TSMC. The Cupertino company has in fact abandoned the Intel chips to go directly to Apple Silicon, already used optimally with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV. In this way we aim to reduce costs, while maintaining a very high level of performance, thanks to perfect communication between hardware and software. Probably the first models to arrive on the market will be the lower-end ones, such as the new MacBook Air and Mac mini, and then reach even the most professional desktops and laptops.
