With the iPhone 11 release now behind us, it is time to look at the 2020 iPhones. There are already big expectations from next year’s iPhones, believed to be the iPhone 12 line-up. If leaks and rumors are to be believed, then there is every chance that the next-gen iPhones will be the biggest upgrade we have seen so far.
iPhone 12 release date and cameras
There have already been plenty of leaks and rumors detailing the specifications, design, features and release date of next year’s iPhones. Let’s talk about each one in detail, starting with the release date.
Although it is still very early to talk about the iPhone 12 release date, it is not very difficult to guess it. For the past several years, Apple has been releasing new iPhones in September. Thus, the iPhone 12 release date is expected to follow the same schedule as well, putting it sometime around the second week of September 2020.
On the other hand, there have also been reports that Apple may release the 2020 iPhones a bit earlier than usual to avoid losing the 5G market to rivals. The chances of an early release are very thin, although we can expect Apple to launch an iPhone SE successor earlier than usual.
As far as cameras, most rumors point to a triple-lens rear camera setup for the 2020 iPhones. However, some reports also point to a fourth lens, which could be a time-of-flight sensor. Trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple may add four camera lenses in at least two iPhone 12 models. A time-of-flight sensor helps with improved bokeh effects on portrait shots. It would also mean more support for augmented-reality apps.
Additionally, a recent patent filing suggests Apple is working on a periscope-like telephoto lens. Such a lens would provide a longer zoom range than on earlier iPhones.
What design changes and features to expect
The 2020 iPhones will also reportedly feature a notch, which Apple first introduced with the iPhone X. Although there are reports that Apple wants to move away from the notch, we probably won’t see a notch-free design until 2021. However, tipster Benjamin Geskin shared a rendering of a 6.7-inch iPhone that does not feature a notch.
In place of the notch, Geskin’s rendering places the TrueDepth camera components inside a thin bezel. In a tweet, he said the prototype is of a 2020 iPhone model. Further, the tipster said that Apple is testing Face ID prototypes which could be fitted into the phone’s top bezel.
Exclusive: One of the 2020 iPhone prototypes has 6.7-inch display with Face ID and TrueDepth camera system housed in the top bezel. pic.twitter.com/sAJE7J12ty
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) 26 September 2019
Recently, a new iPhone 12 Pro video by graphic designer Techy Paradise also show a notch-free iPhone featuring thin bezels and a quadruple-lens camera setup.
Further, Kuo believes the 2020 iPhones will feature a big redesign with flat edges, similar to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. The analyst also expects Apple to launch three different iPhone 12 models next year: 5.4 inches, 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. All the three iPhones could come with OLED displays, meaning 2019 may be the last year Apple uses LCDs for the iPhone.
The iPhone 12 display could also be more advanced than the screens on many current smartphones. A recent tweet from tipster Ice universe claims Apple could move from a 60 Hz to 120 Hz refresh rate. A 120 Hz refresh rate would mean a smoother scrolling. Presently, the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7T come with the best refresh rate at 90 Hz. Asus’ gaming phone, the ROG 2 Phone, claims to offer a 120 Hz refresh rate, but it has yet to go on sale.
Apple is considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on the iPhone in 2020, and is discussing with Samsung and LG. pic.twitter.com/4aoU303umu
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) 21 July 2019
What price to expect
The deciding factor on price will be 5G support. Next year’s iPhones will reportedly be the first iPhones to support 5G. At least one, if not all, of the iPhone 12 series is expected to benefit from the faster networking standard.
The iPhone 11 came with a starting price of $699. Thus, we can expect the 2020 iPhones to come with an affordable price range as well. The only real difference will be due to the addition of 5G. Presently, most of the 5G models in the market come with a premium price tag compared to the non-5G models of the same phones.
For example, the Galaxy 10 5G starts at $1,299, compared to a starting price of $999 for the Galaxy S10+. Similarly, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G costs $1,299, which is $200 more than the standard Note 10 Plus.
Although Apple will be late to roll out a 5G model, it will enjoy one major benefit of waiting until 2020 to release a 5G iPhone. The price of 5G components should be lower next year. This could help Apple release the new iPhones around the same price as the 2019 models.
Aside from 5G, another big change Apple could be planning is to bring back Touch ID. According to Barclays analysts (via MacRumors), Apple will bring Touch ID back by enabling fingerprint recognition anywhere on the display. However, Kuo believes the 2021 iPhones could be equipped with both Face ID and Touch ID.
There is still a lot of time left for the 2020 iPhones. As we move closer to the launch, we will see more leaks and rumors surrounding them. We will keep updating the article as new information arrives.
