Are we getting the iPhone 12 on 13 October?

Dominik Bärlocher

8.10.2020

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

I’ve been invited. Off to Apple’s virtual event on 13 October I shall go. As usual, the company from Cupertino has been keeping a low profile. So, here’s a little gossip to brighten your day.

Real talk: it pretty much has to be the iPhone. There’s not much else left in the company’s line-up to release this year. That’s why we’ll muse about the iPhone. But all we know for sure is that Apple has extended an invitation to a virtual event on 13 October.

Since we’re expecting the iPhone 12, here are the most convincing rumours re: the new Apple phone.

Edgy edges

The iPhone 12 will supposedly lose the rounded edges we’ve got used to in the iPhone 11. Instead, we can expect flat edges – a throwback to previous models. No idea if that’s for technical reasons or aesthetics. But the move from round to angled would bring the design of the iPhone in line with that of the iPad.

Four sizes

The industry portal MacRumours is reporting there will be four sizes:

1. iPhone 12 with a 5.4-inch screen → Could be called «iPhone mini».
2. iPhone 12 with a 6.1-inch screen → Likely the standard iPhone.
3. iPhone 12 Pro with a 6.1-inch screen → Bigger, maybe sporting more memory and an extra camera?
4. iPhone 12 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch screen → The biggest iPhone ever.

5G?

This is a candidate for conjecture. The world is slowly migrating to 5G and the high performance antennas are becoming more and more widespread. So, it seems likely that Apple will release 5G-ready phones from the current model year onwards. The Swiss mobile phone provider Sunrise states that by September 2020, 610 Swiss cities will have full 5G coverage.

Internationally speaking, there are still a few large markets out there that haven’t harnessed 5G. That’s why some observers are uncertain whether Apple will go for 5G now or wait another year. According to MacRomours, 5G may also only be available on the Pro models.

Power adapter not included

Apple is no longer including a power adapter with its phones, much to some people’s dismay. The reasoning behind this move: Apple users have an old charger lying around the house anyway, and also environmentalism.

This concept kind of flies in the face of Apple developing its fast charging as well, seeing as faster charging is only possible with new power adapters. So, in typical Apple fashion, you’ll have to buy the new power adapter separately.

One more thing... actually, several more things

New headphones are also expected to launch at the event. The Apple Airpods Studio look like they’re meant to either compete with Beats by Dr. Dre – a company incidentally owned by Apple – or fill a hole in Apple’s portfolio.

AirTags are also expected to launch. They’re these smart little things you can pin to something you don't want to lose. Then, if you do in fact end up losing it, you can find it à la «Find my iPhone».

And finally, a smaller HomePod?

Digitec will report on all the innovations as soon as possible after the event.

Dominik Bärlocher

Senior Editor

dominik.baerlocher@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.