iPhone 12: Everything we know about Apple’s next phone

Apple’s next phones will hit the market later than usual but there are already plenty of clues about the new features we can expect to see.

Apple’s next iteration of its most popular product is going to be delayed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are plenty of clues about what it will eventually look like.

The next range of iPhones, predicted to be the biggest yet, are likely to go on sale later than usual.

For the past few years the phones have hit the market in September (2018’s XR and XS landed in October).

October and November now look more likely but Apple will be wanting to get them out before Christmas at least.

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The glass-sandwich style of the iPhone 4 is set to return 10 years after that phone went on sale.

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There’s also a high likelihood at least some of the phones will be made in India, where some of the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 models were manufactured and which is seeking to position itself as the next global leader in smartphone manufacturing.

Apple may also reveal a solution to help its facial recognition security system Face ID work with people who are wearing masks, as more of use face coverings to try and avoid spreading or contracting coronavirus.

Leaks earlier this year suggested there would four different models of iPhone featuring squared off edges like the iPhone 4 or iPad Pro, and 5G connectivity.

It’s predicted there will be a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max.

Moulds of what are purportedly the new iPhone designs, sent to casemakers.

There is also predicted to be two iPhone Pro models: a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and a 6.7-inch iPhone Pro 12 Max (which would be the biggest iPhone the company has made in its more than decade-long history).

For the first time, all the models are predicted to feature OLED displays, which are brighter, have better contrast, and use less power than LCD screens.

The iPhone 11 Pro models already use OLED displays but the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE still use LCD.

A chassis believed to be for the smaller Pro model has leaked on social media, showing the triple-camera array many mocked on the iPhone 11 Pro has received an additional pair of smaller black dots to its growing collection of lenses.

The two smaller holes on the camera array are believed to be a LiDAR sensor.

A leaked image purporting to show the chassis for a 6.1-inch iPhone.

These are believed to be for the LiDAR sensor, which uses time-of-flight detection and data to map spaces and improve augmented reality features.

The charger has been a source of contention, with predictions Apple will be forced to abandon the Lightning connection for a USB-C port.

It’s also been predicted Apple won’t include Earpods in the box in a bid to improve Airpods sales (if the Lightning port disappears those buds will have had nothing to connect to either), and could even leave out the power charger that’s normally included when you buy an iPhone, or any other smartphone.

This saves the company on production costs and packaging but is unlikely to be welcomed by customers.

The higher-end models are rumoured to receive the same distance measuring LIDAR scanner as the iPad Pro now has.

A rumoured first look at the A14 chip.

Apple announced earlier this year it will move all of its devices to its own ARM-based A-series processors that have been used in iPhones and iPads for years now.

The processors have made considerable gains in power and Apple is clearly thinking they can challenge and even beat processors from the likes of Intel that currently power Mac computers.

While the first A-series powered Macs are yet to hit the market (and if we’re lucky additional information on them will be announced alongside the iPhone), the latest A14 series chip is expected to power the new iPhones.

Presumably they will be Apple’s best processors yet and will likely have to have some improvements in power management to make up for the addition of 5G and rumoured inclusion of higher refresh rate displays in the Pro models for smoother movement in video and gaming.

More information on the new models is predicted to be given at an Apple event in October, but no doubt has been set yet.