Apple is expected to announce its new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and Pro Max within the next two months, but some models may have a staggered release date. This is not an uncommon practice when there are several variants of a device, but news of this being a likely scenario for the next launch may be of interest to Apple shoppers.
Apple has updated the iPhone every year since it first launched in 2007. Some of the early years saw ‘S’ models that had quite small changes from the previous year, first starting with the iPhone 3GS in 2009. By 2013 Apple was releasing two smartphones each year and picked up the pace last year with three. Even with a global pandemic, Apple is merely delayed, and in 2020 it is expected that four more iPhone models will be announced. That makes a total of five since the iPhone SE was launched at the WWDC event earlier this year.
DigiTimes recently shared that iPhone board suppliers have been ramping up shipments of related products since July-August. Further, it was stated that the new iPhone may arrive in two stages. The 6.1-inch models, one of which will be the standard iPhone 12 and the other the iPhone 12 Pro, will arrive first. If correct, this will mean the largest iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch screen) and the smallest iPhone 12 (5.4-inch screen), will arrive later. The mainboards for the 6.1-inch models began shipping in July, while boards sized for the other iPhone models began in late August. The suppliers named were Zhen Ding Technology, AT&S, TTM Technologies, Compeq Manufacturing and Unimicron Technology. This long list of suppliers reflects the massive volume of components Apple sources for the iPhone.
What Else Is Known About The iPhone 12?
Several leaks and rumors have preceded any official announcement from Apple, regarding new features such as LiDAR and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. Unsubstantiated rumors suggest that Apple may make some announcements within days, however, Apple itself has stated that the next iPhone will be delayed by several weeks. The usual iPhone event occurs in September, but no further details have been shared by the iPhone-maker, and it seems unlikely that anything official about the new iPhone will be announced until October. While it remains uncertain that new iPhones will be announced in October, this latest report suggests the order of availability for these new devices.
Adding to the excitement of the new iPhone, Apple is also expected to launch two new smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 6 and Watch SE, as well as a new iPad Air, and Apple Silicon-powered Macs. The latter is rumored to be a 12-inch MacBook. Further, a brand new product for Apple may be called the AirTag, a location beacon to aid users in locating misplaced items. Of course, all new devices will come with the latest operating system, which are currently available as Beta releases for developers and adventurous owners. Along with the new devices, those that purchase will benefit from the new features in watchOS 7, iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and macOS Big Sur. It’s an exciting time for Apple enthusiasts.
