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Everything we’ve heard before Apple’s event today

October 13, 2020
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Today’s the day: The Apple Store is down, which means it’s just a few short hours until the Oct. 13 Apple livestream event, where the iPhone 12 is expected to be launched. The latest news: A new dark blue color leaked just today, and some prices and release dates last Friday. Leaker Kang suggested Friday that Apple will release four phones in the iPhone 12 lineup, all with 5G support. We’ve summarized all the rumors and leaks below. Until today’s virtual Apple event (which you can watch live from home starting at 10 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. ET or 6 p.m. UK), all we can do is speculate.



The current iPhone 11. Angela Lang/CNET

© Provided by CNET
The current iPhone 11. Angela Lang/CNET

While we usually see new flagship iPhones in September, the COVID-19 outbreak has forced suppliers in China to shut down or operate on limited capacity. This affected not only Apple’s inventory in September, but it may affect sales, too. Apple also closed its US retail stores, though now some have reopened in limited ways. All this culminated with Apple confirming there would be a delay for the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Mini. 

Every iPhone 12 feature we expect Apple to announce

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Despite such disruptions and Apple’s veil of secrecy, there are some things we do know about the iPhone 12. From what we’ve seen in iOS 14 (which is available for download now), we know the phone will have software features like widgets, app libraries and picture-in-picture. Unofficial hardware rumors include 3D depth sensing on its rear cameras and new screen sizes. Adding 5G  connectivity would also make sense considering Apple’s main rival, Samsung, launched several 5G phones this year, including the recent Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, as well as the flagship Galaxy S20 phones. The later timeline might have some unexpected positive consequences too, including giving carriers like Verizon more time to build out its 5G coverage.





© Angela Lang/CNET


Read more: iPhone 12 wish list: 5 features I wish Apple would copy from Samsung

Top iPhone 12 rumors

  • Apple said the iPhone 12 will be available “a few weeks later” than the usual mid-September launch. Apple has since sent an invitation to its Oct. 13 event, where the iPhone 12 launch is expected.
  • There may be four iPhone 12 models in four different screen sizes: the iPhone 12 Mini (5.4-inch) the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro (6.1-inch), 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch).
  • The four iPhone 12 models could have different release dates: The iPhone 12 Mini may be available for preorder on Nov. 6 or 7, with a release date of Nov. 12 or 13. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro could start preorders on Oct. 16 or 17 and release Oct. 23 or 24. And the iPhone 12 Pro Max preorder date is rumored to be Nov. 13 or 14, released Nov. 20 or 21.
  • The iPhone 12 Mini model may start at $699, the same as the iPhone 11’s starting price.
  • iPhone 12 phones may have 5G.
  • iPhone 12 may not come with earbuds or a power adapter.
  • iPhone 12 may come in dark blue.
  • iPhone 12’s rear-facing camera(s) may have 3D depth-sensing technology.

Announcement date: Oct. 13

Back in August, in what appeared to be a misstep on Apple’s part, a Twitter user posted a screenshot of a possible Apple livestream event scheduled for Sept. 10. The event date and time appeared on Apple’s YouTube page and then was taken down.

The event actually ended up being held on Sept. 15, and it wasn’t at all about the iPhone. Another mobile leaker and Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser reported that the iPhone 12 would be introduced during an Oct. 12 event and will ship out Oct. 19, for instance.

We now know Apple will host another virtual event on Oct. 13, where the iPhone 12 is expected to make its debut.

Release date: iPhone 12 lineup may have staggered release dates

Despite Apple’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, assuring investors it should still make its fall timeline, The Wall Street Journal reported that the iPhone 12 could face delays. This is due to the coronavirus pandemic and its unprecedented effect on manufacturing and consumer demands. The report estimated that Apple may wait until October to announce or launch the phone, which is about a month after the iPhone’s usual launch. As we moved into October, this estimate proved true.

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Apple CFO Luca Maestri all but confirmed this on a quarterly earnings call, saying, “This year, we project supply to be available a few weeks later” than last year’s mid-September launch. 

Others have suggested not a single launch date but several. A rumor floated by DigiTimes and picked up by MacRumors, suggested that Apple may launch its 2020 iPhones in multiple stages. The two 6.1-inch iPhone models may launch first, with the 6.7- and 5.4-inch variants coming later. (For more on the different speculated iPhone sizes, read more below.)

The Oct. 9 leak by Kang, reported by The Verge, predicts the following preorder and release dates for the four models:

  • iPhone 12 Mini: Preorders Nov. 6 or 7; release date Nov. 12 or 13
  • iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro: Preorders Oct. 16 or 17; release date Oct. 23 or 24
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max: Preorders Nov. 12 or 13; release date Nov. 20 or 21

While we expect to see the iPhone 12 at Apple’s Oct. 13 event, no release date has been confirmed thus far.

Price: iPhone 12 may be cheaper than iPhone 11

When the iPhone 11 debuted last year, we were pleasantly surprised that its base model cost $699, which was $50 cheaper than 2018’s iPhone XR. This trend may continue, with one tech analyst reporting that Apple will price the iPhone 12 at $649, the iPhone 12 Pro at $999 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max at $1,099. Here’s everything we know about iPhone 12’s price so far.

The latest leak, however, prices the four models a bit differently, putting the iPhone 12 Mini at $699, the same as iPhone 11’s starting price. The leak also shows a $799 price for iPhone 12, $999 for iPhone 12 Pro and $1,099 for iPhone 12 Pro Max.

5G: iPhone 12 may have next-gen connectivity

Several rumors are predicting that Apple will include 5G connectivity this year. More specifically, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the company to unveil three 5G phones, and Fast Company reported that Apple may use its own proprietary 5G antennas.

Kang says that not only will all four phones (12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max) support low-band and midband 5G but that will support mmWave (which is faster but has much less range).

There are a couple of reasons why the company didn’t jump on the trend in 2019. First, Apple usually isn’t the first in on mobile trends, preferring instead to perfect an emerging technology before committing to it. For example, it was behind its competitors in making phones with 3G and 4G LTE connectivity when those networks just launched. 

Second, Apple stopped working with the leading 5G modem provider, Qualcomm, because of a dispute over Qualcomm’s licensing fees. The two companies settled their litigation in April 2019, and then agreed to a multiyear 5G chip deal. This led to Apple’s previous partner of 5G modems, Intel, to ultimately exit the 5G phone modem business altogether and Apple later acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion. Apple is still working with Qualcomm, but it got started too late to launch a 5G phone last year when a few of its rivals released their 5G models, like the Galaxy S10 5G, LG V50 5G and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G.

Whatever its start date though, Apple releasing a 5G phone is notable not only because the phone will be able to connect to the next-gen network, but also because this standout feature won’t be entirely under Apple’s control. 5G networks are built by carriers, and Apple is taking a risk because users all across the country will have different experiences on this nascent network depending on their coverage. 


Though 5G deployment kicked off in 2019, you’ll see even more 5G phones throughout this year and next. 5G won’t replace 4G in its entirety, but it is the next generation of mobile connectivity. It works super fast and many industries will benefit from the new network, including the internet, drones and self-driving cars. Most people will likely experience the benefits of a robust 5G network only through a 5G phone. After all, the grand promises carriers and chip-makers are making with 5G coverage don’t mean much if you can’t access 5G service with your own device. To help you keep tabs on all the latest 5G phones and when we can expect more, here’s what the major phone-makers are offering.



As Samsung’s flagship phones for 2020, all three Galaxy S20 devices have 5G. They also have brilliant 120Hz AMOLED displays (in 6.2-, 6.7- and 6.9-inch sizes), reverse wireless charging and a water-resistant design. The Galaxy S20 has three rear cameras while the Plus and Ultra have a fourth time-of-flight camera too.



Rumors are floating that Apple will include 5G connectivity this year for its upcoming iPhone 12. More specifically, Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo predicts the company will unveil three 5G phones. There are a couple of reasons why the company didn’t jump on the trend in 2019.First, Apple usually isn’t the first in on mobile trends, instead preferring to perfect an emerging technology before committing to it. For example, it was behind its competitors in making phones with 3G and 4G LTE connectivity when those networks just launched. Second, Apple stopped working with the leading 5G modem provider, Qualcomm, because of a dispute over Qualcomm’s licensing fees. The two companies settled their litigation in April 2019, and then agreed to a multiyear 5G chip deal. This led to Apple’s previous partner of 5G modems, Intel, to ultimately exit the 5G phone modem business altogether and Apple later acquired Intel’s phone modem business for $1 billion. Apple is still working with Qualcomm, but it got started too late to launch a 5G iPhone last year.Apple did not respond for a request to comment.



Google hasn’t revealed its plans for 5G and the company declined to reply to a request to comment. Even with its latest launch of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL in October 2019, the company did not unveil any 5G plans. That means we may have to wait until later this year (or even later) to see a 5G Pixel phone.



While OnePlus phones aren’t as cheap as they used to be, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro’s premium experience comes at a relatively more affordable price than its high-end Android competitors. As the more advanced phone, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a 120Hz display and a telephoto camera. But the OnePlus 8 is more affordable and still has 5G, a 90Hz display and the same top-of-the-line processor.



In addition to its headphone jack (a rarity among top-tier phones these days), the LG V60 is unique because it works with a case accessory that effectively doubles the size of its screen. The Dual Screen case allows the V60 to fold open like a book, so you can display two apps on both displays or view content as a single tablet (albeit with a big hinge in the middle).



Despite its high price tag and being a Verizon exclusive in the US, the Motorola Edge Plus is still a premium 5G phone worth looking into. It features a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a giant battery, an OLED screen with a high refresh rate and multiple rear cameras with heavy-duty specs. As CNET editor Patrick Holland declared, it’s “one of the most wonderful Android phones I’ve tried in a long time.”



Launched in 2019, the high-priced Galaxy Note 10 Plus delivers the premium goods, from a killer 6.8-inch screen and all-day battery life to excellent camera tools. Its 5G variant, the Note 10 Plus 5G, is even more expensive and is one of the most popular 5G phones. It’s available on Verizon for $1,300.



Like 2018’s Motorola Moto Z3, the Moto Z4 from last year connects to 5G networks with a Moto Mod accessory. The Mod attaches to the back of the phone using magnetic pins and, at the time, was one of the cheaper options for a 5G phone. Today, the phone itself costs $499 and the Mod costs an extra $350.



The Mi 10 Pro 5G is packed with a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a 90Hz refresh-rate display, a 4,500-mAh battery and even a 108-megapixel rear camera. As a premium phone, it costs about $1,100 when converted from its price in Europe (999 euros, which is about £890 or AU$1,660).



The Galaxy A90 5G has a 6.7-inch display, three rear cameras and a Snapdragon 855 processor. It also has an octa-core processor and an in-screen fingerprint reader. Though not available through Samsung in the US, it retails for £399 (about $490 or AU$740), and is one of the more affordable 5G phones.



Though Nokia isn’t the phone giant that it was 15 years ago, it still launched a 5G phone. Known as the Nokia 8.3, the phone costs 599 euros ($650, £550 or AU$1,110), and has “global 5G” capabilities. That means you can roam on 5G as you travel abroad — something unheard-of so far from other phone-makers.Nokia also stands to benefit from 5G in other ways though. In addition to Qualcomm and Ericsson, the company has patent rights to 5G technology and stands to make up to $3.50 for every 5G phone sold.



Oppo made its name with midrange phones, but its new Find X2 and Find X2 Pro come packed with flagship specs. Launched nearly two years after its predecessor, the Oppo Find X, the Find X2 and X2 Pro have 6.7-inch displays, triple rear cameras, a water-resistant design and 5G.



The Mate 20 X 5G has a huge 7.2-inch display, a 4,200-mAh battery and a triple rear-camera setup. The phone was supposed to launch in the UK in June 2019 for £999 (about $1,280 or AU$1,855) but UK carriers EE and Vodafone have dropped plans to sell the device. Huawei phones are also banned in the US due to security issues. Despite all this, Huawei is the world’s top 5G phone-maker, shipping nearly 7 million 5G phones last year.



Chinese phone-maker Coolpad’s first 5G phone was supposed to be the Legacy 5G. Though the company planned to sell the phone in the second quarter of 2020 for “under $400” via Coolpad, Amazon and other US retailers, we haven’t seen the 5G variant being sold yet (a 4G LTE version is available on Boost Mobile, however). The Legacy also operates on sub-6GHz spectrum and was supposed to be supported by T-Mobile (now merged with Sprint) and AT&T’s 5G networks.



Though it’s not a household name, TCL is usually known for its affordable TVs. The company makes phones too, however, and its latest 5G phone is called the TCL 10 5G. It features four rear cameras, a headphone jack and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G chipset — a midrange 5G processor that’s cheaper than its 800-series processors.



Instead of a phone, Taiwanese electronics company HTC has a 5G hotspot. Once available on Sprint for $600, the hub connects up to 20 people simultaneously. Equipped with a 5-inch display, audio speakers and Android Pie software, the device is also a media hub you can make video calls with or use to check mail.



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Design: iPhone 12 may be similar (or not) to iPhone 11

Every other year, Apple usually makes notable cosmetic changes to its iPhone to freshen up its look, much to the delight of anticipating buyers. But a report by Japanese publication Mac Otakara, citing an unnamed Chinese supplier, reported that the iPhone 12 will look similar to the iPhone 11. The only possible difference is that the iPhone 12’s edges will be slightly bowed. 

On the other hand, Apple is also speculated to completely revamp the iPhone’s design with flat edges (similar to the new iPads). This could trigger what Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called “the perfect storm of demand,” which would drive up sales and result in a “super cycle” for Apple. 

While the new iPad Air features a Touch ID button, a welcome alternative to Face Unlock in the age of coronavirus masks, we don’t think iPhone 12 will follow suit, unfortunately. We’ve rounded up our best guesses about iPhone 12’s design here.

Accessories: iPhone 12 may not come with EarPods or a power adapter

In one of the more unpopular rumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple may not include its wired EarPod headphones in the iPhone 12 box. This would be a move to encourage people to buy the company’s wireless AirPods instead. (Apple is rumored to be announcing a pair of over-ear headphones called AirPods Studio, too.) Apple has included EarPod headphones since the iPhone 5 release in 2012, so this would be a notable change. AirPod and AirPod Pro earbuds are currently priced at $159 (£159, AU$249) and $249 (£249, AU$399), respectively.



a close up of a cell phone: The iPhone 12 may not come with a power adapter. Angela Lang/CNET

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The iPhone 12 may not come with a power adapter. Angela Lang/CNET

Ming-Chi Kuo expects that the iPhone 12 will ship without a power adapter as well, according to 9to5Mac. The reason is mainly for costs — by foregoing it, Apple can keep costs down while loading the phone with 5G components. It would also help lower freight costs as the size of the packaging would shrink.

Apple wouldn’t be alone in the change. Samsung’s Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra also don’t come with headphones — though if you really need a pair, Samsung will send them for free. But unlike the power adapter rumor, the Note phones still come with a charger in the box.

Read more: What else could Apple announce on Oct. 13?

Processor: iPhone 12 will likely have A14 Bionic

Given that the latest iPhones have the A13 Bionic processor, it is highly probable that the next proprietary chipset will be called the A14 Bionic. And like every year, we expect this one to be faster and more efficient than its predecessor. More specifically however, one Apple leaker on Twitter, Komiya, reported that the A14 will have a CPU gain of 40% and a GPU gain of 50%. 

Colors: iPhone 12 Pro may come in dark blue

Last year Apple introduced a midnight green color on the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. Whether you like the shade or not, the color variant actually sold well compared to expectations. This year there may be a possibility that Apple will launch another new color, navy blue, on the iPhone 12 Pro according to XDA Developer. This would be on trend since blue is both Pantone’s color pick for the new year (“classic blue”) and Shutterstock included “phantom blue” in its color forecast for 2020.



a pair of sunglasses on a table: Could this be the new iPhone color? EverythingApplePro

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Could this be the new iPhone color? EverythingApplePro

Specs and display: Four possible iPhone 12 models

One of the more enduring rumors about the upcoming iPhones is that Apple may introduce new screen sizes. One of the models, rumored to be called the iPhone 12 Mini according to a Sept. 24 leak, could have a 5.4-inch screen (of the current iPhones, the iPhone SE has the smallest display, which measures 4.7 inches). And the iPhone 12 Pro Max could go as large as 6.7 inches (for reference, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch display). 

There’s also speculation that the iPhone 12’s display will have a 120Hz refresh rate and that perhaps the iPhone 12 Pro may have a ProMotion display, which is currently featured on the iPad Pro. Most phones refresh at 60 frames per second, or 60Hz, but other phones, like the Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 8 Pro refresh at 120Hz. With a higher refresh rate, a phone feels faster and smoother when scrolling through things like web pages and apps.

It’s already been predicted that all four new phones will have OLED displays. But leaker Kang suggests that all new phones will get Super Retina XDR screens, not just higher-end models like the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max did this year.



a screen shot of a computer: A render of what the iPhone 12 could look like. Phone Arena

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A render of what the iPhone 12 could look like. Phone Arena

With the possibility of new display sizes, rumors that Apple will expand its iPhone line have been swirling around. In December 2019, CNET’s Lexy Savvides wrote:

According to JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee, Apple will release four new iPhone 12 models in the fall of 2020: a 5.4-inch model, two 6.1-inch phones and a 6.7-inch phone. All of them will have OLED displays.

These size predictions were also backed this week by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes the current 5.8-inch size of the iPhone 11 Pro may be going away. So the 5.4-inch and one of the 6.1-inch models will be the lower-end devices, presumably called the iPhone 12. Then the more expensive phones will be the other 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, respectively.

Read more: The best ways to sell or trade in your old iPhone in 2020

As far as storage goes, it was rumored that Apple was getting rid of 64GB of storage in baseline models. Kang says that the 12 mini and 12 will still come with 64GB and up to 256GB. But the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max would be available with 128GB to 512GB.

Will there be five new iPhones in 2020?

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Camera: iPhone 12 may have 3D depth sensing

Since the iPhone X , newer iPhones have front-facing cameras that have 3D depth sensing. Known as Face ID, this feature scans your face for unlocking your phone and authorizing digital payments. It’s been rumored that Apple may take it up a notch and introduce that same system to the rear cameras. In August 2019, CNET’s Vanessa Orellana wrote:

Longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors and 9to5Mac) said he expects two of the 2020 iPhones models to have a new time-of-flight camera lens on the back of the phone. The setup would be similar to that of the current True Depth camera system used for Face ID on the front of the phone, except it would use a slightly different type of technology that could allow it to 3D map objects from farther away. This would significantly improve its augmented reality applications and take certain camera features like Portrait Mode to the next level.

Renders of the iPhone’s camera array integrating the depth-sensing lens have been circulating, with many online commenters remarking how the iPhone 12’s possible camera layout looks similar to a stovetop.

It’s unclear how many of the new iPhones would be equipped with this feature, if any. 

Many rumors point to the new 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max getting lidar. But Kang says that the telephoto camera will go from 2x optical zoom to 3x optical zoom on the 12 Pro, and 4x optical zoom on the 12 Pro Max.

Big changes coming to the 2020 iPhone

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