The long anticipated new iPhone has finally been unveiled by tech giant Apple. The company showed the world the specifics of the new phone in what has been the second announcement in the period of one month. In an email teaser sent out recently, Apple wrote “Hi, Speed” to amplify up hype for the phone’s 5G capabilities and it’s other features.
The fact that these phones were released in October is somewhat out of the ordinary for Apple, considering it usually releases all of its new devices in September. Of course, the news was delayed one month because of complications related to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the tech giant now seems more than happy to bring all hands on deck in the release of the new iPhone and even more new products.
Besides the new iPhone, there were a few other significant notes during the Apple announcement on Tuesday. This included a new HomePod speaker, changes to Apple’s charging devices, new headphones and more. Below is a summary of what Apple unveiled on Tuesday.
iPhone 12 models
The latest iPhone 12 models will come in four different models with different names. Perhaps the biggest update is that these new models will all have 5G capabilities. This should certainly be a big moment for 5G technology as it has yet to really gain a footing everywhere.
The thing that jumps out the most right off the bat is the shape of the new phone. The iPhone 12 features edges that are flat and also has corners that are squared in contrast to the smoother round edges on some of the recent offerings of the phone. The closest previous model of the phone to the iPhone 12 would be the iPhone 4 and 5 for anyone keeping track.
Another key new feature is that these phones all feature an OLED display with a screen possessing a “Ceramic Shield” to prevent cracks and shatters. According to Apple, the new screens are as much as four times less likely to shatter if dropped. The four variations of the new iPhones also each come equipped with a new chip, the A14 Bionic chip, which was also introduced in Apple’s September announcement in its new iPad Air models. For gamers, this is a huge plus because it should be a very efficient way to play the latest games like League of Legends.
The iPhone 12 is the model that is the primary one for the company during this release. The initial cost will be $799 and the phone has a 6.1 inch screen. It also has two cameras that are able to work well in a variety of environments. This new model will be available in white, black, green, blue, and red giving users a nice set of choices. These phones will be available for preorders this Friday, October 16th and the actual shopping date for the phone is a week later on October 23rd.
The same features found on the iPhone 12 are also present on the iPhone 12 Mini. This model is a smaller variety like its name would suggest, and the screen is 5.4 inches. This phone will actually feel somewhat like older iPhones that used to be 4.7 inches. The smaller phone is also available in the same colors as the base model, and this variety runs $699. The preorder date is a bit later though becoming available on November 6 and initially shipping on November 13th.
There are also more fancy iPhones than these first two models. First is the iPhone 12 Pro which has a 6.1 inch screen like the base model and costs $999. Then there is the even larger iPhone Pro Max which has a 6.7 inch screen and is $1,099. One of the main selling points for both of these models is the improved cameras as each of them has three lenses, a wide angle, ultrawide and telephoto lens that is 65 mm in size. The two phones have LIDAR sensors that have functionality that can be integrated with augmented reality. LIDAR capabilities also allow for enhance photos with more depth, autofocus and other top of the line video specs. The iPhone 12 Pro will ship on October 23rd while the iPhone Pro Max ships on November 13th.
HomePod Mini
Apple also unveiled a new version of its HomePod, the HomePod Mini. The original HomePod came out in 2018, and the newest model shares some similarities. The HomePod Mini has a colorful display which uses touch and has mesh covering. Again, like the namesake this HomePod is smaller and is just $99 to purchase. It comes in a spherical shape (the same shape as Amazon’s recent Echo offering) and will obviously be great for playing music or audio for those who prefer to stay within Apple’s ecosystem. This will function well with other Apple products like the Apple Watch and the iPhone.
The original HomePod was much more expensive at $299, and this much more affordable offering should allow Apple to compete with the other major players in the space like Google and Amazon. The new speaker will arrive on November 6th.
Beats Flex
Another announcement the tech giant made on Tuesday was the release of new headphones that cost just $50, the Beats Flex. These new headphones have Bluetooth, a 12 hour battery life, and can be charged via USB-C port. They also have an “Audio Sharing” feature which will give users a way to simultaneously listen to the same music as a friend of theirs.
The new headphones should work well on all Apple products but also on Android ones as well. One feature that hasn’t been unveiled yet one way or the other is whether or not these headphones are resistant to water.
The low cost should certainly generate some interest, especially since the company is no longer shipping headphones with the new iPhones. The tech giant is hoping they sell many of the Beats Flex in tandem with the new phones this holiday season.
MagSafe Charging
Finally, Apple released a new and improved charger alongside its new phones. This is of course the standard MagSafe charger, which builds upon previous models by adding better sensors to make it more seamless to connect an iPhone before it begins charging. The latest model will also allow additional functionality for charging an iPhone with new charging cases, and other accessories.
Apple will not include a charger along with the iPhone 12 as well as not including any headphones. These new phones will have a USB-C-Lightning cable which can be plugged into a USB-C charger or the phone could of course be charged wirelessly.
