A supposed “iPhone 12” dummy unit offers what may be our very first glimpse at next year’s big redesign.
It shows a device that looks a lot like an iPhone 11 Pro Max from the front, with a large, edge-to-edge display and notch. But it sports flat sides and sharper edges that are inspired by the iconic iPhone 4.
It has been just over two years since Apple introduced iPhone X — its first handset with a near bezel-less display and Face ID. “The future” of the smartphone, as Apple called it, has seen little change since then.
Both 2018’s iPhone XS and this year’s iPhone 11 Pro employ the same design, with a rounded stainless steel frame sandwiched between two sheets of glass. That means it’s time for change in 2020.
’iPhone 12’ to go retro with sharper edges
Reliable TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the iPhone’s next refresh will bring a new design inspired by iPhone 4. It is expected to feature flat sides with sharper edges.
Now a dummy unit sporting that look has surfaced — nine months ahead of the iPhone 12’s official debut. It looks just like a 2018 iPad Pro, shrunk down to iPhone size, with all its buttons and ports in familiar places.
Some fans will be disappointed to see the same notch, without any changes to its size, sitting at the top of the dummy’s display. Eagle-eyed readers will also notice what appears to be a new connector on its side.
The video above suggests this could be a charging strip for a future iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil. We’ve also seen Smart Connectors on previous iPhone mockups, but they’ve never appeared in a final product.
It’s just a dummy
Although the video above comes from Macotakara, which tends to be a reliable source, the dummy unit itself comes from Alibaba. This means this is far from a credible leak.
The device looks convincing, but is likely based on rumors, rather than actual component leaks from Apple’s manufacturing partners. It’s still rather early for things like that.
One sign that this is a fan-made mockup is the dummy’s screen size. It measures 6.5 inches diagonally — just like an iPhone 11 Pro Max display. But rumor has it next year’s Max model will pack a 6.7-inch screen.
