Apple’s smallest iPhone 12 could be called ‘iPhone 12 mini’

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These iPhone 12 dummy units show what the real handset might look like.
The smallest could be the iPhone 12 mini.
Photo: Marques Brownlee

For the first time ever, Apple will adopt its “mini” branding for the iPhone, claims Apple leaker L0vetodream. According to the tipster, Apple will use the name “iPhone 12 mini” for the smallest of four models coming this year.

The other ones would be called “iPhone 12,” “iPhone 12 Pro” and “iPhone 12 Pro Max.”

For this year’s iPhones, Apple is expected to unveil the biggest design overhaul since 2017’s iPhone X. Big changes will include an iPad Pro-style redesign, a faster 5nm A-series chip and a high-speed 5G cellular modem. All handsets are likely to come with OLED displays. Expect camera upgrades, too, including a possible LiDAR sensor on the flagship Pro devices.

The iPhone 12 mini and beyond

https://twitter.com/L0vetodream/status/1308009156486467584

The first Apple “mini” product was the iPod mini, which debuted in early 2004. The year after, Apple introduced the Mac mini, which has subsequently been upgraded a handful of times. The most recent “mini” line Apple added was the iPad mini in 2012.

Adding an iPhone mini would help unify Apple’s iPhone lineup with the iPad. However, it also would add a degree of confusion, since the mini would pack a larger screen size than the iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch display.

Apple likely will show off the iPhone 12 lineup sometime next month. The screen sizes reportedly will be 5.4 inches (for the iPhone 12 mini, if L0vetodream is right about the name), 6.1 inches for both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro, and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The coronavirus pandemic pushed back production, delaying this year’s iPhone launch.

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