2020 iPhone

Wait for iPhone 12 drags on as Apple delays production by a month

By

iphone-12-pro
Forget getting yours in September.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

Apple is delaying mass-production of the iPhone 12 lineup by around one month, according to a Monday report from The Wall Street Journal.

Sources blame the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for the delay, which is likely to mean Apple’s next-generation handsets won’t be available until October. A trusted source for Cult of Mac recently made the same prediction.

Apple bets big on 5G iPhone lineup despite demand concerns

By

iphone-12-pro
An artist's take on 'iPhone 12' with 5G.
Photo: The Hacker 34

Apple is asking suppliers to “crank out” components for its upcoming 5G iPhone lineup, despite some fears that it could launch to weak demand as a result of COVID-19, a Tuesday report claims.

The company is said to have confirmed plans to make around 213 million iPhone units in the 12 months through March 2021 — an increase of 4% over the same period last year.

Some suppliers are concerned that initial orders could end up being “significantly lower.”

iPhone-maker sees huge revenue increase as production ramps up

By

Analyst complains iPhone’s average selling price is slipping
Apple isn't out of the woods yet, though.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, has reported a whopping 59.9% increase in revenue for March 2020 as production ramps up following COVID-19 disruptions.

It’s not all good news for Apple fans, however. One report warns that while some facilities are running at full throttle, plans for some new products have been scuppered by travel restrictions.

iOS 14 remains on schedule despite developers working from home

By

iOS 14 on an iPhone 11
Don’t worry that iOS 14 will be delayed.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple employees required to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic supposedly aren’t letting iOS 14 fall behind schedule. The next version of the iPhone and iPad operating system is reportedly on track for release.

And company engineers are also creating new versions of an array of hardware products from their home offices.

Facebook boxes out Apple on AR displays

By

Plessy
Plessy has been at the forefront of micro LED display development.
Photo: Plessy

Apple’s long-rumored augmented reality glasses project may have suffered a serious setback thanks to Facebook.

The social network company reportedly reached a licensing deal with Plessey, a British firm that makes displays specifically for augmented reality displays. Apple supposedly was looking into acquiring Plessey. But Facebook rushed in and struck an exclusive supply deal with the company, effectively shutting out Cupertino.

COVID-19 won’t delay 2020 iPhone, but future products could suffer

By

iPhone XS box gold
iPhone might be okay for now, but Apple isn't out of the woods yet.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic won’t stop Apple from launching its 2020 iPhone lineup on schedule, according to a new report published Monday — but it could cause “disruptions” for future Apple products.

Cupertino’s largest manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is slowly recovering after the coronavirus outbreak last month caused huge labor shortages and factory closures. But Bloomberg warns Apple isn’t out of the woods yet.

Boxy iPhone 12 Pro concept packs ProMotion XDR display and PowerDrop

By

iphone-12-pro
Would you buy the iPhone 12 Pro if it looks like this?
Photo: The Hacker 34

Another iPhone 12 Pro concept landed on YouTube this week to satiate Apple fans who just can’t wait for the real deal to be revealed this fall.

Created by the Hacker 34, the new iPhone 12 Pro concept offers a couple features not included on the drool-worthy concept we posted yesterday. Armed with a ProMotion XDR display, new quad-camera setup and two-way charging, this boxy concept will have you ready to open your wallet for the 5G iPhone, whenever it actually comes out.

Check it out:

Leading Apple analyst confident 5G iPhone will launch this fall

By

2020 iPhone 12 concept has a 99% screen to body ratio.
Apple was well-prepared for a global pandemic.
Photo: Pallav Raj/ConceptsiPhone

A leading Apple analyst is confident Apple will deliver its first iPhone with 5G this fall — despite a Wednesday report that suggested this year’s handsets could be delayed due to COVID-19.

“We have a different view,” wrote Gene Munster of Loup Ventures on Thursday. Muster has outlined several reasons why an iPhone refresh is still likely to come in 2020.

All major Chinese plants stand ready to crank out 2020 iPhones, Foxconn says

By

Coronavirus-related shutdowns continue to disrupt Chinese factories.
Chinese factories are just starting to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Photo: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr CC

China’s production pipelines are finally getting back into full swing just in time to start building the 2020 iPhone.

Foxconn, Apple’s top iPhone assembler, says it has hired enough workers at all major Chinese plants to meet seasonal demand for iPhone production, in what could be a strong signal that the labor shortages in China caused by COVID-19 are starting to get back to normal.

iPhone could bag big camera upgrades in 2020; periscope lenses in 2022

By

iphone11promax
iPhone's already-excellent camera is about to get even better.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make big upgrades to the iPhone’s camera in the coming years, according to the latest research note from reliable TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, published on Monday.

It is predicted this year’s refresh will bring sensor-shift image stabilization to at least one model before the technology rolls out to all flagship handsets in 2021. iPhone is then expected to get periscope with up to 10x optical zoom in 2022.

Wild iPhone 12 concept packs holograms, 6 cameras and more

By

iphone12
Would you buy this iPhone?
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

What if Apple stole more from Samsung? That’s basically the premise behind the latest iPhone 12 concept video from ConceptsiPhone and it actually doesn’t look that bad.

Armed with a wrap-around display and six camera lenses on the back, this gorgeous iPhone 12 concept borrows a lot of design elements from the iPhone 4 series with a dash of Samsung Galaxy S20 mixed in with some sci-fi features that are definitely not ready for smartphones.

Check out the full video:

iPhone 12’s big Wi-Fi upgrade could pave the way for Apple Glasses

By

Apple glasses
Is that what 802.11ay Wi-Fi is really all about?
Photo: Martin Hajek

The next-generation Wi-Fi technology rumored to be coming to this year’s iPhone lineup could be used primarily to connect your Apple Glasses, a new report suggests.

The 802.11ay standard promises lightning-fast speeds and stellar connectivity, but it probably won’t replace the Wi-Fi standards you’re already familiar with in most cases.

Apple wants to ditch Qualcomm’s 5G antenna on 2020 iPhones

By

Qualcomm headquarters
Sounds like Qualcomm and Apple still have a love-hate relationship.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm’s 5G antenna design isn’t up to par with Apple’s design standards, reveals a new report that claims Apple is building its own antenna for this year’s 5G iPhones.

Fast Company claims Apple has decided to do the design work itself on the 5G antenna but it will still use Qualcomm’s 5G modem chip. If true, Apple would be adding an extra level of difficulty for churning out a reliable 5G iPhone during one of its most anticipated upgrade cycles in years.

This is the most realistic 2020 iPhone concept we’ve seen yet

By

iphone-12
The 2020 iPhone could pack some serious camera upgrades.
Photo: Hacker 34

The grand unveiling of the iPhone 12 (or whatever Apple calls it) is still over half a year away, but you can already get a pretty good idea of what to expect thanks to a new concept video.

Most iPhone concept videos we see throw in a bunch of unrealistic features. Instead of focusing on what could be, the Hacker 34’s new concept video brings to life all the reliable rumors we’ve heard so far. The concept won’t wow you with promises of a holographic display and instead focuses on the iterative changes we’re likely to see in 2020.

This is about as close to the 2020 iPhone commercial you’re going to see right now:

Newest iPhone 12 rumor hints at 4 new models, including ’12 mini’

By

iPhone-12-concept
An iPhone 12 for everyone?
Photo: LetsGoDigital

The newest iPhone 12 rumor claims Apple will introduce four brand-new handsets this fall, including a compact “iPhone 12 mini.”

The smallest model could be different to the rumored iPhone SE 2, but not much bigger in size. It is expected to pack Apple’s latest technology — just like its larger siblings — inside the same design.

Thinner 2020 iPhone may look disappointingly familiar

By

Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
Will 2020 be the year of the big iPhone design change? Maybe not.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone is due for a design change in 2020, having last received an overhaul with the iPhone X in 2017. However, you may be waiting a bit longer, if a new report from Mac Otakara is to be believed.

The online publication claims that the iPhone 12 could boast the same housing design as the iPhone 11. The only big changes would be the camera technology and overall size and thickness of the devices.

2021 may be the year iPhone finally loses its Lightning connector

By

iPhone Lightning connector
New regulations could force Apple to ditch Lightning cables in Europe.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is expected to deliver at least one iPhone model without a Lightning connector next year, according to a new Barclays report.

The device won’t make the switch to USB-C, as previous rumors have predicted. It is instead expected to rely solely on wireless connectivity options for both charging and data transfer.

Barclays analysts also believe that this year’s iPhone refresh will bring an improved TrueDepth camera system that could mean even better Face ID.

Apple still on track to deliver complete 5G iPhone lineup in 2020

By

iPhone 11 continues to shine while iPhone 11 Pro Max sales flatten out
Don't believe the scaremongers.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 5G iPhone lineup is still on track for a fall 2020 release, according to one reliable analyst.

A recent report suggested faster wwWave handsets, which are expected to succeed iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, may not arrive until early 2021. But those claims appear to be inaccurate.

Analysts bullish that 5G and budget iPhones will give Apple very strong 2020

By

Apple boots smelter and refiners in crackdown on conflict minerals
Analysts from several market-analysis firms say the iPhone SE 2 will help propel the company to a strong year.
Render: OnLeaks/iGeeksBlog

Apple’s share price is more than double what it was this time last year. Cult of Mac asked prominent market-analysis firms to explain this meteoric rise. Several of them listed not just the upcoming debut of the 5G iPhone for investor optimism, but also the imminent launch of a budget model.

‘iPhone SE 2’ could get bigger and better sibling in 2020

By

iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

It’s no surprise Apple is working on a new iPhone SE for 2020. Recent rumors have indicated it will make its debut in the spring. But that particular model might be just one of two planned for this year.

A new report claims Apple is also working on a larger, “upgraded” version that will be available later in the year.