Apple launched its newest iPhones along with some accessories at a media event this Tuesday. Like every year, Apple has come up with a unique selling aspect in its latest iPhones hoping consumers will trade-in their existing iPhones to upgrade to the latest devices. This year, Apple has spun out all its latest-generation iPhones with 5G connectivity. However, unlike most of the recent years, Apple has launched four new devices in its 12th iteration of iPhones. The company has launched the iPhone 12, iPhone Pro, iPhone Pro Max, as well as a newer and slightly cheaper iPhone 12 mini. Along with these, Apple also launched HomePod Mini, Beats Flex, and an all-new wireless MagSafe Charging.
Here is everything Apple launched at the event:
iPhone 12
All four variants of iPhones launched are equipped with 5G capabilities. Although 5G itself is still struggling to enter the consumer market, Apple believes that these new iPhones can fuel the 5G network technology to find a foothold.
The major differentiator for the new iPhones, when compared with the previous iPhones, is the design. The new iPhone 12 has flat edges with square corners as seen in the older iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 series in contrast with the smooth edges seen on the latest devices. All these devices sport an all-new OLED display with a “Ceramic Shield” on the screen, which the company claims to be four times more shatter-resistant. All these iPhones come with the company’s latest A14 Bionic chipset, which Apple says is 50 percent faster than all existing CPUs and GPUs in any smartphone.
The iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display and the small iPhone 12 mini sports a 5.4-inch display. Both devices come with a dual 12-megapixels ultrawide and wide camera sensors.
On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro has a 6.1-inch display whereas the larger iPhone 12 Pro Max flaunts a 6.7-inch display. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have three main lenses — one wide-angle, one ultrawide, and a 65mm telephoto lens.
Both devices have a 3D LiDAR sensor. This sensor is used to measure how long it takes for the light to reflect from a surface to create a depth map of the space. This enables the device to make use of augmented reality in several ways. The same sensor is also used to capture depths in the images and render patterns and textures in the foreground with realistic color reproduction in the images. Both the Pro and Pro Max are equipped with Dolby Vision Recording and are capable of jumping 8- to 10-bit HDR recording.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are set to begin Oct. 16 with deliveries beginning Oct. 23. The iPhone Mini and Pro Max will be available for pre-order starting Nov. 6 and will be available to purchase in stores on Nov. 13.
MagSafe charging
Apple said that it has included a series of magnets in the new iPhone 12 series meant to improve the overall wireless charging experience. The new sensors in the magnet stack make it much more convenient and easier for users as well as the device itself to charge from a wireless charging pad without having to deal with the position adjustments.
Apple also introduced new MagSafe charging cases alongside a MagSafe wallet to wirelessly charge the device. It is worth noting that starting with the iPhone 12, Apple will no longer include a charger in the box. Instead, all iPhone 12s will ship with a USB-C to Lightning cable, which allows users to plug it into any regular charger or a device with USB-C port.
HomePod Mini
Apple also launched a smaller version of the previously launched HomePod smart speaker. Dubbed the HomePod Mini, this new speaker is small, cheap, and spherical. The device is just 3.3-inches tall but sports a full-range driver with 360 degrees sound field. The speaker packs in four microphones for better audio reception for Siri and to answer calls. The device comes with Bluetooth 5.0 with direct guest access and touch accommodations. The speaker is priced at $99 and is set to go on sale Nov. 6.
Beats Flex
Just like the chargers, Apple won’t be including regular earphones with the new iPhone 12 series of handsets. However, the Cupertino giant has silently launched an all-new affordable Bluetooth headset in the form of Beats Flex for $50.
Beats Flex is a banded Bluetooth magnetic earbuds with a built-in microphone. According to Apple, these earbuds offer up to 12 hours of listening time and are powered by Apple’s proprietary W1 chipset for faster pairing. Thankfully, these earbuds can also be used with any other device and are not confined to Apple products. The Beats Flex also comes with fast fuel charging capabilities with USB-C connectivity for charging. These headphones are available exclusively at Apple stores.
iPhone 12: It’s all about 5G
While the most-awaited smartphone launch of the year did happen, it did not offer the speculated quad-camera setup or any radical design changes in the new iPhones. While the iPhone 12 series of handsets might be an appealing option for some, we feel there aren’t any major upgrades worth mentioning in these new devices apart from the 5G aspect. However, Apple now seems intent on fueling the 5G revolution with its new iPhones. What are your opinions on the new iPhone 12? Let us know in the comments.
Images: Apple
