Hi, Speed.
Hi speed, indeed.
Apple’s iPhone 12 launch event was nothing short of spectacular and each feature was seemingly better than the next. 5G made a splash in 2020 and Apple’s event just made a wave of it. Not only did Apple debut what’s easily their most tech-packed and fastest phone yet, but Verizon has notably held off announcing when its 5G Ultra WideBand network would debut and were waiting “until the right time” and Apple’s event was it. 5G was the biggest theme throughout the entire event, so let’s unpack some of Apple’s biggest highlights.
The iPhone 12 is 5G Capable
This was easily one of the most hyped rumors about the iPhone 12 and it was true. Apple boasted some impressive speeds when paired with Verizon’s UWB network but it does come with a caveat. While you will see improved speeds and a much faster phone, the mmWave technology needed to get download speeds close to 3 Gbps is only available in certain cities, and even more so in certain areas of those cities. However, what’s pretty incredible is that the iPhone supports a multi-band network, so you’ll be able to connect to low, mid, and high-band technology so regardless of where you are if there is 5G you will be connected at blazing fast speeds.
Verizon’s Highly-Anticipated 5G Ultra WideBand Network Is Live
The network is live as of today, October 13th, and should offer 5G coverage to over 200 million people in 1,800 cities and towns. The carrier is using a multi-band approach so not every city will receive the mmWave speeds, but Verizon has promised that they will cover 66 cities by the end of 2020 with mmWave technology. However, anyone in a city with a 5G capable phone on Verizon will experience a boost in their device’s performance.
Huge Updates To The iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 is thinner, sleeker, and lighter than ever before. It boasts a new OLED Super Retina XDR display with a 460 PPI pixel density and Dolby Vision HDR support. With the new Ceramic Shield Protection, you can drop your phone, throw your phone (though we don’t recommend it) and even spill on your phone, it’s 4X more durable than ever before. One of the flashiest updates is the A14 Bionic, it’s the same chip that you’ll see in the iPad Air with improved processing capabilities. And it’s not an Apple announcement without a flashy camera upgrade. The new iPhone 12 features a dual setup with an f2.4 ultrawide camera and f1.6 wide, Night Mode available on all cameras and night timelapse. The iPhone 12 also has updated wireless charging with MagSafe, which is a new charging coil that is designed with a magnet that provides fast charging and if compatible, allows any accessory to just snap on the back. The iPhone 12 starts at $799 and comes in five color options.
Say Hello To The Mini
In typical Apple fashion, they had something amazing up their sleeve: The iPhone 12 Mini. Priced starting at $699 with five color options. Though mini, the phone is still mighty and packed with all the incredible features you’d expect from Apple.
The iPhone 12 Pro & Pro Max: The Flagship Phone
The best of the best iPhone 12 is the iPhone 12 Pro and the Pro Max. Both devices come packed with 5G connectivity and all of the upgraded features but are also made with premium materials, three cameras, and LIDAR technology for depth mapping, AR, and low-light autofocus. The Pro Max also has a new sensor on its telephoto camera with sensor-shift stabilization- a popular feature in your regular “point and shoot” cameras. Apple ProRaw is another feature that synthesizes computational photography and applies processing as parameters so you can make adjustments to things like sharpness after the photo has been taken. You can also record 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR for video. The new flagship phones start at $999 for the Pro and $1,099 for the Pro Max and come in four colors: blue, gold, black and white.
League of Legends: Wild Rift
One of the world’s most popular games is coming to the iPhone 12. The game relies heavily on 5G connectivity to maintain a stable connection without lag and with iPhone’s 5G technology, users will be able to game seamlessly.
Small In Stature, Big In Sound: The HomePod Mini
Though the iPhone 12 dominated the event, Apple did release a tinier smart speaker, the new HomePod Mini. It’s got a redesigned audio experience that uses “computational audio” to auto-adjust sounds characteristics. The HomePod Mini can also auto-pair with your iPhone when it’s close by and of course, integrates with Siri.
How To Buy The iPhone 12
Apple is doing a staggered release, with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are available to preorder on Friday, October 16th, and will go on sale on October 23rd. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and Mini will be shipping on November 13th.
Apple delivered a ton of information in just a one-hour event, but we can certainly say every second was packed with an exciting announcement one after the next. We’ll continue to add to this story as we gather more information and will include an in-depth review of the iPhone 12. Stay tuned to 5Ginsider.com/devices for updates!