iPhone 12 'on track for September' despite fears of coronavirus delays to Apple's first 5G mobile

THE next iPhone is on track to hit shelves in September, according to reports – despite fears Apple may delay its release due to coronavirus.

The so-called iPhone 12 hasn't been announced by the California tech titan, but multiple rumours and leaks hint that it's on the way.

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Apple will finish off testing the device by the end of this month and begin producing handsets from July, according to DigiTimes.

This will set the high-tech gadget up for a September release. The iPhone 12 will be the first Apple mobile to come loaded with 5G, DigiTimes said.

It added that the company will complete the "second phase of engineering validation and testing for the 5G iPhone 12 models" this month.

Apple hasn't announced it's making a new iPhone yet, although it's fairly safe to say one is in the works.

The firm normally releases iPhones in September each year. We already know a fair bit about this year's due to various leaks from Apple insiders.

However, previous reports had suggested the next iPhone would be delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many factories in China, where iPhones are predominantly built, shut down for weeks under the country's strict lockdown rules during the outbreak.

It remains to be seen whether Apple can hit its reported September target.

The company hasn't confirmed any plans for an iPhone 12 yet, so take all rumours and leaks with a pinch of salt for now.

We won't know the truth until Apple spills the beans on its upcoming mobiles later this year.

Recent reports have suggested the iPhone 12 will come in four variants, all with 5G connectivity.

The mobile will allegedly come in various sizes: A 5.4in mini version, a 61in iPhone 12 base model, a 6.1in 12 Pro and a 6.7in 12 Pro Max.

According to repected analyst Chung-Hoon Lee of UBI Research, the mini will cost as little as $700 (£560), while the 6.1in base and Pro models will come in at $750 (£600) and $999 (£800) respectively.

The largest of the bunch, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, will cost $1,099 (£890), Lee claims.

While similar in size, the 12 and 12 Pro will differ in the number of cameras on the back: Two and three, respectively.

As with Apple's most recent mobiles, the iPhone 11 series, we can expect the rear triple camera array to include wide-angle and telephoto lenses.

Apparently, the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max will also come with LiDAR scanners.

LiDAR is a type of laser technology that measures distances to accurately map a scene in 3D.

It means you can create much more accurate augmented reality effects – like Pokémon Go or advanced Snapchat filters.

Apple recently added LiDAR to a product for the first time ever with the launch of the new iPad Pro.

iPhone tricks to try today

Here are some of the best…

  • Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
  • Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
  • Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
  • Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
  • Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
  • Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier

At a reported 5.4in, the "mini" iPhone 12 will be Apple's tiniest mobile since 2017's iPhone 8 (4.7in).

It'll fit easily in the palm with a design that goes against the recent trend of "bigger is always better" followed by the world's leading smartphone makers.

The key feature for the iPhone 12, though, will be 5G connectivity, according to the leak. All four models will have it as standard.

5G is the next generation of mobile internet, expected to deliver blisteringly fast download speeds – changing the way we use our handsets forever.

With 5G, you can download a full HD movie in seconds over your network connection.

In the USA, 5G is available in a number of cities on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

EE, Vodafone and others have already launched in the UK, and they're seriously impressive.

In other news, Android users are being warned not to download a specific phone background as it could crash their device.

Apple's next AirPods could track your heart rate – using light sensors in your ears.

And, 3D designers have mocked up what the Apple Watch 6 could look like.

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