Just a month after announcing the latest Apple Watches and iPads, Apple returned with their iPhone-centred event. Not only are four new iPhones hitting the market very soon, an added bonus is also arriving in the form of the new HomePod mini. Let’s dive in and see what all the fuss is about!
HomePod mini
The little sibling of the HomePod is here. With a smaller form factor and price tag, it’s an attractive alternative to the bulkier original. The device takes advantage of an S5 chip along with advanced software to generate high quality output. The HomePod mini is even able to adjust sound to accommodate its placement in the room. The smart speaker utilises Siri to respond to voice commands, amongst which is the new intercom feature that allows users to send verbal messages to other HomePods or Apple devices on a family network.
The HomePod mini will be available to order from the 6th November and will be released on the 16th of November, for the price of £99.
iPhone 12
The latest in the iPhone range has received its yearly dose of updates, the most significant of which is the arrival of 5G. With speedy internet on the go and the new A14 Bionic chip, users can take advantage of the best streaming and online gaming experiences. The iPhone 12 also features Ceramic Shield, a new, tough glass that provides 4x better protection from drops.
The iPhone 12 is filled to the brim with new hardware, including dual 12MP rear cameras (wide and ultra wide), Super Retina XDR display and IP68 water resistance. The cameras feature optical image stabilisation, night mode and 4K video recording at up to 60fps. The iPhone 12 also has MagSafe, which allows for magnetic accessories to be simply attached to the device.
There are two variants of the iPhone 12 – the standard and the iPhone 12 mini. The former features a 6.1-inch display whilst the latter’s is 5.4-inch. Both share the same hardware, however, so the only difference is the size.
The entry level models come with 64GB storage priced at £699 for the iPhone 12 mini and £799 for the iPhone 12 mini. The former can be pre-ordered from the 6th November whilst the latter can be pre-ordered from the 16th October, in a range of colours.
iPhone 12 Pro
The newest flagship Apple device arrives in the form of the iPhone 12 Pro. Its design hearkens back to the iPhone 4 and 5, and is available in Gold, Silver, Graphite and a striking new Pacific Blue. The Pro features the A14 Bionic, Super Retina XDR display, a LiDAR scanner, IP68 water resistance, MagSafe, wide, ultra wide and telephoto lenses and Ceramic Shield.
There have been a range of software enhancements to TrueDepth and Night Mode, along with Apple ProRAW, which will give users the ability to adjust colour, detail and dynamic range natively. The LiDAR scanners will afford users the opportunity to immerse themselves in new augmented reality experiences, both entertaining and practical.
To harness the power of the iPhone 12 Pro, however, you must pay a hefty price. It’s £999 for the 6.1-inch model, and £1099 for the 6.7-inch model. Controversially, you will have to go without a power adaptor and headphones – the only thing in the box aside from the phone itself will be a usb-c to lightning cable. The same also applies to the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 Pro is available to pre-order from the 16th October, whilst the iPhone 12 Pro Max can be pre-ordered from the 6th November.
What do you think to the latest and greatest in Apple technology? Will you be buying a new iPhone? Let us know at hello@thedistance.co.uk
Article by Connor Booth, Business Analyst at The Distance