Apple iPhone 12 concept render
For this, we owe thanks to a leaked report from Barclays (via 9to5Mac) which details additional iPhone 12 upgrades and to some seriously exciting work from MacWorld which suggests the performance of the new iPhone range will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen from a smartphone.
Toe-to-Toe with the MacBook Pro
Grabbing the biggest headlines is MacWorld, which has taken apart the 5nm technology behind Apple’s upcoming A14 chipset and discovered it promises a generational leap that could be an industry game-changer.
“If we take [Apple A-Series chipmaker] TSMC at its word about the improved transistor density of the 5 nm process, we’re looking at an incredible 15 billion transistors,” explains MacWorld’s respected writer Jason Cross. “That’s more than all but the largest high-end desktop and server CPUs and GPUs. It’s huge… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Geekbench 5 multi-core score creeps up to 5,000 or so. For what it’s worth, the fastest Android phones score around 3,000 on this test, and a score of 5,000 would be similar to 6-core mainstream desktop CPUs or high-end laptop CPUs. It’s 15-inch MacBook Pro territory.”
And this is only half the equation with Apple also boosting iPhone 12 RAM by 50% and doubling down on major graphical improvements:
“Barring some new performance bottleneck, I think a score over 9,500 is certainly possible. In other words, I think we can expect a 50% improvement in graphics performance for the kind of high-end graphics used in games.”
Apple’s A-Series chipsets are already in a league of their own, but this would not only put them out of sight of smartphone rivals but represent the moment when Apple silicon could viably replace Intel hardware in its MacBook range.
Apple’s new iPhone 12 may be as fast as a 15-inch MacBook Pro
Face Lift
While Barclay’s can’t quite match this news, the company’s latest report states that the iPhone 12 is also likely to extend its lead in another area where it is already a class leader: facial recognition. The financial giant notes that Apple will ‘refresh’ Face ID hardware having only offered incremental improvements in recent years.
In addition, Barclay reiterates that Apple will be increasing iPhone 12 RAM to 6GB (from 4GB last year) and adding a long-range 3D camera for the first time. A move with significant potential for Augmented Reality. Interestingly, Barclays also adds that Apple is considering removing the Lightning port but that this will not happen until 2021.
The Tip of The Iceberg
And yet there’s still more. Despite still sporting a similar design to the iPhone X, the iPhone 12 will also be the first iPhone to come with 5G across the range, new 120Hz ProMotion displays and in-display fingerprint readers thanks to the return of next-generation Touch ID. All of which is capped off by reports that, unlike every other 5G smartphone to date, Apple will deliver all of these upgrades with only ‘modest’ price increases.
And yet if any form of price increase disappoints you, then Apple has an answer here as well because you’ll soon be able to get the iPhone 11 range’s speed and primary camera performance for a fraction of the price. Yes, it’s a big year ahead and as much as I love the iPhone 11 Pro, the smart money may now be on waiting…
Gordon’s Top Apple Daily Deals:
- AirPods with Charging Case – (typically $159.99) – Amazon: $129 / Walmart: $129
- AirPods with Wireless Charging Case – typically $199.99 – Amazon: $169 / Best Buy: $169.99 / Walmart: $169
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max – save up to $700 with second purchase + free year of Apple TV+ – Verizon – shop deal now
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More On Forbes
Apple iPhone 12: Everything We Know So Far
Apple iPhone SE2: Everything We Know So Far
Apple AirPods Pro Vs AirPods: What’s The Difference?
Samsung Galaxy S20: Everything We Know So Far [Updated]
“>
We know enough about Apple’s 2020 plans to understand that it will be a landmark year for the iPhone. Moreover, despite declaring the iPhone 11 Pro as my smartphone of the year, new information now reveals you could be making a big mistake if you upgrade.
Apple iPhone 12 concept render
For this, we owe thanks to a leaked report from Barclays (via 9to5Mac) which details additional iPhone 12 upgrades and to some seriously exciting work from MacWorld which suggests the performance of the new iPhone range will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen from a smartphone.
Toe-to-Toe with the MacBook Pro
Grabbing the biggest headlines is MacWorld, which has taken apart the 5nm technology behind Apple’s upcoming A14 chipset and discovered it promises a generational leap that could be an industry game-changer.
“If we take [Apple A-Series chipmaker] TSMC at its word about the improved transistor density of the 5 nm process, we’re looking at an incredible 15 billion transistors,” explains MacWorld’s respected writer Jason Cross. “That’s more than all but the largest high-end desktop and server CPUs and GPUs. It’s huge… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Geekbench 5 multi-core score creeps up to 5,000 or so. For what it’s worth, the fastest Android phones score around 3,000 on this test, and a score of 5,000 would be similar to 6-core mainstream desktop CPUs or high-end laptop CPUs. It’s 15-inch MacBook Pro territory.”
And this is only half the equation with Apple also boosting iPhone 12 RAM by 50% and doubling down on major graphical improvements:
“Barring some new performance bottleneck, I think a score over 9,500 is certainly possible. In other words, I think we can expect a 50% improvement in graphics performance for the kind of high-end graphics used in games.”
Apple’s A-Series chipsets are already in a league of their own, but this would not only put them out of sight of smartphone rivals but represent the moment when Apple silicon could viably replace Intel hardware in its MacBook range.
Apple’s new iPhone 12 may be as fast as a 15-inch MacBook Pro
Face Lift
While Barclay’s can’t quite match this news, the company’s latest report states that the iPhone 12 is also likely to extend its lead in another area where it is already a class leader: facial recognition. The financial giant notes that Apple will ‘refresh’ Face ID hardware having only offered incremental improvements in recent years.
In addition, Barclay reiterates that Apple will be increasing iPhone 12 RAM to 6GB (from 4GB last year) and adding a long-range 3D camera for the first time. A move with significant potential for Augmented Reality. Interestingly, Barclays also adds that Apple is considering removing the Lightning port but that this will not happen until 2021.
The Tip of The Iceberg
And yet there’s still more. Despite still sporting a similar design to the iPhone X, the iPhone 12 will also be the first iPhone to come with 5G across the range, new 120Hz ProMotion displays and in-display fingerprint readers thanks to the return of next-generation Touch ID. All of which is capped off by reports that, unlike every other 5G smartphone to date, Apple will deliver all of these upgrades with only ‘modest’ price increases.
And yet if any form of price increase disappoints you, then Apple has an answer here as well because you’ll soon be able to get the iPhone 11 range’s speed and primary camera performance for a fraction of the price. Yes, it’s a big year ahead and as much as I love the iPhone 11 Pro, the smart money may now be on waiting…
Gordon’s Top Apple Daily Deals:
- AirPods with Charging Case – (typically $159.99) – Amazon: $129 / Walmart: $129
- AirPods with Wireless Charging Case – typically $199.99 – Amazon: $169 / Best Buy: $169.99 / Walmart: $169
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max – save up to $700 with second purchase + free year of Apple TV+ – Verizon – shop deal now
___
Follow Gordon on Facebook
More On Forbes
Apple iPhone 12: Everything We Know So Far
Apple iPhone SE2: Everything We Know So Far
