US-bound iPhone 12 might have faster 5G, but could be delayed until December
Apple iPhone 12 Pro concept render based on leaks
Apple has announced and released new iPhone models every September since 2012. Unfortunately, the recent COVID-19 pandemic means some delays are now likely, and one group of analysts believes the US-bound iPhone 12 models could be the worst affected.
The US-bound iPhone 12 will have mmWave 5G tech
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are expected to offer 5G connectivity as standard, yet not all 5G technology is equal. Wedbush analysts (via 9To5Mac) see Apple releasing two versions of the iPhone 12 series, one being an international lineup and the other a US-only alternative.
Both of these should offer Sub-6GHz 5G support, which is more suited to rural areas, but the US models will also include the added benefit of mmWave technology, which promises faster speeds at shorter distances and is, therefore, perfect for use in dense urban areas.
Combining both technologies together on all models would be the ideal scenario, but mmWave can drive up costs and significantly complicate the production timeline. That is why Wedbush believes the US-bound iPhone 12 models might not hit shelves until December.
If COVID-19 further complicates the situation, Wedbush warns that some models could even be delayed until early 2021. That has never happened before and seems unlikely at this stage of development, but it nevertheless remains a possibility.
Apple might delay all iPhone 12 models until at least October
As for the international iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro devices, Wedbush expects these to start reaching consumers in October. If that is the case, Apple may also choose to delay its announcement event until October in an attempt to maintain interest around the devices before the release. The only time Apple has ever announced a new iPhone in October was 2011, which saw the introduction of the iPhone 4S. Rather coincidentally, the iPhone 12 Pro borrows design cues from that device.
Of course, there is always a downside. Apple is planning to announce several other products such as the 11-inch iPad Air and Apple Watch Series 6, which would have to be pushed back a little too.
Ultimately, though, Wedbush thinks the iPhone 12 delay is going to be the best decision for sales because the holiday season will be nearer, the economy will have had more time to recover, and people will be more willing to spend money.
Alleged iPhone 12 Pro notch schematic
Around 350 million iPhones will be in the upgrade window next year, which Wedbush says could lead to a delayed 5G super cycle. A super cycle was previously predicted for 2018 and that never happened, so there’s certainly no guarantees this time around.