Perhaps the most striking thing about the (officially delayed) iPhone 12 line-up is its (relatively) affordable prices. But now we know why, and not everyone will be happy with where Apple is making the cuts to achieve it.
iPhone 12 Pro Max color concept
In a new report by award-winning Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo (seen by MacRumors), Kuo reveals that Apple will prevent the massive price increases affecting rivals, by putting pressure on component deliveries and the battery technology of ‘ to downgrade the new iPhones. Something that looks damaged.
By breaking this down, Kuo explains that Apple’s adoption of Sub-6GHz 5G technology in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Plus will increase Apple’s costs by $ 75- $ 85, while the full fat millimeter wave 5G in the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will add $ 125– $ 135. Such increases have added $ 200/300 to the final retail price of phones like Samsung’s Galaxy flagships, but Kuo says Apple will cut up to 50% of its battery cost through the Moving iPhone 12 models to batteries with simpler, smaller designs with fewer layers.
The result seems to be about a 10% reduction in battery capacity over the full range, compared to the iPhone 11 line-up. Given the higher power consumption of 5G, this is a surprising change and puts real pressure on Apple’s superlative new A14 chip to pull off some power efficiency wonders. The lower capacity is also thought to be the reason behind Apple’s decision to scrape the ProMotion screens on the Pro models.
Apple’s exciting 5.4-inch iPhone 12 (display display display) can be left unattended due to poor battery life
Moreover, while some iPhone fans may not be happy that battery life is living to a cellular standard they may not even be able to receive, Apple sees commitment to this process for the long term. Kuo states that Apple will go even further in 2021, by moving the lineup of the iPhone 13 to a “purely soft board” battery design that will cut a 30-40% extra cost. How this affects their performance remains to be seen.
Needless to say, this cost-cutting decision could be a dealbreaker for some upgrades, especially with the iPhone 12 range set to hold its big notch for another generation. That said, the said A14 chip could be a game changer, its super small and super large new screen size will win new fans, the cameras are about to get a lot worse and they have a new chassis design that looks great . Then there is the fact that Apple will be beating rivals this year, and that alone can be enormous.
If you are not yet convinced, then my advice is to wait. The range is already delayed and next year comes a new iPhone 12 model, which is perhaps just the smartest purchase of all.
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