Apple Introduces iPhone 12, Reveals New Zealand Pricing, No Charger or Headphones with New Models

Computer giant Apple finally revealed the upcoming additions to the iPhone lineup alongside other devices during an online event.

In a big break with tradition, the new phones will no longer come with headphones or a charger adapter in the box.

Apple claims this is being done for environmental reasons, saying that customers around the world already have a combined total of 700 million headsets and that many customers have switched to wireless technology.

It says there are two billion of its power adapters, plus billions more from third parties.

“We are removing these items from the iPhone case, which reduces carbon emissions and prevents the extraction and use of precious materials,” said a company spokeswoman.

“Removing them also means a smaller and lighter iPhone case. We can put up to 70% more products on one shipping platform, reducing carbon emissions in our global supply chain.”

Here’s what you need to know about new Apple products:

THE IPHONE 12 MINI

Apple has revealed that its new smartphone will come in a Mini version. It is basically a smaller version of the iPhone 12 that packs all its features, but in a smaller and lighter form. It includes a 5.4-inch screen in a body similar in size to the iPhone 8.

The iPhone Mini will retail for $ 1,349 in New Zealand, while the standard iPhone will cost $ 1,499.

Three other new iPhones were also released, including the largest screen model ever. Read about them here.

A NEW WAY OF CHARGING

Apple offers a new way to charge your iPhone, called MagSafe. The charger itself resembles the one used for the Apple Watch, allowing for improved wireless charging. It is a circular magnet on the back of the phone.

There are two purposes: first, wireless chargers will now connect directly to the phone, and second, the phone can be connected to other accessories directly, using its magnet to stay inside new cases or to store a wallet, for example .

APPLE ANNOUNCES IPHONE 5G CAPACITY

Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the next iPhone will enter the 5G wireless space. It says this means faster downloads, better security, game improvements and other “game-changing innovations.”

“Today is the beginning of a new era for the iPhone,” he said.

Read about local support for 5G here.

Rival phone makers like Samsung and Huawei have had 5G technology in their phones for more than a year – Samsung’s S10 5G was the first available in Australia.

However, Apple has never released a device with next-generation mobile technology, which is significantly faster than 4G and also provides lower latency.

Read about New Zealand carriers’ support for 5G here.

AND THE CAMERA?

The iPhone 12’s camera will include a faster aperture, which means big improvements in low-light performance, and features like night mode, allowing you to capture more light in an image. Night mode will also add a time lapse option.

The phone will use something called computational photography to bring out more details in images, such as faces that appear darker when a light source such as the sun is in the background.

THE MOST RESISTANT IPHONE

Apple recognizes that its new phone is the toughest smartphone ever thanks to its new “Ceramic shield” technology.

It has a four times better drop performance, apparently “the biggest jump in reliability we’ve ever had on an iPhone.”

THE HOMEPOD MINI

The first product Apple introduced at the event was the HomePod Mini, which they called the “definitive speaker for smartphone users.”

“The HomePod mini has everything customers want in a smart speaker: incredible sound for listening to music, a world-class smart assistant that brings a personal experience to every member of the household, and like all Apple products, it’s designed with privacy and security in mind, “said Bob Borchers.

The original HomePod was announced in 2017 and went on sale in early 2018, positioned as a high-end speaker focused on Apple Music and the company’s Siri voice assistant. Since then, Apple has added additional features to the HomePod.

This new capsule will be available in white and gray and features:

• Siri shortcuts created on iPhone and iPad are accessible on HomePod mini, so users can ask Siri on HomePod mini to start a cup of coffee, control a robot vacuum, add milk to the shopping list and more.
• Ambient sounds, including rain, a fireplace, a stream, and more, provide the perfect background noise for concentrating, relaxing, or falling asleep. Siri can set a sleep timer so sounds stop playing automatically.
• Find My helps locate a misplaced iPhone, iPad, iPod touch®, Mac, or Apple Watch by playing a sound to pinpoint its location.
• HomePod mini web search results can be sent directly to the user’s iPhone for easy viewing.
• Music alarms allow users to wake up to a favorite Apple Music song, playlist, or radio station.