iPhone 12, the tech giant’s first smartphones that support 5G
wireless technology.
Apple joined the move to 5G on Tuesday, unveiling four
new iPhones which use the new standard in what could be a turning
point for the high-speed wireless technology.
“Today is the beginning of a new era for iPhone,” Apple
chief executive Tim Cook said during a streamed launch event from
the company’s headquarters in California.
“This is a huge moment for all of us. And we’re really excited.
5G will bring a new level of performance for downloads and uploads,
higher quality video streaming, more responsive gaming, real time
interactivity and so much more.”
The new models include the redesigned iPhone 12 — successor to
the top-selling iPhone 11 launched last year — with a display of
6.1 inches at a starting price of $799, available October 23.
A smaller iPhone 12 mini with a 5.4 inch display will start at
$699 and will be in stores November 13.
With more features, the iPhone 12 Pro will launch this month
from $999 and the 6.7 inch Pro Max from $1,099 in November, the
same levels as their predecessors
The new handsets offer improvements to the camera system and a
redesign that adds more display with a smaller overall size.
The new lineup of iPhones was expected to ignite a surge in
interest in smartphone upgrades to take advantage of the faster
networks.
Apple’s move could ignite interest in 5G devices as the new,
fast networks are slowly being rolled out in the United States and
other parts of the world.
“Apple drives a lot of technology shifts in the industry, and
the iPhone 12 supports 5G in all its forms on four different
phones,” said Avi Greengart, analyst with Techsponential.
“5G has not been a big purchase driver in most markets, but that
could start changing now, and Apple is now much better positioned
to succeed in the one place where consumers have been buying 5G
phones — China.”
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Thomas Husson of Forrester Research tweeted that “Apple will do
more for 5G than 5G will do for the new iPhones… experiences can
only improve as telcos progressively roll out networks.”
Joining 5G revolution
Apple joins other handset makers including Samsung and Huawei in
introducing smartphones taking advantage of the growing 5G
footprint around the world, which could open up new markets and
technologies.
5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the
amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in
self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more
as sensors and servers communicate instantly.
The growth of 5G could also be a catalyst to revive a sluggish
smartphone market.
Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent year-on-year in the
second quarter, according to research firm IDC.
The new iPhones give Apple a range of handsets from the $400
iPhone SE launched earlier this year, as the company seeks to
expand its ecosystem with more digital content and services.
Stephen Mears of Futuresource Consulting said Apple appears to
be holding the line on prices to gain more consumers as it drives
further into services.
“Apple have remained cognizant of their price points in light of
the challenges facing many consumers in 2020 as a result of
Covid-19,” Mears said.
“The reasonable price points of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini
will certainly not prove prohibitive to the majority of Apple
consumers, and when considered alongside the SE released earlier
this year, it’s clear that Apple are targeting growth in its active
installed base to help facilitate further expansion of its
increasingly important services.”
Apple also introduced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker
standing just eight centimeters (3.3 inches) tall. The HomePod
mini, which responds to voice commands and plays music, will start
at $99.
-AFP