In one of the most predictable new coronavirus impacts happening now, Apple has announced that production of its new iPhone 12 version may be delayed by up to a month.
“The Cupertino, California, company typically kicks off mass production of its annual phone offering in early summer, the paper noted, before revealing them in mid-September and shipping them to consumers later that month,” writes Sean Keane at CNet. “It’s expected to launch four new iPhone models later in the year, some of which will include 5G next generation wireless connectivity. Even though Apple managed to ship its new budget iPhone SE last week, CEO Tim Cook warned back in February that the company’s plans will likely be impacted by the viral outbreak.”
As closures and other difficulties triggered by the covid-19 pandemic pop up everywhere, it’s not surprising that Apple’s production will suffer. Reports earlier in March talked about how Apple’s major manufacturer Foxconn might be pivoting toward making ventilators or protective equipment instead of mobile devices for a while. In general, resources typically put toward consumer production and other processes have been diverted from government and business offices around the world, to try to mitigate the fatality of the virus impact.
In short, change has been rapid and broad.
The iPhone 12 is Apple’s 2020 phone – ever since the first iPhone, the company has been releasing new models pretty much every year. The relative Luddites among us might suggest that it’s okay to wait longer for a brand-new iPhone model, but of course, there’s Apple stock price to consider.
What’s in the new iPhone?
One of the phone models included will be a 5.4 inch phone for those who like their mobile devices to be a bit smaller. In it’s not the classic 4.5 inch build of the days of iPhone 4, but it’s slightly easier to fit in your pocket than the 6.7 inch giant on the higher end.
“Rumors suggest the 6.7-inch iPhone and one 6.1-inch model will be higher-end OLED devices with triple-lens cameras, while the 5.4 and 6.1-inch models will be lower-end iPhones with dual-lens cameras and a more affordable price tag,” wrote an anonymous author at Macrumors April 21.
Other changes will have to do with cameras, ports, and of course, the 5G communications that Keane mentioned, as that network continues to rollout despite some amount of consumer angst over public health and safety. Stay on the lookout for the next big iPhone – and let’s hope everyone gets back to business as usual, or something like it, some time soon.
