DigiTimes: 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro to Launch First

[Strokee]

The 5.4" model is the most important one and will sell like hotcakes, it will easily be the best selling phone out of the lot

It might be the most “intriguing” model, but just because of size. No MMWave 5G, no 120hz display, no lidar scanner...it’s certainly not the most important or feature-packed model.

It will not “easily be the best selling phone out of the lot.” It’s 2020, most people want, and are used to, phones with larger screens. There is a small, loud niche of users who whine about wanting a tiny phone, but that is the minority. The 6.1” standard iPhone 12 model will sell best.

When people see how tiny that phone actually is, very few people will buy it. People with financial concerns will simply opt for the iPhone SE, iPhone XR or iPhone 11. The iPhone SE 2 will be out next Spring, too.

 

[Strokee]

I will grant you it does, just wait until next year when the figures come out and you can come back and quote this post and we will see who was right

He will be correct. The tiny iPhone is just a curiosity and will target kids and a small group of adults.

FYI, hot cakes don’t sell that well. Nobody’s buying pancakes. Waffles are where it’s at.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Makes no sense!

 

[azentropy]

It’s bothersome to me that Apple is dropping the 5.8” size in the Pro Series. The smallest iPhone Pro is now 6.1” which is just too large and bulky for my hands, conversely the 5.4” seems a bit small, and you loose the fantastic camera that’s only available in the pro line. I might end up sitting this one out and just keeping my current iPhone 11 Pro 5.8”.

Everyone has a bit different sweet spot. That is one of the reasons I sat out the X, Xs and 11 Pro. So I'm really looking forward to the 5.4" as the comfort and being able to use it with one hand is much more important to me than the cameras.

 

[Strokee]

For all of you "IT MAKES NO SENSE" people:

It actually DOES make some sense. If you read the article, you'll see reference to

"...based on the shipment timing of substrate-like printed circuit boards for the devices."

It does make sense that it would be easier to mass-produce 2 models of the same size, as opposed to releasing a 5.4" & 6.1" models simultaneously, followed by a 6.7" and 6.1" models. A lot of components in the 6.1" models will be the same. Add in the rumors about the 6.1" Pro model not having a 120hz referesh rate screen, lidar scanner and/or mmWave 5G, and launching it with the standard 6.1" model makes even more sense.

The people who just want a new iPhone will likely scoop up the 6.1" models when released. The 5.4" and 6.7" models target a niche consumer base anyway, so those people are going to wait for those models, regardless. It makes sense that those will be more difficult to produce in large(r) quantities, and Apple was probably working out kinks with mmWave 5G, 120hz refresh rates, with the 6.7" model, so it was always going to release later.

All of this being said, I am skeptical of this rumor. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the Pro models releasing in November, preceded by the standard models in October. But to scream "IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO RELEASE TWO 6.1" MODELS FIRST" is b.s...it's just you regurgitating your DESIRES, not what you actually think is logical.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

About the only thing the iPhone 12 may have that I would want over my iPhone 11 PRO MAX is the 120hz screen, and I can live without that. So, not excited about the 12 at all. I'll get another year out of my 11 PRO MAX just fine.

 

[_Refurbished_]

The 5.4" model is the most important one and will sell like hotcakes, it will easily be the best selling phone out of the lot

I’m really curious to see the demand for the 5.4”. The market has been driven by large phones since Job’s death. It will be interesting to see the demand of an up-to-date tiny iPhone, and not just a re-packaging of an old design.

 

[DotCom2]

Digitimes 🤦‍♂️ Nothing to see here move along.

Last time I posted something similar they deleted my post.

 

[xalea]

Gosh, those are hideous. You'd think by now they would've found a way to hide the camera lenses a bit better.

 

[xpxp2002]

For the two lens models, has anyone reported whether they will again be moderate wide and super wide? I am so hoping for wide and tele options.

Does that mean 1x and 2x, or 1x and 0.5x?

I read a rumor of a 1x/3x/0.5x combo on the Pro models this year. I’d love to have a 3x lens. If the non-Pro models are 1x/0.5x only, that’s a deal breaker.

 

[newyorksole]

It’s bothersome to me that Apple is dropping the 5.8” size in the Pro Series. The smallest iPhone Pro is now 6.1” which is just too large and bulky for my hands, conversely the 5.4” seems a bit small, and you loose the fantastic camera that’s only available in the pro line. I might end up sitting this one out and just keeping my current iPhone 11 Pro 5.8”.

I don’t take for granted for one second that I’m cool with larger sized premium phones. There are a lot of people like yourself who either don’t like it or can’t comfortably handle the larger devices.

Maybe one day they’ll make a premium smaller phone. It would just make sense.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I want my 6.7 yesterday!

Oh well, my birthday is in November.....

Mine is 6 days before Christmas, so the 12 Pro Max will be a very early birthday and Christmas gift for me. I’ve worked hard during the pandemic so I deserve it!

 

[DumbPhone]

This might well be true and, if so, Apple might be worried that many people due to upgrade might jump on this more compact cheaper model if it comes out first, thus sabotaging their sales of bigger = more expensive models. So Apple might want to roll more expensive models first and then follow up with the cheaper ones, getting another comfortable cash stream. Smart for business, but can be quite disappointing for people waiting on for a smaller device.

I doubt it, most of those who prefer a smaller handset will wait. Those who want a smaller phone are serious about it and won't budge until it comes out.

 

[tridley68]

Only one worth waiting for is the 6.7 inch pro hurry up Apple I'm getting quite bored with my 11 pro max

 

[tridley68]

Mine is 6 days before Christmas, so the 12 Pro Max will be a very early birthday and Christmas gift for me. I’ve worked hard during the pandemic so I deserve it!

Would like to see a 6.7 in time for my birthday on 9/16 but not gonna hold my breath 😆😆😆😆

 

[satchmo]

No, I grant you that you little phone people are very focal but that doesn't translate into real-life figures.

I will grant you it does, just wait until next year when the figures come out and you can come back and quote this post and we will see who was right

It will be interesting to see considering how the iPhone 11 at 6.1" was by far the most popular phone in 2020.
That said, there wasn't a small-sized non-pro option like there will be this year.

I think the 6.1 may surprise many. Those upgrading from an 8+, XR and 11 have gotten use to a larger display and may not want to go down so much in size.

 

[carrrrrlos]

Possibly time to upgrade my iPhone X.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Would like to see a 6.7 in time for my birthday on 9/16 but not gonna hold my breath

Yes I would’ve loved it even more if they launched this month. Happy early Birthday!!

 

[jcshas]

Everyone has a bit different sweet spot. That is one of the reasons I sat out the X, Xs and 11 Pro. So I'm really looking forward to the 5.4" as the comfort and being able to use it with one hand is much more important to me than the cameras.

For me it mostly depends on how many features they strip out of the 5.4”. I guess I can live with a smaller phone, but if the camera in my current iPhone 11 Pro 5.8” is better than the iPhone 12, then there’s no incentive for me to upgrade.

 

[AppleZombie]

Patiently waiting on a real phone to finally come back. The iPad mini mini in my pocket will be gone soon.

 

[Mescagnus]

I feel almost clairvoyant!

With all these rumors in the past few weeks, and given the time of year, I bet my money on a) Apple will launch new iPhones, and b) they'll come in different sizes.

I'm feeling pretty lucky with this bet. Too bad it'll cost me quite dearly, this year, again, like last year and the year before that and the year before that (repeat x 10).

 

[xpxp2002]

For me it mostly depends on how many features they strip out of the 5.4”. I guess I can live with a smaller phone, but if the camera in my current iPhone 11 Pro 5.8” is better than the iPhone 12, then there’s no incentive for me to upgrade.

Same here, except coming from a X.

If the 5.4 is only missing a 0.5x lens and LIDAR, I could live without those. But if it’s missing mmWave, a 2x or 3x lens, and/or the Pros end up having 120 Hz displays, I may deal with the 6.1 Pro, even though that’s bigger than I’d want.

 

[dz5b609]

I will grant you it does, just wait until next year when the figures come out and you can come back and quote this post and we will see who was right

You rely too much on the internet. Forums/twitter is not a good representation of real-life, not even close to it.

 

[one more]

I doubt it, most of those who prefer a smaller handset will wait. Those who want a smaller phone are serious about it and won't budge until it comes out.

This is if those people know about a small handset coming in the first place. I guess if there is at least a monthly gap between releases, the carriers might still be pushing the first wave of new 5G iPhones quite hard to keep people on their contracts, etc.

 

[cmaier]

That makes no sense at all.