Apple confirms iPhone 12 release date will be delayed until at least October after coronavirus lockdowns disrupt the global supply chain
- Confirmation of the delays came from Apple’s latest quarterly earnings call
- Disruption from COVID-19 means that the new line will miss the usual launch slot
- Announcement of the delay follows similar rumours circulating online this week
- Despite the pandemic’s impact, Apple is reporting that sales are up on last year
Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 12 release date will be delayed until at least October after coronavirus lockdowns caused disruption to the global supply chain.
The announcement means that the new product line will miss the tech firm’s customary September launch window.
Confirmation of the delay followed rumours circulated by tech leaker John Prosser earlier this week that new iPhones and iPads would be released in October.
Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 12 release date will be delayed until at least October after coronavirus lockdowns disrupt the global supply chain. Pictured, artist’s renders of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max models released earlier this year, as based on ‘known information’
Confirmation of the delay followed rumours circulated by tech leaker John Prosser earlier this week that new iPhones and iPads would be released in October, as pictured
The delay to the iPhone 12 release was announced during Apple’s latest earnings call, in which the company announced positive news for the third quarter this year.
Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic — which has seen supply chains severely disrupted — iPhone sales are reportedly up by 2 per cent from last year, a boost which Apple attributes to the iPhone SE 2020 model, TechRadar reported.
The firm has also confirmed that iPad and Mac sales have experienced double-digit growth in spite of the impact of COVID-19.
‘We believe we are going to have a strong back-to-school season,’ Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the conference call, Axios reported.
The present global health crisis also means that Apple will not be placing earnings targets, again, for the fourth quarter of 2020.
According to Mr Prosser, Apple may also unveil new iPad models — including the standard model, the Air and the Mini — alongside the updated iPhone at the delayed launch event in October.
It has previously been suggested that Apple will issue four versions of the iPhone this year — the 12, 12 Max, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, with screen sizes of 5.4, 6.1, 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively.
According to Yuanta Investment Consulting analyst Jeff Pu, prices for the iPhone 12 will likely start at £593 ($749) — somewhat higher than the iPhone 11’s initial sales price of £554 ($699) — the Metro reported.
The Apple iPhone 12 is hotly anticipated and will support 5G technology. Pictured, the front (left) and rear (right) of a putative iPhone 12 cast of the kind used to design third-party cases
The Apple iPhone 12 is hotly anticipated and will support 5G wireless technology.
In locations where the necessary infrastructure is already established, these 5G enabled handsets will offer superior download speeds.
The development will see Apple catch up to its Android-based rivals, whose latest offerings have all featured 5G capable handsets.
These include the OnePlus 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S20 and the soon-to-be-released Galaxy Note 20.
Rumours have also circulated online that, with the iPhone 12, Apple may cease bundling matching headphones and a charging adaptor with handset sales.