iPhone 12 might look like an iPad Pro, and the HomePod could shrink
Apple is reportedly giving its iPhone lineup a complete revamp. According to Bloomberg, unnamed sources familiar with the company's plans say Apple is pulling design inspiration from the 2018 iPad Pro.
Instead of the curved design of the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, Bloomberg says the flagship phones will have flat stainless steel edges along with sharply rounded corners.
That also means the displays will look a lot boxier, similar to the panel on the iPhone 5, rather than corners that curve along with the shape of the phone.
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In addition to Pro versions of the iPhone 12, the report also says Apple is set to launch two lower-end models as a follow-up to the iPhone 11. All of which are also set to come equipped with 5G connectivity.
But it's not clear whether the new design is geared strictly toward the flagship phones or the full lineup.
The most expensive iPhone of the bunch will feature a display that's a bit larger than the 6.5-inch 11 Pro Max. But there aren't any details on whether the company plans to increase the display size on any other devices.
Apple is also apparently looking to remove the cutout at the top, where the front-facing camera and Face ID sensors sit, in an effort to make the notch smaller on all the models.
On the back, the new iPhone Pros are set to include a triple-camera setup while the more budget-friendly options will have two cameras.
We could also see a LiDAR scanner, like the one on the 2020 iPad Pro, packed into the camera module on the iPhone Pro models.
The LiDAR scanner, which uses a Time of Flight sensor to measure reflected light, makes augmented reality apps a lot faster and easier to use.
Bloomberg also notes the phones will come with a "significant upgrade to the processor." That likely means Apple's next-generation Bionic Chip will pack even more power to support AR apps.
We could also see a new HomePod this year. But this time, it might be half the size of the original model. To compete with other tiny smart speakers, like the Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot, the price will be a lot lower.
New size and lower price aside, Apple has also been "acquiring AI startups to help it bolster Siri." Considering Siri's rather unpopular reputation, it's certainly what the company needs to make the HomePod a bit more enticing.
