Apple’s Surprising iPhone 12 Upgrade Has A Serious Problem

With Apple’s iPhone 12 launch expected early in September, final testing is under way of the hardware. And the latest leaked details show that the upgrade to the screen is not only in doubt, but also comes with some big drawbacks. 

SHANGHAI, CHINA – 2019/09/20: Apple’s new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max displayed … [+] at an Apple retail store at the IFC Mall in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Apple launched sales of its latest iPhone 11 series in China. (Photo by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The details come from noted Apple commentator Jon Prosser, with his tweeted screenshots coming from an early PVT product model. PVT standing for ‘production validation test’, a model which makes sure the first units coming own the production line are tested for fit, form, and functionality.

They show options to enable both ‘high refresh rate’ and ‘adaptive refresh rate’, two options that would be need to get the most out of a faster 120Hz screen.

This technology is popular on flagship Android devices, but as yet it has not made an appearance on the iPhone. The iPhone 12 Pro models are expected to be the first to carry these screens, but the impact of Covid-19 on the supply chain may take that decision away from Apple. The Pro phones are going to be later to market, with late november suggested by many analysts. With the 120 Hz screens potentially in short supply, it’s not 100 percent that consumer units will ship with the technology.

Perhaps that’s why Prosser notes that there are test models both with and without the faster screen.

But this new screen, even though it is an upgrade over previous Pro models, has some serious problems. Once more Apple is behind the curve in terms of design.

While it will come with smaller bezels compared to previous models, put them side by side with some of the latest Android flagships such as the Galaxy S20 Ultra and you’ll see that Apple’s bezels are nowhere close to the current vision of a premium screen. If your only point of reference is the iPhone 11, then yes, it’s a great upgrade, but there’s more to the smartphone market than Apple.

And that’s not going to be the most noticeable problem. The notch is still ridiculously wide.

This has been highlighted by others with access to PVT models. The wide and high notch from the iPhone X remains part of the design. As Android manufacturers work to reduce the size of the notches on their handsets from the original bars, through the minimal teardrop, to the punch out, Apple remains stuck with the design it introduced with the iPhone X… three years ago.

The iPhone 12 family will no doubt be christened as “Apple’s best ever iPhone” during the virtual launch, which fails to mention that the screens on the Android competition are just as fast, with smaller bezels, and offer larger ‘screen to size’ ratios.

 Now read more about Apple’s iPhone success in 2020…