What They Say
After months of speculation, and slightly later in the year than before, Apple finally announced the iPhone 12 series. The 6.1″ iPhone 12 and the 5.4″ iPhone 12 mini get the OLED technology that was previously reserved for the Pro models (two of these in the 12 series the 6.1″ Pro & 6.7″ Pro Max) and the line-up gets new ceramic-hardened glass called Ceramic Shield, said to be four times more resistant to drop damage. The technology has previously used on the back of some phones, according to the Verge.
Corning’s new material consists of nano ceramic crystals embedded in the glass matrix. The crystals embedded in the glass matrix are an order of magnitude smaller than the wavelength of light, and index matched to the glass. This makes the material highly transparent, unlike other glass ceramics. Additionally, the crystals form interlocked structures that result in high flaw resistance and provide a mechanism to deflect and arrest cracks. The glass matrix is strengthened by ion exchange to provide a high degree of retained strength after damage.
The Apple application is the first to be transparent and ‘color-free’.
There are reports that the display has double the peak brightness of the iPhone 11, no doubt Ray Soneira will confirm that soon. Apple listed the peak at 1,200 cd/m², 800 cd/m² typical for the Pro models and 650 cd/m² typical for the others
They have the latest A14 Bionic APU, which has 11.8 billion transistors and uses 5nm technology. They support 5G and have a technology that was previously used on notebooks and that is MagSafe, used for wireless chargers and securing other accessories. The camera supports HDR video with Dolby Vision.
Pricing is from $699 to $1,099 for the entry level versions (64GB or 128GB) and there is a useful pricing table here. They will be available globally at the same time.
What We Think
Of course, Apple made a big ($200 million) grant to support R&D back in 2017, so new, better glass is not a surprise. It will be interesting to see how good it is when ‘stress tested’. (Apple Invests in Corning Glass Development) (BR)
