Apple's iPhone 12 might be 'months' late

Apple is preparing for the possibility of launching its next iPhone, likely dubbed the iPhone 12, much later than anticipated.

According to a report by Nikkei, citing sources familiar with the matter, the company has internally discussed delaying the launch by "months."

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has strained Apple's supply chain, but Apple is considering the delay for other reasons, too. One of Nikkei's sources said that Apple's not keen to risk a potential "tame reception" of what would be the company's first 5G iPhone.

Many Apple employees currently work from home due to shelter-in-place orders, which also may affect Apple's plans. Nikkei's sources say Apple might reconsider the iPhone 12 launch timing once those orders are lifted, with the final decision coming around May.

The discussions are in an early stage, sources say, and it's still possible that the phone launches in the fall. But it's also possible that the launch is delayed into next year.

Apple typically launches new iPhones in September, which boosts sales in the holiday quarter, and the company surely won't change the iPhone's launch date lightly. As Nikkei notes, this would hurt not only Apple's revenue, but also millions of jobs in Apple's supply chain. But the worsening coronavirus outbreak is an unprecedented situation, and suddenly the impossible seems possible. Apple declined Nikkei's request to comment. It's worth noting that Apple just recently launched a slew of new products, including the new iPad Pro and MacBook Air, without an event of any kind (Apple does a few of these event-less product launches every year). On the other hand, the company was widely rumored to be launching an affordable iPhone towards the end of March, and that event is now almost certainly off the table. Finally, the company's WWDC conference has been turned into a digital-only event.

COVID-19 – the disease caused by coronavirus – has so far killed more than 18,500 and infected more than 416,000 people. The outbreak has been worsening in the U.S. in recent weeks, with more than 65,200 confirmed cases and 928 deaths.

Apple's iPhone SE successor will, apparently, be called iPhone SE

Apple's affordable new iPhone and the spiritual successor to the original iPhone SE from 2016, long-rumored to be called iPhone SE 2 or iPhone 9, will likely just be called "iPhone SE."

This is according to an updated listing for a Belkin screen protector, still live on Apple's website at writing time, which mentions the name "iPhone SE." This isn't particularly odd for Apple; in fact, the company often keeps the same name for lower-cost, non-flagship devices in its lineup, as it did with its most affordable iPad.

The listing on Apple's site, together with a recent report that a Best Buy tipster has seen a case for a new, 4.7-inch iPhone, indicate that the new iPhone SE will launch very soon, possibly today.

On Thursday, 9to5Mac revealed some of the specs for the new device, citing a knowledgeable, anonymous tipster. According to the outlet it will be available with three memory storage options: 64, 128 or 256GB. It will come in three colors – white, black and red – and five different cases will be available at launch.

Previous reports indicated that the device will look very similar to the iPhone 8 (which is now further confirmed by the Belkin listing, which lists the same protector for iPhone 7/8/SE), with a price that starts at US$399. The processor is also likely to be updated to Apple's A13 chip.

Apple’s next iPhone event will take place on September 10th

Apple has sent out invitations for its annual iPhone event on September 10th, where the company is widely expected to announce the iPhone 11. The event will take place at the company’s Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. Although Apple’s invitation doesn’t explicitly say what the company plans to announce at the event, the rumors suggest we’ll see three new iPhone models, and these will act as successors to the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. Two of these phones are expected to feature Apple’s first triple-camera system on the rear of the device, and the successor to the XS could also have a slightly bigger 6.1-inch display (up from 5.8 inches on the current model). Another rumor suggests that these iPhones could support bidirectional wireless charging, allowing them to charge AirPods when used with their new wireless charging case.

Upgrades to battery life and Face ID biometric security, as well as the use of new shatter-resistance technology have also been suggested. Apple rarely keeps its launch events focused on just a single category of products, however. Last year, it announced the Apple Watch Series 4 as well as a software update for the HomePod, alongside its new iPhones. However, as it currently stands, the main products that Apple is rumored to be planning for the end of this year — an all-new 16-inch MacBook Pro, an update its existing non-Touch Bar 13-inch model, and a new iPad and iPad Pro — are the kinds of devices that it doesn’t normally announce alongside its phones. We’ll be surprised if Apple didn’t have some news to share about the range of services it’s currently in the process of launching, though, and there’s a chance we could see new titanium and ceramic cases for the Apple Watch. Naturally, The Verge will be in attendance to bring you the latest news and announcements from California. Be sure to check back for our live blog and details on how you can watch the event yourself.