iPhone 12: does this 3D print show the shape of the new iPhone?

Dominik Bärlocher

15.6.2020

Translation: Eva Francis

A guy from New Zealand poses on Twitter with 3D prints of a supposed iPhone 12 – featuring the design language of the new iPad Pro.

Twitter user Jin Store claims to know the shape of the iPhone 12. How come? The New Zealander claims to have got his hands on models from the 3D printer. Without further details, he showed the silver-grey prints in a Tweet.

Please note: Apple has neither confirmed nor denied that the pictures of the grey devices are actually prints of the iPhone 12. There is a possibility that Jin Store is just looking for some attention and is teasing all of us.

Large notch, wide bezels

The prints shows a device with notch, plug and cameras – in five versions, of which Jin Store seems to hold two models twice. The numbers on the part that will be the display reveal something about the size of the display. If this tweet is true, we can expect the following line-up:

• iPhone 12 with 6.7-inch screen
• iPhone 12 with 6.1-inch screen
• iPhone 12 with 5.4-inch screen

These sizes correspond to the line-up the magazine MacRumours assumes to be true. If Apple doesn't change the Portfolio, it will look like this:

• iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7-inch screen
• iPhone 12: 6.1-inch screen
• iPhone 12 Pro: 5.4-inch screen

The straight edges of the phone are remarkable. In terms of design, these seem to go back to the beginnings of the iPhone – or to feature the design language of the newer iPad Pros. Nice.

The other changes on the iPhone seem to concern the inner workings, as the supposed iPhone 12 looks just like the 11 series. It features a wide notch in the front and a camera bump in the back that takes getting used to. Everything else seems to be as usual.

The possible source

The only thing that stands out is that the screen is supposed to be embedded in the device. This is questionable. With such prints, everything is relevant except the screen. Apple passes on the dimensions and placements of the plugs, buttons and slots to case manufacturers a few months before the launch so that they can come up with a new case for the launch of the phone.

Therefore, the pictures don’t show the number of cameras the new iPhone has. However, Jin Store assumes, apparently based on nothing, that the iPhone 12 Pro Max will feature a triple-camera setup. If this is the case, the phone will look just like its predecessor. It might be available in a few new colours.

But this isn’t the first time that someone claims to know what the iPhone 12 will look like. The magazine of the data aggregator GSMArena produced renders of a possible iPhone as far back as April.

Dominik Bärlocher

Senior Editor

dominik.baerlocher@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.