Apple’s share price rises as iPhone 12 rumours grow – what’s the gossip?

Apple’s share price has been steadily increasing over the past week as rumours about the iPhone 12 continue to grow.

A launch event held earlier this month did not announce a new product in its flagship line of smartphones – and instead, the Apple Watch and iPad stole the limelight.

The next-generation iPhone, and Apple’s first 5G device, is expected to be unveiled in October.

Investors seemed to be spooked when the iPhone wasn’t mentioned at the launch event, with Apple’s share price tumbling to a low of $106.84 (£83.12) on 18 September.

However, it has now climbed to $114.96 (£89.44) as speculation builds about the new range.

Here’s what those rumours say – although the only official word we’ve had from Apple so far is that the iPhone release would be “a few weeks” later than usual. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 12 range on 13 October, with the devices themselves being available for consumers on 23 October.

It is rumoured there will be four devices in three different sizes. The smallest devices will measure 5.4in corner to corner, two will measure 6.1in, and the largest one will have a mammoth 6.7in screen size.

The larger smartphone and one of the 6.1in models are expected to be Apple’s higher-end devices, potentially called the iPhone 12 Pro range, and feature the latest technology that the company has developed.

These Pro models are expected to retain the triple-lens housing which debuted with the iPhone 11 Pro, while the regular and smaller iPhone 12 models will have a dual-lens set-up for its rear cameras.

It isn’t clear what the smaller iPhone 12 will be called, but there have been some suggestions it might be named the iPhone 12 mini.

Apple is rumoured to have added a new distinctive metal frame reminiscent of that used for the iPhone 4 and the newest iPad Pro models too to differentiate the devices from the iPhone 11 range.

The design is expected to align with that of the iPad Pro, with the stainless steel frame giving the device a square-edged look – although for most consumers these design features tend to be hidden by protective casings.

For months it has been rumoured that the iPhone 12 will be sold without headphones, a charger or a plug adaptor in the box.

The best features are rumoured to be packed into the 6.7in device, including a rear camera system which will use lasers to calculate depth information for the immediate environment – opening up a range of new photography and augmented reality features.

Whether all this will be enough to bring Apple shares back to their 1 September high of $134.18 (£104.12) is yet to be seen. – bbc.com