iPhone 12 Pro looks set to have a major camera advantage over the base model
An extra sensor
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The iPhone 12 Pro may have a far better Portrait mode and augmented reality features than the standardiPhone 12, if leakediOS 14code is to be believed.
According to9to5Mac, (a website that has seen the early version of the code) two of the three upcoming models of the iPhone are set to have a time of flight sensor on the rear for the first time.
That’s a feature many have expectedAppleto introduce to its iPhone range, and it’s a common piece of tech used on top-end Android flagships. These 2020 iPhone devices are codenamed ‘d5x’ and it’s expected these are the iPhone 12 family, as theiPhone 11series is mentioned in the same code with the name ‘d4x’.
There are three ‘d5x’ devices listed, but only two are set to come with the depth-sensing time of flight sensor.
A time of flight sensor allows the camera to better judge the relative distances of the subjects it’s shooting, which is helpful for Portrait mode photography, as it enables the camera to distinguish between a subject and their background to ensure the ‘bokeh’ background blurring effect is applied to the right areas.
Given that two of the three phones are listed as having this, it’s likely that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max (or whatever Apple decides to call them) will be the handsets to feature the tech while the iPhone 12 misses out.
It’s the sort of feature that’s specifically designed for top-end phones. For example, theSamsung Galaxy S20doesn’t feature the tech, but it’s available on the more expensiveGalaxy S20 PlusandGalaxy S20 Ultra.
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We’ve previously heard that the new iPad is set to have a similar feature, and it’s expected that Apple will mostly be using it on that device for advanced augmented reality features.
As for the iPhone 12 range, we’re expecting to hear lots more about it in the coming months, ahead of the anticipated September launch.
James is the Editor-in-Chief at Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.
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