Apple

10 Things to Do Before the iPhone 12 Release Date

Published

4 years ago

10/12/2020

The iPhone 12 release date is close. If you’re thinking about buying an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro, there are some things you should do before Apple’s 2020 iPhones arrive.

Now that we’re pushing into the fall there are some great reasons to think about waiting for Apple’s next batch of iPhones.

The company’s new iPhone 12 models are reportedly bringing massive changes including 5G support, upgrades to the camera, new processor, and more.

We don’t have an official release date yet, but we do have the official iPhone 12 announcement date. Apple has confirmed an iPhone event for October 13th. As expected, the event will take place online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

With the October 13th date confirmed, we expect initial iPhone 12 pre-orders to start on Friday, October 16th. This date should get confirmed during the event.

As for the iPhone 12 release date, you can expect at least some of the iPhone 12 models to hit shelves on October 23rd. We also expect some models to land in November.

According to a leak from a Weibo, the 5.4-inch “iPhone 12‌ Mini will go up for pre-order on November 6th or November 7th with a release coming November 13th or November 14th.

The same leak says 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 12‌ Pro Max pre-orders will begin on November 13th or November 14th with a release coming later on November 20th or November 21st.

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With the launch date confirmed, it’s time to start preparing for the iPhone 12’s release date. Taking some steps ahead of time will ensure that you’re fully prepared to buy one when they go on sale.

In this guide we’ll take prospective iPhone 12 buyers through some steps to take ahead of Apple’s announcements.

Track iPhone 12 Rumors

If you’re interested in buying one of the new 2020 iPhones, you’ll want to track the latest rumors as we push toward the release date.

Apple does its best to keep things under wraps, but rumors and leaks are inevitable and we’ve seen a ton of information emerge over the past few weeks.

Rumors will fill in many of the blanks well ahead of the iPhone 12’s release and they will help you set proper expectations as we close in on Apple’s announcements. If you have proper expectations, you’ll avoid disappointment.

In addition to keeping an eye out for hardware and software rumors, you’ll also want to keep your eyes peeled for supply chain rumors.

If rumors start pointing to potential shortages at launch, you might want to think about putting in a pre-order in order to avoid a delay.

If you want a look at the latest iPhone 12 rumors, take a look at our guide.

Check Your Upgrade Status

If you’re planning to buy a new iPhone this fall, you’ll want to keep an eye on your upgrade status as we push closer to the release date.

If you’re not eligible for an upgrade until mid-October or later, you might not be able to put in a pre-order for a new device since your line won’t eligible.

Carriers will sometimes move up your upgrade status so you’ll want to check in on it to see if anything changes in the buildup to the announcements.

Checking your current upgrade status is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to check your upgrade online at Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.

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Get Familiar with iOS 14

We recommend getting comfortable with the software that will power the iPhone 12.

iOS 14 is widely available which means you can try it out on your current iPhone ahead of the official release.

If you do this before the iPhone 12 launches you won’t be caught off guard by all of the changes when you open up your new phone.

For more on iOS 14, have a look at our walkthrough.

Research iPhone Accessories

As we speed toward the release you’ll want to get familiar with case manufacturers and other iPhone accessory makers. This way, you’ll know exactly what to buy and how much to spend on accessories if you decide you need them.

We recommend reading reviews and digging into the best iPhone cases, screen protectors, and various other accessories before Apple confirms the devices.

Get a feel for the pricing, dig into pros and cons of each manufacturer, and find styles that appeal to you.

Decide on a Screen Size & How Much Storage You Need

Figure out how much storage you might need ahead of time.

iPhone 12 rumors are hinting at one major change to the iPhone’s storage capacity. Instead of 64GB, it looks like the iPhone 12 Pro models will start at 128GB. Rumors point to additional 256GB and 512GB options.

The smaller 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 will start at 64GB with 256GB and 512GB options available for those that want more space.

Picking the right storage will help you save money and avoid headaches down the line. While some of you will be fine with the least amount of storage, others will want the peace of mind that comes with having more internal space available.

If you’re unsure about what you might need, take a look at our guide to picking the best iPhone 11 storage size.

You’ll also want to decide on a screen size. Apple’s iPhone 12 series will reportedly come in three sizes: 5.4-inches, 6.1-inches, and 6.7-inches.

If you can, go hands-on with phones with similar screen sizes.

Look at iPhone 12 Alternatives

Before you decide to buy the iPhone 12, make sure you go hands on with the current models. You might find a model you like at a price you love.

The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max are still fairly expensive, but their prices have dropped since launch.

We’ve also seen deals on Apple’s iPhones from 2018. The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR are still solid devices and they’re worth a look as well.

You might also want to take a peek at Apple’s new iPhone SE and other budget alternatives like the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 7. All of these devices are holding up quite well in 2020 and all of them have been upgraded to iOS 14.

While the iPhone 12 models are exciting, a lot of you might be fine going with a device from the current crop.

If you aren’t committed to buying an iPhone, make sure you check out iPhone 12 alternatives.

Some of these alternatives are already out on shelves. We recommend checking out the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, OnePlus 8, OnePlus 7, and Google’s Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and new Pixel 4a.

Make a Plan for Your Current Phone, Headphones & Charger

Make a plan for your current phone ahead of time. That way, you aren’t scrambling when the time comes.

Some of you might know of a friend or relative who could benefit from your current device. Ask around and see if anyone might need a hand-me-down later on this year. You might also look into donating your phone to charity.

If you plan on selling your current device to help offset the cost of your new iPhone, you’ll want to dig into prices at resellers like Gazelle and NextWorth.

You’ll also want to keep your current phone in pristine condition because that’s how you’ll get the most money back from those resellers, your carrier, or Apple when the time comes.

At this point, it’s all but confirmed: Apple won’t include a pair of headphones or a charger in the iPhone 12’s box. And that means you should come up with a plan for those items.

If you already own a pair EarPods, hold onto them. If you don’t, and you were relying on Apple to provide you with a pair, you might want to look into buying a pair of AirPods, a cheap pair of EarPods, or an EarPods alternative.

Apple will likely sell a charger through its website, but you should be perfectly fine buying a cheaper alternative from a company like Anker.

Look Into AppleCare

If you’re set on buying an iPhone 12, you’ll want to protect your investment.

All iPhones come with a standard warranty, but AppleCare is an extended warranty service that delivers better support. If you aren’t familiar with AppleCare’s service and its benefits, you should research them in the days ahead.

You will be able to add AppleCare to your bag during the checkout process when you purchase a new iPhone. You can also buy it later if you decide you want to wait.

Apple now gives users in the U.S. and Canada up to one year to buy AppleCare+.

Research Carriers

If you’re unhappy with your current provider’s coverage or plan, use this time to dig into competitors and see if you can find a better fit. This is especially important because the iPhone 12 series will come with 5G connectivity.

Each carrier has its pros and cons, but you might find one that stands out. If you’re interested in switching carriers, have a look at our guides covering AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

You’ll also want to dig into other carriers like Spectrum, Xfinity, Boost Mobile, and others. They don’t always get the iPhone on day one, but the pricing is often better.

11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 12 & 5 Reasons Not To

Wait Because the iPhone 12 Launch is Close

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The iPhone 12 launch is just days away and that means those of you interested in picking one up should consider holding off on buying a new device until Apple makes its announcements.

Again, it looks like the lower-end iPhone 12 models will start shipping in October while the iPhone 12 Pro models might not start shipping until sometime in November.

Plans can change, but the leaker who released this information has been spot on in the past.

If you don't think you can sit through a few more days of rumors and/or you phone isn't going to last until mid-October or November, you'll obviously want to move onto something else.

That said, if you can wait, now is the time to do so. We're getting close.