Android’s competitor during week of October 16, 2020
This week we saw the official launch of the iPhone 12 series on Apple News. Unlike previous years, this launch included four different models of the phone: the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the newest iteration of the family, the iPhone 12 Mini.
In other Apple news, we’ve seen more new hardware from Apple, including the latest smart speaker: the HomePod Mini. Outside of hardware, on a social media post that isn’t aging well, we heard about Samsung making fun of Apple, a hacking team cracking one of Apple’s security chips, and how the company is doing wants to benefit from his decision to remove chargers from the new iPhones.
Please see the Apple News summary below for the latest information.
Last week’s top Apple news:
- The iPhone 12 series is here: After months of rumors and speculation, we finally know everything about the iPhone 12 series. The four new models – the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, and 12 Mini – vary in price from $ 699 to $ 1,399 for the high-end 12 Pro Max. Of course, you can only get a few of the Devices received soon. The iPhone 12 Mini and 12 Pro Max will not be pre-ordered until November.
- New iPhones do not come with a charger: As expected, none of the phones in the iPhone 12 range have chargers in the box. There won’t be any EarPods either. All you get is a Lightning cable. Apple is selling this as a “Go Green” initiative, but look forward to seeing how we hold this stance.
- Don’t worry, Apple is now selling you a charger: If you really want a new charger with your iPhone 12, Apple is happy to sell you one for $ 19. The 20W charger is nominally more powerful than the old 18W charger and costs $ 10 less. Um, thanks, I guess?
- Apple HomePod Mini also lands: In addition to the new iPhones, Apple has also launched the HomePod Mini. This second entry in the HomePod lineup is smaller and cheaper than the original, year-old HomePod. This should help Apple better compete with Google and Amazon, who have been offering Apple lunch in the smart speaker market from the start.
- Apple’s T2 security chip not so secure: The team behind the infamous “checkm8” exploit that allowed people to jailbreak newer iPhones is back. This time around, they cracked the T2 security chip that is present in many Apple laptops. Fortunately, someone would have to physically connect a hack tool to your laptop in order to take advantage of the exploit.
- Samsung mocks Apple’s decision on the charger, which is sure to age well: In an official Facebook post, Samsung dwarfed Apple’s decision to remove the in-box charger from the iPhone 12 series. Of course, it’s pretty inevitable that Samsung will do the same thing with a future smartphone. So have this screenshot ready to point out Samsung’s hypocrisy.
Are you thinking of making the switch?
If you are reading this Apple article on an iOS device and considering switching to Android, there are several articles and guides that can help you with this process. Regardless of what it may seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.
The best place to start would be our iPhone to Android Moving Guide, which covers all of the basics. We also have more specific guides on how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples such as: For example, our list of the best alternatives to FaceTime for Android.
If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, check out our list of the best Android smartphones currently available.