A new leak claims that Apple's new "HomePod mini" will be $99 and half the height of the original, plus details a release schedule for the whole of the "iPhone 12" range.
A leak originally posted on Chinese site Weibo but then relayed by previously accurate tweeter Ice Universe, claims to have full details of the rumored smaller HomePod, plus confirmation of the "iPhone 12" range Apple is expected to announce on October 13.
This is the latest version. Some date information has been modified.
-- Ice universe (@UniverseIce) October 9, 2020
Link: https: //m.weibo.cn/1694917363/4558122712039511 pic.twitter.com/9Y0SnRL2Mq
A translation of the original Weibo posting says, "HomePod Mini, priced at $99, 3.3-inch speaker, S5 processor.
Most places are scheduled for November 6/7, and will be released on 16/17. Please wait for the domestic release."
The reference to a domestic release implies that these dates are for America, not China where the leak was posted.
At 3.3-inches, the HomePod mini would be just under half the height of the original HomePod. And at $99, it would be just under a third of what that HomePod currently costs.
The same source lists prices for the "iPhone 12" range, the bottom two of which are both $50 higher than previously reported. Specifically, it claims that the "iPhone 12 mini" will start at $699 instead of $649, and the "iPhone 12" will be from $799 rather than $749.
It also claims a release schedule for all four "iPhone 12" models, starting with the "iPhone 12" and the "iPhone 12 Pro." Pre-orders for these are said to be on either October 16 or October 17, with shipping from a week later on October 23 or October 24.
The leak says that the "iPhone 12 mini" will open for pre-orders on November 6 or 7, and ship a week later on November 13 or November 14. And reportedly the "iPhone 12 Pro Max," will see pre-orders on November 13 or November 14, with shipping November 20 or November 21.
In tweeting the original leak, leaker Ice Universe says that the Weibo poster's history "is very accurate, so I suggest you take it seriously."
Ice Universe has previously leaked details about the "iPhone 13" and its notch, plus a claim that the "iPhone 12 Pro" will feature a 120Hz ProMotion display.
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