San Francisco (AFP)

Four new iPhones with the latest generation of 5G mobile telephony, sold without chargers or headphones, but equipped with advanced video tools and even a "LiDAR" sensor (a kind of radar with a laser) for professional models: the point on new devices launched by Apple on Tuesday, which mark the start of a new cycle for the apple brand.

- iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini -

The iPhone 12, flagship of the new range, succeeds the iPhone 11 released a year ago, and has a screen of the same size: 6.1 inches diagonally (15.5 cm).

It can be ordered as of Friday and will hit stores from October 23, starting at $ 799, in more than 30 countries.

Its little brother, the iPhone 12 mini, is sold by Apple as "the world's smallest, thinnest and lightest 5G smartphone".

It measures 5.4 inches diagonally and will be available on November 13, starting at $ 699.

Both cameras feature a dual lens and digital photography tools meant to help the user take the best possible shots under even very dark conditions.

"The inclusion of Dolby Vision (a video format allowing peaks in brightness) in the iPhone 12 could kill SLR cameras and allow Apple to seize the opportunity in the content creator market," notes Stephen Mears of Futuresource, in reference to the needs of the many influencers who make sophisticated videos from home for social networks, including the very popular TikTok application.

Both phones are water resistant (up to 6 meters deep for 30 minutes) and require a magnetic charger called "MagSafe", wireless, sold separately, like headphones now.

- iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max -

Professional models start at $ 999 for the iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch, pre-order from Friday) and $ 1,099 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch).

They will be in stores from October 23 and November 13 respectively.

Despite the high price of the top-of-the-line model, "Apple and its Asian suppliers anticipate increased demand especially for the 6.7-inch model," Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said.

Both devices are made with materials, steel and ceramic, "more resistant than any smartphone glass," says Apple.

But it's the technical characteristics of their cameras that should entice fans: they have three lenses (wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle and 12-megapixel telephoto), video in Dolby Vision HDR, and a LiDAR sensor (acronym in English of "light detection and ranging").

LiDAR works much like radar, but with a laser to detect light.

It allows for better augmented reality effects and better quality images, especially at night.

Combined with 5G, the technology opens doors for developers to create increasingly impressive experiences.

- 5G -

Apple has indicated that its new iPhones have the widest capacity on the market, and the best performance, including in saturated environments such as stadiums.

American models will even be able to use so-called "millimeter" waves, ultra powerful (but covering precise and limited areas).

“This could be a game-changer in the years to come, as more and more infrastructure, technologies and applications are built for these 5G highways,” noted Dan Ives.

“Under ideal conditions, we measured speeds of over 4 gigabits per second (Gb / s), and up to 1 Gb / s under typical conditions,” said Arun Mathias, a vice president of Apple.

The Californian group also argued that the new iPhones will automatically choose to use 5G or less powerful networks depending on the available waves and also the applications used, to save battery.

"The ability to switch from 5G to 4G (...) shows that connectivity to 5G is not provided 100% of the time for consumers, who do not yet really need it", emphasizes Stephen Mears.

"The new generation of telephony remains an evolution rather than a revolution."

© 2020 AFP