O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: handset

  • YouTuber locates, publishes hack that allows some non-Chinese market iPhones to use dual-SIM support

    YouTuber locates, publishes hack that allows some non-Chinese market iPhones to use dual-SIM support

    If you own an iPhone XR, iPhone 11, or iPhone 12, you may be able to perform a dual-SIM hack on it. This allows users to insert two nano-SIMS, even if they’re from different wireless carriers, into the handset and use them.

    While this feature is currently only available in China, and Apple doesn’t provide the configurations anywhere else, it may be feasible (Apple currently allows the iPhone 12 to use a physical SIM card along with a second, digital eSIM card).

    YouTuber Hugh Jeffreys , however, had the idea to try swapping the SIM reader and tray in a non-Chinese iPhone for one from China. Surprisingly, the hardware hack works and provides dual-SIM support for non-Chinese iPhones, as seen below.

    <center>
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    This is definitely an advanced-level task, since it requires removing the display from your device. Still, if you want to have support for two physical SIM cards in your iPhone, it definitely seems within reach.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and Hugh Jeffreys

  • Some iPhone 12 users report experiencing drops in 5G, LTE cellular coverage

    This is why iOS and overall firmware updates exist.

    A number of users have reported that their iPhone 12 units have been reporting persistent drops in cellular coverage. The reports have surfaced on Reddit, Apple’s support forums, and the MacRumors forums, wherein some users have described suffering issues when walking or in transit and some seeing the same problem when stationary. 

    Some users have reported suddenly losing all reception bars and seeing a “no service” message on their handset, in spite of being in an area of network coverage and seeing no connectivity issues with any of their other devices. The iOS version installed on the iPhone 12 doesn’t seem to present a factor with the issue.

    Several users who contacted Apple technical support or their wireless provider have indicated that the issue may be related to how the ‌iPhone 12‌ switches between cellular towers. Affected iPhones reportedly pass all of Apple’s diagnostic tests, while toggling Airplane mode on and off seems to correct the lost signal reception for some, but not all users.

    Users have reported issues with the iPhone 12 with wireless operators such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Representatives from Verizon have stated that the company is aware of the issue.

    If you’ve experienced dropped connections with your iPhone 12, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors, discussions.apple.com, Reddit, and forums.macrumors.com

  • Early iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro teardown videos begin to surface from iFixit, Kaputt

    With the first orders of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max handsets having begun to arrive, some early teardown videos have begun to surface.

    First, German repair company Kaputt has released initial teardown videos of both models, revealing few major differences but a couple of interesting tidbits about the internal design and components of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

    The iPhone 12 Pro Max teardown shows how the handset has retained an L-shaped battery design, something which has changed on the other iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models. The rest of the internals appear fairly consistent with the iPhone 12 Pro, which iFixit first disassembled back in October.

    By comparison, the iPhone 12 mini shares much of its internal configuration with the iPhone 12, although the handset uses a much smaller battery given its size.

    iFixit’s live teardown of the iPhone 12 Pro Max handset also pointed out notable features like the wide angle camera’s sensor shift stabilization. iFixit is currently in the process of tearing down the iPhone 12 mini, and has highlighted interesting components such as its small Taptic Engine and 8.57 Wh battery.

    Previous teardowns of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro found that Apple made a lot of compromises to fit 5G compatibility in its 2020 devices, including on the battery and logic board. They found that iPhone 12 camera modules can’t be replaced or repaired by third-party technicians. 

    Since a picture’s worth a thousand words, here are the teardowns and please let us know what you think in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider, iFixit, and Kaputt

  • Rumor: iPhone 12 could wirelessly charge next-gen AirPods

    In 2019, the rumor mill suggested that the iPhone 11 handset would’ve supported reverse wireless charging, that would have made the device a potential wireless charging pad. the iFixit teardown revealed that some of the necessary component for this were present, but the work was unfinished.

    This year, FCC filings indicate that this function could work now, allowing you to charge your AirPods via your iPhone 12 soon.

    Normally, Qi charging components in an iPhone operate in one direction only. Per the filing, the iPhone 12 works with regular Qi chargers and also feature a new “charging function at 360 kHz” that makes the handset capable of recharging accessories. Once Apple switches this feature on, you could charge your AirPods by setting the case on the back of your iPhone 12.

    While Apple never mentioned the possibility of this function at its recent “Hi, Speed” media event, there’ve been rumblings about reverse wireless charging on the iPhone 12. This was noted in the FCC filing for the iPhone 12:

    In addition to being able to be charged by a desktop WPT charger (puck), 2020 iPhone models also support WPT charging function at 360 kHz to charge accessories. Currently the only accessory that can be charged by iPhones is an external potential apple accessory in future.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is rumored to be hanging on to the reverse charging feature for the rumored next-gen AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 earbuds.

    Gurman suggested that the reverse charging might work through MagSafe. The new accessory cases might utilize their own MagSafe connectors to pair up with your iPhone 12’s magnets.

    The FCC filing also hints at using the wireless charging technology in a “portable use condition,” as indicated here:

    Future designs and accessories may support true portable use condition, with the host-client pair able to be placed in a pocket or backpack. In those cases. A body-worn exposure assessment would be conducted.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer, @horowitz, and @markgurman

  • Some iPhone users report brief, greenish tint after unlocking handsets

    There might be a greenish error in the wind some iPhone owners are concerned.

    A small number of iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro users, as well as users of certain older model handsets, have reported a bug that causes a green tint to appear for a brief time after unlocking their handsets.

    The issue apparently primarily affects devices in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro lineup, though it may also be present on some iPhone X and XS models. Some reports indicate that the issue has been present since iOS 13.4.1.

    The bug apparently causes the display to appear “washed out with a green tint” fora few seconds before behaving normally again.

    The issue appears to impact both iPhones with LCD and OLED screens, indicating that the problem is probably software-related.

    If the issue is software-based, then it’s likely that Apple will patch the bug in an upcoming iOS release. 

    If you’ve seen this issue on your end, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider, Reddit, and MacRumors