While the iPhone 12 won't launch until this fall, previews of Apple's iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 software updates give us a pretty good clue as to what we can expect from Apple's new devices.

Yes, we've already heard about the four new iPhone models, the new A14 Bionic processor, and 5G connectivity, but iOS 14 itself also teases some substantial upgrades for the iPhone 12 lineup. From exciting new AR features, higher screen refresh rates to other goodies, here's what iOS 14 is telling us about iPhone 12 features so far.

One of iPadOS 14's signature features is ARKit 4, which leverages the LiDAR scanner on the iPad Pro. ARKit 4 adds a new Depth API that allows for instant placement of virtual objects and improved object occlusion and improve object occlusion. According to Apple, this API also enables more precise measurements.

Other features offered in ARKit 4 include location anchors, which place the AR experience at specific landmarks and allow users to view these virtual objects from multiple angles. This feature does not require a LiDAR scanner.

At this time, it is rumored that the iPhone 12 Pro will offer a LiDAR scanner, but it is unclear whether it will be on the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, or both. We believe it will be on both Pro models. Either way, the A14 Bionic chip should provide much better AR performance overall due to the upgraded neural engine.

Rumor has it that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro will offer 120Hz ProMotion displays, providing users with a smoother user experience when scrolling, gaming, and watching movies. iOS 14 developer beta with Ben Geskin The Accessibility menu, discovered by Ben Geskin, has a new "Frame Rate Limit" option that sets the maximum refresh rate to 60fps. Since current iPhones are already limited to 60 Hz, this could be a sign that the iPhone 12 Pro will feature a 120 Hz display.

iOS 14 introduces a new feature called App Clips, which allows users to experience only the parts of an app they need to perform various tasks quickly. with App Clips, users can pay for goods on the spot with Apple Pay, rent scooters or set up a smart home device. App Clips can also be discovered by scanning NFC tags or QR codes, links in the Safari browser or Messages, and place cards in the Maps app.

The iPhone 12 could make App Clips super fast on 5G. And as PCMag's Sascha Segan argues, as 5G networks become more prevalent, developers will be able to store more code in the cloud rather than on the device.

iOS 14 supports spatial audio, which at the moment is optimized to provide a surround-like experience through the AirPods Pro. As Apple puts it, "Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking positions the surround sound channels precisely where they should be, even if you turn your head or move the device."

While we don't expect iPhone 12 to necessarily track your head, we do expect more powerful speakers and better spatial audio support, both when listening to music and recording video. iPhone 11 already supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support, and iPhone 12 should build on that. Maybe the front-facing TrueDepth camera will track your head in the background while you're watching a movie.

With more and more people leaving their standalone DSLRs and mirrorless cameras behind on their phones, iOS 14 is taking performance to the next level. For example, according to Apple, the new OS will take photos up to 90% faster and get up to 25% faster time to first shot. Also, Apple's computational photography magic won't get in the way; the camera will be able to "intelligently change the way it processes photos" so they can be taken faster.

This speed theme could lead to even better performance in the iPhone 12 with its new sensor and new A14 Bionic chip, where the dedicated image processor is tied directly to the camera experience. So perhaps the iPhone 12 will be able to take advantage of these speed improvements in combination with the new hardware to take much better action shots.

Another possibility: 8K video, although Samsung phones like the Galaxy S20 already offer this feature, since iOS 14 includes a quick toggle to change video resolution and frame rate during video mode without having to open the Settings app, Apple may add this to iPhone 12.