Apple iPhone 12 buyer's guide: Everything you need to know

Although it was a bit later than usual, the Apple iPhone 12 series landed in October 2020. The smartphone series features four iPhones across a range of prices. The phones are meant to tempt users new and advanced with a bevy of new features.

These are among the most exciting new iPhones we’ve seen from Apple in years, but are they enough to tempt you away from Android? Let’s find out! Just keep in mind that this isn’t the latest iPhone series out there, as the iPhone 13 phones are already available.

Apple iPhone 12 series at a glance

The iPhone now comes in four models. In order from least expensive to most expensive, they are the iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Screen sizes vary across models, as do colors, camera configurations, and storage allotments.

All the phones offer 5G connectivity and are available from more than 100 carriers across 30 regions. The company made a big deal about the possibilities of 5G during the launch event.

Related: iPhone 12 Pro review: All the right angles

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are essentially the same phones. Obviously, the Mini is smaller than the vanilla iPhone 12, but the specs and features are the same across both models. The only exception is the battery capacity: the iPhone 12 Mini has a smaller battery due to its smaller physical footprint.

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are also very similar. Both phones feature triple-lens rear camera systems, a step-up over the dual-lens systems of the non-Pro iPhones. The Pro models also feature slightly better internal specs, such as more RAM. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also features a few more perks than the iPhone 12 Pro, most obviously its size and battery capacity.

In a big change, none of the iPhones include wall chargers or headphones in the boxes. Inside the box with an iPhone 12 model, you’ll find the phone, a Lightning-to-USB-C cable, and paperwork. Apple is selling this as an eco-friendly move, but we don’t buy it.

Are the Apple iPhone 12 devices worth buying?

Whether the iPhone 12 series is worth buying is a no-brainer for anyone locked into the Apple ecosystem and who doesn’t need the latest and greatest from Apple. Things are understandably not as simple if you’re pitting the latest iPhones against the best that the Android world has to offer.

Android flagships have a few advantages over last year’s iPhones. Many offer higher display refresh rates, giving the appearance of incredibly smooth performance. Some come with speedy charging, huge batteries, excellent cameras, and useful extras like reverse wireless charging.

However, the one thing you’re guaranteed to get with the iPhones is fantastic performance. Apple called it “the fastest chip ever in a smartphone” at the time of launch. The iPhone 12 embarrassed the Snapdragon 865-toting OnePlus 8T in Gary’s Speed Test G challenge, and handily beat the ASUS ROG Phone 3. It keeps a slight lead over 2021’s flagship processor of choice, the Snapdragon 888, as well.

The four iPhone models come with different camera setups, but all of them are capable of taking great-looking shots. If smartphone photography is important for you though, you are better off getting one of the Pro models, which outperform quite a few Android flagships in the camera department.

Finally, if a small phone is what you’re after, the iPhone 12 Mini is made for you. The phone is tiny by current standards but doesn’t compromise on hardware, features, and build quality. There’s no proper Android alternative for the iPhone 12 Mini yet, but be ready for a slew of Android minis in the future.

Ultimately, it’s hard to recommend a phone that requires a complete shift of ecosystems, and it’s not necessarily a must-have if you already have an iPhone 11 series device. That said, the iPhone 12 series makes a great case for itself and continues to offer everything that Apple smartphones are known for.

What are the experts saying about the iPhone 12 series?

In his iPhone 12 Mini review, our own David Imel called it “one of the best small phones you can get.” Of course, it’s not without its issues. The camera isn’t as feature-packed as the one available with the Pro editions, and the phone is difficult to align on a wireless charging stand. Its biggest selling points are its size and price. As David says, “getting great build quality and incredible performance in a phone this small, for this price, is great.”

David was less impressed with the regular iPhone 12 in his review. That’s not because there’s anything wrong with the phone itself. You still get blazing fast performance, a beautiful display, and solid build quality. However, it’s awkwardly placed in the line-up and is hard to recommend over the iPhone 12 Pro, which offers more RAM, a better camera, and a more premium build.

The iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are the way to go if you want the best experience, as David found when he reviewed these phones. The iPhone 12 Pro is $150 more than the iPhone 12, but features like the extra 2GB of RAM, 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video, extra camera sensor, LIDAR sensor, and better build quality are worth the surcharge.

On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is for anyone who wants a huge display and fantastic battery life. It also has a different camera set up than the 12 Pro, with a much bigger primary camera sensor. However, Android Authority’s Rob Triggs didn’t find a significant quality difference between the two in his camera shootout. The display and battery life are undoubtedly the bigger attractions here.

What other reviewers are saying about the iPhone 12 series

We also summarize what reviewers from other publications say about the iPhone 12 series to give you a complete overview of the phones.

• Anand Tech’s Andrei Frumusanu says that in terms of design, “the new iPhone 12 series are definitely a breath of fresh air for Apple’s device lineup.” In his review of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, he also mentions that the iPhone 12 offers a lot more value than its Pro sibling. “You’re still getting an excellent screen, the same performance, almost identical battery life, and otherwise identical everyday camera experience for $200 less,” he says.
• On the other hand, Tech Crunch’s Matthew Panzarino says that the iPhone 12 Mini is the most attractive choice in the lineup and isn’t just for those that want a small phone. He says that the “iPhone 12 Mini has no appreciable compromises in feature set from the iPhone 12,” and offers a lot more bang for your buck. You might want the Pro iterations for camera performance, but the Mini is definitely up to the task for everything else.
• Cnet’s Patrick Holland says that the camera upgrades aren’t the only reason to get the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This is the phone for anyone who wants a huge display, even though he says that iOS doesn’t do enough to take advantage of the screen real estate. He says that excellent battery life is another reason to get the phone, calling the large battery the “sleeper feature” of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 12 series specs

Are the iPhone 12 series cameras any good?

The camera system on the iPhone 12 Mini is the same you’ll find in the standard iPhone 12. That means you’re getting two 12MP cameras on the rear of the device and a 12MP selfie camera hidden in the notch on the front.

You won’t get the 2x telephoto camera of the iPhone 12 Pro and the 2.5x telephoto camera of the Pro Max. But the standard setup of the iPhone 12 Mini and 12 are still really good in most lighting conditions. Image quality from both the main and wide lens is great, with a nice balance of dynamic range and contrast, and there are no issues with color accuracy or sharpness. One thing you miss out on by opting for a non-pro iPhone this year is night portrait mode.

See next: iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro camera shootout

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max come with a new LIDAR sensor that improves focus in lower-light environments. They also get new software features like 4k 60fps Dolby vision HDR video capture and Night Mode Portrait Mode.

In total, there are three main lenses on the back, and one on the front. You’ve got a main 12MP camera, a wide 12MP camera, and a 12MP 2x optical telephoto lens in the case of the Pro and a 2.5x telephoto lens with the Pro Max. You’ve got a 12MP selfie camera embedded inside the Face ID 3D face unlock system on the front.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max camera shootout

The biggest reason people were excited about the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the much bigger primary camera sensor. The Pro Max has a 47% bigger main sensor, which theoretically should allow for better low-light performance and more natural bokeh. However, while it looks great on paper, both David and Rob found the images nearly identical in their review and camera shootout. Of course, the 2.5x telephoto lens provides extra reach. But overall, image quality is largely the same.

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max can also shoot Dolby Vision HDR video. HDR video can get much brighter while retaining detail in the highlights. Videos will also look much more similar to what our eyes see in real life as the color range is wider. Unfortunately, there aren’t many monitors that playback Dolby Vision HDR, but you’ll definitely notice the difference if you can compare it with a standard recording.

Read next: iPhone 12 Pro Max vs OnePlus 9 Pro camera shootout

What kind of battery life do you get with the iPhone 12 series?

Given the different sizes and battery capacities of the iPhone 12 devices, you’ll understandably get different battery life experiences. As enticing as its compact size might be, the biggest downside of getting the iPhone 12 Mini is its small battery.

It managed a full day of use with around five hours of screen-on time, which isn’t great, and certainly not as good as what you get with the larger phones. It’s not going to be particularly power-efficient either, since it packs the A14 processor. It’s perhaps the biggest trade-off when picking up the smaller phone.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro come with the same 2,815mAh battery, and unsurprisingly, offer similar battery life. In his reviews, David got very close to six hours of screen-on time with both, with about a day and a half of use.

At the higher-end of the battery life spectrum is the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its 3,687mAh unit. In his testing, David saw nearly eight hours of screen on time and two entire days of use with the large phone. The excellent battery life is just one reason the Pro Max is the best of the lot.

Of course, there’s the whole controversy surrounding the fact that while Apple includes a USB-C to lightning cable in the box, there’s no actual charger. You’ll have to buy your own USB-C charger separately if you don’t already have one. Apple sells one too, for $19.

As for wireless charging, the official MagSafe charger costs $40 and will charge your phone at 15W — twice as fast as the previous speed of 7.5W. Unfortunately, you’ll need to use an official MagSafe charger to achieve these speeds. If you use a standard Qi charger, the maximum charging rate you’ll be able to achieve is the same old 7.5W as before.

Apple iPhone 12 series: Performance and software

As far as performance is concerned, the great news is that it stays the same across the board. You’ll get different amounts of RAM with these phones, but all of them come with the A14 Bionic chip. iPhones usually lead the industry in performance, and that remains true here. David found it to be incredibly fast with everyday use in his reviews. It also handily beats the Snapdragon 865-toting OnePlus 8T and the ASUS ROG Phone 3 as well in our own Speed Test G benchmark.

The iPhone 12 Pro performed really well in all the benchmark tests that David conducted in his review. He also had no issues with slowdowns or laggy apps, and the excellent performance is a great sign as far as longevity is concerned. With Apple’s persistent software updates lasting up to five years, you can be sure the iPhone 12 series will be supported for years to come.

Speaking of software, iOS 14 Apple has added a considerable number of features that have been on Android for years. Possibly the biggest addition to iOS 14 is widgets. Any app developer can create a widget for their app, in multiple sizes and shapes. This makes it much easier to control things like podcasts from your home screen or get a weather report at a glance.

Other changes in iOS 14 include the App Library, which is the closest we’ve come to an app drawer on iOS. You’ll also get a more compact UI and picture-in-picture mode. You won’t find a proper app drawer or much customization. It is very well put together, though. As long as you don’t care much about customizing your device, the operating system is just fine.

Keep in mind that iOS 15 has already been released and is available for the iPhone 12 series, bringing with it a host of new changes — learn more here.

Competition and alternatives

With these four iPhones, Apple is primarily competing against itself. We have a feeling most consumers will vote with their wallets. In other words, they’ll buy the iPhone they can afford. That means many will be relegated to the iPhone 12 Mini or iPhone 12 versus the iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max. Moreover, Apple generally keeps some of its older models available for sale at lowered price points. This year, that’s the case with the iPhone 11 series, which starts at $100 less than the iPhone 12 phones.

Also keep in mind that the iPhone SE (2022) is available, which comes in at $429.

• iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5
• iPhone 12 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus

Then there’s the Android universe. As far as price points go, the iPhone 12 Mini currently retails for $599 and goes head to head with phones such as the Google Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Among the 2021 releases, you have the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the OnePlus 9 in this price range.

Looking at the iPhone 12, you’ve got a $699 phone that targets affordable flagships such as the Galaxy S21 FE and the latest Galaxy S22.

As far as the top tier is concerned, Apple is gunning for none other than the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra the Edge Plus from Motorola, the Xperia 1 IV from Sony, the OnePlus 10 Pro, and other $1,000 phones are also competitors.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: Which is for you?

The iPhone 13 series is better overall, although it’s not miles ahead. If you want the best Apple has to offer, one of the iPhone 13 phones is for you. But if you want to save money but still get your hands on a high-end Apple handset, the iPhone 12 series is still a great choice.

Read next: Apple iPhone 13 vs older iPhones

The newer iPhone sport a smaller notch, bigger batteries. and more base storage. The Pro models also feature Apple’s ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an upgraded ultra-wide camera at the back. To learn more about the differences between the iPhone 13 and previous iPhones, check out our comparison post above.

Where to buy the Apple iPhone 12

Apple iPhones are generally widely available from a range of retailers. First and foremost, you can order directly from Apple.com. Apple is offering the phones from carriers and unlocked and will ship directly to your house if you wish. Alternatively, you can order for in-store pickup.

Apple also offers the phone via other retailers, including Best Buy. Ordering from Best Buy requires a carrier activation when you checkout, so keep that in mind before placing your order. Pricing depends on your carrier of choice.

If you’d rather buy directly from a carrier, you have that option. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless all offer the iPhone 12 family with various deals in place.

Top Apple iPhone 12 questions and answers

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