This year, the new iPhones were delayed and appeared on the shelves only at the end of October. Interestingly, only the 12 and 12 Pro models were initially released, while the 12 mini and 12 Pro Max will have to wait about another month. However, technologically, they will only differ minimally from the standard-sized models. So our testing today will already provide answers to many questions. And the main one is — are there significant differences between the models with the Pro suffix and those without it.
We have presented and analyzed the general information and all the details announced by Apple in our report following the October presentation, so we will not repeat ourselves and will move on to testing. We will just remind you of the specifications of the new products. Most of the specifications of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro coincide, so we provide them in a single list, but those that distinguish the Pro version are marked in bold italics, while those that are only in the regular version (spoiler: there are very few) are in plain italics.
Technical specifications of Apple iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 12 Pro
SoC Apple A14 Bionic (6 processor cores: 2 high-performance + 4 energy-efficient, 4 graphics cores + 16 Neural Engine cores)
Touchscreen 6.1″, OLED, 2532×1170, 460 ppi, capacitive, multitouch
RAM (according to Geekbench 5): 3.62 GB/5.60 GB
Flash memory 64/128/256/512 GB
No support for memory cards
Cellular communication: UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, support for Gigabit LTE, 5G (not supported in Russia)
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac/ac/ax (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC (only for Apple Pay)
GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS
Universal Lightning connector
Cameras: front (12 MP, video 4K 30 fps, 720p 240 fps) and rear modules 12 MP (video recording 4K 60 fps): wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto
Face recognition using TrueDepth
LiDAR depth scanner
Lithium polymer battery 2815 mAh (unofficial information), non-removable
Support for Qi wireless charging
Support for MagSafe accessories
Dimensions (mm) 147×72×7.4
Weight (g) 162 / 187
IP68 protection
Operating system iOS 14
And here is the traditional comparison of the new product's specifications with other Apple smartphones.
| Apple iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 12 / 12 mini | Apple iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.1″, OLED, 2532×1170, 460 ppi / 6.7″, OLED, 2778×1284, 458 ppi | 6.1″, OLED, 2532×1170, 460 ppi / 5.4″, OLED, 2340×1080, 476 ppi | 5.8″, OLED, 2436×1125, 458 ppi / 6.5″, OLED, 2688×1242, 458 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | SoC Apple A14 Bionic + Neural Engine system | SoC Apple A14 Bionic + Neural Engine system | SoC Apple A13 Bionic + Neural Engine system |
| Flash memory | 128/256/512 GB | 64/128/256 GB | 64/256/512 GB |
| Communication | 5G, Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 5G, Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Rear cameras | 3 modules of 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps): standard wide-angle, telephoto, and ultra-wide-angle (120 degrees) + LiDAR | 2 modules of 12 MP (video — 4K 60 fps): standard wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle (120 degrees) | 3 modules of 12 MP (video — 4K 60 fps): standard wide-angle, telephoto, and ultra-wide-angle (120 degrees) |
| Front camera | 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps), improved FaceID recognition | 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps), improved FaceID recognition | 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps), improved FaceID recognition |
| Fast charging | yes + MagSafe technology (wireless charging up to 15W, magnetic connection of accessories) | yes + MagSafe technology (wireless charging up to 15W, magnetic connection of accessories) | yes |
| Dimensions (mm) | 147×72×7.4 / 161×78×7.4 | 147×72×7.4 / 132×64×7.4 | 144×71×8.1 / 158×78×8.1 |
| Weight (g) | 187 / 226 | 162 / 133 | 188 / 226 |
Thus, the key difference of the new products — support for fifth-generation cellular networks — is unfortunately not relevant for Russia at the moment. However, there is Wi-Fi 6, a leader in the iPhone 12 Pro, a larger screen than last year's models, and MagSafe technology for connecting accessories. And, of course, the new SoC Apple A14 Bionic. There are also improvements regarding the cameras, although the main specifications, as can be seen from the table, remain the same. But let's delve into all the innovations and test the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro with all the rigor of our methodology.
Packaging and Completeness
The fact that the iPhone will no longer come with a charger and headphones has become one of the most discussed topics after the October presentation. Let’s remind that the company justified this by caring for the environment: fewer items in the package — a smaller box, a smaller box — more units of goods can fit in a truck, and therefore fewer trucks will travel from China and pollute the air. Whether to consider this decision and argument valid or not is up to everyone. But the fact is that the box is now indeed significantly more compact.
In the photo above — the box of the iPhone 12. The size of the packaging for the iPhone 12 Pro is the same, but the design is completely different.
However, the contents are identical. As before, the package includes a Lightning/USB-C cable, so if you own a recent MacBook/iPad Pro, you can charge your iPhone directly from their charging.
The Apple logo sticker and the SIM card ejector tool are still included. However, the headphones and charger, as has been repeatedly stated, are gone. We will not comment on this decision. We will only note that the price of EarPods with a Lightning connector on the Apple website today is the current price.
Design
The appearance of all models in the 2020 lineup reaches back to the iPhone 5, released back in 2012. It was then that Apple smartphones had straight edges, unified with the body. The return to the former style, surprisingly, is pleasing. Although, perhaps, it simply triggers the effect of renewal. It seems that the rounded edges have become tiresome, and new sensations are desired. Even if the new is just the well-forgotten old.
There are many discussions online about how the edges of the new iPhones are supposedly too sharp and scratch the hands. We find it hard to imagine how one must hold these smartphones to really experience any discomfort, let alone cause oneself harm. But with the right technique, anything is possible, perhaps.
Overall, if you have used the iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/SE and were satisfied, you will not have any issues with the sharp edges here. What is interesting is that while the iPhone 12 has a frame made of a material with a matte surface (probably aluminum), the iPhone 12 Pro uses shiny steel. And it probably looks more impressive, although this is a matter of taste.
They also differ in their back surfaces. The iPhone 12 has smooth glass, while the iPhone 12 Pro has glass with a matte finish. Thus, one smartphone has a matte back and a glossy frame, while the other has the opposite. We find the first option not only more visually appealing but also more practical, while the iPhone 12 immediately accumulates fingerprints on the back.
We tested models in new colors: 12 – blue, 12 Pro – “Pacific Blue.” We found the regular blue to be less appealing. It is generally pleasant but somewhat plain. It cannot be said that the shade is too bright or, conversely, dull, but it just feels like it is not quite flagship. The iPhone 12 Pro, on the other hand, has a truly interesting color — dark gray with a bluish tint. It looks noble, not intentional, but not banal.
Unfortunately, the photos do not convey the actual appearance at all. Moreover, the same is true on the Apple website. In reality, the shade is more gray, graphite, meaning there is only a hint of blue, but that is part of its charm.
Of course, besides color and surface texture, the two models differ in their camera blocks. The Pro has three, arranged the same way as on the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, but one of the cameras now has a LiDAR, similar to that used in the iPad Pro. In turn, the iPhone 12 lacks both LiDAR and a third camera, so in this regard, it is no different from the iPhone 11.
Additionally, while the presence of buttons and ports in the new models is completely identical to the previous generation, the location of the SIM card slot has changed. It has moved from the right edge to the left. Otherwise, there are no changes.
In summary: we liked the design of both new products primarily for the feeling of novelty. But if we compare them, the iPhone 12 Pro looks significantly healthier, in our opinion. Matte back, shiny steel edges, noble new color “Pacific Blue”... If we evaluate purely externally, we would prefer it. As for the differences in the internals, we will discuss that next.
Screen
The only significant difference between the screens of the two smartphones is the higher brightness of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro screen; other differences are so small that they can be attributed to natural variation between samples and measurement errors. Therefore, further, unless otherwise noted, the results and images refer to both smartphones.
The front surface of the screen is made of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-reflective properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, we provide a photo where a white surface is reflected in the turned-off screens (on the left is the Nexus 7, on the right is the Apple iPhone, which can be distinguished by size):
| Parameter | Apple iPhone 12, cd/m² | Apple iPhone 12 Pro, cd/m² |
|---|---|---|
| Passport values | ||
| Maximum brightness | 625 | 800 |
| Maximum brightness in HDR mode | 1200 | 1200 |
| Manual settings | ||
| Maximum brightness | 610 | 780 |
| Minimum brightness | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Automatic adjustment by default | ||
| Complete darkness | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Office (illumination 550 lx) | 100 | 115 |
| Very bright (illumination over 20000 lx) | 610 | 780 |
| Automatic adjustment, brightness forcibly increased in darkness | ||
| Complete darkness | 14 | 16 |
| Office (illumination 550 lx) | 120 | 120 |
| Very bright (illumination over 20000 lx) | 610 | 780 |
