Apple's iPhone 12 Mini is a compact phone without compromise — unless you're looking for extra-long battery life
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Apple's $700 iPhone 12 Mini is a smaller-sized version of the iPhone 12.
That means it comes with the same processor and camera as the iPhone 12.
But you'll have to compromise when it comes to battery life.
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Your phone is probably your lifeline to just about everything — the news, your job, friends and family, and entertainment — so it makes sense that the screens on our mobile devices have only gotten larger.
But, that increase in size also means our phones have become more cumbersome than ever, in some cases making it difficult to fit them in a tight pocket or use them with one hand.
Apple changed that last year with the introduction of its $700 iPhone 12 Mini, a smaller-sized version of the iPhone 12. It comes with a 5.4-inch screen compared to the iPhone 12's 6.1-inch display.
The iPhone 12 Mini is otherwise identical to the iPhone 12, from its new design to its A14 Bionic processor, support for 5G, and improved cameras. That's important because the available options for those who prefer smaller and more pocketable smartphones has significantly dwindled in recent years.
The reason behind this shift is simple: larger-sized smartphones have become much more popular over the last several years. For example, the market share for devices with screens measuring between 5.5 inches and 6.2 inches in size grew from 21% in 2015 to 44% in 2018, according to NPD Group. During that same period, the amount of smartphone owners using a device with a screen size smaller than 4.7 inches shrunk from 37% to 15%.
The iPhone 12 Mini is the first iPhone in years that feels like it's designed to be held all day. But, you'll have to be alright with compromising on battery life compared to the larger iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 Mini launched at a time when its shining attribute — its pocket-friendly size — was less relevant as most people spent their workday at home. But now that we're venturing back out into the world, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the iPhone 12 Mini might have renewed appeal.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini specifications
Apple iPhone 12 Mini Specifications Display 5.4 inches Super Retina XDR OLED with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution Processor Apple A14 Bionic Cameras 12-megapixel dual lens camera with wide-angle and ultra-wide angle lenses Selfie Camera 12-megapixel Estimated Battery Life Up to 15 hours Storage 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB Memory 4GB RAM Biometric Authentication Face ID Network Support 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave) Durability IP68 (depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes); Display with ceramic shield coating for 4X drop resistance
Design and display
The iPhone 12 Mini (left) and iPhone 12 (right) Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
After years of using big-screened phones, I've come to appreciate holding a phone that fits comfortably in one hand again.
With its 5.4-inch display, the iPhone 12 Mini falls squarely in between last year's 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro and the 4.7-inch $400 iPhone SE in terms of size. It's actually physically smaller than the iPhone SE despite having a larger screen.
The iPhone 12 Mini is the right middle ground for those who don't want to compromise on modern features like a borderless screen, a dual camera, and Face ID, but also miss the portability of Apple's older (and smaller) phones. It makes the $400 iPhone SE, which Apple launched earlier this year in April, feel antiquated by comparison — although that's to be expected given the $300 price difference.
Typing and scrolling on the iPhone 12 Mini feels manageable with one hand yet spacious enough when operating it with two. It's a bit larger than the iPhone SE in terms of screen size, and the difference is noticeable. For example, I was able to see several more lines of text on the iPhone 12 Mini compared to the iPhone SE when reading news articles.
The iPhone 12 Mini isn't just the smallest version of the iPhone 12. It's the tiniest iPhone that Apple sells, period. Not only is it smaller than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE, but it's shorter, narrower, lighter, and thinner than the older iPhone 11 and iPhone XR too.
If I wasn't working remotely, the iPhone 12 Mini's compact design would be a godsend during my morning commute. I can't tell you how many times I've struggled to use a larger-sized device like the iPhone 11 with one hand as I'm gripping the subway pole with the other.
The iPhone 12 Mini (left) and iPhone SE (right) Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
Size isn't the only major physical change coming to the iPhone 12 Mini. Like its larger siblings, the iPhone 12 Mini has an all-new look that includes flat metal edges and new color options that give the iPhone 12 a fresh and distinguished look.
The downside? Apple's iPhone 12 family — including the Mini — lack fingerprint sensors, meaning you'll probably be typing in your passcode a lot whenever you leave the house these days.
Apple also brought the Super Retina XDR display, which was previously only found on its high-end smartphones, down to its less expensive new iPhones this year as well. That means the iPhone 12 Mini, like its bigger counterpart, offers better contrast and richer black tones compared to the iPhone 11. It also comes in a wide range of colors just like the iPhone 12, including a new purple finish.
Unfortunately, however, the iPhone 12 Mini and the rest of Apple's iPhones are missing an always-on display, meaning they can't show information like the time, date, and battery level even when the screen is idle. It's not a deal breaker, but it's a helpful feature I've come to appreciate on Android devices.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 Mini's dual camera Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
The iPhone 12 Mini comes with the same improved camera system as the iPhone 12, which means it's better at capturing photos in the dark compared to the iPhone 11 since it has a wider aperture.
Night mode also works on all of the iPhone's cameras on the iPhone 12: the wide camera, the ultra-wide-angle camera, and the selfie camera.You'll also get other new features like the ability to record Dolby Vision video and take time lapse videos in Night Mode.
Compared to Android rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and Google Pixel 5, I found that the iPhone 12 in some cases took photos that were more colorful and lively, but didn't perform as well in other situations, such as when taking selfies in low-light scenarios. Check out our original review of the iPhone 12 to learn more about how the iPhone 12's camera compares to those of the Google Pixel 5 and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
If you're upgrading from an older, smaller-sized iPhone like the iPhone 8 or iPhone 7, you'll notice a substantial difference in camera quality with the iPhone 12 Mini.
Those aging 4.7-inch phones lack newer photography features Night Mode and portrait mode, and only have a single lens camera. Because they only have one lens, they offer less flexibility with fewer shooting modes compared to the iPhone 12.
General image quality has also improved since the iPhone 12 Mini supports the latest version of Apple's high dynamic range tech and Deep Fusion, the latter of which processes photos at the pixel level to optimize for texture, detail, and noise.
Trying to decide between the iPhone 12 Mini and Apple's other recently-launched smaller-sized phone, the iPhone SE? Consider that the iPhone 12 Mini's higher price tag means it has a lot more to offer when it comes to camera technology.
Unlike the iPhone SE, the iPhone 12 Mini has a dual camera that includes an ultra-wide angle lens for capturing a broader perspective, Night Mode for taking photos in the dark, Deep Fusion, better HDR, and a main camera that's capable of taking in more light compared to its predecessor.
That might just sound like a lot of photography buzzwords strewn together, but the differences are palpable in the real world. In almost every scenario I tested it in, the iPhone 12 Mini captured photos with considerably richer color than the iPhone SE.
Take a look at the photos below and you'll notice the red and orange shades in the leaves are much more vibrant in photos taken with the iPhone 12 Mini.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Apple iPhone SE
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Here you can see the difference between the iPhone 12 Mini's ultra-wide-angle camera and the iPhone SE's standard wide camera. You'll also notice the sky is a deeper hue of blue in the iPhone 12 Mini's photo, making the iPhone SE look a bit washed out by comparison.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Apple iPhone SE
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
5G
The iPhone 12 Mini has a 5.4-inch screen. Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
All of Apple's new iPhones support 5G, which is great for future-proofing your device but won't make a noticeable difference right now. That's because the version of 5G that's widely available across the country is only marginally faster than 4G LTE.
My iPhone 12 Mini achieved average download speeds of 118.8 megabits per second (Mbps) and average upload speeds of 14.72 Mbps on Verizon's nationwide 5G network. The results are a bit faster than the speeds I've experienced on 4G LTE, but not by a whole lot (91.44 Mbps download and 17.45 Mbps upload on average).
That lines up with my experience when testing the standard iPhone 12's 5G speeds.
Super-speedy 5G networks do exist, but they're only available in very small areas, like certain street corners in select cities across the United States. That's because the spectrum these networks operate on use a short range and struggle with penetrating structures like buildings.
All told, don't upgrade to the newest iPhones just for 5G. But, if you're already thinking of upgrading for other reasons, buying a new phone with 5G is a good way to ensure your device will feel relevant for years to come when 5G networks improve.
MagSafe accessories and battery life
The iPhone 12 on Apple's MagSafe charger Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
The iPhone 12 line is also compatible with Apple's MagSafe accessories, which magnetically snap to the back of your iPhone.
The $39 MagSafe power pad makes resting your iPhone on its charger slightly more convenient since it clings to your phone instantly, eliminating the need to fiddle with plugging in your phone or placing it in the right spot on your wireless charger. You'll see a graphic showing your iPhone's battery level once it's connected, just as the Apple Watch does when placed on its charger.
This charger and other cases were among Apple's first MagSafe accessories for the iPhone 12 lineup. The company also recently released a $99 MagSafe Battery Pack, which charges with five watts of power when being used wirelessly and 15 watts when plugged into a Lightning cable with a 20-watt power source. I haven't tried it yet, but I can imagine it could be especially appealing to iPhone 12 Mini owners to compensate for the Mini's shorter battery life, as detailed below.
MagSafe compatibility alone isn't a must-have feature that will determine whether you should upgrade, but it's a nice bonus that brings additional ease of use to the charging experience. I'm looking forward to seeing what third-party accessories do with the technology moving forward.
The iPhone 12 Mini will probably last all day on a single charge, but don't expect to get nearly as much usage as you'd experience with the standard iPhone 12.
My iPhone 12 Mini's battery was at 23% after about 9.5 hours of use, which consisted of streaming video for about 45 minutes, streaming music for 40 minutes, and gaming for about 10 minutes. I also took photos sporadically for an hour while at a nearby park and spent the rest of the day reading email, checking social media, and web browsing on the device.
The iPhone 12, by comparison, had 34% of its battery left after about 15 hours of use. But, it's important to remember that battery life will always vary depending on the settings and apps you use on your device, so your experience may not match mine.
The bottom line
Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
The iPhone 12 Mini represents a much-needed return to the smaller-sized smartphone, which has largely disappeared over the last several years. It's the best choice for iPhone owners that have been holding onto their older device because they're reluctant to upgrade to today's large-screened devices.
Apple also sells the cheaper $400 iPhone SE, which has a slightly smaller screen but is generally similar in size. That phone is $300 cheaper but requires you to make some compromises since it's lacking many modern features that have become staples of today's phones.
The iPhone 12 Mini is the right option for Apple fans that want to save a little cash — it's $100 less expensive than the standard iPhone 12 — and prioritize portability over having a bigger screen. But, for those who find themselves watching movies and TV shows or reading books on their iPhones often, you'll probably want the extra screen space and longer battery life that the standard iPhone 12 offers.
Pros: Compact design makes it easy to use with one hand; Excellent camera; Elegant revamped design compared to last year's iPhones; Sharp and vibrant OLED display; 5G support will keep the iPhone 12 Mini relevant in the future
Cons: Smaller size means you compromise on battery life; No fingerprint sensor; No always-on display; Nationwide 5G networks aren't much faster than today's 4G LTE
Apple iPhone 12 Smartphone Review - Apple phone with 5G
Traditionalists will be pleased. The shape of the new iPhone 12 is strongly reminiscent of early iPhones with rounded corners and clear-cut edges. After having experimented with more rounded sides in the last generation, this change is quite a statement. Whether you like it or not will depend on your personal preference. We are very pleased with the new old design. As usual, the iPhone is available in a range of colors: white, black, blue, green and product red.
The workmanship and stability of the case leave nothing to be desired. Apple has created a new type of ceramic glass, which the manufacturer has named "ceramic shield". It is supposed to better protect the front of the phone compared to its predecessors. Initial drop tests on the internet seem to confirm that the iPhone 12 is fairly robust while the larger variants, also equipped with the ceramic shield, are more sensitive. iFixit has pointed out, however, that the back glass can break as well, which would then require the entire case to be replaced anyway.
The frame is once again made of aluminum and the hardware buttons are fitted very precisely. Apple has also made quite extensive claims in terms of the environmental friendliness of their products and says that they now use a lot of recycled materials, for example when it comes to rare earth elements or tin for soldering. Some components are made up of up to 35 percent recycled plastics as well. You can read up on Apple's detailed environmental report on the product here.
The case is protected from water and dust according to IP68.
iPhone 12 review: Non-Pro in name only
At a Glance Expert's Rating Pros Fantastic display with an elegant design
Excellent camera with spectacular low-light capabilities
Insanely good performance and battery life
5G future-proofing Cons No 120Hz ProMotion or always-on display
No telephoto camera Our Verdict The iPhone 12 isn’t just the right iPhone for most people, it’s one of the best smartphones ever made.
Best Prices Today: Apple iPhone 12
Most people who take a look at the iPhone 12 will see a very familiar phone. Its shape hasn’t changed much since the iPhone X was introduced three years ago. The back is basically identical to the iPhone 11. And the sides are a clear callback to the iPhone 5.
The iPhone 12 (left) looks a lot like the iPhone 11 from the back, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
But to use the iPhone 12 is to experience a phone that’s the epitome of 13 years of iPhone evolution. There might be a general feeling that Apple’s smartphone innovation has stalled in the wake of a shift toward services and wearables, but the iPhone 12 is filled with smart, meaningful improvements and subtle iterations that make it feel as fresh and new as the iPhone 4 or iPhone 6 once were.
You can point to things like the lack of a 120Hz display or high-res zoom or its very small battery as deficiencies, and there’s certainly points to be made there. But you won’t find a better combination of power, performance, and price in another smartphone. And it’s not bad to look at, either.
Easy on the eyes
The biggest change to the iPhone 12 is its screen. Even if you don’t know what the LCD and OLED acronyms stand for, you will immediately see the difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 11, XR, or SE. The display is richer, brighter, and more vibrant than any LCD Apple makes, including the iPad Pro. Blacks are incredibly deep and no longer look washed out. Brightness is significantly improved as well, topping 900 nits in my testing and touching 1,100 nits with auto-brightness on.
The iPhone 12’s display isn’t quite edge-to-edge, but it’s closer than ever.
The iPhone 12’s Super Retina XDR display is identical to the one on the iPhone 12 Pro, which eliminates one of the biggest deficiencies between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. Specs don’t really do it justice, but you get a 6.1-inch Full HD+ HDR OLED (2532×1170) with a 1,200-nit max brightness and 460 pixels per inch. That might seem like a downgrade over a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S20, which offers a Quad HD+ 3200×1440 display and a 120Hz refresh rate, but the fact of the matter is, the iPhone 12’s display is a pleasure to look at and touch.
The only thing I really miss is an always-on option. While it would certainly be nice to have a 120Hz ProMotion display for super-speedy scrolling and video playback, Apple does such a stellar job optimizing iOS 14 for the new chip and hardware, and the display feels as fast as the 90Hz display on the Pixel 5. The impact on battery life is enough where it makes sense that Apple chose to wait, especially with such a small battery inside the iPhone 12.
The bezels are visible on the iPhone 12, but they’re thinner than ever.
An ambient or always-on option, however, is noticeably missing, especially for anyone coming from an Android phone. Even with energy-efficient OLED tech, the iPhone 12 still needs to completely light up to show the time, date, music controls, or notifications, which is both annoying and inconvenient. That shouldn’t deter you from buying one, however. Apple could add an always-on toggle to the Display & Brightness settings at any time, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it make an appearance as one of the signature features of iOS 15.
Brand new you’re retro
While the front of the iPhone 12 has a similar design to the iPhone 11, there is a noticeable slimming of the bezels around the screen, bringing it ever closer to a true edge-to-edge experience. The screen-to-body ratio may be a bit lower than the Note 20 Ultra (87 percent to 92 percent), but that’s largely due to the notch, which is still necessary to house the TrueDepth camera for Face ID. A hole-punch camera might look cleaner, but it’s a worthy trade-off for the security and ease-of-use that Face ID brings.
The edges on the iPhone 12 (right) are as flat as they were on the iPhone 5.
The most obvious change is with the sides of the phone, which are flat for the first time since the iPhone 5. It’s wonderful to look at and just as nice to hold, and the colored aluminum looks fantastic flush against the glossy black. Otherwise, the iPhone 12 looks a lot like its predecessor, with a slightly bumpy square camera array in the upper left corner housing two giant lenses and a centered chrome Apple logo. The new dark blue color is very nice and a bit more elegant than the sky blue iPhone XR, but for the most part, the iPhone 12 is a variation on the theme established years ago with the iPhone X.
But still, the iPhone 12 is the nicest phone I’ve used all year despite its general sameness to the prior year’s model. Apple’s design ethos is so effortless, it doesn’t need to resort to gimmicks like waterfall displays or pop-up cameras to add curb appeal. Samsung and OnePlus fans will disagree, but Apple’s focus on uniformity and simplicity makes the iPhone 12’s competitors seem like they’re just trying too hard.
Performance: Running away with the lead
The iPhone 12’s good looks might draw your eye, but it’s more than just a pretty face. Much more, in fact. Apple’s silicon is far and away the best in the business—so much so that it’s soon going to be powering Apple’s Macs—and the iPhone 12 only solidifies its position at the top of the heap.
Face ID on the iPhone 12 is faster and more reliable than ever—except when you’re wearing a mask.
No other phone controls the whole stack as Apple does and it pays off. Even on the Pixel 5, you can feel the slight disconnect between the system and the software, but on the iPhone 12, everything is harmonious and optimized to work together. For example, the display feels as fast as the Pixel’s 90Hz Smooth Display despite having a traditional 60Hz refresh rate.
The A14 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 12 is about 40 percent faster than the A13 in the iPhone 11. That’s no small feat, and while you’ll never actually need even half of the power inside the iPhone 12, the marriage between the chip and the system feels fully realized. It never gets as hot as Snapdragon 865+ phones, everything is noticeably faster and more responsive, and it feels like the iPhone has reached a point where Android and Qualcomm will simply never catch up.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Geekbench 5
Single: 966
Multi: 3,067
Compute: 3,652
iPhone 12
Geekbench 5
Single: 1599
Multi: 4,107
Compute: 9,439
Those aren’t just numbers. The iPhone 12 truly feels that much faster than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, even with a third of the RAM. Android fans will look at the spec sheet and laugh, but it’s truly remarkable how much Apple can do with such pedestrian specs. Every flagship and mid-range Android phone has better all-around specs than the iPhone 12, but thanks to Apple’s in-house wizardry, the iPhone feels as stacked as the highest-end Android phones.
Remember when your iPhone had a headphone jack?
You might have heard that the iPhone 12 is 5G-ready, but that probably shouldn’t be the feature that compels you to upgrade. Most likely you’ll need to upgrade to a more expensive unlimited plan to get it, and even then, you probably won’t be using it very much. I don’t have Verizon 5G in my immediate area, but when I tested mmWave last year, it was extremely fast but also very limited in range. And T-Mobile’s sub-6GHz network is truly nationwide, but speeds topped out at around 100Mbps. But simply by including a 5G modem that supports both sub-6Ghz networks and mmWave, Apple has nicely future-proofed the iPhone 12.
All that’s to say 5G is still in its infancy. I fully support Apple’s decision to include a 5G model in the iPhone 12—even if I question the relentless carrier push—and if you buy one now you’re essentially ensuring that your phone will be able to access the fastest networks as they arrive.
Doing more with less
Based on teardowns, we know that the iPhone 12 has a paltry 2,815mAh battery, smaller than the one inside the $100 Samsung Galaxy A01, and nearly half the size as the 5,000mAh monster in the S20 Ultra. If this was an Android phone, I’d expect to be looking for a charger by mid-afternoon, but like the rest of Apple’s more-with-less mentality, the numbers don’t tell the story.
It might not look it, but the iPhone 12 is quite a bit thinner than the iPhone 11.
While it’s a little frustrating that the OLED display doesn’t bring a leap in battery life over the iPhone 11 or that Apple refuses to compromise on thickness to add a bigger battery, the iPhone 12 is rated for roughly the same 17 hours of battery life as its predecessor. Your mileage will vary, of course—especially if you’re connected to a 5G network for a significant amount of time—but for the most part, you won’t experience any charging anxiety during a typical day.
Even heavy days shouldn’t be an issue. Only once did I need to charge my phone before I went to sleep and that was after a good deal of streaming, navigation, and benchmarking. And even then, I made it more than 15 hours without needing to dip in for a charge.
When you do need to charge, Apple has a novel new way to do it with MagSafe. Apple has built a magnetic circle into the iPhone 12’s rear case that firmly attaches to a new $39 wireless charging puck. It’s a neat idea, though it’ll be more useful once Apple and others start shipping stands and docks. As it stands, the 1-meter plug is too short and not really conducive to operating while charging, at least not comfortably. Read our roundup of the best MagSafe chargers.
Circle gets the Apple logo.
I also didn’t love the clear MagSafe case. It’s a little too slippery and trickier than I thought it would be to put on and off, and the giant white MagSafe ring that shows you where to put the charger is a little too attention-grabbing. I did, however, love the convenience and satisfaction of popping on the charger, but it feels very much like a first-gen product. I can definitely see the potential, especially once Apple integrates it into its other products.
Apple no longer ships the iPhone with a wall charger, but don’t worry we have rounded up the best iPhone chargers for you.
Small steps bring big leaps
The iPhone 12’s camera isn’t a big leap over the iPhone 11. Both phones have a dual-camera system that pairs a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 12MP wide camera. You’re getting a new 7-element lens as well as a slightly faster f/1.6 aperture on the 12’s wide lens (up from f/1.8 on the iPhone 11), however, to help with low-light photos.
The iPhone 12’s camera array is as big as the iPhone 12 Pro’s despite having one fewer lens.
The biggest changes are happening behind the scenes. The iPhone 12 has amped up its Deep Fusion algorithm so it can work on all three cameras now, including the TrueDepth selfie cam, and Night mode has been enhanced to deliver brighter photos with better contrast. Additionally, the new Smart HDR 3 uses machine learning “to intelligently adjust the white balance, contrast, texture, and saturation of a photo.” And video buffs can now shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision, a big breakthrough but one most people are unlikely to care about, especially since YouTube doesn’t event support the format yet.
The ultrawide-angle camera on the iPhone 12 is essentially the same as last year’s.
But as always, videos look amazing. Thanks to its proprietary silicon, Apple is extremely far ahead of its competitors when it comes to shooting video, and you won’t have to worry about lag or dropped frame, even when shooting 4k at 60 fps or Dolby Vision HDR at 30 fps. You might never need a feature like Night mode Time-lapse, which requires a tripod and lots of planning, but you should be happy that it’s there. It means Apple is doing things with its video camera that other smartphones simply can’t do.
Even if you never shoot cinema-grade or light-trailing nighttime videos, however, the iPhone 12 camera will excel at documenting your life. Even without any major new features or hardware, the iPhone 12 is on par or better with the latest Android cameras from Google, Samsung, and OnePlus. Like a Pixel phone, the magic of the iPhone 12 is going on behind the scenes, leading to some subtle and some spectacular changes versus the iPhone 11.
The iPhone 12’s new Night mode (bottom) works on every lens, while the iPhone 11 forced you to the wide-angle camera.
The biggest change is with Night mode. Having it on all three cameras is very impressive and makes ultra-wide shots shine, as seen above. Even standard shots have been improved thanks to both hardware and software improvements. While it won’t be a tremendous improvement over the iPhone 11, especially if you’re comparing images side by side, you’ll be able to snap low-light lights faster and with better results.
In this image of water droplets on a rose, the iPhone 12 (left) captures incredible detail on the inside petals that the iPhone 11 (center) and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra overlook.
Apple’s enhanced Deep Fusion algorithm also makes photos taken in regular light better. As you can see in the photo of a rose above, the iPhone 12 captures a bit more detail in the droplets and the petals than either the iPhone 11 or Google Pixel 5. And in the photo of the leaf, below, the iPhone 12 perfectly handled both the color and the edge detail even against a tricky background.
The iPhone 12 (left) is able to capture impeccable edge detail in this photo of a leaf despite a similarly colored background over the iPhone 11 (center) and Pixel 5 (right).
It’s a bit of a bummer that Apple still reserves the telephoto lens for the Pro model, but even without one, the iPhone 12 is a stellar smartphone for taking photos. In a race that’s increasingly becoming about results rather than gimmicks, Apple is at or ahead of its competitors in every area, a remarkable turnaround from just two years ago when the Pixel was comfortably in the lead.
Should you buy an iPhone 12?
If you made it this far in my review, you already know that I’m very happy with the iPhone 12. For $799 or $829 (unlocked), there’s no greater value out there, and anyone who’s looking at the $699 Galaxy S20 FE or Google Pixel 5 should give the iPhone 12 a serious look first. And that’s without even talking about how good Face ID or the vast improvements of iOS 14.
The iPhone 12’s new blue hue makes it look more grown-up than the Phone 11.
Even Pro buyers might want to consider a downgrade this year. By giving the iPhone 12 the same display and speedy 5G modem, the only reasons to jump to the Pro are the telephoto lens and a smattering of camera enhancements, including a LiDAR scanner. But for the most part, the iPhone 12 is very much a pro-level phone for $170 less than the iPhone 12 Pro (or $200 less if you take in account the somewhat sleazy carrier “special offers.” And you’re still saving more than $100 if you opt for 128GB of storage for an extra $50 (which I recommend).
Rather than increase the gap between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, Apple has significantly closed it by upgrading the screen, enhancing the camera, adding full 5G, and refusing to compromise. And whether you’re a pro user or not, the iPhone 12 will make you feel like one.
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