It's official, Apple has four new handsets on its hands: the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. With four devices on offer, actually deciding which to buy can be a little tricky. To help, we're going to take a look at how the four compare.
Before we start, here's how the new devices stack up in terms of hardware:
2020 iPhone specifications
| iPhone 12 mini | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.4-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina |
| Rear Cameras | 2x 12MP | 2x 12MP | 3x 12MP + LiDAR | 3x 12MP + LiDAR |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Processor | A14 | A14 | A14 | A14 |
| Storage | 64GB - 256GB | 64GB - 256GB | 128GB - 512GB | 128GB - 256GB |
| Water-Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| 5G | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 |
| Price | From $1,199 | From $1,349 | From $1,699 | From $1,849 |
iPhone 12 price
Unsurprisingly price is a key difference between models in the iPhone 12 family. The iPhone 12 mini is the cheapest option in the range, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max sits at the other end of the pricing spectrum.
Local outright pricing for the iPhone 12 family is as follows:
| Model | Prices |
|---|---|
| iPhone 12 mini (64GB) | $1,199 |
| iPhone 12 mini (128GB) | $1,279 |
| iPhone 12 mini (256GB) | $1,449 |
| iPhone 12 (64GB) | $1,349 |
| iPhone 12 (128GB) | $1,429 |
| iPhone 12 (256GB) | $1,599 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) | $1,699 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (256GB) | $1,869 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (512GB) | $2,219 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (128GB) | $1,849 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (256GB) | $2,019 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (512GB) | $2,369 |
These prices are also represented in phone plans. When you buy an iPhone on a plan, the outright price is divided by 12, 24, or 36 months (depending on what period you'd like to pay your new device off over) and added to the price plan.
In some cases, telcos run promotional offers that let you save $120 over the life of your contract, but for the most part, the more expensive the outright price, the more expensive your iPhone plan will be. There's no hack that will get an iPhone 12 Pro Max for the same price as an iPhone 12 mini.
Here's every 24-month 64GB iPhone 12 plan:
iPhone 12 Camera
While there are similarities between iPhone cameras, there are also a few differences. To start, the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 Pro both share the same primary and ultra-wide lens. The iPhone 12 Pro does however benefit from a 2x telephoto lens not found on the more affordable models.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is another step up. It has the same ultra-wide camera, but the other two lenses are a little different. The primary camera has a larger sensor, which will further help with lowlight imaging. Apple says the iPhone 12 Pro Max primary camera is 87% better in the dark when compared to last year. In addition, the telephoto lens has a larger optical zoom range, offering 2.5x magnification.
In addition, both iPhone 12 Pro devices feature a LiDAR sensor, as first seen the iPad Pro. This helps improve autofocus in lowlight, reduce capture time in dark environments, and assist with augmented reality applications. This isn't present on the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini.
LiDAR genuinely helps the iPhone 12 Pro improve autofocus in lowlight and help with lowlight portrait photography. When trying to take portrait shots at night, the standard iPhone 12 Pro delivered brighter, more consistent results than the standard iPhone 12. It was also more consistently able to focus on the subject.
Here's an attempted lowlight portrait from the iPhone 12:
And here's the same shot from the iPhone 12 Pro:
Lastly, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 won't be able to use Apple's new photo format: ProRAW. RAW photos capture more data from a camera sensor, which gives you more potential for granular edits and endless tinkering. Shutterbugs will appreciate it, but shooting RAW on a smartphone may be overkill for most.
iPhone 12 Design
The iPhone 12 family all look kinda similar, at least from the front. They all have a similar kind of design, but vary in size and material. In terms of size, the iPhone 12 mini is naturally the smallest out of the bunch, with a petite 5.4-inch display. It's even smaller than the iPhone SE. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro both measure in at 6.1-inches, making them somewhat midsized phones, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display.
The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 have an aluminium frame and a typical glass back, while the both Pros have a stainless steel frame and a matte glass back. This makes the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max just a little bit more lux, but obviously this doesn't matter if you're going to slap a case over your phone anyway.
While display quality was a key difference between Pro and non-Pro models in previous years, this time around, all four iPhones have the same kind of screen. That is, a OLED panel. In short, this means that the screens are more vibrant and have higher contrast. Photos and videos will have a bit of extra pop, and the screen is able to display deeper levels of black as it lights up individual pixels as needed.
In addition, all four phones have Ceramic Shield glass on the front. Apple says this makes them four times more drop resistant than last year's iPhones, which is a big plus for anyone with butterfingers.
iPhone 12 Performance
All four iPhones are powered by the same A14 processor. Performance is all but identical across the board.
iPhone 12 battery
While exact battery life is hard to gauge, based on Apple's spec sheets, it seems like the iPhone 12 Pro Max will have the best battery out of the lot. Apple says the iPhone 12 Pro Max battery is very similar to the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which is one of the longest lasting flagship smartphones around right now. You can comfortably get between a day-and-a-half and two days of battery per charge from it.
We've already tested the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12, and found their battery life is almost identical. You shouldn't expect much more than one full day per charge. For us, this worked out to be between four and five hours screen time.
Apple has been a bit more conservative with battery estimates for the iPhone 12 mini when compared to other iPhone 12 devices, so we're guessing you'll definitely need to charge it every night. It may even need a little top-up during the day, but we'll have to wait and see.
Which iPhone 12 should I buy?
If you're set on an iPhone 12, picking the right one will depend on what exactly it is you want out of a phone. If you want a teeny tiny phone, the iPhone 12 mini is naturally a great pick. If you're after a giant screen, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will deliver in that regard. If you’re tossing up between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, it's worth considering how much you care about photography. If you're more of a casual smartphone photographer, the iPhone 12 is probably the better pick. If you're a trigger happy shooter that wants a bit of extra flexibility, the iPhone 12 Pro could be a better choice.
Alex Choros
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