We went live to review the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro and took questions live from you in the chat. Here is what we think…
00:00 waiting for the stream to begin
01:09 Stream starts
02:54 iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Review
31:11 Answering your questions from the chat
The iPhone 12 is a more expensive phone than last year’s iPhone 11, with Apple adding $100 / £100 to the price; it does, however, bring a number of new features in the shape of an OLED display, a slightly upgraded camera, a new design and – the big hitters – 5G and MagSafe connectivity.
Starting with the headliners, 5G brings faster speeds and more robust connectivity to the new iPhone 12, but as 5G networks aren’t yet fully deployed around the world, coverage is still a bit patchy. When it works, it’s incredibly fast – we easily managed 200Mpbs on the go – but there are still too many places, even in big cities, where it’s hard to get full coverage.
That said, given that many are holding onto their phones for three or four years nowadays, this is a feature that will only become more useful over time – the iPhone 12 can connect to a huge range of 5G frequencies too, meaning that if there’s a 5G signal where you are you should be able to connect to it.
The new (to iPhones) MagSafe, meanwhile, is a really interesting proposition – this magnetic connection tech not only enables you to attach things to your phone, such as a charger or a case, but can also tell what’s been connected through a special chip.
MagSafe enables faster and more accurate charging, and brings with it a new range of accessories (like a wallet clip-on) but, just as 5G will become more useful over time, we’re pretty certain that the MagSafe accessory range is going to improve massively as third-party manufacturers get their hands on the technology, and we could see some really cool things like games controllers, photo printers and huge extra batteries coming soon.
The performance of the iPhone 12 has been upgraded once again: the A14 Bionic chipset is the most powerful in any smartphone, and the benchmarks bear that out. The decision to start with 64GB inside is a little stingy, though, and you might start butting up against that barrier in the not-too-distant future if you like taking photos and videos at full resolution.
The iPhone 12 design has been tweaked, with squared-off edges that are highly reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 from yesteryear, and a new Ceramic Shield front that’s apparently four times harder to shatter than the iPhone 11 (not that we were willing to drop-test our early review sample).
The display has been upgraded too: it’s now an OLED screen, the same tech that’s used on the iPhone 12 Pro, and offers rich colors and deep blacks, as well as bringing true HDR to the mix for compatible content. It sounds like a small thing, but perhaps the slick 120Hz display tech would have been a boon here too; however, you are still getting a sharp and colorful viewing experience on the iPhone 12.
Cameras-wise, you’re again getting the 12MP duo of the wide and ultra-wide cameras here. The former is even better in low-light this year, and both can now be used with Night Mode. This feature can improve your snaps in a way that’s genuinely staggering; however, it’s also available on the iPhone 11, and we would have liked to have seen it upgraded in 2020.
The video capabilities, including the ability to record in Dolby Vision in 4K, sound impressive, but for most this will be a rarely-used feature. That said, the output is strong to look at and something you’d be keen to share.
Battery life is only average on the new iPhone 12; with heavier use your phone should see you through most of a day – around 17-18 hours at a push.
The iPhone 12 feels like it’s packed with potential – but Apple is relying on others to make it a success…
Read our full written review of the iPhone 12 here –
If you’re reading this review, you’ll want to know what the iPhone 12 Pro is offering, and where it fits into Apple’s latest iPhone lineup. Well, while the design is rather similar to last year (but with new, flat edges rather than the rounded shape of recent years), and it’s now packing faster 5G connectivity and the interesting MagSafe technology that allows for clip-on accessories.
The power has been upgraded and the cameras have been improved, and it arrives running iOS 14 – but does it impress sufficiently to make it a compelling upgrade over the similar-looking, and cheaper, iPhone 12?
The iPhone 12 Pro was announced alongside the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max on October 13, 2020…
Read the full iPhone 12 Pro hands-on review here –
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