iPhone 12: Price, Features & Availability

The iPhone 12 is finally here with the following four models to choose from, all with 5G capability (a first for iPhones):

• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12: What you need to know in a nutshell

In this article:

• iPhone 12 pricing and deals
• iPhone 12 key features and specs
• iPhone 12 camera
• iPhone 12 design and colors
• iPhone 12 5G connectivity
• iPhone 12 vs iPhone 11

iPhone 12 pricing and deals

iPhone 12 key features and specs

All of the new iPhone 12 phones have updated features and improved specifications compared to the iPhone 11, including 5G capability. The iPhone 12 mini is now the smallest, lightest, and thinnest smartphone on the market today, while still boasting the same features as the iPhone 12.

iPhone 12

• Super Retina XDR display
• All-screen OLED display (iPhone 12 mini: 5.4″, iPhone 12: 6.1″)
• Higher resolution (two times as many pixels as the iPhone 11)
• Sharper text, better photos, more detail, better color, and peak brightness
• A14 Bionic chip: the fastest chip in any smartphone (50% faster graphics) improving performance and efficiency
• More durability: using a ceramic shield that dramatically improves toughness
• Wireless charging capable: using MagSafe for optimized wireless charging
• USB C to lightning port cable included

iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max

• Ceramic shield for the front display
• Super Retina XDR display
• All-screen OLED display (iPhone 12 Pro: 6.1″, iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7″)
• Water-resistant up to 6 meters and 30 minutes

iPhone 12 camera

If you want the best iPhone camera on the market, then you’ll need to fork out a little bit extra to get the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max. You’ll get an extra Telephoto lens and double the digital zoom capability.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

• 12MP Ultra-Wide camera
• 12MP Wide camera
• 5x digital zoom
• 7 element lens offering a 27% improvement in low-light performance
• Computational photography to bring out more detail and smart adjustments
• Night mode using a faster aperture to capture more light (including on selfie camera)
• Better low-light video

iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max

• 12MP Telephoto lens
• 12MP Wide camera
• 12MP Ultra-Wide camera
• 10x digital zoom
• Sensor Shift to improve stabilization
• HDR video recording
• Video recording and editing in Dolby Vision
• LiDAR scanner to improve low-light photos

iPhone 12 design and colors

Maybe new and different doesn’t always mean better. This year Apple has gone back to the original design of the iPhone and given the new iPhone 12 phones flat edges along with a sleeker, flatter design all round.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

The iPhone 12 has reverted back to the original design of the iPhone, with flat edges that we saw make a return with the iPhone SE (2020). There are also new (and old) colors to choose from this year:

• Black
• White
• Red
• Green
• Blue

The iPhone 12 boasts a 6.1″ display but the design has improved so the phone itself is still smaller than the iPhone 11. In fact, it’s 11% thinner, 15% smaller, and 16% lighter than its predecessor.

iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max

One of the coolest things about the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max design is the new selection of metallic colors:

• Silver
• Graphite
• Gold
• Pacific Blue (my personal favorite)

Other than that, the design is very much the same as the iPhone 12, with flat edges and flat design. Of course, you’ll benefit from a bigger screen and larger overall phone size.

iPhone 5G

Apple brought in a Verizon representative to talk about the iPhone 12’s ability to connect to the carrier’s 5G network but rest assured, all iPhone 12 phones are able to connect to all 5G networks in the U.S. Whether you are with T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon, you will be able to activate a 5G plan on your new iPhone 12.

iPhone 12 vs iPhone 11

There are some key differences in the iPhone 12 compared to last year’s suite of iPhones, however, there is one clear difference—there is no comparable iPhone 11 for the iPhone 12 mini. This mini iPhone is the first of its kind, with perhaps the closest in comparison being the iPhone SE (2020), however, the mini’s features stand out far and beyond.

The one key difference between all iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 models is that the iPhone 12s all support 5G connectivity.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 compared

Comparing the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 side by side, the first thing we notice is the change in some of the colors. No longer are the purple or yellow options offered, being replaced by a blue.

Pricing has increased for the iPhone 12, starting at $200 higher than the iPhone 11, however, with the significant improvements to the key features and 5G capability added, this isn’t too much of a surprise.

Key features that have been upgraded in the iPhone 12 include:

• 5G connectivity
• Better durability (ceramic shield)
• Improved water-resistant depth (3 times better)
• HDR display (including improved brightness)
• Improved screen resolution and contrast ratio
• Lighter by about 1 ounce
• A14 Bionic chip (vs A13 in the iPhone 11)

Most of the camera features remain the same and the screen size of both models is 6.1″, although the iPhone 12 is slightly smaller in both overall size and weight.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro compared

The first noticeable difference between the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro is that the iPhone 12 Pro has a larger screen—0.3″ larger in fact. Both phones use the same Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lens combo, but the iPhone 12 Pro allows for Dolby Vision HDR video recording which is a step up from last year’s model.

Another welcome addition to the iPhone 12 Pro is the LiDAR Scanner which allows for better low-light photos and “next-level AR experiences.”

Other improvements include:

• Faster chip (A14 Bionic)
• Improved water resistance (6 meters vs 4 meters)
• Base level storage at 128GB vs 64GB
• Slightly better screen resolution
• Night mode

In terms of dimensions, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro are very similar with only a few millimeters of difference.

iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro Max compared

The iPhone 12 Pro Max trumps the iPhone 11 Pro Max in size, with a screen measuring 6.7″ compared to the 11 Pro Max’s 6.5″. Similar to the Pro models, the cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro Max are very similar to last year’s model but with the added benefit of Dolby Vision HDR video recording.

Other improvements to the iPhone 12 Pro Max include:

• LiDAR Scanner for better low-light and night mode photos
• Night mode
• Faster A14 Bionic chip
• Improved water resistance (an additional 2 meters)
• Larger base capacity (128GB vs 64GB)

Again, like the 12 Pro, the 12 Pro Max is very similar in size to its predecessor, with only a few millimeters difference.