The iPhone 12 Has Landed
HOMEPOD MINI, IPHONE 12 SERIES, MAGSAFE CHARGING, 5G & BIG CAMERA UPGRADES TAKE CENTERSTAGE
From mini to Pro Max, meet Apple's new lineup.
espite a turbulent year and coronavirusrelated production delays, Apple managed to deliver an impressive 2020 iPhone lineup. At the October event, Apple debuted standout iPhone features such as MagSafe rapid wireless charging, 5G capabilities, and serious camera improvements, plus the long-anticipated announcement of a smaller, less expensive HomePod mini. Here's all the iPhone 12 series and HomePod mini details you need, including prices and availability.
HOMEPOD MINI
Priced at $99, the long-rumored next generation smart speaker is the high-tech, budget-conscious answer to the many drawbacks of the original HomePod. The new globe-shaped smart speaker is considerably smaller than its predecessor, standing short at just 3.3 inches, but that doesn't mean it won't pack a punch. The heart of the mini is the S5 chip, which works with advanced software to fine-tune your listening experience with computational audio to deliver 360-degree audio tailored to your room.
Apple clearly hopes that sound quality, Siri improvements, and the introduction of a host of family features such as Intercom and voice recognition will make the HomePod mini a must-have. Intercom, which lets you make announcements over your HomePods to other Apple devices, could make life much easier for families on the go, allowing you to check in on your drive home and ask household members if they'd like you to pick anything up before you get there. Thanks to voice recognition, the mini can create personalized profiles for up to six family members, so you can ask Siri for a morning update and get one tailored to you. Sending texts and answering phone calls should become much more natural when the whole family can join in the fun, without compromising anyone's privacy. Some customers may still find the small smart speaker too pricey (especially when compared with Amazon's $49.99 Echo Dot), but for sound quality and integration with the Apple ecosystem, the mini comes out ahead.
MAGSAFE CHARGING
Apple also introduced MagSafe charging during its October event, which brings faster and easier wireless charging to the iPhone 12. This new generation of charger delivers 15 watts of power, double the maximum wattage of the Qi wireless chargers we've all been using. Aside from speed, Apple intends for MagSafe to eliminate the frustration of having to place your iPhone “just so” in order to wirelessly charge thanks to a magnet array and alignment magnet around the iPhone 12's wireless charging coil.
MagSafe accessories include cases, chargers, and wallets that connect to your iPhone with—you guessed it—magnets. These accessories will come in a variety of colors and materials, with offerings including magnetic leather iPhone wallets, snap-on silicon and plastic iPhone cases, and charging mats that accommodate an iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Expect an array of third-party accessories, such as a new MagSafe charger and car mount from Belkin.
“THIS NEW GENERATION OF CHARGER
DELIVERS 15 WATTS OF POWER, DOUBLE THE MAXIMUM WATTAGE OF THE QI WIRELESS CHARGERS WE’VE ALL BEEN USING.”
THE IPHONE 12 SERIES
This was the first year that Apple debuted a new iPhone after the iPad and Apple Watch. Nevertheless, Apple worked hard to make the 2020 iPhones worth the wait, bringing forth four new models: the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The new lineup features both the smallest (mini) and largest (Max) iPhones on offer from Apple and introduces 5G capabilities to the iPhone universe. We're also looking at some big camera gains, especially in the Pro models.
All of the new phones will include an A14 chip that Apple promises will bring new levels of speed. Apple also announced it would no longer be including EarPods or power adapters in the iPhone packaging, a decision rooted in the company's goal to have net zero climate impact by 2030, but also likely influenced by a desire to cut down on production costs.
Here's a look at the two budget models and the two Pro iPhone models.
The iPhone 12 & 12 Mini
While the iPhone 12 and 12 mini may be considered the “budget models,” there are plenty of reasons why they stand strong on their own. These two models have identical specs, including an OLED display with a durable ceramic shield, A14 Bionic chip, 5G capabilities, dual-lens camera, and MagSafe compatibility.
The Camera—All about Low Light
The iPhone 12's main camera features a larger aperture of ƒ/1.6, which leads to a 27 percent improvement in low-light photo quality. All 2020 iPhone cameras will have Night mode and the Deep Fusion image processing system, which should lead to better texture and overall higher quality, especially in low light. You'll also be able to do Time Lapse in Night mode, which could lead to some gorgeous videos of the night sky.
5G Brings Speed
The greatest step forward for the iPhone lineup is its 5G support, which promises to make a drastic difference in speeds and latency in regions with a 5G network. But what does 5G capability mean in terms of iPhone performance? 5G is the fifth-generation mobile network; it's the most reliable and high-capacity network to date, providing more privacy and security, the best peak data speeds, and the ability to seamlessly connect multiple devices. A key feature of 5G is its ultra-low latency, which allows nearly real-time communication between mobile devices, and also other smart devices like smart home components, factory tools, and self-driving cars.
iPhone owners who live in an area where 5G has been rolled out will enjoy faster connection times, up to double the upload and download speeds of 4G, less latency and more responsiveness in gaming, higher-quality video streaming, and even high-definition FaceTime calls.
Apple offered the example of an iPhone user watching a live football game from seven different camera angles with no lag. This kind of speed will be an absolute gift in the era of COVID-19, offering businesses, schools, gamers, and even bands and choirs a way to interact in near real-time that slower networks have been incapable of facilitating. The iPhone 12 Pro models support the higher frequency 5G millimeter wave and will therefore reap the greatest benefits of 5G network capabilities. Those iPhones will reach speeds as high as 4 Gbps, even, Apple promises, in densely populated areas with high network usage.
While we're excited by the higher speeds of the new iPhone 12 line, early testing shows 5G to be a great big battery hog. This battery drain should be ameliorated by a built-in feature called Smart Data mode that switches to LTE when out of range of 5G, plus the more powerful chips at work in the iPhone 12 line.
The iPhone 12 Pro & Pro Max
The Pro models are bringing it big time with their cameras. While they include all of the features of the budget models— such as the A14 chip, 5G support, and OLED display—what sets them apart is their size and three camera system.
12 Pro Camera System—Better Low Light & Zoom Range
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max feature a triple-lens system with Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lenses. The Pro has a 52 mm focal length Telephoto camera allowing for 4x optical zoom, while the Pro Max's Telephoto camera's focal length is 65 mm, allowing for 5x optical zoom. Thanks to its larger aperture, the 12 Pro Max boasts an 87 percent improvement in low-light photo quality. Both Pro models include a LiDar sensor for improved Night mode, including faster auto-focus and nighttime portraits. Both also feature high-quality videos, with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, while the budget models offer a max of 30 fps.
Whether you're looking for something that will fit more comfortably in one hand or a way to take your photos and videos to the next level, the four iPhone 12 models certainly
have a lot to offer. The promise seems great, especially where the cameras are involved.
A new image signal processor (ISP) works with the A14 Bionic chip to create top level picture processing. Both Pro models will have the new Apple ProRAW. It will bring the experience of RAW photos to the iPhone, while also allowing editing such as adding filters directly in your Photos app, without sacrificing quality. While this is an exciting new feature for those familiar with RAW photos and with a considerable amount of photo editing under their belt, it may have less appeal to those who just want to take nice pictures of their family or surroundings and not do too much editing after.
SO WHICH IPHONE 12 SHOULD YOU BUY?
With four new iPhones, figuring out which one to buy is an overwhelming task. Camera improvements dominated the iPhone 12 announcement, which means if you've got a visual audience to captivate, you may feel like springing for the topend iPhone 12 Pro Max. Anyone who cherishes memories of the smaller iPhone days of yore will appreciate that the iPhone 12 mini is the smallest, lightest, thinnest smartphone on the market, without sacrificing any of the speed or features of the iPhone 12. The difference between the iPhone 12 and its very near relative, the iPhone 12 Pro, is a little narrower than we're used to seeing between the budget models and the Pro models. Many consumers may find themselves wondering if the extra $200 will give them the extra benefit they're looking for. Sarah Kingsbury is the senior web editor of iPhoneLife.com. She goes almost nowhere without her iPhone and is a contributor to the site’s Tip of the Day column. She has over a decade of experience writing and editing for online and print publications. Leanne Hays is an SEO content strategist at iPhone Life. She loves reading and blogging, and is never without a book in her backpack or an audiobook on her phone. Short-term goals include finishing painting her house and starting an aquaponics farm, long-term goals include a bike tour of Italy and writing a novel. Amy Spitzfaden Both is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, an award-winning novelist, and an iPhone enthusiast. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating her own tea blends. Erin Smith is a Feature Writer for iPhone Life and has been a writer, editor, and researcher for many years. She has a degree in communication with an emphasis on psychology and communication, and has spent years as a coach in various business and specialty fields. When she’s not working, Erin and her son enjoy outdoor adventures, camping, and spending time with their eclectic collection of pets.