The Apple iPhone 12 range has been well-received by Apple fans and techies worldwide — even though having 5G internet amounted to, well, nothing really… especially amidst the pandemic.
But its other notable changes from the iPhone 11 — like the introduction of a miniature model, its powerful A14 Bionic chip and turbo charger, as well as a range of funky new colours — make the latest iPhone undoubtedly the best iPhone yet.
With four released versions of the iPhone 12, each with different specs, prices and displays, it can be a laborious task to research and eventually pick the model best suited to your lifestyle and budget — especially when there are still other epic models to compare like the iPhone 11 (2019) and iPhone SE (2020) very much in circulation.
Luckily for you, we’ve done our research. In this article, Mobile Store lays out the specs and compares the slightest niggles of every model, so you don’t have to.
Of course, we also found ourselves asking, what’s next in store after the iPhone 12?
What will the Apple iPhone 13 be like?
With Apple set to launch their iPhone 13 range this September, the grapevine has been buzzing and we’ve been all ears. Here’s what Mobile Store has gathered so far about the next iPhone’s rumoured features:
Just like the iPhone 12 family, the iPhone 13 line-up is said to also offer 4 models — the standard, the Pro, the Pro Max, and the Mini.
Instead of an A14 Bionic chip, it could have an A15.
Rumoured to have Portrait Video mode — how cool would that be!?
The Pro models might have an even wider ultrawide lens and larger camera sensors.
There has been talk of an impressive astrophotography mode, which will allow you to see and take clear photographs of the stars, moon and other phenomenon in the night sky.
There may be a possible Touch ID in the display, so that there’s the option of both Face ID and Touch ID.
The name has not yet been decided on and it could be called the iPhone 12s, based on how much progression has taken place
.
For now, all we can do is wait in anticipation and enjoy the superb model we do have at present:
The latest iPhone — the Apple iPhone 12 family, ranked latest to oldest
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Dimensions: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm, 228g, IP68 water resistance
- Display: 6.7-inch, 2778 x 1284 (458ppi), Haptic Touch, True Tone, HDR
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Battery: Up to 20 hours
- Colours: Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue, Silver
Just when we thought the Apple iPhone 12 Pro couldn’t get any better, Apple went ahead and proved us all wrong.
Launching the best and biggest iPhone the world has ever seen, The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a screen size of 6.7” Super Retina XDR display and a battery life of up to 20 hours!
With its Dolby Vision recording at 4K and 60 frames per second, and its powerful 3 rear-cameras, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is certainly a must-have for tech-savvy content creators and large video content consumers. Seriously — it’s the best movie-watching mobile Apple’s ever made.
While the iPhone 12 Pro Max is actually only 0.2” larger than last year's 11 Pro Max, it’s the shrunken bezels around the OLED display that make the front all “screen”, and no playing around.
But the difference between the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera and the iPhone 12 Pro's isn't big, with the Pro Max snapping only slightly clearer and brighter images.
Ranging between R23 699 and R29 999, the latest iPhone is a phone for deep pockets, both literally and figuratively.
Explore Apple iPhone 12 Max Pro contracts offered by Mobile Store
Apple iPhone 12 mini
- Dimensions: 131.5. x 64.2 x 7.4mm, 135g, IP68 water resistant
- Display: 5.4-inch, 2340 x 1080 (476ppi), Haptic Touch, True Tone, HDR
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Battery: Up to 15 hours
- Colours: Black, Green, Blue, White, Product (RED)
Released with the Pro Max, the iPhone 12 mini is simply the miniature size of the standard iPhone 12. In fact, it’s even smaller and lighter than the iPhone SE (2020), but its reduced bezels and square shape make way for a larger, more impressive display of 5.4”.
The Apple iPhone 12 Mini has every spec that the standard iPhone 12 has, just in a 5.18x2.53x0.29-inch body. Under the hood, it too holds a A14 Bionic chip and has identical camera features.
Apart from its reduced size, the only other notable difference is that its battery life lasts 15 hours, 2 hours less than its 6.1-inch counterpart.
Since the Apple iPhone 12 Mini and Apple iPhone 11 are similar in price and specs, it’s hard choosing which model is best. The answer boils down to size preference, Bionic chip model and whether or not you’re fussed about 5G internet, really. If you prefer a larger screen with only slightly less advanced functionality, the iPhone 11 is probably for you.
But if you have normal-sized hands, shallow pockets, and are a sucker for the latest technology — the iPhone 12 mini is your best bet. Both cameras of the 11 and 12 offer incredibly low-light photography with Night Mode on all cameras, but the iPhone 12 mini takes slightly clearer and brighter photographs, which also tends to sway people in the end.
Explore Apple iPhone 12 Mini contracts offered by Mobile Store
iPhone 12 vs 12 iPhone Pro
- Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm, 189g, IP68 water resistant
- Display: 6.1-inch, 2532 x 1170 (460ppi), Haptic Touch, True Tone, HDR
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Battery: Up to 17 hours
- Colours: Blue, Green, White, Black, Product (RED)
- Colours (Pro) Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue, Silver
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are the same phone, really. With identical size, processor, battery life, you name it. But stop naming things when you get to the camera…
Because the real difference between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro lies in just that — its lenses, video features, and image display. Okay, as well as the colours on offer, but we’ll get to that part later.
While 6.1” models have the identical selfie camera of 12 MP, f/2.2, and 23mm wide, it’s on its rear where the iPhone 12 Pro really shoots its nonidentical twin out of the park.
The increased RAM of the iPhone 12 Pro means it can handle having a trio of 12MP rear cameras: Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto. While the iPhone 12 only has a Dual 12MP camera system, without the Telephoto lens. With the Pro, you can also shoot in Night Mode and Portrait Mode (at the same time), as well as Zoom in a little bit more when taking both photos and videos.
While the iPhone 12 has Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), the iPhone 12 Pro boasts 10‑bit HDR and Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), meaning its videos are higher quality and offer a lot more depth.
The latest iPhone 12 Pro also has 800 nits' brightness range compared to the Apple iPhone 12 which only has 625. But the difference to the naked eye is incremental.
The Pro is usually the best option for avid photo- and video-takers, for most ranges, so it’s no surprise it’s no different for the iPhone 12 models. And if colour is important to you, you’ll get to choose from a variety of new shades and hues never seen before instore.
It’s also worth noting that the entire latest iPhone family is also the only range with new MagSafe [https://www.techradar.com/best/best-magsafe-accessories] accessories for easy magnetic attaching and faster wireless charging, which will future-proof you as more MagSafe accessories appear on the market.
The iPhone 12s also boast a new-and-improved ceramic shield screen, known to be tougher than any smartphone glass, delivering four times better drop performance.
So, the gist of it? The Pro is a good choice if you’d like an advanced phone at a normal size.
Explore Apple iPhone 12 contracts offered by Mobile Store
How does the latest iPhone compare to previous models?
iPhone SE (2020)
- Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm, 148g, IP67 water resistant
- Display: 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750 (326ppi), Haptic Touch, True Tone
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Battery: Up to 13 hours
- Colours: Black, White, Product Red
The iPhone SE (2020) is the second-generation model of the SE first introduced in 2016. Like its first-generation counterpart, it was designed to marry an old, favoured aesthetic to the latest technology.
The 2020 model is like an Apple iPhone 11 in an iPhone 8’s body. It looks like an iPhone 8, with its 16:9 display ratio, but holds an A13 Bionic chip under its hood and boasts a 12 mega-pixel camera just like the iPhone 11, with the same Portrait Lighting effects as well.
The SE models appeal to those not wanting to break the bank on the iPhone 12, who still want a new phone with improved features — like better camera quality, longer battery life, and speedier processing time.
What makes the iPhone SE extra special is, that it’s the only Apple iPhone from 2019 onwards that still offers Touch ID option instead of Face ID.
Compared to the latest iPhone, the SE is most certainly the most affordable new-ish iPhone available, and best value for money around.
Apple iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
- Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm, 194g, IP68 water resistant
- Display: 6.1-inch, 1792 x 828 (326ppi), Haptic Touch, True Tone, HDR
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Battery: Up to 17 hours
- Colours: Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, White, Product (RED)
Released in September 2019, the iPhone 11 is still a running competitor in the market due to its size, identical battery life, camera quality, and True Tone and Haptic Touch, similar to the iPhone 12 models.
What’s missing? It lacks HDR, offers LCD display over OLED, and contains the surpassed A13 chip.
If you don’t quite have the budget for the 6-inch iPhone 12s, but you want a phone that still takes great photos and looks like the latest phones, then the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are your best buy — for now.
Explore Apple iPhone 11 contracts offered by Mobile Store
Are Apple iPhones better than Android?
Ah, the age-old debate. While Apple iPhones do seem to be the most “popular” and the most highly anticipated brand, they still only sell 18% of smartphones globally, and are totally outweighed by their competitor, Samsung.
It’s most likely due to their Apple’s high price, which is what still helps them earn 87% of smartphone profits (Samsung only earns 10%). Indeed, the consumer gap shouldn’t bother Apple too much, with its soaring value of stocks and profits.
But if one thing’s clear — Apple users are those who favour aesthetic and brand loyalty over affordability. And because over 80% of Apple users download the new iOS software, it also seems that Apple users are those who adopt new technology quicker. Or perhaps it’s the large camera sensors that still make iPhone images seem more impressive than their higher pixel competitors. Whatever your preference for iPhones may be, Mobile Store gets it.