Apple has finally unveiled the 2020 iPhones, and this time there are four new models. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are the higher-end models complete with all the bells and whistles. The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Mini are the more affordable ones. The entire iPhone 12 lineup now comes with an all-new design, better cameras, and they even sport Apple’s mighty new processor.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro series bring some of the biggest design changes since the iPhone X. The new phones have flatter edges that remind is of the iPhone 5. The iPhone 12 is the successor to the iPhone 11 and, it now has even narrower edges that make it slimmer and lighter. Apple has also introduced an all-new iPhone 12 Mini, which is the smallest iPhone since the 2016 iPhone SE. The design is like the iPhone 12, and that should make it ideal for one-handed usage.
The new iPhones use an all-glass construction like their predecessors. They now feature Apple’s Ceramic Shield, that consists of nano-ceramic crystal embedded within the glass. Apple claims the material makes the new iPhones four times tougher than the older models. This means they have better chances of surviving accidental drops. The new iPhones also offers IP68 water and dust resistance which further adds to their durability.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are built on an aerospace-grade aluminum frame. The Pro models use a surgical-grade stainless-steel frame that makes the chassis more impact-resistant and it also adds to the premium look. Apple offers the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini in a spectrum of colours which includes Blue, Green, (Product) Red, White and Black. Colour options on the Pro models include Graphite, Silver, Gold and an all-new Pacific Blue, that replaces the last year’s Midnight Green colour.
Apple also introduced the new MagSafe feature that aims to improve wireless charging experience. The wireless charging coil on the newer iPhones now has an additional magnetic ring that makes it easier to position them on wireless chargers. This feature currently works with the Apple’s new MagSafe charger, and it supports 15W wireless charging, an upgrade over the previous 7.5W Qi-based wireless chargers. This feature let you magnetically attach new iPhone MagSafe cases and wallet accessories. Apple has also introduced a nifty foldable MagSafe Dual-Charger that can charge the new iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.
One of the biggest advantages the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini offers over the older iPhone 11 is the inclusion of Super Retina XDR display. This display uses an OLED panel, where each pixel produces its own light that results in better brightness, richer colours and a greater contrast ratio. OLED panels also render significantly better blacks over LCD panels, which makes content appear crisper when you are watching movies, images and playing games.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro sport a 6.2-inch screen. The more pocketable iPhone 12 Mini has a 5.4-inch screen while the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max becomes the biggest iPhone ever made. All models support premium Retina Display features such as HDR10+ along with 1200 nits of peak brightness. The screen also features Apple’s Wide Colour feature, that helps in rendering natural colours. The displays also work along with the Haptic Engine for more responsive touch feedback. They also support Apple True Tone feature that adjusts the screen’s colour temperature for an immersive viewing experience.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro series sports Apple’s latest A14 Bionic processor. It is the first smartphone chip build on the new 5nm process, and Apple claims the reduced transistors’ size helps improve performance while maintaining efficiency. The new A14 is a 6-core processor, and it comes with 4-core GPU meant to deliver 50 per cent more performance than its closest rival. The new iPhones should deliver buttery-smooth performance and stutter-free gaming experience. The new A14 processor also comes with 16-core Neural Engine that promises an 80 per cent performance increase for machine learning tasks.
The major differentiating factor between iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro series is the camera. The iPhone 12 series comes with a dual-camera configuration that includes a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide unit along with a new 12MP f/1.6 wide-angle unit. Apple says the new wide-angle unit captures 27 per cent more light for better low-light performance. The iPhone 12 Pro models also have the same ultra-wide and wide-angle units, but these phones come with an additional 12MP f/2.2 telephoto lens that offers up to 4X optical zoom along with 10X digital zoom. The Pro models also sport Apple’s LIDAR scanner that was first introduced on the 2020 iPad Pro. The LIDAR scanner is said to deliver better AR experiences, and it also improves the autofocus performance by 6x in poorly-lit conditions.
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro models support 4K video recording up to 60 fps. Apple claims, the new cameras now offer five times better OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) performance than previous the iPhone 11 Pro phones. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also promises to take image stabilisation a step further with its all-new Sensor Shift technology. The Sensor Shift stabilises the camera sensors rather than the heavier lens. Apple says it helps to cancel-out vibrations better. Apple has also introduced a new Night Time-lapse video mode, that promises to record incredible night time videos when used with a tripod.
The iPhone 12 Pro models now also support ProRaw feature. This feature uses Apple’s new image processing and computational photography capabilities to offer complete control over colours, details and dynamic range while editing photos. All the new iPhones sport the 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera. The front camera now supports the Night Mode along with support for Apple’s new Smart HDR 3 features that promise to capture more natural-looking selfies.
The new iPhones are also the first Apple devices to feature future-ready 5G connectivity. 5G networks will result in faster download and upload speeds, better multiplayer gaming experiences, and high-definition video calling when it arrives in India. Apple has also introduced a new Smart Data Mode, that chooses the LTE connection when 5G speeds aren’t required. The new iPhones also comes with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC for easy payments. These devices also sport a U1 Ultra-Wideband chip for spatial awareness that allows the phones to locate other U1-enabled devices such as the Apple HomePod and the new HomePod Mini.
Most users buy iPhones with a perspective of using them for three to four years. The new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro line-up offer major upgrades over previous iPhones that make them a solid future-ready option. These phones have a fresh design, they come with great cameras for photography, and they even offer 5G connectivity. The new iPhones will be soon available for pre-order at www.reliancedigital.in and at your nearest Reliance Digital store.
