iPhone: 2020 Buyer's Guide

 The original iPhone was introduced by Apple in 2007, kickstarting the new smartphone age now dominated by the Apple iPhone and Google Android platforms. So far, we've had 13 years of iPhones, with the newest versions launched in October 2020, the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Usually, Apple follows an annual upgrade schedule, launching new high-end flagship models while also discounting and selling previous-year models at more affordable rates.

iPhone vs Android

The Android and iPhone systems have developed over the years to the point that they are functionally equivalent in terms of functionality. Multiple manufacturers produce Android devices, but Google offers the operating system , leading to a broader range of phones and price points to choose from, but weaker integration between software and hardware.

The management of both the iPhone and the operating system (iOS) by Apple contributes to a more cohesive experience plus continuous support. Apple supports all iPhones launched in the last four years with iOS 14, so most current iPhone owners can update to the latest iOS version that Apple rolls out every year.

However, Android updates are more sporadic and frequently do not make it to all Android-based smartphones since each manufacturer has to personally enforce support. The truth is that a lot of older Android smartphones don't get the latest apps, though Google still makes annual Android updates.

The iPhone is widely considered to be the more stable platform, with Apple managing and curating the iPhone experience, and Apple has made it a point to concentrate heavily on privacy. Apple's iOS is, however, less flexible than Android, so the Android operating system might be worth looking at for those who prefer simplicity and customization choices.

How do iPhone Updates Work?

Here are the basics you should know about how Apple updates the iPhone and the iOS operating system.

Apple launches a new series of flagship smartphones each fall, typically in September (but in October and November in 2020). With Apple selling super high-end models and also high-end but more affordable models, these also come at high prices and feature the latest technology. As cheaper alternatives to the latest and greatest technology, previous year iPhones frequently hang around with lower price points, and sometimes, Apple releases an iPhone like the low-cost iPhone SE beyond the usual iPhone SE

At present, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone XR (2018), iPhone 11 (2019), iPhone 12 mini (2020), iPhone 12 (2020), iPhone 12 Pro (2020), and iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) are part of Apple's iPhone lineup.

At the same time that new iPhones are launched, Apple also launches an updated version of iOS, but new versions of iOS are pre-launched every year at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference to give developers time to integrate new features and technologies into their apps before the software becomes available to the public. The new iPhones run iOS 14, but it is expected that iOS 15 will be launched by Apple in June 2021.

In this guide, we go over all of the iPhones in the latest Apple lineup, give some purchase ideas, and provide both new and existing iPhone owners with tips and resources.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max ($999+)

With all the top of the line features and most bells and whistles, the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are Apple's new flagship smartphones. The Pro models are, as Apple claims, for those who want to get the most from their iPhones.

Pricing begins at $999 on the iPhone 12 Pro, while pricing starts at $1,099 on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Pro and Pro Max models of iPhones have been similar in recent years, except for variations in size and battery life, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max also has superior camera capabilities this year.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a larger 6.7-inch display and is the largest iPhone launched by Apple to date, although there is a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 12 Pro. This year, all of the iPhones have been updated with a new flat-edged design similar to the iPad Pro or older iPhones such as the iPhone 5, making them stand out from the versions of last year.

Both iPhones have slim bezel edge-to - edge OLED displays and a "Ceramic Shield" material that provides better drop protection, a notch with TrueDepth biometric Face ID authentication front-facing camera systems, stainless steel frame glass bodies in new colours, the latest super fast A14 chips, 6 GB of RAM, IP68 water resistance (the highest offered on an iPhone), a triple-lens camera system.

As the iPhone 12 lineup is restricted to a dual-lens camera configuration, triple-lens cameras are exclusive to the Pro iPhones. A telephoto lens, a wide-angle lens, and a super wide-angle lens are available for both iPhones, offering you a lot of flexibility when taking pictures.

To take close-up photos and portraits, you can use the telephoto lens and then zoom out through the ultra wide-angle lens for stunning shots of landscape and architecture. The new LiDAR Scanner enhances low-light autofocus and makes Night mode portraits possible, plus sensor upgrades have been made that make the iPhone cameras better than ever this year, and for the first time, Dolby Vision HDR video recording is enabled.

The Pro Max has the most advanced camera technology, obtaining a new larger sensor that makes even more light, a 2.5x optical zoom 65 mm telephoto lens (the Pro has a 2 optical zoom 52 mm telephoto lens), and Sensor-Shift Optical Image Stabilization that stabilises the sensor and keeps it steadier than ever to shake down the camera.

All iPhones have OLED displays this year, so that's no longer a feature exclusive to the Pro lineup, and 5 G coverage is now included in all models. The iPhones this year are also equipped with a rear magnetic ring that allows them to work with MagSafe accessories.

Key Features:

• Highest End, Highest Price
• Triple Lens Camera: Ultra Wide, Wide, Telephoto
• LiDAR Scanner and pro camera features
• 5G Connectivity
• Higher quality build materials

Bottom line: If you want the very best camera features that you can get on an iPhone, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are the iPhones to select, with the Pro Max being the top of the line edition.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini ($699+)

Sold alongside the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, Apple's latest affordable flagship smartphones are the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone 12 and 12 mini have many of the same features as the more pricey versions from Apple, but with some downgrades that hold the price tag lower.

Priced at $699 (or $729 for the SIM-free model), the smallest and most affordable option in the lineup of iPhone 12 devices is the iPhone 12 mini. This is the smallest iPhone that Apple has launched since the 2016 iPhone SE, with its 5.4-inch display, and it's the phone to get if you're looking for a one-handed choice.

The iPhone 12 is the same size as the iPhone 12 Pro at 6.1 inches, priced at $799 (or $829 for the SIM-free model), and it's close in size to the iPhone 11 it replaces. As with the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Max, it has the same flat-edged redesign.

Apple's more inexpensive iPhones used to have OLED instead of LCD displays, but that's no longer the case this year, and they have an OLED display on all iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 12 continues to give Face ID with the TrueDepth camera system, like the iPhone 12 Pro models.

The iPhone 12 and 12 mini have the Wide and Ultra Wide lenses that are in the iPhone 12 Pro models as far as the camera goes, but they do not have the third telephoto lens. There are also even more limited camera upgrades, with the iPhone 12 and 12 mini providing just marginal quality gains over the iPhone 11.

The iPhone 12 and 12 mini have a glass shell, but they use a less costly aluminium frame and have a glossy glass rear casing rather than the stainless steel frame of the 12 Pro. The new iPhones are available in a number of bright colours (black, white, red, green , and blue), while the 11 Pro is limited to silver, space grey, gold, and peaceful blue hues.

The iPhone 12 has the same iPhone 12 Pro A14 chip, plus 4 GB of RAM and 2 GB of RAM less than the Pro models. Support for mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5 G is offered for iPhone 12 devices, the same as the Pro models. The iPhones this year are also equipped with a rear magnetic ring that allows them to work with MagSafe accessories.

With the exception of the screen size and the battery, the specifications between the iPhone 12 and the 12 mini are similar, since the smaller size of the iPhone 12 mini means it can't handle a larger battery. Among all the iPhone 12 models, it has the lowest battery life.

Key Features:

• Dual Lens Camera: Ultra Wide, Wide
• OLED Screen
• 5G Support
• A14 Chip

Bottom Line: The iPhone 12 and 12 mini deliver at a far more affordable price many of the same features as the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. The variations are mostly limited to the camera, and are relatively small for all but those who are heavily involved in iPhone photography, making it worth the $200 + savings for most individuals.

iPhone 11 ($599)

As a more affordable low-cost alternative which is priced starting at $599, Apple kept the iPhone 11 around in iOS. Even with the introduction of the iPhone 12, the iPhone 11 continues to be an outstanding value and it will hold up for many years to come.

Instead of an OLED monitor, the iPhone 11 features an LCD screen and has a dual-lens camera system with large and ultra wide lenses. The iPhone 11 measures 6.1 inches in terms of dimension, but it is marginally larger than the iPhone 12.

The LCD display of the iPhone 11 does not deliver the darker blacks and HDR features available in the iPhone 12 lineup with the OLED displays, but it is still very nice and one of the market's best smartphone LCD displays. Except for the notch that houses the TrueDepth camera device for Face ID, the display is edge-to-edge.

The iPhone 11 has an A13 chip, which in the iPhone 12 is a generation behind the A14 chip, and it requires 4 GB of RAM. The iPhone 11 features an aluminium frame with a glass body and a variety of bright colour options.

Key Features:

• Dual Lens Camera: Ultra Wide, Wide
• Affordable price tag
• Prior-generation A13 chip
• LCD Screen

Bottom line: The iPhone 11 is an excellent step-down option that will last you for years to come if you're looking for a decent smartphone on the cheap and don't need the latest features. With most of the same feature set except the latest design, chip updates, and 5 G connectivity, it's $100 cheaper than the iPhone 12 mini and $200 cheaper than the iPhone 12.

iPhone XR ($499+)

Apple's iPhone XR was launched in 2018, but as a lower-cost alternative to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, Apple continues to market it.

The iPhone XR has the same design as the iPhone 11, which starts at $499, but has a single-lens camera instead of a dual-lens camera and a different set of colour choices.

The iPhone XR is similar to the iPhone 11 with the TrueDepth camera system and Face ID, LCD panel, glass body and aluminium frame (with lower water resistance) and wireless charging support, apart from these improvements and some upgrades to the iPhone 11 display.

However, it uses two-year - old chip technology, but instead of an A14 chip and cameras that don't match up to more advanced camera technology, it has an A12 chip. The iPhone 11 won't last as long, so it's not the best low-cost smartphone in the lineup.

Key Features:

• Two-year-old CPU
• Single Lens Camera
• LCD Screen

Bottom Line: The iPhone XR with an edge-to - edge monitor and Face ID is the most affordable iPhone, but it's beginning to show some age with its older processor and single-lens rear camera. We suggest upgrading to iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 mini if you can afford it, or choosing iPhone SE instead if you don't mind Touch ID and want a lower-cost alternative.

iPhone SE 2020 ($399+)

The iPhone SE, released in April 2020, is Apple's most affordable iPhone, and replaces the discontinued iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

The iPhone SE, priced at $399, is similar in design to the iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch LCD display and thick bezels at the top and bottom of the handset, with the Home button at the bottom and the camera, speaker, and microphone at the front.

The iPhone SE is now the only iPhone with Touch ID offered by Apple, which makes it suitable for those who prefer Face ID to a fingerprint sensor. It used to be the smallest iPhone available, but now that Apple has the iPhone 12 mini, which is just a little bigger, that's no longer the case.

With an aluminium frame, the iPhone SE has a glass front and back, and it allows wireless charging. Within, it is fitted with the same A13 Bionic processor that's in the iPhone 11.

Although the iPhone SE has a fast prior-generation chip, Apple is using lower cost components for the rest of the system, and it is lacking the bells and whistles of Apple's more expensive smartphones such as multi-lens camera setups, OLED all-screen displays, and Face ID.

Key Features:

• Touch ID
• Same A13 chip as iPhone 11
• Low price

Bottom Line: If you prefer Touch ID or if you're looking for an inexpensive alternative, the iPhone SE is the phone to get. It's still a decent deal at $399 with an A13 processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no single iPhone that is ideal for all, as considerations such as budget, desired battery life, preferred feature set, and more need to be taken into consideration when choosing the right smartphone for you.

For example, if you're not a Face ID fan and you want to use Touch ID, you may want to use an iPhone SE. You're going to want the iPhone 12 Pro Max if you want the very best photography capabilities, and if you want anything that has a strong feature set at a great price, you'll want to look at the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 mini is the phone to choose for those who want one-handed use.

Below, based on various scenarios or features that you may be looking for, we have outlined some of the best iPhone choices.

Which iPhone Has the Best Battery Life?

With their more efficient A14 processors, the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max have the longest battery life of Apple's iPhones.

Among the three, because it has room for a larger battery, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max has the longest battery life. It includes up to 20 hours of video playback, 12 hours of video streaming and 80 hours of audio.

In contrast, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro deliver up to 17 hours of video playback, up to 11 hours of video streaming, and up to 65 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 12 mini, the smallest iPhone, offers up to 15 hours of regular video playback, up to 10 hours of video streaming, and up to 50 hours of audio playback.

Which iPhone Has the Best Camera?

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have the best iPhone cameras you can get with their revised triple-lens camera systems and LiDAR scanners, with the advantage going to the iPhone 12 Pro Max as it has a wider sensor and the very best feature set.

The iPhone 12 Pro features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens with lens correction for distortion reduction, a 12-megapixel wide lens with a new f/1.6 aperture that allows more light, and a 52-mm focal length and 2x optical zoom 12-megapixel telephoto lens.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same Ultra Wide lens, but in low light conditions, the Wide lens uses a new, larger sensor, and combined with the enhanced f/1.6 aperture, it allows up to 87 percent more light for even more impressive results. It also has a 2.5x zoom 65 mm telephoto lens, so it can get portrait images and close-ups closer than the iPhone 12 Pro.

Apple's largest iPhone also includes Sensor-Shift Optical Image Stabilization that cuts down on camera shake and blur from movement better than ever before.

Both Pro models have a LiDAR Scanner that maps the space around you using light to create a 3D depth map of the scene. It's perfect for AR, but it also makes some amazing new photographic features, such as portraits in the night mode and faster autofocusing.

In the meantime, the iPhone 12 and 12 mini have some slight camera upgrades, but not much is better than the iPhone 11. In the camera department, the 12 Pro and Pro Max pulled away quite a bit this year, and these are the phones you want to look at for the best pictures.

Which iPhone Has Touch ID?

If you want an iPhone with a Touch ID, the 2020 iPhone SE is your only choice. In 2017 , Apple began using Touch ID for their flagship iPhones, and an improved Touch ID iPhone was not included in the 2018, 2019, and 2020 iPhone lineups.

In order to keep the smartphone ultra cheap, the iPhone SE features Touch ID rather than Face ID, which is perfect for those who prefer using a fingerprint sensor over facial recognition.

<3>Which iPhone is Best For One-Handed Use?

The iPhone 12 mini is the smallest iPhone launched by Apple since the 2016 iPhone SE, at 5.4 inches, and is suitable for one-handed use. It measures 5.18 inches in height, 2.53 inches in width, and 0.29 inches in thickness.

It's not as small as some previous iPhones, such as the 2016 SE and earlier iPhone 5s versions, but today it's the smallest iPhone on the market.

Which iPhone is the Best Value?

If you want a modern iPhone with the latest chip, solid camera features, OLED display, and 5 G connectivity, the iPhone 12 and 12 mini are the best values at $699 and $799, respectively. They deliver an impressive feature set at price points that start at $700, with the best value being the iPhone 12 mini.

The 2019 iPhone 11 that Apple is still selling is still a great deal if you don't need the new bells and whistles, because it has a super fast A13 chip, long battery life, a camera setup that's not that different from the camera in the iPhone 12, and the same TrueDepth camera device.

If you want the absolute best price and don't mind bezels, Touch ID, and an inferior camera, the iPhone SE with its A13 chip continues to be an amazing deal at $399.

For most users, with their lower price point and new feature set, the iPhone 12 and 12 mini are the iPhones to get this year, but the iPhone 11 and SE are considerations for those who do not mind year-old technology and would prefer to save money.

Which iPhone Has the Most Features?

This is the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, if you want the iPhone with the most bells and whistles. These iPhones feature OLED screens, triple-lens cameras, a stainless steel frame glass body (compared to iPhone 12 aluminium), greater overall storage space, and longer battery life for the Pro Max.

Compared to the iPhone 12 models, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have better camera capabilities, with the Pro Max being the best iPhone that you can get at this time.

In More Detail

Still not sure? We have deeper dives directly comparing the new iPhone 12 models to older iPhones and to each other.

• iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 11 Buyer's Guide
• iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro Buyer's Guide
• iPhone 12 Mini vs. iPhone 12 Buyer's Guide
• iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max Buyer's Guide
• iPhone 12, Mini, and Max Size Comparison

For full details on each phone, explore our roundups:

• iPhone 12 and 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 11
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE

Upcoming iPhone Rumors

Apple is working on a few new iPhone products, including the 2021 flagship iPhone devices, which could perhaps feature a portless design, 120Hz ProMotion displays, and camera improvements.

• 2021 iPhones