iPhone 12 Pro

 Newest Pro-level iPhones from Apple. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are now available.

At a Glance

Apple's high-end flagship smartphones with 5G, triple-lens cameras, LiDAR scanners, refreshed prototypes and A14 chip are the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.

iPhone 12 Pro Features

• New design
• 6.1- and 6.7-inch sizes
• 5G Support
• Major camera improvements
• LiDAR
• Ceramic Shield display

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max

On October 13, 2020, Apple released the latest iPhones, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which are offered alongside the more affordable iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini flagships.

Apple highlighted the "Pro" feature of the latest iPhone 12 Pro models this year, indicating that the more costly iPhones "push the boundaries of innovation" for people who want the absolute most out of their iPhones."

The two new Pro models feature full-screen Super Retina XDR displays that are edge-to-edge except for the Face ID notch, available in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch size options.

At 460 pixels per inch, the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro has a resolution of 2532 x 1170, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max has a resolution of 2778 x 1284 and a resolution of 458 ppi. With 1200 nits of peak brightness, Large Color, Haptic Touch, and True Tone, the displays provide HDR support, all features that have been added over the years.

A new Ceramic Shield cover, which Apple claims "goes beyond glass" and is stronger than any glass for smartphones, covers the displays. It is infused with nano-ceramic crystals and provides the output of 4x better fall.

Instead of the rounded edges seen in previous versions, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have an entirely new look that is closer to the iPad Pro style with smooth edges. The back is made of precision-milled matte glass surrounded by a band of stainless steel.

Graphite, silver, gold, and Pacific blue are paint choices, with the blue hue replacing the midnight green used last year. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max provide water and dust resistance IP68 and can keep up to 30 minutes for submersion in 6 meters of water.

For quicker downloads and uploads, better quality video streaming, smoother gaming, and higher-definition 1080p FaceTime calls, the latest iPhone 12 models are the first to feature 5G connectivity. A Smart Data Mode reverts to an LTE link when 5G rates are not required to maintain battery life when using 5G.

5G coverage is available globally, but mmWave 5G, which is the fastest 5G technology available, is only supported by iPhone 12 devices sold in the United States. The iPhone 12 models sold in other countries are restricted to Sub-6GHz 5G access, which is slower but more commonly available. In the U.S., also in densely populated areas, 5G rates can be as high as 4Gbps.

Gigabit LTE, including WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, is enabled when 5G is not usable. The iPhone 12 Pro models, like the iPhone 11 models, include an U1 Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness and interactivity with other devices, such as the HomePod mini, including the U1 feature.

Within the iPhone 12 Pro models, there is a new A14 processor, and it is the first chip in the smartphone industry designed on a 5-nanometer process for improvements in performance and quality. Apple claims the A14's 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU are 50 percent faster than the mobile chips that compete more quickly. The A14 chip contains a 16-core Neural Engine that provides machine learning tasks with an 80 percent performance increase.

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max give similar specifications for the most part, but the exception is the camera, where some notable variations occur. The iPhone 12 Pro is equipped with a new f/1.6 aperture, seven-element wide camera that provides 27 percent improved low-light photo and video performance.

There is also an Ultra Large camera that provides 4x optical zoom with a 120-degree field of view and a 52mm telephoto lens.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max also has an f/1.6 aperture, seven-element wide camera, but it has a 47 percent larger sensor for low light improvement of 87 percent. It has the same Ultra Wide camera that makes 5x optical zoom and a 65mm telephoto lens.

While the iPhone 12 Pro provides dual optical image stabilization, for the Big Lens, the iPhone 12 Pro Max supports sensor-shift optical image stabilization that stabilizes the sensor rather than the lens itself. Sensor-shift stabilization has previously been restricted to DSLRs and provides picture and video stabilization better than ever before.

The A14 chip features a new image signal processor and computational photography capabilities for both models that were not available before. For the TrueDepth front-facing camera and the Ultra Large camera, night mode is now available, and for both cameras, Deep Fusion is available. More true-to-life images are brought in by a new Smart HDR 3 feature.

ProRAW, a feature that blends the image processing and computational photography of Apple with the simplicity of the RAW file format, is also supported, providing complete control over colour, detail, and dynamic range.

As for video, with Dolby Vision, the iPhone 12 Pro models support 4K 60fps video and HDR video capture at up to 60 frames per second and better stabilization of video. A time-lapse video option in night mode enables amazing night time videos when a tripod is used.

To map out the area around the iPhone, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with a LiDAR scanner that measures the light distance and pixel depth of a scene. It enables more realistic AR interactions and in low-light scenes it boosts autofocus by 6x for better accuracy. The LiDAR Scanner allows portraits in Night Mode.

The same Face ID facial recognition technology operated by the front-facing TrueDepth camera system, which features a 12-megapixel selfie camera and Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, and Night mode, continues to be used on Apple iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.

The iPhone 12 Pro provides up to 18 hours of video playback, 11 hours of streaming video playback or 65 hours of audio playback when it comes to battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro Max provides up to 20 hours of video playback, 12 hours of video streaming, or 80 hours of audio playback, for the longest iPhone battery life yet.

Both of the latest iPhones offer fast charging, which uses a 20W power adapter to provide a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

Apple launched new MagSafe accessories designed to operate with a ring of magnets built into the new devices to go along with the new iPhone 12 models. There is a MagSafe charger plus cases and pocket accessories from MagSafe. MagSafe supports wireless 15W charging, an improvement using regular Qi-based wireless chargers over the 7.5W charging available.

Besides the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12, Apple is offering the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, more affordable 5.4 and 6.1-inch smartphones that lack some of the functionality of the Pro camera and design elements used in the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max. You will find more information about the iPhone 12 lineup in our iPhone 12 roundup.

Pricing and Availability

On Friday, October 16, the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro became available for pre-order, with a launch following on Friday, October 23. It is priced at $999 for 128 GB of storage, with $1,099 or $1,299 available for 256 and 512 GB of storage, respectively.

On Friday, November 6, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max was available for pre-order with a launch to follow on Friday, November 13. Pricing starts at $1,099 for 128 GB of storage on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with 256 and 512 GB of storage available for $1,199 or $1,399.

Monthly instalments of the Apple Card are also eligible, with the iPhone 12 available from $41.62 a month and the iPhone 12 Pro Max available from $45.79 a month. For the new devices, iPhone Upgrade Program payments start at $49.91 per month.

Reviews

iPhone 12 Pro

The iPhone 12 Pro's reviews are mostly positive, with reviewers praising the improvements in the camera. As shown in the review videos below, low-light performance, noise reduction, and contrast are enhanced.

In Dolby Vision, and Night mode selfies, the camera also supports HDR video capture, which is a good addition to the front-facing camera. At the edges, the Super Wide camera distorts less and the images from the lenses Ultra Wide and Telephoto are a lot sharper and crisper.

Most individuals will not need HDR footage or workflows because video shot in HDR and posted on a social network will not see much change, but the latest HDR video support will be appreciated by those who use the iPhone as a filming tool or create high-quality videos as a hobby.

Reviewers were not pleased with 5G on the negative side, since the introduction of 5G networks is still ongoing and it is not yet widely available, plus the fastest mmWave 5G will drain the battery. Due to its AR versatility, LiDAR was also described as being a bit gimmicky, but also useful for autofocus in low-light situations.

When it comes to design, Nilay Patel of The Verge said that the stainless steel frame of the iPhone 12 Pro is a fingerprint magnet, while Matthew Panzarino of TechCrunch said that he hopes the iPhone 12's brighter colours will eventually come to the far more subdued 12 Pro lineup.

The display is described as "excellent," but it is identical to the iPhone 11 Pro display, of course, and the notch size does not change. There were reports of a 120Hz refresh rate that would make scrolling smoother and the monitor more sensitive, but that didn't end up happening and since 120Hz is common on high-end Android devices, several reviewers complained about the 60Hz restriction.

iPhone 12 Pro Max

With the addition of some extra camera upgrades and a bigger battery due to the larger capacity, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has all of the same features as the iPhone 12 Pro. The 12 Pro Max reviews were also positive, with the larger 6.7-inch monitor and long battery life lauded by critics.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is big enough that before purchasing it, individuals can see it in person, and reviewers were disappointed that Apple is not doing more to take advantage of multitasking and other features on the larger screen.

The 12 Pro Max easily lasts all day and often even more, depending on 5G use, with its larger size and larger battery.

Reviewers agreed that, despite the larger sensor and better telephoto lens in the larger model, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max produce identical images, but there is a significant difference when it comes to lower lighting conditions. The Pro Max delivers crisper, less noisy images in these cases, and it has a better 2.5x zoom range as well.

Reviews are useful to find out if you're on the fence about purchasing a new iPhone, and more detail can be found in our iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max dedicated review roundups. Make sure you also check out our coverage of first impressions with thoughts from MacRumors readers on the latest devices.

Issues

Some iPhone 12 customers encounter a problem with the display of the device, which experiences flickering, a green or grey glow, or other unintended variations of lighting. Apple advises repair stores to warn customers to wait for a software update, indicating that there is a software patch coming.

Some users of the iPhone 12 have seen abrupt declines in cellular coverage for 5G and LTE. Even when in a network coverage area where there are no communication problems on other devices, impacted users report losing all reception bars and seeing a 'no service' message on their devices.

For certain users, but not all, the Toggling Airplane mode on and off seems to solve the issue, and it's not yet clear what the problem is or when a patch may be coming.

Design

Since the iPhone 6, Apple has used the same rounded edge design, but with the release of the iPhone 12 lineup, that changed in 2020. A flat-sided design with squared off edges is adopted by the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, which fits the design language of the iPad Pro and resembles older devices such as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5.

The flat-edged design is a big departure from the previous design, which makes the current models feel futuristic, but it also looks familiar provided that it reintroduces a look from older models.

In colours that fit the back glass, the all-glass front and textured glass back are sandwiched within a shiny, surgical-grade stainless steel frame. There are slimmer bezels on the front of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, but a notch on the front continues to house the TrueDepth Camera, a speaker, and a microphone.

Along with the regular power button on the right and volume buttons on the left, there are antenna bands on the top and sides of the handset. There is a new 5G mmWave antenna underneath the power button, but this is a feature restricted to mmWave-supported U.S. devices. In other nations, iPhones may not have this antenna. In European countries, iPhones purchased have regulatory details engraved on the edge.

There are speaker holes and built-in microphones at the bottom of the iPhone 12 Pro models, along with a Lightning port that supports charging through Lightning, and the SIM slot has been shifted to the left.

There is a square camera bump on the back of the iPhone at the top that houses a triple-lens camera system along with a flash and a new LiDAR sensor. Below that the stainless steel frame has an Apple logo that suits it.

Sizes

The iPhone 12 Pro models this year come in 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes, with the 6.7-inch model positioned as the biggest iPhone launched by Apple to date. Apple's iPhone 12 Pro models have been slimmed down and are marginally smaller in contrast to the iPhone 11 Pro models.

The iPhone 12 Pro is 5.78 inches high (146.6mm), 2.82 inches wide (71.5mm), and 0.29 inches thick (7.4mm), while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is 6.33 inches high (160.8mm), 3.07 inches wide (78.1mm), and 0.29 inches thick (7.4mm).

Colors

In silver, gold, graphite and pacific blue, the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max come in a deep blue colour that's new to the Pro iPhone lineup. The midnight green colour that was launched with the iPhone 11 Pro lineup replaces Pacific blue.

Water Resistance

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have an IP68 water resistant ranking, like the iPhone 11 Pro versions. The latest smartphones will stand up to six meters (19.7 feet) in depth for up to 30 minutes.

Prior iPhone models have been tested to withstand water up to four meters deep for 30 minutes, so the new iPhones can hold up better to deeper submersion despite the identical water resistance level.

6 refers to dust resistance in the IP68 number (which means that the iPhone 12 Pro can stand up to dirt, dust, and other particles), whereas 8 refers to water resistance. The highest dust resistance rating that exists is IP6x.

The iPhone 12 Pro will hold up to splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure with the IP68 water resistance ranking, but deliberate water exposure should if possible, be avoided.

According to Apple, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, and can deteriorate as a result of normal wear over time. The guarantee from Apple does not cover liquid risk, which means that when it comes to liquid exposure, it's better to use caution.

Display

The same OLED Super Retina XDR display is used in all iPhone 12 models, which is versatile and extends right through each device's chassis.

For blacker blacks and lighter whites, there is an enhanced 2,000,000:1 contrast radio and peak brightness of up to 1200 nits for HDR images, videos, TV shows and movies. An enhanced 800 nits is a typical peak brightness.

The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro has a 460-pixel per inch resolution of 2532 x 1170, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 458-pixel per inch resolution of 2778 x 1284, equivalent to more than 3.4 million pixels.

For a paper-like viewing experience that is easier on the eyes, wide colour support ensures vivid, true to life colours, and True Tone matches the white balance of the display to the ambient lighting.

There is also an oleophobic coating resistant to fingerprints and Haptic Touch help, which provides haptic feedback when communicating with the monitor. The Haptic Touch in the 2020 iPhones is activated by a smaller Taptic Engine.

Thanks to the iPhone's "Best Smartphone Display Award" display that has the highest-sever display output with high peak brightness, high contrast ratio, low reflectance, and colour accuracy, Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max received the "state-of-the-art" from Display Mate. It's even more energy efficient than the iPhone 11 Pro Max's OLED display.

Ceramic Shield

The displays this year are covered by a "Ceramic Shield" material that Apple claims provides four times better protection against drops. By infusing nano-ceramic crystals into glass, the Ceramic Shield display cover is manufactured, which Apple says takes a lot of work because ceramic is not transparent.

With the show produced in collaboration with Corning, the ceramic crystals were treated to optimize for transparency while retaining durability. The display of the iPhone 12 Pro has also been designed to sit flush with the edge of the handset, a function that Apple claims also leads to better security against drops.

Ceramic Shield is stronger than any smartphone glass, according to Apple, with a dual-ion exchange process ensuring protection against cracks and frequent wear and tear. Early tests have verified that Apple's calculations seem to be precise, and the Ceramic Shield of the iPhone 12 is more durable than the iPhone 11 protective glass, better resisting force tests and drops.

The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro demonstrated more reliability than previous iPhone models in a drop test, surpassing the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro in drop tests, but it is still susceptible to breakage.

While the Ceramic Shield is more resistant to breakage when falling, it does not seem to be able to better hold up to scratching, and the iPhone 12's display scratched at level 6 with deeper grooves caused at level 7 in a Mohs hardness test. Apple has not said that the new iPhones provide improved protection against scratch.

A14 Bionic Chip

The first A-series processor designed on a smaller 5-nanometer process is the A14 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 12 lineup, bringing improvements in speed and performance. For improved battery life and faster performance, the A14 features 40 per cent more transistors (11.8 billion) than the A13.

The A14 Bionic chip's 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU are 50 percent faster than any other top smartphone chip on the market in 2020, according to Apple.

The results of the Early Geekbench benchmark show that the iPhone 12 Pro is more than 20 percent faster than the iPhone 11 Pro with an A13 processor, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max is around 20 to 25 percent faster.

Neural Engine

There's a new 16-core Neural Engine that's 80% faster than the Neural Engine of the previous decade, and the accelerators for machine learning are up to 70% faster. The Neural Engine can complete 11 trillion operations per second, so tasks are quicker than ever, such as applying Deep Fusion improvements to images.

A new image signal processor for Dolby Vision recording support, Smart HDR 3 for more true-to-life colour changes in images, and advanced reduction of temporal noise that decreases video noise are other enhancements.

RAM

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have 6GB RAM.

TrueDepth Camera and Face ID

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max use Face ID, the facial recognition device that was first released in 2017, for biometric authentication purposes. In the monitor notch, the Face ID components are housed in the TrueDepth camera system.

Face ID is used to unlock the iPhone via iOS tasks, enabling access to third-party passcode secured applications, verifying purchases of apps, and authenticating payments from Apple Pay.

Via a series of sensors and cameras, Face ID operates. In order to create a 3D facial scan that maps the curves and planes of each face, with the scan read by an infrared camera, a Dot Projector projects more than 30,000 invisible infrared dots on the surface of the skin.

The map of facial depth is relayed to the A14 chip where it is converted into a mathematical model used for identity authentication by the iPhone. In low light and darkness, Face ID works with caps, beards, shades, sunglasses, scarves, and other accessories that hide the face partially.

In the Protected Enclave, Face ID data is stored and is not open to Apple, third-party apps, or anyone who has your computer. On the computer, authentication occurs and no Face ID data is uploaded to Apple.

Camera Features

The 12-megapixel f/2.2 camera in the TrueDepth camera system in addition to powering facial recognition, is also a front-facing selfie/FaceTime camera with many of the same features available for the rear-facing camera.

The A14 chip adds new imaging capabilities to the front-facing TrueDepth camera in the iPhone 12 Pro models. For the first time, Night Mode operates with the front-facing camera, allowing nighttime selfies.

Also supported are Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, and Dolby Vision HDR video recording. In mid to low-light scenes, Deep Fusion introduces colour and texture improvements by pulling out the best pixels from multiple exposures to produce one great aggregate image.

For more natural lighting, Smart HDR 3 enhances highlights, shadows, white balance, and contouring in any image, and Dolby Vision HDR support enables Dolby Vision video to be captured and edited.

4K video recording is allowed at up to 60 frames per second, as is 1080p slo-mo video for "slofie" video recording at 120 frames per second. Other front-facing camera features include Memoji and Animoji support, video time-lapse, time-lapse night mode, video QuickTake, and lens correction to eliminate any photo distortion.

Triple-Lens Rear Camera

The iPhone 11 Pro models last year had the same camera equipment and were similar except for height, but this year that's not the case. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max support various camera technologies, with a more feature-rich experience provided by the Pro Max. That said the two still have several similarities, and both have a new LiDAR sensor.

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max both have triple-lens camera systems, but the Wide Camera has multiple telephoto lenses and different sensors.

iPhone 12 Pro Camera

• 12-megapixel 5-element Ultra Wide lens with f/2.4 aperture, 120 degree field of view, 13mm focal length, and Lens Correction to account for distortion
• 12-megapixel 7-element Wide lens with f/1.6 aperture, optical image stabilization, and 26mm focal length
• 12-megapixel 6-element telephoto lens with f/2.0 aperture, 52mm focal length, 2x optical zoom (4x optical zoom range), up to 10x digital zoom, and optical image stabilization

In the 7-element Large lens, the f/1.6 aperture allows 27 percent more light, adding improvements to low-light photography. The 7-element architecture adds edge-to-edge sharpness, and 5000 changes per second are made by an enhanced Optical Image Stabilization system.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera

• 12-megapixel 5-element Ultra Wide lens with f/2.4 aperture, 120 degree field of view, 13mm focal length, and Lens Correction to account for distortion
• 12-megapixel 7-element Wide lens with f/1.6 aperture, 47% larger sensor, larger pixels, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and 26mm focal length
• 12-megapixel 6-element telephoto lens with f/2.2 aperture, 65mm focal length, 2.5x optical zoom (5x optical zoom range), up to 12x digital zoom, and optical image stabilization

In the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the wide lens has the same f/1.6 aperture, but it uses a 47 percent larger sensor with larger pixels that allows for much more light. Apple claims low-light photos taken with the iPhone 12 Pro Max are 87 percent better, and more accurate and better colour images are also included.

There is a longer focal length for the Telephoto camera, making 5x zoom instead of 4x zoom, and the Ultra Wide camera is the same for both versions.

Notably, the iPhone 12 Pro Max Large Camera supports optical sensor-shift stabilization, a feature previously limited to DSLRs. As the name suggests, sensor-shift optical stabilization stabilizes only the sensor, enabling it to be held steadier than before.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max will have much better optical image stabilization with this feature, which cuts down on camera shake and blur from motion.

LiDAR Sensor

The first iPhones to be fitted with a LiDAR Scanner, which was first released in the 2020 iPad Pro models, are the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The LiDAR Scanner calculates how long light takes to bounce back from objects around you, enabling you to construct a depth map of the space or region in which you are. The light measurements take place in nanoseconds, so it takes the iPhone no time at all to map out your surrounding area.

Thanks to the depth map created by the LiDAR Scanner, augmented reality experiences are more immersive and accurate, with virtual objects capable of being precisely positioned inside a space and apps capable of taking advantage of detailed representations of every surface in the room. The LiDAR Scanner also enables precise measurements, including people's height measurements.

LiDAR brings major changes to imaging as well. In low light, Autofocus is six times faster, and with the big frame, LiDAR makes portrait shots for the first time in night mode.

New Camera Features

In the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max versions, revised camera configurations paired with the image signal processor on the A14 chip and the LiDAR Scanner allow for many new features.

• Night Mode Portraits - With the Wide camera, you can now take Portrait shots in Night mode with bright colors and artful bokeh for streetlights and other lighting in the shot.
• Night Mode for Ultra Wide - Night mode in the new models works with both the Wide and Ultra Wide lenses so you can get nighttime wide-angle shots.
• Deep Fusion - Deep Fusion now works with the Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lenses to bring improvements to color and texture in mid to low-light scenes. With Deep Fusion, multiple exposures are analyzed on a pixel level to bring out detail in all objects in the image.
• Better Portrait shots - Improved machine learning makes the iPhone 12 Pro models better at separating the subject from the background.
• Smart HDR 3 - Refines highlights, shadows, white balance, and contours for the most natural color and lighting in any scene. Smart HDR comes into play when there are differences in lighting, such as when photographing a scene with a lot of sky.
• HDR 3 Scene Recognition - Scene Recognition lets the camera recognize everyday scenes and adjust different parts of the photo accordingly for more true-to-life images. The iPhone can distinguish buildings and sky, snowy mountains and clouds, food on a plate, and more, optimizing the scene to make it look as close to real life as possible.
• Faster processing - The iPhone 12 Pro models have faster image processing thanks to the A14 chip.

Apple is introducing a new ProRAW format for those who want to shoot in RAW, enabling you to do so while still taking advantage of the Apple image pipeline data, such as noise reduction and adjustments for multiframe exposure. In a future software update, ProRAW support is coming.

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max support all the existing features found in the iPhone 11 lineup, such as Portrait Mode with bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, True Tone Flash, Panoramas, and more, along with all these new features.

Video Recording

Many of the camera improvements, starting with HDR video recording with Dolby Vision, powered by the A14 chip, also add new features to the video mode.

With 60 times more colours, the two Pro iPhone models support Dolby Vision HDR recording. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max take two exposures to allow this function and run them through the image signal processor to create a histogram that is used to produce the metadata from Dolby Vision.

As you film, Dolby Vision grading is done frame by frame, and the recorded video can be edited using Images or iMovie right on the iPhone. Up to 60 frames per second can be shot in 4K with Dolby Vision recording.

Standard 4K video recording is allowed at up to 60 frames per second, as is recording at 1080p and 720p. There is 1080p Slo-mo video support at 120fps or 240fps, along with a new time-lapse video in night mode to take night time video when a tripod is accessible.

Standard time-lapse, extended dynamic range, continuous autofocus, QuickTake video support to capture images even when you're not in video mode, and optical image stabilization are other video features.

Battery Life

The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2,815mAh battery, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 3,687mAh battery, both of which are smaller than the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max batteries, supported by teardowns and regulatory details. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has an L-shaped battery that allows for the larger size of the chassis.

The iPhone 12 Pro's battery lasts up to 17 hours for video playback, up to 11 hours for video streaming, and up to 65 hours for audio playback. The iPhone 12 Pro Max battery lasts up to 20 hours for video playback, up to 12 hours for video streaming, and 80 hours for audio playback.

Both iPhone 12 Pro models support fast charging and can charge to 50 percent within 30 minutes using a Lightning to USB-C cable and a 20W power adapter.

5G Connectivity

The iPhone 12 models from Apple all support 5G networks, and they are the first iPhones to do so. With both mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G, which are the two types of 5G, the 5G modems in the devices work.

MmWave 5G networks are the fastest 5G networks, but mmWave is short-range and can be blocked by buildings, trees, and other barriers, so its use is restricted to major cities and metropolitan areas, as well as venues such as concerts, airports, and other locations where many people meet.

In the United States, the latest iPhones support both mmWave and Sub-6GHz networks, but mmWave access in other countries is not available. The mmWave antenna on the side is not eligible for iPhones purchased outside the United States and cannot connect to mmWave networks. This decision was taken by Apple because most nations do not have mmWave 5G networks available.

The iPhone 12 models use Qualcomm's X55 modem, but Apple has developed custom antennas and radio components to boost compatibility, and Apple says that apps will be able to benefit from 5G without using extra power or affecting battery life through device optimization.

5G Benefits

5G technology facilitates quicker download and upload rates, accelerating everything from loading websites to uploading movies and TV shows.

It also improves streaming service capacity so you can view in higher resolution, and it brings better efficiency of FaceTime calling. FaceTime calls operate at 1080p over 5G or WiFi.

5G frees up bandwidth in places where LTE rates are sluggish due to the sheer number of individuals and eliminates congestion for higher usage speeds.

5G Battery Drain

Battery tests show that when connected to 5G networks, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro see a much quicker battery drain than when connected to LTE networks.

The iPhone 12 lasted eight hours and 25 minutes in a test using the same criteria, while the iPhone 12 Pro lasted nine hours and six minutes when connected to 5G.

The iPhone 12 lasted 1 hour and 23 minutes when linked to LTE, while the iPhone 12 Pro lasted 11 hours and 24 minutes.

5G Bands

iPhones in the United States support up to 20 5G bands.

• Sub-6GHz: 5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79)

• mmWave: 5G NR mmWave (Bands n260, n261)

LTE Bands

Along with 5G, the iPhone 12 models also support Gigabit LTE, so you can still connect to LTE networks when 5G networks aren't available. The following bands are supported:

• FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)

• TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)

Data Saver Mode

Data Saver Mode is a feature that switches the link of the iPhone to LTE in order to conserve battery life when 5 G speeds are not needed.

As an example, when the iPhone updates in the background, it uses LTE because super fast speeds are not required, but the iPhone 12 models will turn to 5G in instances where speed matters, such as downloading a display. Instead of using the automatic Data Saver Mode, there is also a setting for using 5G whenever it is available.

Dual SIM Support

Dual SIM support allows for the simultaneous use of two phone numbers, allowed by including a physical nano-SIM slot and an eSIM. In several countries around the world, eSIM functionality is available, and Apple has on its website a list of carriers that support eSIM.

In Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, dual SIMs operate with select carriers.

5G access will not be available with speeds restricted to LTE when using Dual SIM mode on the iPhone 12 models. Via a software update that is coming later this year, Apple plans to allow Dual SIM 5G support. In the meantime to use 5G, the physical SIM needs to be disabled from the iPhone.

5GHz Personal Hotspot

Compared to the 2.4 GHz limit on previous iPhones, devices will tether over a faster 5 GHz WiFi while using Personal Hotspot on iPhone 12 models. By default, the 5GHz option is allowed and has the potential to bring performance improvements to devices capable of connecting to 5GHz networks.

To allow 2.4GHz devices to connect, there is an option to disable the 5GHz link.

Bluetooth, WiFi, and U1 Chip

The versions of the iPhone 12 feature the same U1 chip developed by Apple that was first included in the iPhone 11 lineup. For enhanced spatial awareness, the U1 chip allows Ultra Wideband technology to enable the iPhone 12 models to precisely locate other Apple devices equipped with U1.

As the technology is designed to enhance indoor positioning and location monitoring, Apple has compared Ultra Wideband to "GPS at the scale of the living room,"

With the rumoured AirTags launch, the U1 chip will come in handy, as it will allow for accurate tracking of lost devices. It is also used with the HomePod mini, which also has an U1 chip, for directional AirDrop and interaction.

As for Bluetooth and WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6, the latest and fastest WiFi protocol, are supported by the iPhone 12 Pro models.

Other Features

Speaker

The iPhone 12 Pro models have a spatial audio feature that's designed to simulate surround sound for a more immersive audio experience. Dolby Atmos sound is also supported.

Sensors

The iPhone 12 Pro models are equipped with a barometer, three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

GPS and NFC

Support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou (new this year) location services is included in the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.

NFC with reader mode is included, and there's a background tag feature that allows the iPhone models to scan NFC tags without the need to open an app first.

Storage Space

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max start with 128GB of storage, with 256GB and 512GB available as upgrade options.

MagSafe

The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models have a built-in magnetic ring that is designed to work with a MagSafe charger and other magnetic accessories.

The MagSafe charger snaps right onto the back of the iPhone 12 and charges at 15W, up from the maximum 7.5W wireless charging available with Qi-based chargers. The charger is compatible with older iPhones, but is primarily designed to work with the new iPhone models.

Other magnetic accessories are compatible with the magnetic ring, including cases, sleeves, snap-on wallets, and more, with third-party companies also able to make accessories for the iPhone 12 lineup.

MagSafe Charging

Testing indicates more than two times slower charges for the MagSafe charger than a wired 20W USB-C charger. A dead iPhone was able to charge 50 percent in 28 minutes with the 20W charger, and the same 50 percent charge took an hour via MagSafe.

Comparing the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro versions with the iPhone 12 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone 11, battery testing saw the Pro Max and Pro outperform the iPhones this year. The rankings were:

• iPhone 11 Pro Max: 8 hours and 29 minutes
• iPhone 11 Pro: 7 hours and 36 minutes
• iPhone 12: 6 hours and 41 minutes
• iPhone 12 Pro: 6 hours and 35 minutes
• iPhone 11: 5 hours and 8 minutes
• iPhone XR: 4 hours and 31 minutes
• iPhone SE (2020): 3 hours and 59 minutes

Apple warns that a circular impression on its leather cases may be left by MagSafe Chargers, and a similar impact has been seen on silicone cases. Apple also states that the iPhone and MagSafe charger should not be put between credit cards, safety badges, passports, and keyfobs.

No Power Adapter

As Apple removed them to reduce its environmental effects, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max do not come with a power adapter or EarPods in the package. In a smaller, slimmer box, the latest iPhones ship and come with only a regular USB-C to the Lightning cable.

iPhone 12

Two more affordable iPhone options, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, are offered alongside the iPhone 12 and 12 mini. The iPhone 12 models have many of the same characteristics as the iPhone 12 Pro models, such as 5G access, edge-to-edge OLED screens, and the A14 chip, but have less costly construction materials (an aluminium frame instead of a stainless steel frame) and less bells and whistles in dual-lens camera configurations.

iPhone 12 Pro Timeline

DECEMBER2020

Dec 3Multiple iPhone 12 Users Report Sudden Drops in 5G and LTE Cellular Coverage

NOVEMBER2020

Nov 22iFixit Shares iPhone 12 Pro Max Teardown Revealing L-Shaped Battery and Bigger Camera Module

Nov 20Leather Sleeve for iPhone 12 Models Now Available From Apple

Nov 18Halide Developer Does Deep Dive Into iPhone 12 Pro Max Photographic Capabilities

Nov 18Apple Investigating Display Issues With iPhone 12 Models, Including Flickering and Green/Gray Glow

Nov 17DisplayMate Says iPhone 12 Pro Max Has Best Smartphone Display It's Ever Tested

Nov 14Apple Says Hearing Aid Sound Issues With iPhone 12 Models Will Be Fixed in Future Software Update

Nov 13Hands-On With the New iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Mini

Nov 13iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Users Complain of Missing SMS Text Messages and Message Notifications

Nov 13First Impressions From New iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max Owners

Nov 12First iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max Orders Arriving to Customers in New Zealand and Australia

Nov 9Photographer Austin Mann Shares iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Review

Nov 9Apple Executives Discuss iPhone 12 and Apple's Approach to Camera Design

Nov 9iPhone 12 Pro Max Reviews: 'The Best Smartphone Camera' You Can Get, But 6.7-Inch Display Isn't for Everyone

Nov 9A12Z vs. A14: Which Apple Chip is Better?

Nov 9Watch: iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, MagSafe Duo Charger, and Leather Sleeve Unboxing Videos and Reviews

Nov 7#iPhone12Studio Gets New Twitter Hashflag, May Indicate New Apple Store Feature [Update: Now Available]

Nov 6iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max Order Statuses Begin Shifting to 'Preparing to Ship'

Nov 6iPhone 12 Leather Case Product Pages Include Images Demonstrating MagSafe Imprint Wear

Nov 6iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max and HomePod Mini Now Available for Pre-Order