More expensive than last year’s iPhone 11, it’s easy to dismiss the release of the iPhone 12 as just ‘more of the same’. However, if you consider the number of new features including an OLED display, a slightly upgraded camera, 5G and Magesafe connectivity, as well as a new design, the iPhone 12 may ultimately form the basis of future iPhones for years to come.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini offer powerful features at an affordable price tag, so compared to the more expensive iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini models are ideal for anyone who doesn’t need Pro camera features.
The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 is a successor to the iPhone 11, while the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini is an all-new size and marks the smallest iPhone Apple has introduced since the 2016 iPhone SE. Apart from screen size and battery life though, the two phones are technically identical. With its small size, the iPhone 12 Mini is ideal for those who prefer an iPhone that can be used one-handed with ease.
The iPhone 12 is by no means perfect – it has a low amount of base storage and doesn’t come with a charger included in the box – but Apple’s latest relatively-affordable premium handset is still a great all-rounder and one of the best phones currently on the market.
The iPhone 12 is shipping now and starts at £799 for the 64GB model, but if you’re willing to pay an extra £50 you can get 128GB of storage for £849. The 256GB handset will cost £949.
iPhone 12 Specs
All iPhone models this year feature Super Retina XDR OLED displays for the first time, with an edge-to-edge design with the exception of the Face ID notch and small bezels around the edge. There is no difference in display quality between the standard iPhone 12 models and the Pro models.
Like the iPhone 12 Pro models, the iPhone 12 models offer IP68 water and dust resistance and can be submerged in 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes All of the iPhone 12 models in this year’s release support 5G connectivity for faster downloads and uploads, better quality video streaming, improved gaming, and higher-definition 1080p FaceTime calls.
When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 12 offers up to 17 hours of video playback, 11 hours of streaming video playback, or 65 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 12 mini offers up to 15 hours of video playback, 10 hours of streaming video playback, or 50 hours of audio playback.
Here’s a closer look at the specs across all of the new models:
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 12 Pro Mini | iPhone 11 | |
| Price | From £799 | From £999 | From £1,099 | From £699 | From £729 |
| Storage | 64GB 128GB 256GB |
128GB 256GB 520GB |
128GB 256GB 520GB |
64GB 128GB 256GB |
64GB 128GB 256GB |
| Size | 146.7x 71.5 x 7.4mm | 146.7x 71.5 x 7.4mm | 160.8x 78.1 x 7.4mm | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm |
| Weight | 162g | 187g | 226g | 133g | 194g |
| Battery Life | Video playback: Up to 17 hours Video playback (streamed): Audio playback: |
Video playback: Up to 17 hours Video playback (streamed): Audio playback: |
Video playback: Up to 20 hours Video playback (streamed): Audio playback: |
Video playback: Up to 15 hours Video playback (streamed): Audio playback: |
Video playback: Up to 17 hours Video playback (streamed): Audio playback: |
| Charging Options | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter. Fast-charge capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately). |
Built‑in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery.
MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter. Fast-charge capable: up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately). |
Built‑in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery.
MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter. Fast-charge capable: up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately). |
Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter. Fast-charge capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes11 with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately). |
Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery.
Wireless charging (works with Qi chargers). Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter. Fast‑charge capable: |
| Display | 6.1‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display
2532×1170 pixel resolution at 460 ppi |
6.1‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display
2532×1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi |
6.7‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display
2778×1284-pixel resolution at 458 ppi |
5.4‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display
2340×1080-pixel resolution at 476 ppi |
6.1‑inch (diagonal) all-screen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
1792×828‑pixel resolution at 326 ppi |
| Camera | Dual 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide and Wide cameras | Pro 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto cameras | Pro 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto cameras | Dual 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide and Wide cameras | Dual 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide and Wide cameras |
| Video | HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps | HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps | HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps | HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps |
| Accessibility Features | Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, RTT TTY support, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control, Closed Captions, AssistiveTouch, Speak Screen, Back Tap | Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, RTT TTY support, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control, Closed Captions, AssistiveTouch, Speak Screen, Back Tap | Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, RTT TTY support, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control, Closed Captions, AssistiveTouch, Speak Screen, Back Tap | Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, RTT TTY support, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control, Closed Captions, AssistiveTouch, Speak Screen, Back Tap | Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, RTT TTY support, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control, Closed Captions, AssistiveTouch, Speak Screen, Back Tap |
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Mini: Which one is right for you?
Of all four new iPhones, the £699 iPhone 12 Mini is the cheapest and, compared to other modern iPhones, tiny. Its 5.4-inch edge-to-edge display will fit in any pocket or adult-sized hands — and that’s without sacrificing visual quality. Despite its diminutive size, the iPhone 12 Mini still has a Super Retina display with HDR and a higher peak brightness than last year’s iPhone 11.
There is only one difference between the iPhone 12 Mini and the regular iPhone 12, and that’s size. The regular model has a 6.1-inch display that’s equal in size to the iPhone 12 Pro, so it occupies a sort of middle-ground for people who want a nice new phone with a big screen but don’t necessarily need top-end specs. Many flagship phones these days are just too big for lots of people. If you are one of these people, the iPhone 12 mini is for you.
At a £799 starting price, it’s in line with other flagship phones in terms of price. The big screen and 5G support (which is present in all four iPhone models this year) will make it ideal for those who want to stream Netflix on the go. The new dual-camera setup with ultra-wide and HDR video recording support will also serve those who want to take high-quality shots for social media.
All four new iPhone models this year share the same A14 Bionic chip, so base-level performance shouldn’t be drastically different from one iPhone to the next. That said, the £999 iPhone 12 Pro gives you a little bit more juice internally than the regular iPhone 12, while still retaining the same 6.1-inch form factor.
Both 12 Pro models have 6GB of RAM as opposed to the 4GB present in the non-Pro phones, giving them just a little bit more power to handle lots of different apps at once. In addition to that, the Pro can offer up to 512GB of internal storage, whereas the 12 and 12 mini top off at 256GB. Pro owners also get slightly more maximum brightness on the screen and a triple camera array with a telephoto lens and night mode portrait capabilities. Last but not least, both the Pro and the Pro Max come with LiDAR sensors that will enable all kinds of augmented reality and photography improvements.
As always, the most expensive iPhone is naturally for people who just want everything. The iPhone 12 Pro Max will set you back at least £1,099, but you’re unlikely to regret it thanks to a massive 6.7-inch display, the biggest battery of the bunch, and most importantly, the best set of cameras you’ll find on a new iPhone this year.
Apple rates the Pro Max for up to 20 hours of battery life with video playback, compared to 17 hours for the Pro and 15 hours for the Mini. It also brings a whopping 5x optical zoom with the telephoto lens, compared to 4x on the Pro and 2x on the 12 and Mini. Photographers will have the best time with the Pro Max, hands down.
iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S20: The Battle of the Flagships
The iPhone 12 may be the shiny new phone on the block, but the Samsung Galaxy S20 is still very much a formidable rival. So with the iPhone 12 and Galaxy S20 competing at the same price point at just under £800, which one is better?
Apple’s iPhone 12 brings a range of upgrades to the table, including the A14 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, improved cameras, and a sleeker design with a tougher Ceramic Shield display. However, the Galaxy S20 has a lot of things going for it, including a more versatile camera system, a larger battery, and a smooth 120Hz display.
Price
Competing at the same price point, the Galaxy S20 has the edge on value provided you can find it on sale because you get double the storage for the same price.
Design
The iPhone 12 boasts a flat-edge with a Ceramic Shield display, which promises 4x the drop performance compared to iPhone 11. The iPhone also has more colour options with black, white, red, green and blue to choose from compared to the S20 which is limited to gray, blue, pink and white. In our opinion, the iPhone 12 just shades this.
Display
The Galaxy S20 6.2-inch OLED display is more advanced than the iPhone 12’s 6.1-inch panel and has a resolution of 3200 x 1440, which is sharper than the 2532 x 1170 display on the iPhone 12. The S20 also has a brighter display, so it takes the nod for in this category.
Camera
Although the Galaxy S20 has more versatility with a telephoto zoom in addition to a wide and ultra-wide lens, side by side shots prove that the iPhone 12 takes better pictures. Images produced are sharper, brighter, provide more detail, and in Night Mode the colour is better and this function turns on automatically without having to find the setting.
Performance
This round is no contest, and that’s because the iPhone 12’s A14 Bionic chip is the fastest in any phone, completing all tasks ahead of the S20 and providing superior graphic performance.
Battery & Charging
This is one round Samsung has locked down, as the Galaxy S20 offers longer battery life over 5G and faster charging out of the box.
The winner?
The battle of the flagship phones is extremely close to call. Although the Samsung Galaxy S20 is a great phone with double the storage of the iPhone 12, superior battery life and a smoother 120Hz display, the design and camera image quality of the iPhone 12 means that Apple’s flagship phone of 2020 just shades it in this head-to-head.
Our iPhone 12 Verdict
It looks very sharp, but given that the iPhone 11 was released only a year ago, is it actually worth upgrading to the new model?
The iPhone 11 is still an excellent phone for its price, yet the iPhone 12 wins in a head-to-head comparison convincingly. Its design is more distinct and adventurous, its display is richer and more detailed, it offers stronger performance, and it also supports 5G which going forward is crucial for faster connectivity. If you can afford to upgrade or to trade in your iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 is certainly worth it.
However, if you’re happy with your current phone then the iPhone 12 has little to pull you away immediately. The iPhone 11 remains an excellent choice for those who aren’t bothered about having the very latest phone or who don’t need 5G. Its camera is highly versatile, its software is second to none, and its battery life is decent. Although it may no longer be the newest iPhone, it’s still up there with the best.
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