Which IPhone Should You Buy Now? (IPhone 12 Edition)

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Welcome to the 5G era. Or at least Apple has finally joined everyone and launched its first flagship iPhone 5G. iPhones, really; the company popped out of the gate with four brand new models to buy because it can’t provide Apple Park with service revenues alone. God.

I’m a kid. But let’s get straight to the heart of the conversation: don’t buy a new iPhone because 5G sounds faster than 4G. Most of you won’t be able to access these high speeds all the time, if you can’t.

PCMag.com recently tested 5G networks by touring many locations in the US to see what the actual connection speeds are on real devices. I helped with testing in the San Francisco Bay Area and, well, I wouldn’t even buy a 5G phone for 5G from one of America’s tech hubs.

For example, Verizon’s mmWave 5G network – the fastest 5G speed you can get from an operator – was only available in about 2-3 percent of the many locations PCMag tested nationwide. Even more annoying is that Verizon’s “nationwide 5G network” is actually just 4G speed with a 5G badge , which certainly won’t cause any confusion or headache for the average iPhone owner.

Either way, I’ll step out of my 5G soapbox and move on to iPhones as there is a lot more to talk about besides the fast connection, which you won’t get (and will have to pay more for access).

First, here is the latest line of iPhones from Apple’s online store, sorted from least to most expensive. Say goodbye to iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 11 Pro / Pro Max. Like the Highlander, there can only be one Pro.

iPhone SE

  • 4.7-inch 64GB: $ 399
  • 4.7-inch 128GB: $ 449
  • 4.7-inch 256GB: $ 549
  • Colors : white, black, red

iPhone XR

  • 6.1-inch 64GB: $ 499 ($ 100 price drop)
  • 6.1-inch 128GB: $ 549 ($ 100 price drop)
  • Colors : white, black, blue, yellow, coral, red

iPhone 11

  • 6.1-inch 64GB: $ 599 (- $ 100 price drop)
  • 6.1-inch 128GB: $ 649 ($ 100 price drop)
  • 6.1-inch 256GB: $ 749 ($ 100 price drop)
  • Colors : white, black, green, yellow, purple, red

iPhone 12 mini

  • 5.4-inch 64GB: $ 729
  • 5.4-inch 128GB: $ 779
  • 5.4-inch 256GB: $ 879
  • Colors : white, black, blue, green, red

iPhone 12

  • 6.1-inch 64GB: $ 829
  • 6.1-inch 128GB: $ 879
  • 6.1-inch 256GB: $ 979
  • Colors : white, black, blue, green, red

iPhone 12 Pro

  • 6.1-inch 128GB: $ 999
  • 6.1-inch 256GB: $ 1,099
  • 6.1-inch 512GB: $ 1,299
  • Colors : Graphite, Silver, Gold, Pacific Blue

iPhone 12 Pro Max

  • 6.7-inch 128GB: $ 1,099
  • 6.7-inch 256GB: $ 1,199
  • 6.7-inch 512GB: $ 1,399
  • Colors : Graphite, Silver, Gold, Pacific Blue

Now let’s talk about recommendations. I have broken this down into sections:

Should you upgrade to the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, or iPhone 12 Pro?

Cracked joints.

Analyzing new iPhones this year is both easier and more difficult. Last, because Apple has added four new iPhones. First, because each iPhone “category” – “normal” and “professional” – is basically the same except for their size.

I will also start with downtime. If you want the best hardware you can buy from Apple, you’ll need the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max . Full stop. We’ll go over all the functions a bit, but this is a simple answer. The differences between the two iPhones are so minimal that the real question is what form factor you want and how much you are willing to pay for it.

How big are the monstrous iPhone 12 Pros?

The iPhone 12 Pro has a 6.1-inch display, while the giant iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display. But here’s the thing. The iPhone 12 Pro is actually smaller in height than the iPhone 11 (and almost a millimeter shallower than the phone’s depth). It’s roughly the size of the iPhone XS or iPhone X if you’ve ever used one, and even slightly smaller than the iPhone XR. In fact, I would even say that its closest comparison in screen size and physical size is the iPhone XR. And if you want to see what it looks like in real life, print the cutout .

As far as the iPhone 12 Pro Max is concerned, this is fine. This is the largest iPhone Apple has ever made and is slightly taller (and slightly thinner) than the iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone XS Max. You will have about 0.2 inches more screen real estate than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

While you’re only paying $ 100 for the larger iPhone 12 Pro Max compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, I wouldn’t say bigger is better. Your personal preference will dictate which iPhone you go for – and perhaps the average size of your denim pockets, bags, backpacks, or whatever you use to lug around your $ 1,000 Pocket PC.

Really? No difference between iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Sigh. Fine. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has 5x optical zoom compared to 4x on the iPhone 12 Pro. According to Apple specs, its battery is also slightly larger, supporting up to 20 hours of continuous video playback compared to the iPhone 12 Pro 17. You get a slightly higher display resolution on the iPhone 12 Pro Max (given its larger screen size and keep the pixel dimensions on inches are mostly identical), but your iPhone’s telephoto lens is slightly less powerful with the / 2.2 aperture compared to the / 2.0 aperture in the iPhone 12 Pro.

We cut our hair. The key difference between these iPhones is their size, and this is what will make you choose one or the other. (Or, I guess which iPhone you want first: the iPhone 12 Pro goes on sale on October 23rd and the iPhone 12 Pro Max on November 13th.)

What about the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Mini?

This is where it gets interesting. I’ll start with a summary: if you want some pretty good features, 5G capabilities (ugh), or the smallest iPhone that still contains all of Apple’s latest technology, the iPhone 12 Pro is too much.

The iPhone 12 saves you around $ 120 over the iPhone 12 Pro before taxes, and you get a screen the same size as the iPhone 12 Pro in an identical form factor (and slightly less weight). Sure, your “typical” brightness for this screen will be just 175 nits less than the iPhone 12 Pro, but that’s the only real difference you’ll see there. You still get the same processor (A14 Bionic) and all the graphics and raw performance benefits of a 5nm design.

However, you are missing an additional camera – a telephoto lens. This affects the overall optical zoom range (2x instead of 4x). You also lose access to Apple’s new ProRAW format, which combines computational photography with the benefits of post-fact RAW image adjustments. Night mode portrait shots are gone too, as the iPhone 12 doesn’t come with a face-to-face LiDAR scanner. Yes, and you can only record Dolby Vision HDR videos at 30fps, not 60fps.

In other words, you are missing out on some “professional” features. Are they worth $ 120? If you enjoy using your iPhone for regular day-to-day photography, I wouldn’t say you need the iPhone 12 Pro – and definitely not the iPhone 12 Pro Max, unless you want the latest iPhone with the largest screen size. …

Most people will never use ProRAW. A little loss of optical zoom range is a little tiring, but you can always … get closer to your subject. A 2x telephoto camera isn’t a big deal. Losing portraits in night mode is a bummer, but you really have to ask yourself how often you will end up in this particular scenario. It costs money? Maybe, maybe not. (I’d say no.) Likewise, you’ll be fine if you can’t shoot Dolby Vision at 60 frames per second. Anyway, how often do you really plan to do this?

As for the iPhone 12 Mini , everything is simple. It’s the same as the iPhone 12 , except for the 5.4-inch screen compared to the 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 12. And of course, the iPhone 12 Mini is smaller. It’s shorter in height and width than the second-generation iPhone SE, but has a 0.7-inch larger display. Apple hasn’t really released an iPhone this small for a long time, which makes it incredibly attractive to anyone who has dreamed of returning to the OG iPhone SE form factor.

When does an update make sense for owners of older iPhones?

Simple answer: it depends on the circumstances. We are very quickly approaching the point where even an old iPhone is good enough for everyday use, especially if you use it for regular photos – nothing staged or out of the ordinary. So let’s get down to it methodically.

If you have an iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, or iPhone 11

Nope. I wouldn’t update if you really, really don’t want a 5G connection. If so, I recommend not trading your old device until you have a new iPhone and have proven you are getting great 5G speeds wherever you live, work, or travel. (The latter two will be harder to test because of the ‘kokoro,’ as they call it, but I’m pretty sure I have a reliable 5G connection in places I usually visit. Otherwise, 5G won’t be a big sale. Period.)

For iPhone 11 Pro owners, upgrading to an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Mini feels like a downgrade of sorts as you lose the telephoto lens and extra optical zoom. You get Dolby Vision HDR recording “Deep Fusion” computational photography, so this is what you need if you shoot a lot of video or want better images. But honestly, your iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max cameras are probably fine for everything you need.

For regular iPhone 11 owners, iPhone 12 is a logical leap. The small improvements in photography and HDR video recording aren’t really worth it, though. Plus MagSafe is great and all, but is it really worth the hassle of upgrading? For non-enthusiasts – for example, ordinary people – not really.

Upgrading to an iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is the more obvious choice and will only cost you a few hundred dollars if you can sell your “old” iPhone. Is the upgrade worth it? If you’re using a regular iPhone 11, maybe, but only if you’re a big camera lover. The same is true if you are thinking of upgrading from Pro to Pro. But if you’ve already spent so much on one iPhone and are now talking about an upgrade, a few hundred dollars is probably not a problem for you.

Upgrading from iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro to iPhone 12 Pro Max or makes a little more sense, and upgrading from Pro Max to Pro Max seems a little silly. The iPhone 12 Pro features like MagSafe and ProRAW are certainly impressive, but it’s not easy to get a faster phone that you probably won’t need unless you’re really into smartphone photography.

Bottom Line: I don’t think most people should upgrade their iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max to an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max. Enthusiasts? Of course, why not. But for regular people, your iPhone is great for all the emails you check, the videos you watch, and the cute photos you take. You don’t need a new Ferrari when your Tesla is working fine.

If you have an iPhone SE (second generation)

Oh, your tiny phone number. I think upgrading to an iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max will give you a lot – more screen space, much better camera setup (front and rear), a bigger battery, 5G (sigh), and the wonders of Face ID and HD FaceTime calling. However, if you bought an iPhone SE, that means you already dedicated yourself to a smaller phone just six months ago. And now you’re thinking about upgrading to the most powerful Apple devices? HM.

Apple’s “Pro” phones are obviously a big upgrade, and if you find your iPhone SE is underpowered, there’s nothing wrong with aiming for the fence. However, I think the more balanced upgrade in terms of size, features and price is the iPhone 12 Mini. Assuming you can sell your iPhone SE for about $ 350 or so, you’ll pay roughly double (before taxes) for a new iPhone 12 Mini. You get a larger OLED display instead of your megaji , more cameras (with optical zoom), access to night mode and computational photography, HDR video recording and (drum roll) both Animoji and Memoji, and Face ID, of course.

Most importantly, you will have a phone that is physically smaller than your second generation iPhone SE. I think this is the main argument in this question, since you already expressed your preference for a smaller phone when you bought your iPhone SE – unless, of course, you now hate it. If you want something more reasonably sized, the iPhone 12 is the next best option.

Bottom Line: If you’re already looking to upgrade the “cheaper” iPhone that you bought six months ago, the iPhone 12 Mini offers the best features in the smallest size you can get. I suspect you won’t go for the iPhone 12 Pro as you could just as well buy the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max instead of the iPhone SE. You wanted a tiny phone; Now, if you want a tiny phone with all the bells and whistles, the iPhone 12 Mini is the smartest one for you.

If you have an iPhone XS or XS Max

Hello two year old iPhone. If I were you, I would be a little worried about my device’s battery at this point. Assuming you don’t have AppleCare + and your phone’s battery starts showing problems (via Settings> Battery ), you probably won’t be able to sell it for the big bucks through a third-party service. Instead, you’ll have to trade it for Apple, which won’t get you much ($ 300- $ 370 at the time of this posting).

In terms of specs, most of Apple’s iPhone 12s are an upgrade from what you already own. However, I would not buy the iPhone 12 Mini as it would be a smaller screen size.

So we’re back to the standard question: Are Apple’s “Pro” features worth it? The iPhone 12 is a simple upgrade for the iPhone XS. You get a slightly larger phone, but a larger display, as well as better front and rear camera setup (albeit without a telephoto lens) and slightly longer battery life (presumably).

That said, if your iPhone XS is working great for you right now, I would say that the iPhone 12’s camera is probably the biggest and only reason to upgrade – other than 5G, that is, but I’ve already mentioned my concerns about this. enough.

You can probably hold out for at least one more year. The iPhone 12 is tempting, but it brings a lot of improvements and tweaks to the solid foundation that you basically already have. If you’re okay and don’t really care about 4K or HDR video recording, you can wait at least until the iPhone 13 before yielding.

Or, as I like to put it, consider the “wait for an update until Apple stops selling your iPhone in the store” strategy.

I wouldn’t “upgrade” to an iPhone 12 from an iPhone XS Max for all of the reasons listed above, plus a loss of about 0.4 inches of screen real estate. If you like a display this big, the only real upgrade path is the iPhone 12 Pro Max . The 6.1-inch screen isn’t much smaller than the 6.5-inch screen you have, but why go down when you can? You will of course have to spend a lot more, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max will only be slightly larger than what you already own, so you’ll get used to its size.

Bottom Line: Most people can postpone an iPhone XS or XS Max update for another year if you don’t have any problems. Otherwise, the iPhone 12 is a logical leap for iPhone XS owners who don’t feel like they need “professional” features. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is an upgrade path for iPhone XS Max owners who really love the size and feel of their larger devices. Every second “update” to the iPhone XS Max will give you a smaller screen and a smaller phone. You love your old big brick, which means there’s only one real iPhone 12 for you.

If you have an iPhone XR

At this stage, almost everything will be an upgrade for you, so take your pick. I wouldn’t go for the iPhone 12 Mini anyway because you get a smaller phone and a smaller screen. But this is the cheapest iPhone 12, that’s all. (The iPhone XR was the budget iPhone of 2018, after all.)

I think the iPhone 12 is perfect for those who don’t need the ‘Pro’ features. You’ll get a display of the same size on a slightly smaller device, so no tweaks are required here, and you’ll get all of the aforementioned benefits of the iPhone 12 without spending a fortune on features you probably don’t need.

Summary: If you bought an iPhone XR back in 2018, I feel like you’re probably not the type to chase the very latest and greatest updates that Apple has to offer. For example, you probably don’t need the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the iPhone 12 should be a sufficient upgrade for everything you need to do.

As with the iPhone XS, you can probably squeeze at least another year out of your device if it treats you well. However, given that the iPhone XR is inferior even to the iPhone XS, especially with this LCD, I would have thought you’d be a little more inclined to upgrade now than in 2021. The iPhone 12 is probably the best fit for you at this point, and I’ll get the best I can from my iPhone XR before it’s too old to sell at a reasonable price.

If you have an iPhone X

Hello. You I. Your iPhone’s battery is probably terrible by now, and it affects your ability to use your device productively. Your iPhone sometimes gets unnaturally hot and freezes. You get nervous trying to use CarPlay on a warm day. You crave the touch of a new device.

Summary: I’m buying an iPhone 12; maybe Pro Max, to be honest, because I just want to give up something that I won’t need to update for the next 3-5 years.

Besides, since you’re me, could you take out the trash? I’m a little busy today.

What does that leave us with?

  • The iPhone 12 is a great iPhone. Most people looking to upgrade should go for it, unless you prefer an iPhone SE-style “tiny phone”. If so, the iPhone 12 Mini will do better and cheaper. You are not missing out on anything of value other than screen size and physical dimensions.
  • The flagship iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are enthusiast devices. If you know it’s you, you don’t need me to talk you into which iPhone to choose. They are almost identical in function, with the exception of size.
  • When in doubt whether you need an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 12 Pro , you probably only need an iPhone 12. LiDAR scanner, iPhone 12 Pro telephoto lens, ProRAW images, night mode portraits, and Dolby Vision HDR at 60 frames per second. Recording is, of course, fun functions, but I very much doubt you will use them all that often. Save some money, or use those savings to purchase a new fashionable MagSafe case.
  • If your iPhone is relatively new (since 2019) and you are an average person who uses your iPhone every day for basic activities, you probably don’t need to upgrade to iPhone 12 (any other) unless you get something. with a larger screen than what you already have. If you’re an enthusiast, you’re going to upgrade no matter what, so it’s more about intelligence ( iPhone 12 ) than extravagance ( iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max ).
  • If you have a 2018 iPhone that treats you well, you can probably wait another year. The caveat is that if you have a crappy iPhone XR with an LCD screen, updating the iPhone 12 makes a little more sense.
  • If you have an iPhone older than 2018, it’s probably time to update or repair your battery to restore normal phone performance.
  • Don’t buy an iPhone just because it has 5G, only after checking to make sure you get 5G speed where you expect and / or need it.

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