Apple iPhone 12

There’s always a lot of excitement when Apple announces something new. The new iPhone 12, with its revamped design and marked improvements, certainly has reviewers buzzing. But does the day to day experience with the iPhone 12 hold up to the hype?

Design

The shape of the Apple iPhone 12 has taken a bit of a turn towards nostalgia with its squared up corners and overall boxy appearance, but the design thrilled reviewers. The new ceramic front plate is also supposed to protect the phone from drops — but reviewers weren’t really able to put that to the test.

Display

In the last batch of iPhones — the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro — Apple reserved OLED screens for only the most expensive model. This time they have added it to even the lowest tier — and it has HDR support too! Even if you don’t have a form of HDR content to enjoy, reviewers loved the display for its clarity, punchy color, and detail.

Performance

Keeping with Apple’s focus on chart-topping specs, the chipset on the iPhone 12 is basically the fastest mobile processor on the market. Reviewers agreed, noting it had no trouble keeping up with whatever you tossed at it. If you have support in your region, the chip also provides 5G support as well — further futureproofing the phone.

Software & Storage

Storage for the iPhone 12 starts at 64GB. If you’re a fan of taking photos or videos or play a lot of ultra-realistic games, that won’t last you very long. In typical Apple fashion, there are no storage expansion options either. So it may be worth the extra money to plan on buying a variant with more space to ensure you don’t run into issues down the road.

Cameras

Photos taken with the Apple iPhone 12 are sharp and with good coloring and depth. Reviewers were very happy with night mode shots and pleasantly surprised. It includes a wide-angle lens that makes taking larger pictures even more fun. While mobile photography continues to evolve and get more competitive, Apple’s latest phone has no trouble sticking near the top of the charts.

Battery Life

With typical use, the iPhone 12 brought 17 hours of battery life on a single charge. Once you start using 5G that depletes a lot faster. But considering the performance offered, that battery life is respectable.

The phone doesn’t ship with a charger in the box. Apple considers it an eco-friendly move as there’s a large chance you already have more than one lying around already. However, if you’ve made it 2020 without collecting an assortment of chargers, be sure to budget for one to go with the phone.

Audio

The audio was mentioned only enough to say it was okay but not great. Simply put, it’s a mobile phone and tiny speakers only do so much. It also does not have a headphone jack.

Perhaps more concerning to some reviewers however was the lack of earbuds. So plan to buy an adapter for your existing ones or pick up a pair when you get the phone.

Specs at a Glance

• Glass and aluminum chassis
• 6.4-inch OLED display
• Apple A14 Bionic processor
• 4GB RAM
• Apple iOS 14
• 64/128/256GB of storage
• 12MP camera
• 2815mah battery

Bottom Line

Once again, Apple has made a formidable little machine in the iPhone 12. It’s not leaps and bounds beyond last year’s iPhone 11, but there are some obvious improvements to the overall performance and design. Most reviewers considered the changes worthwhile. 5G isn’t available all over just yet but it’s a good thing to plan for when it will be. In all, the phone’s specs should keep it relevant for a handful of years with no issues.

Tom’s Guide says, “The iPhone 12 sports a gorgeous new design, full 5G support, great cameras, and even better performance. However, the lack of a charger in the box and limited base storage are drawbacks.”

Tech Radar states, “It’s easy to dismiss the iPhone 12 as just ‘more of the same’, especially when you consider the new and compact iPhone 12 mini is on its way. However, 5G networks are rapidly rolling out across the globe, and the MagSafe addition could prove groundbreaking.”