The iPhone 12 series introduced four models in 2020: the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. This guide records the launch-era changes in design, displays, cameras, processors and 5G support.
Apple introduced the iPhone 12 family in 2020 with four models: the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The mini was the new size in that generation. This article describes the lineup at launch, so availability and software support should be checked against current Apple information.
The iPhone’s 2020 lineup consists of the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. So how do they fare against their respective predecessors? Let’s find out.
Design – flat sides and new colors
Perhaps the first thing you’d notice in the new iPhones is the flat edges. iPhone lovers should love this throwback to the days of Steve Jobs and his iPhone 4G.
As for color options, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are available in Pacific Blue, Silver, Gold, and Graphite, whereas the iPhone 12 and 12 mini have White, Black, Green, Red, and Blue options to pick from.
iPhone 12 series models all have up to 6 meters of water resistance and improved over the previous series’s 4-meter limit.
Connectivity – 4G-LTE to 5G
The iPhones have officially joined the 5G band(width)wagon. If you use your new iPhone 12 on a Verizon network in the U.S, you can get download speeds of up to 4.0 GBPS!
While the previous-gen iPhones were no slouch with their 4G LTE connectivity, the top speeds of 50-64 MBPS pale compared to what the iPhone 12 series offers.
Processor – A13 to A14
All the new iPhones come with Apple’s latest 5nm A14 Bionic chipset. Compared to the iPhone 11 series’ A13, which had a 7nm architecture, the new chip promises to be faster and more power-efficient.
The increase in performance would likely be marginal, as the good ol’ A13 chip is already a trailblazer. The more significant difference is the claimed power consumption as the iPhone 12, and 12 mini received a battery downgrade – more on that later.
Screen – LCD upgraded to OLED
All iPhone 12 variants are now equipped with OLED panels. Samsung users should be well familiar with those, as they’ve been using OLED panels since the OG Galaxy S. OLED screens offer higher contrast levels. They also save battery by turning off the pixels that are displaying black color.
The iPhone 12 has kept the same screen size as its predecessor. However, the screens on Pro and Pro Max models have been bumped up from 5.8″ and 6.5″ to 6.1″ and 6.7″ respectively. The display resolution got upgraded as well, resulting in a higher pixel density.
Camera – hardware improvements
The camera setup and megapixel count are unchanged. The new iPhones do get some under-the-hood upgrades that improve low-light photography, image processing times, and portrait mode. Video recording is now in Dolby Vision HDR. Overall, the differences are marginal.
Battery – a mixed bag
As mentioned before, the A14 reduces battery consumption in the 2020 iPhones. Perhaps that was Apple’s logic when they downgraded the battery capacity from the 3100mAh to 2775mAh on the iPhone 12.
On the other hand, the Pro and Pro Max batteries get an additional 600mAh capacity. For power-hungry users, the Pro and Pro Max are certainly the iPhones to grab.
The mini model has the tiniest battery, at 2227mAh.
Final Thoughts
At launch, the main reasons to choose an iPhone 12 were its new design, A14 processor, OLED display options and 5G support. Today it is an older generation, so buyers should compare battery condition, storage, remaining software support and price with newer or refurbished alternatives.
How to use this iPhone 12 guide now
This article is a historical comparison of the 2020 lineup, not a guide to Apple’s newest phones. Anyone considering a used iPhone 12 should check current software support, battery health, storage and repair history. Availability, trade-in value and carrier support depend on the seller and country.
