iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max vs. iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max: Comparison of Apple's Premium Phones
Apple iPhone 12 Pro review: The iPhone 12 series is here and with it an unprecedented amount of choice. And that is why we have an Apple iPhone 12 Pro this time that is the same size as the iPhone 12 but with more cameras, more storage, more RAM and a stainless steel frame that makes it weigh a few grams more. The iPhone 12 Pro can be a confusing pics for buyers as there is a similar phone that is priced less in the iPhone 12 series. But there is that much more here that could make some users pick this up instead of its cheaper sibling.
Let's say you already know you want an iPhone, specifically the Pro version. Or maybe you already have an iPhone 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max and are trying to decide whether to trade it in for something from Apple's new iPhone 12 lineup. The iPhone 12 Pro starts at $999, and the Pro Max starts at a cool $1,099. (Here's more info on iPhone 12 prices, release dates and how to preorder.) Apple discontinued the 11 Pro and Pro Max when the iPhone 12 line was announced, but you can still find the iPhone 11 Pro for $900 and the 11 Pro Max for $1,000.
Price of iPhone 12 Pro in India: Starts at Rs 1,19,900 for 128 GB version iPhone 12 Pro Specs: 6.1 Inch Super Retina XDR OLED | Apple A14 Bionic | 128GB 6GB RAM / 256GB 6GB RAM / 512GB 6GB RAM | 12 MP, f / 1.6, 26mm (wide) + 12 MP, f / 2.0, 52mm (telephoto) + 12 MP, f / 2.4, 120˚, 13mm (Ultrawide) + TOF 3D LiDAR Scanner + 12 MP, f / 2.2 , 23 mm (wide) selfie camera | Li-ion 2815 mAh battery | iOS 14.1 | 189g
iPhone 12 Pro: What is good?
I love the new design of the new iPhones, more so because it is an old design. One that is familiar while being contemporary and modern. And that is not an easy feat to achieve. This design does that balance wonderfully well. The flat edges are shiny and functional when you want to grip it well. The iPhone 12 Pro has a stainless steel frame unlike the polished aluminium on the iPhone 12. And I think this is also adding to the weight of the iPhone 12 Pro.
iPhone 12 Mini and Pro Max: Hands-on with Apple's smallest and biggest new phones
Trading in to Apple will bring the price of an iPhone 12 down considerably -- as much as $450 in savings for an 11 Pro trade-in, or $500 for a Pro Max -- but then again, keeping your old phone for another year is free. Apple made several improvements to its iPhone 12 lineup, (most notably 5G coverage) but are the phone's newest tricks worth the cash? The answer depends on what's important to you. Let's compare Apple's 2019 and 2020 Pro flagships on design, camera, performance and more.
You'll also save about $100 by going with last year's model, which is far from pocket change. Read our Apple iPhone 11 Pro review.. Last year, we gave the iPhone 11 the coveted Editors' Choice Award and called the Pro version "simply the best iPhone ever." That designation is challenged with the release of the iPhone 12, but the fact remains that last year's flagship is still an excellent phone, with a high-resolution OLED display, three-camera array (with Deep Fusion technology) and a sleek matte-glass finish.
The camera module is almost the same as the iPhone 11 Pro, though it is slightly larger to accommodate the Lidar.The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro is bigger than its predecessor, which was just 5.8 inches. So the screen is larger. So is the screen-to-body ratio. Otherwise the display is not different from what you got last year. But where this one goes a step ahead is the “scratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating” on top of it. The iPhone 11 has pretty tough displays and I can vouch for it from personal experience. And if that is getting better, then it is good for users.
The iPhone 12 Pro does not come with a charger in the box, which could be a problem for price conscious users. One big new feature, and one that has triggered some debate, is the charger, or the lack of it, on the iPhone. But for many who are upgrading from an iPhone you already have a way to charge at home. But the interesting new feature is the MagSafe charger launched with the iPhone 12 series. This small circle charger rests on your table and has magnets that snap on to the wireless charging coils at the back of the iPhone.
A full charge takes upwards of 90 minutes using this new charging method. It is very convenient to just place your phone on this for overnight charging, but this is not a great option if you want to juice up in a hurry. It is faster than the earlier wireless charging, but still quite slow. The MagSafe is priced Rs 4,500, but should not be the only charger you have at home.
MagSafe magnets let the iPhone 12 Pro and other phones in the series use the accessories in a very different way. Apple has a snap-on card wallet that goes above the cover, and I tried to pick up a bunch of new leather cases from premium brand Mujo, which also provide access to charging and other accessories using these magnets We do.
The iPhone 12 Pro has three cameras against the two in the iPhone 12. So there is an extra 12MP telephoto lens along with the 12MP wide and ultra wide cameras seen on the iPhone 12. Interestingly, the telephoto and the ultra wide cameras have not really changed from the iPhone 11 times. The main wide camera however has a larger f1.6 aperture and performs much better in low light. And it won’t take you long to realise how much better this is.
The photo of a mynah clicked using the telephoto lens shows the action, while keeping the texture and colours of the feed on the wall.
Also, with a much better processor on the A14 Bionic, the whole computational photography aspect of the iPhone 12 phones is way superior than before. For instance, in low light the performance is much better and you do get the feeling it is snappier. What would have taken 2 seconds in low-light last year, takes a second now maybe.
Then there is the Lidar that comes into play if you are using some of the camera aspects, like in sensing depth. Also, there are AR apps that will use this better. I checked out the Measurement app with gave me the height of my door as 2.1 metres, a number validated by an old fashioned tape. However, this is not something a regular user will find use for.
So the iPhone 12 Pro is faster at doing everything from processing images to playing graphic intensive games and editing videos using apps like Videoleap, but then you might not notice it coming from an iPhone 11 because that was a very powerful phone too. The A14 Bionic processor is fast and powerful enough to power the new iPad Air which lets you use Adobe Photoshop in full.
But for the Pro users Apple is targeting, the extra power will be visible in their workflows, be it the added ability to shoot and edit Dolby HDR on the phone itself, or how a lot of the top-end applications now work faster. This is clearly the most powerful phone you can but at the moment.
iPhone 12 Pro: Should You Buy?The iPhone 12 Pro is in a difficult place when it comes to choice. So this is a phone for those who want the size of the iPhone 12 but not three cameras, or three cameras but a phone as big as the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Or want to get three cameras and don't mind the big screen, but can't afford as much as the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It also means that it is a compromise phone in itself because it is not a hero in itself. So you need to think that the second one before deciding on it.
But what you don’t have to think about is whether you are getting the best phone out there, which the iPhone 12 series undoubtedly is. Also, by buying this one you will be future-proofing for the 5G era. The iPhone 12 Pro is for those who have Pro level use of the camera and are willing to pay a premium for that.
