iPhone 12 Launched with 5G: Here’s Models Overview & Buying Guide

By Carrie Tsai,  Last Updated: October 16, 2020INDUSTRY

The long-rumored iPhone 12 is now official! Although it came a few weeks later than expected, iPhone 12 coming with 5G was finally unveiled at Apple's October 2020 event, alongside three other new 5G-enabled models in the iPhone 12 lineup including the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Compared to last year's iPhone 11 series, the new iPhone 12 lineup adds a new non-pro mini model called iPhone 12 mini. That said, the new iPhone 12 lineup has four models altogether, two pro and two non-pro. As the replacement for the baseline iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 lineup remains many important design cues from the 2019 models. However, Apple made significant updates and changes in the iPhone 12 lineup.

You can see that the iPhone 12 lineup no longer ships with free EarPods and power adapter. And when it comes to the biggest update, it must be the capability of supporting 5G, the next-generation mobile network technology. According to Apple's CEO Tim Cook, 5G is this decade's new technology which provides a step change towards the new era's iPhone.

As the first 5G-enabled iPhone, although it doesn't pack a lot of surprises, the iPhone 12 lineup is still attractive to a great number of people who intend to replace their phones especially iPhone fanatics. Since it has four models, the following will firstly explore the common updates and new features of the models. Then it'll point out their differences from many aspects. Finally it'll guide you how to make preparations for buying them. Just keep reading.

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iPhone 12 Lineup Overview: What Updates Do They Have in Common

As the replacement of the baseline iPhone 11, the new 5G-capable iPhone 12 lineup has some new updates and features in design, display, camera, processor and network connectivity to improve the device.

Design

For the 5G-enabled iPhone 12 lineup, Apple made over the design, introducing flat-edged frame which is less rounded than on the iPhone 11 but more reminiscent of the very previous iPhone 4.

As to the back of the four iPhone 12 models, it continues to be made from glass but with the two halves equipped with an aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure. On the rear, there is also a new MagSafe system which is magnet-based allowing for snapping wireless charger for precise wireless charging and attaching other easy-to-attach accessories from Apple.

As to the waterproof performance, all of these four 5G-enabled iPhone 12 models are iP68 certified, with the capability of holding up to submersion in 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

Display

All iPhone 12 models have been upgraded in display. They all feature Apple's custom Super Retina XDR OLED display whose amount of pixels are twice times as those of the iPhone 11 display. This type of display also allows for 1200 nits peak brightness and supports Dolby Vision, Haptic Touch for feedback, True Tone, HLG, and HDR 10.

As to the overall screen, the 5G-enabled iPhone 12 lineup still remains a notch which is for Face ID function and small bezels at the top of the screen.

When it comes to the front cover of the iPhone 12 lineup, it's a new Ceramic Shield cover rather than the old standard cover glass. This kind of cover is infused with nano-ceramic crystals during the temperature crystallization process, making it capable of offering 4x better drop performance. According to Apple's statement, this cover is the most durable and the toughest in the market.

Accessories

As mentioned earlier, the new iPhone lineup no longer comes with the power adapter or EarPods, which means that these accessories need to be purchased additionally. However, it still ships with an USB-C to Lightning cable by default.

Processor

While the four 5G-enabled iPhone 12 models might not seem to evolve radically in appearance, the new A14 Bionic chipset which powers them is indeed a significant stride forward. It's Apple's latest custom Silicon processor and the first chip in the smartphone field built on a 5nm process for improvements of performance and efficiency.

With 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU, the A14 Bionic allows for 50% faster CPU and GPU than other competing smartphone chips. Also, it powers a 16-core Neural Engine which allows for up to 80% faster operation for machine learning tasks than the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11 lineup.

In short, this new A14 chip is a big step up from the previous A13 and could be the greatest chipset that rivals any other smartphone chipsets. After all, according to Apple's statement, the new chip is almost 40% more powerful than the A13 in the iPhone 11 models.

Camera

Although camera is a major differentiator, the four iPhone 12 models still have some similarity on the camera front. Thanks to the A14 Bionic processor, all of the four iPhone models in this generation feature vastly-updated computational photography which supports new Smart HDR 3 tech, better Deep Fusion as well as improved Night Mode.

The Deep Fusion enables improved images to be with more texture and less noise. The enhanced Night mode allows for better image contrast and better low-light performance. As to the Smart HDR 3 feature, it helps to capture more natural-looking photos by adjusting the white balance, contrast, texture and saturation.

5G Support

Today, mobile 5G is on the way. Since 5G which has greater bandwidth than the current 4G LTE networks will allow for much faster downloads and uploads, improved video streaming, gaming and workflows, more and more smartphone manufacturers introduce their 5G-enabled mobile phones. Apple is, of course, unwilling to be outdone so it also makes its first foray into 5G by introducing the 5G-enabled iPhone 12 lineup.

To support 5G connectivity, the iPhone 12 lineup's frame comes with custom 5G antennas. And as Apple has confirmed, the 5G tech in the iPhone 12 lineup is both sub-6 and mmWave bands, which means that the iPhone 12 models will work on Verizon 5G networks in the U.S. but will need to work with all carriers across the globe which provide 5G network connections.

In addition, on the 5G front, the iPhone 12 models all feature a new Smart Data Mode to work with 5G for maximum optimization. This mode can automatically drop you back to 4G LTE to save battery life once it recognizes that you don't need 5G speeds.

In fact, 5G is the most notable new feature of the new iPhone 12 series. It will allow for a new level of performance to streaming, gaming, and workflows in the current iPhone lineup. Although the iPhone 12 lineup isn't the first 5G phone in the market, it'll rapidly hit the market and become more competitive.

iPhone 12 Lineup Comparison: What Are the Differences

Now you must have a clear picture of the main updates and new features of all the four 5G-enabled iPhone 12 models. Simply put, compared to the iPhone 11 series, they all offer a sleek new design, more durable display, 5G support, a better-performed A14 Bionic processor and improved camera system.

But are there any differences among the four models? Well, the answer is definitely Yes. And these differences are quite important and necessary to learn about in order to make the right purchase decision to pick up the right model. The major differences between them lie in the size, colors, camera features, battery capacity and price.

Design

In terms of size, the standard iPhone 12 still remains the same 6.1-inch screen size as that of the iPhone 11 although its display edges were shrunk. The iPhone 12 mini has an all-new size of 5.4-inch which is the smallest in the iPhone 12 lineup. As to the iPhone 12 Pro, it has the same size as that of the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, as the name suggests, marks the largest model in the iPhone 12 lineup which is 6.7-inch.

Besides, the difference in size leads to their difference in weight. As for the weight, the iPhone 12 mini is 4.76 ounces, the iPhone 12 is 5.78 ounces, the iPhone 12 Pro is 6.66 ounces, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is 8.03 ounces.

In terms of colors, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini are more colorful coming in five colors including black, blue, green, red, and white. As to the two pro models, they come in four metal-like colors including gold, silver, graphite and pacific blue.

Camera

Camera is another major difference between the four 5G-enabled iPhone 12 models. On the one hand, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have a dual-lens camera setup while the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max include a triple-lens camera, with the same two lenses as above, joined by a telephoto.

On the other hand, the two Pro models are equipped with a more advanced camera system with better optical zoom and a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor for more efficient autofocus and better low light performance.

Simply put, the iPhone 12 Pro models have a more complicated and more advanced camera system than that of the non-Pro models.

Battery Capacity & Storage

The four iPhone 12 models have different battery capacity, leading to the difference in battery life. The iPhone 12 owns the battery capacity of 2775mAh which supports up to 11 hours video streaming while the mini model is 2227mAh which supports up to 10 hours video streaming.

As to the two Pro models, the iPhone 12 Pro has 2815mAh supporting up to 10 hours video streaming while the Pro Max model has 3687mAh supporting up to 12 hours video streaming.

As for storage, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini have 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations while the two Pro models come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

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Price and Availability

It can be said that none of Apple's new iPhone models are cheap. However, some models may cost a lot more than others. And for the same model, different configurations have different price tags. According to the official pricing, the mini model is the cheapest, then the iPhone 12, then the Pro model and finally the Pro Max. See the following table to get the price.

As for the availability, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro will be up for pre-order on October 16 and will be sold officially on October 23. As to the two Pro models, they will arrive a little later, with pre-orders on November 6 and release date on November 13.

iPhone 12 Models with 5G: How to Purchase Them

Although they may not be more powerful than expected, as Apple's first foray into mobile 5G, the four models in the iPhone 12 lineup are still the primary phone options for many public.

If you also intend to buy the new iPhone 12 but don't know which model is right for you, you should really focus on their differences including screen size, camera features, storage capacity as well as price and select one based on your personal preferences and practical needs. But you also need to consider your budget.

If you have already decided which model to pick, it's advisable of you to pre-order it in the Apple Store app in order to make sure you'll have it in hand on the release day. Due to the fact that getting an iPhone 12 model on the release date could be more difficult than ever, prepare your order ahead of time is advisable. Now all you need to do is prepare your pre-order first and start your pre-order on the pre-order date.

Here's How to Prepare Your Pre-Order:

Step 1. Open the Apple Store app on your existing iPhone or iPad. Then Sign into your account.

Note:

If you don't have an iPhone or an iPad, go to the online official Apple store for preparing your pre-order.

Step 2. In the Featured part, click to the header. Then select your preferred iPhone 12 model, color/finish, carrier and capacity.

Step 3. Save and confirm your prepared pre-order. Before saving, you need to pass through the process of allowing for a monthly installment payment plan and confirming your current Apple Card. If you don't have your Apple card in the Apple Store app, you need to apply for an Apple Card monthly installment plan.

Step 4. Now you've already ready for your pre-order. In the For You section of the Apple Store App, you can view the confirmation of your pre-order. In this section, you can add the pre-order date and add a Siri Shortcut for faster checkout.

Now that you've already gotten ready for the pre-order in the Apple Store app, all you need to do is wait for the pre-order date. Once it arrives, you should immediately open the Apple Store App to complete your order. After that, you just need to wait for the launch day when you will be able to officially purchase the model.

Final Verdict

The iPhone 12 lineup is finally official after a long wait. Although the four models don't pack a lot of surprises, they still have a plethora of updates and new features such as a sleek new design, Super Retina XDR OLED display, 5G support, A14 chip and improved camera to tempt upgraders.

The all-new 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro max with more advanced camera upgrades are also attractive. Since the four models have differences in size, camera, storage and price, when shopping for one, you should focus on their differences and select one that is your budget option and is based on your personal preferences and practical needs.

Now all you need to do is prepare your pre-order in the Apple Store app to make sure you have an iPhone 12 in hand on release date. Then let's wait for the release date!