Apple releases four variations of the iPhone 12

The new iPhone 12 series also sees a smartphone redesign.

It certainly took a bit longer than expected, but it’s finally here. Apple debuts the iPhone 12, Mini and the elder Pro Max. Here’s everything that went down at the Apple ‘Hi Speed’ event. The wait for the 12 has been brutal but the hype was totally worth it. It finally arrives in four iterations – 12, Mini, Pro and Pro Max. While the world expected the 12 to have quad-cam setups and larger screens, we got a completely different deal. The focus this year, as the event title suggests, was speed. 5G is now a part of the iPhone DNA. The other leap Apple took is in the 12 Pro’s camera department, more so in both, hardware and software. While all of these sounds like big powerful packages, we also have the Mini, which in his own right, is truly brilliant. And finally, the cherry on top, is the new regal, signature Dark Blue colourway.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new iPhone 12, Pro Max and Mini

In terms of design, the 12s revisits an old design. They go back to the 2014 5S design of square, boxed corners. In our opinion, this was a great way of refreshing the franchise’s design. For those worrying about spending a lakh on fragile screen, a major iPhone pet peeve, Apple has a solution for that. It’s called ‘Ceramic Shield’ and it’s said to b 4x stronger than previous iPhones. Also, for the first time ever, an iPhone gets Dolby Vision, promising not just strength and durability, but exquisite visuals too. You’ll see this in action as the 12 Series also heavily tilts towards gaming. Speaking of which, League of Legends is now coming to iPhone, big news for touchscreen warriors.

iPhone 12 & Mini

There’s a junior and a sub-junior pack in the iPhone 12 Series and the only difference (for the first time ever) is its size. Under the hood, the 12 gets a lightning-quick A14 bionic chip, the best a smartphone can get and ‘up to 50% better than previous generations’. With a 6.1-inch diagonal screen, it transitions from LCD to OLED. The 12 comes jacked in with 5G as well but with a twist – Whenever the phone detects that it doesn’t require the 5G speed, it switches to LTE. A small yet effective feat that saves power.

The iPhone 12 has a 12-megapixel f/1.6 main camera — the fastest aperture in any iPhone yet — and a 12MP ultra-wide. Improving the Night Mode department, it continues its advancements in computational photography to maximize detail and dynamic range. Interestingly, the front camera on the iPhone 12 will be getting Night Mode as well. We also see the 12 with wireless charging and a feature called ‘MagSafe’ which helps charge better and more accurately. Alongside the 6.1-inch iPhone 12, Apple also introduced a smaller 5.4-inch model that it calls the iPhone 12 mini.

iPhone 12 Pro & Pro Max

This right here is Apple’s flagship for 2020 and the Pros are all about premium accents Both the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch Pro Max are bigger than last year’s 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro and 6.5-inch Pro Max. The new iPhone 12 Pro Max, in particular, takes the crown as Apple’s biggest phone to date. Interestingly, the Pros get a stainless steel strip along their sides to mark their elder make. Not something that would appeal to everyone yet stylish though.

It packs Apple’s A14 Bionic chip. We’ve also heard that it boasts the new 6-core CPU and the four-core GPU, with performance that the company claims is up to 50 percent faster than any other phone. Another cool feat that’s exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro models is a LIDAR sensor, which is great for low light use.

Just like last year’s iPhone 11 Pro models, Apple retains the triple-camera system on the Pros, with 12-megapixel wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide camera lenses. However, the real magic is in the Pro Max. We wouldn’t be surprised if you shoot a short-film on that device. That isn’t all, for shutterbugs, Apple has also teased a new feature called “Apple ProRAW” that will be available on the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max later this year. You’ll also be able to shoot in HDR video.

While the standard 12 will retail from RM3,899 onwards, the elder 12 Pro will start at RM4,899, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max will start at RM5,299, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The Mini, on the other hand, starts at just RM3,399.

(Photos: Apple)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India.