What to expect from Apple's new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro

It was Apple’s highly anticipated announcement this year, and not only was it for one phone, but four.

Earlier this month, Apple announced the arrival of the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 mini.

The main similarity among the newest line of Apple phones is they are all equipped with 5G. All have the new square design, and equipped with A14 chip, MagSafe (explained below), and iOS 14.

And narrowing it down even further, the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro also share similarities that includes 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras, Ceramic Shield front, and are water resistant up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.

iPhone 12

Basics: The iPhone 12 is the latest device for Apple fans who love the annual upgrade. Compared to the 11, the iPhone 12 has 5G, and comes in the new flat-edge design that Apple says is “more durable than ever.”

Sizes: Available in two new sizes, the popular 6.1-inch and a brand-new 5.4-inch (aka the iPhone 12 mini).

Colours: Designed with aerospace-grade aluminum, the 12 comes in all-new colours that include black, white, (PRODUCT)RED, green, and blue. 

Camera: A favourite everyday feature for many, the new iPhone 12 has an Ultra Wide camera which captures 4x more scene and is ideal for tight spaces and landscapes. The new phone is also equipped with Night mode and Deep Fusion (which improves texture and detail in mid- and low-light photos). Apple says the 12 is the first camera in the world to record in 4K Dolby Vision HDR. And speaking of video, the improved low light now allows for epic Night mode Time-lapses. 

Availability: The iPhone 12 starts at $1,129 and is available in Canada starting October 23. The iPhone 12 Mini starts at $979, and is available to pre-order on November 6.

Apple iPhone 12 lineup/ Courtesy of Apple

iPhone 12 Pro

Basics: While the Pro has 5G just like the iPhone 12, this phone has a “Pro camera system” as well as a new LiDAR Scanner. Its durable design features the flat edge with a stainless steel and textured matte back glass. According to Apple, the Ceramic Shield front is tougher than any smartphone glass.

Sizes: Available in 6.7” Super Retina with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and 6.1” Super Retina with iPhone 12 Pro – compared to the iPhone 11 Pro’ 5.8″.

Colours: The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max come in four finishes including graphite, silver, gold, and all-new pacific blue.

Shot on iPhone 12 Pro/ Courtesy of Apple

Camera: In addition to the iPhone 12’s Ultra Wide, Night mode and Deep Fusion, as well as 4K Dolby Vision HDR, the Pro and Pro Max include the new LiDAR Scanner which enables a more powerful camera experience by improving auto focus in low-light, and offers a new class of augmented reality experiences, according to Apple.  The 12 Pro also includes a 2MP TrueDepth camera which can really step-up your selfie game in Night mode and Deep Fusion.

Expect a sharper Portrait mode with improved segmentation, and with the faster aperture on the new Wide camera, portraits even work in low light.

While the iPhone 12‌ can use digital zoom to zoom in up to 5x, the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ doubles this to 10x digital zoom. Another difference in cameras is the ‌iPhone 12 Pro‌ can also capture photos using “Apple ProRAW,” which should be available later this year with an iOS update. According to Apple, this new feature combines “multiframe image processing and computational photography with the versatility of a RAW format. Users can experience full creative control over colour, detail, and dynamic range natively on iPhone or with other professional photo editing apps.”

Shot on iPhone 12/ Courtesy of Apple

Availability: The iPhone 12 Pro starts at $1,399 and is available in Canada starting October 23. The iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available for preorder on November 6, and starts at $1,549.

Good to know: Apple is removing the power adapter and EarPods in the packaging of the new phones (both iPhone 12 and 12 Pro), but is including the USB‑C to Lightning cable that most people need.

MagSafe: Also new this year is MagSafe, retailing for $55, which provides faster wireless charging through aligned magnets that attach to the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro.