The estimated reading time for this post is 9 minutes
If you’ve been waiting for Apple’s annual fall announcement of its latest iPhones and were disappointed that Apple didn’t announce them last month, your patience has been rewarded. Last week Apple announced four new iPhones: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Additionally, Apple announced other new products, the HomePod mini and MagSafe wireless accessories for the new iPhones. The HomePod mini brings new features that could affect the way you use your iPhone, even if you don’t have a HomePod mini.
New iPhone 12 Models
All four iPhone 12 models have plenty in common, such as advanced cameras, improved water resistance, a more durable screen, and more. Many upgraded features are available on all the iPhone 12 models, while some are unique to each model.
iPhone 12 Models Upgraded Features
These are the features that the new iPhone 12 models have in common.
5G
All new iPhone 12 models have 5G antennas, enabling them to connect to 5G cellular networks for faster downloading and uploading speeds. 5G networks also offer more reliable connections in crowded spaces such as stadiums, college campuses, and airports.
iPhone 12 models use 5G networks when they’re needed (and available), then revert to 4G/LTE networks to preserve battery life.
Note that not all areas have 5G networks, so check your carrier’s coverage map to see whether 5G is available in your area, if having a 5G antenna is one of the more important features of the iPhone 12 for you.
Ceramic Shield Screen
The screens of the iPhone 12 models are made from a new material called Ceramic Shield. Apple worked with Corning to develop the Ceramic Shield screens that Apple says are the toughest smartphone glass. According to Apple, Ceramic Shield screens have 4x better drop performance than previous iPhone screens.
Ceramic Shield is made by embedding nano-ceramic crystals into the glass, which gives the glass strength and keeps it clear. According to Apple, “we developed an exclusive formula that maximizes the toughness of the ceramic while remaining optically clear.”
Mag Safe
Apple has embedded magnets into the backs of its new iPhones for faster charging. These magnets also allow these iPhones to connect with new accessories such as its Mag Safe wireless charger, a new car mount from Belkin, new Mag Safe cases, a Mag Safe wallet, and more.
Mag Sage accessories snap on and off quickly and easily by using magnets to connect.
Improved Water Resistance
All four iPhone 12 models are water-resistant to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes.
Cameras
The cameras on the new iPhone 12 models have been improved, with advanced bokeh and depth control in Portrait mode, night mode, night mode time-lapse videos, and HDR video recordings with Dolby Vision.
The 12MP front camera on all new iPhones offers Portrait mode and Portrait lighting, and can shoot HDR videos with Dolby Vision.
Dolby Vision videos can be edited and filters can be added to the videos on the iPhone in the Photos app.
A14 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 12 models all use Apple’s latest chip, the A14 Bionic chip that Apple says is the fastest chip in a smartphone. The A14 Bionic chip is smaller and more energy-efficient than previous chips while providing better performance.
According to Apple, the A14 Bionic chip is capable of performing 11 trillion operations per second, which does seem quite speedy…
Fast Charging
All iPhone 12 models will have fast-charging capabilities. The phones can be charged up to 50% in 30 minutes.
No Earbuds or Power Adapter Included
In an effort to reduce its impact on the environment, Apple is eliminating earbuds and the power adapter from the iPhone box. Apple figures that people have plenty of these items from previous iPhone purchases and don’t need new ones.
By eliminating these items from its shipments of iPhones, Apple says it’s saving over two million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, which is the equivalent of 450,000 fewer cars being driven per year.
Apple is including for the first time in the iPhone 12 model boxes a USB-C to lightning cable, enabling iPhones to connect to newer model MacBook Pro computers and allow for faster charging.
iPhone 12 mini
The iPhone 12 mini is a new, smaller phone from Apple that lets people have the features of a smartphone with a smaller weight and size. But the screen of the iPhone 12 mini is larger than that of the iPhone 8, even though the aluminum body of the iPhone 12 mini is much smaller than the iPhone 8.
Apple accomplished this feat by extending the display to the edge of the iPhone 12 mini and eliminating the bezel. The iPhone 12 mini Super Retina display measures 5.4 inches diagonally (13.72 cm ) and the phone weighs 4.76 ounces (135 grams), making the mini the smallest and lightest 5G phone in the world, according to Apple.
The battery life of the iPhone 12 mini is up to:
- 15 hours of video playback
- 10 hours of streamed video playback
- 50 hours of audio playback
The rear camera can shoot HDR videos with Dolby Vision at up to 30 frames per second (fps) and has a 2x optical zoom range.
The iPhone 12 mini will be available with 64, 128, or 256GB of storage in white, black, blue, green and Product Red, beginning at $699. Pre-orders of the iPhone 12 mini start November 6, with availability in stores on November 13.
iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 has many of the same features as the iPhone 12 mini but in a bigger phone. But even with its bigger size than the mini, the iPhone 12 is still 11% thinner, 15% smaller, and 16% lighter than the iPhone 11.
The Super Retina display of the iPhone 12 is 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) measured diagonally and the phone weighs 5.78 ounces (164 grams).
The battery life of the iPhone 12 is up to:
- 17 hours of video playback
- 11 hours of streamed video playback
- 65 hours of audio playback
Like the iPhone 12 mini, the rear camera of the iPhone 12 can shoot HDR videos with Dolby Vision at up to 30 frames per second (fps). and has a 2x optical zoom range.
The iPhone 12 will be available with 64, 128, or 256GB of storage in white, black, blue, green and Product Red, beginning at $799. Pre-orders of the iPhone 12 are open now, with availability in stores on October 23.
iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have many of the same features as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, but with more advanced cameras and a surgical-grade steel body instead of the aluminum body of the iPhone 12 and 12 mini.
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max add a telephoto lens to the rear camera and shoot Dolby Vision HDR video up to 60 fps. The rear cameras also have a LiDAR scanner for Night mode portraits, faster autofocus in low light, and advanced augmented reality capabilities.
iPhone 12 Pro
The Super Retina display of the iPhone 12 Pro is 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) measured diagonally and the phone weighs 6.66 ounces (189 grams). The iPhone 12 Pro rear camera has 4X optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 10x, and 2x optical zoom in.
Like the iPhone 12, the battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro has up to:
- 17 hours of video playback
- 11 hours of streamed video playback
- 65 hours of audio playback
The iPhone 12 Pro is available with 128, 256, or 512GB of storage in Pacific Blue, gold, silver, and graphite colors. Prices begin at $999.
Pre-orders of the iPhone 12 Pro are open now with availability in stores on October 23.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest of the new iPhones, with a 6.7 inch (17 cm) Super Retina display and a weight of 8.03 ounces (228 grams).
The rear camera of the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 5x optical zoom and a digital zoom up to 12x, with 2.5x optical zoom in.
The battery life of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the longest of all of the iPhone 12 models, with up to:
- 20 hours of video playback
- 12 hours of streamed video playback
- 80 hours of audio playback
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is available with 128, 256, or 512GB of storage in Pacific Blue, gold, silver, and graphite colors. Prices start at $1099. Pre-orders of the iPhone 12 Pro Max begin November 6 with availability in stores on November 13.
Home Pod Mini
In addition to its new iPhone 12 models, Apple also introduced a new smart speaker — the HomePod mini. Like the HomePod introduced by Apple in 2018, the HomePod mini works with Siri to play music, control your smart home, make announcements, and more.
Speaker
The HomePod mini is first a speaker, with a 360-degree audio field designed to sound the same no matter where you are in the room.
Four microphones listen for “Hey, Siri” regardless of how loud the music is playing so you can control the speaker with your voice.
Like the HomePod, the mini has a touch surface on the top so you can play and pause music as well as control the volume with a tap. At launch, HomePod mini will work with Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, radio.com, and TuneIn. In the future, other music services will be added including Pandora and Amazon Music.
With multiple HomePod minis, or HomePod minis and HomePods, you can create a connected sound system throughout your home. Using two minis you can create a stereo pair, with right and left channels. Note that you can’t create a stereo pair of a HomePod with a HomePod mini because of the differences between the speakers.
Siri
Siri can recognize the voices of up to six family members so you can ask the HomePod mini what’s on your calendar for the day or to find your iPhone, and it’ll know who’s speaking.
Intercom
A very cool new feature of HomePod mini (and HomePod) is Intercom. Using Intercom you can send a message to other HomePods in the house, individually or throughout the house. Intercom can also send messages to other Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, CarPlay, AirPods, and Apple Watch.
Handoff
Bring your iPhone near the HomePod mini while listening to music or a podcast and the audio will automatically be handed off to the mini.
Smart Home
The HomePod mini connects to the Home app on your iPhone to control your smart home devices using Siri.
Privacy
Apple has emphasized privacy with its smart speaker, stating “Privacy is essential” as it explains how HomePod mini can maintain your privacy. According to Apple, HomePod mini listens only for “Hey Siri” and when you do say that command, your request isn’t associated with your Apple ID but with a random identifier.
HomePod mini keeps as much information as possible on the device, instead of sending it to Apple. If you ask Siri on HomePod mini to read your messages, notes, or reminders, that information will stay on the device and not be sent to Apple.
Availability
HomePod mini is available in Space Gray or white for $99. Pre-orders begin November 6 with availability in stores on November 16.
Your Thoughts
Are you looking to get a new iPhone this year? Does your carrier have 5G networks in your area? Do you like the new camera features in the iPhone 12 models? Are you interested in the HomePod mini?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
incredible.
sorry here i live in brazil and here the price is very high.
i can’t live without iphone anymore.
I loved the news
Hi Pamela, Yes, these new iPhones are expensive, though the iPhone 12 mini has a more affordable price. Our phones have become essential, but if your iPhone is still working well for you then you may not need to upgrade this year.
Excited for the new iphone 12, I will buy it as soon as it becomes available in my area
Hi Tarun, That’s great. I hope you enjoy your new iPhone!
I am eagerly awaiting to buy iPhone 12 pro max and waiting to soon it to be released
Hi Zain, Yes, the iPhone 12 Pro Max should be available soon. I hope the reviews for it are as strong as they are for the iPhone 12 Pro.
How much technology and practicality. It is not in vain that Apple is always ahead!
Good tips!
Hi Rodrigo, Yes, these new models are very impressive and the updates are compelling. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are extremely popular. It will be interesting to see if the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max match the popularity of the first two iPhones released this fall.