Style meets performance in Apple's newest offerings.
Date October 20, 2020
Last week, Apple announced the newest additions to its iPhone family – and they are pretty major. Not least because it wasn’t just one new phone, but four. The iPhone 12 line-up includes the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, each boasting impressive new features designed to make your ‘grams greater and your add-to-carts quicker. We had the opportunity to review the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro over the past few days (the Mini and the Pro Max launch later in November) – here’s what you need to know about the newest iPhone models.
They. Are. Quick.
And we mean, quick. The responsiveness on the new iPhone models is unparalleled, thanks to the integration of 5G across the whole range for the first time. Chances are you’ve seen 5G splashed across news headlines in recent months but if you’re in the dark as to what it actually means for you as a consumer, here’s the lowdown: 5G stands for fifth generation which simply means it is the fifth generation of wireless technology. The biggest drawcard of 5G is its speed – you can stream Emily in Paris or your favourite YouTube beauty tutorials in crystal-clear definition with zero delay, download the newest issue of FASHION from the app store in seconds and buy your new pair of winter boots in no time at all. The integration of 5G into the new iPhone models – as well as the 6.1 inch, Super Retina XDR display on both iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro – also means you can make high quality FaceTime calls over cellular for the first time so whilst you might not be able to see your friends face-to-face right now, you’ll still feel as close as possible.
They make you look like a professional photographer without any effort.
We all know that iPhone cameras are good but the new cameras on both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models are next-level-good. The iPhone 12 has a new dual-camera system which includes an all-new Wide Camera that has the fastest aperture on iPhone and captures 27 per cent more light (this wide camera is also offered on the Pro model). What that means for you is improved photos in any scenario, but particularly in lowlight – we’ve all admired a sunset and thought about how it would make a beautiful photo backdrop only to try and capture said selfie and realize you’re not actually visible in the shot. Now, with the new Wide camera, you can stand with the sun behind you and get the detail of the sunset and your outfit in equal measure.
The iPhone 12 Pro also has a 52mm telephoto camera that allows you to capture profile-worthy portraits and a LiDAR scanner which not only allows faster and more realistic AR experiences (particularly handy if you’re planning a home makeover or want to see how a new piece of furniture will fit/look in your space) but also delivers faster autofocus in lowlight, allowing you to capture the moment as it happens, and more detailed Night Mode portraits. iPhone 12 Pro is also the first in the world to directly record video (as well as offer editing, sharing and viewing capabilities) in Dolby Vision, bringing cinema-grade recording to your fingertips – for the vlog enthusiasts among you, this will be a gamechanger for content creation.
Other key features in the new camera offerings on both models include the Ultra Wide Camera which offers a 120-degree field of view, Night Mode which is even better thanks to improved brightness and stabilization features, a TrueDepth Camera on the front of the phone to deliver brighter and clearer Night Mode selfies, as well as 4K HDR recording (more on that in a minute), Deep Fusion which delivers incredible detail and texture and Smart HDR 3 which makes automatic adjustments to certain parts of your images for you so get amazing photos with minimal effort.
They’re packed with a bunch of other top features, too.
Perhaps one of the most important features of the new phones – particularly if you’re a dropper like Chandler – is the introduction of Ceramic Shield to the front of the phone. It looks like every other screen you own, except it has better scratch resistance and four times better drop performance. The phones are also water-resistant up to six metres for 30 minutes and resist accidental spills from coffee and soda, too, and are powered by the new A14 Bionic chip so they are incredibly fast.
And last but not least, they double as a chic accessory for the new season.
As much as we love the technical aspects of a new launch, the look of the phones is also important – and whether you’re drawn to metallics, monochrome or vibrant hues, there’s something to suit every style in the new iPhone 12 line-up. The iPhone 12 comes in black, white, (PRODUCT)RED, a peppy mint green and a deep blue, and the iPhone 12 Pro is available in four stunning finishes: graphite, gold, silver and an all-new pacific blue. The new range has also been designed to work with MagSafe accessories including a wireless charger (which guarantees a charge every time you connect thanks to an array of magnets on the charging coil which help the phone ‘click’ into place on the disk) and a slew of accessories, including cases and a Leather MagSafe wallet, available in a variety of colours to match your sartorial vibe. Simply slide them on and off as you would your favourite pair of white sneakers.
The iPhone 12 (starting at $1,129) and iPhone 12 Pro (starting at $1,399) are now available for pre-order, with delivery from October 23.