Stunning Aesthetic Appeal

The iPhone 12 Pro, priced at $999, features a stainless-steel casing that is taller and wider than its predecessor, the iPhone 11 Pro, while being slightly thinner and lighter. This design transformation has allowed Apple to increase the display size from 5.8 inches to 6.1 inches.

While the weight difference is minimal (189 grams compared to 188 grams), those who prioritize portability may consider the iPhone 12 ($799), which weighs just 164 grams. Although it shares many components with the 12 Pro, it lacks the 2X Telephoto lens and LiDAR sensor, and it has lower system memory (3.62 GB vs. 5.6 GB) and storage (starting at 64 GB instead of 128 GB).

The engineering behind the iPhone 12 Pro is truly impressive. The seamless integration of various materials creates a solid, cohesive feel. While I can distinguish the brushed glass back, steel frame, and Ceramic Shield display, the lack of visible seams gives it a unified appearance. The screen flows smoothly into the metal edge, providing a solid grip.

Are curves more comfortable than sharp edges? I'm not entirely certain. Nonetheless, the redesign of the iPhone 12 Pro offers a reassuring grip, making it less likely to slip from your hands. Additionally, both the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro boast above-average water resistance, allowing them to withstand immersion in water up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.

5G Connectivity

I'm excited about the introduction of 5G with the iPhone, although it feels more like a promise than a reality at this point.

My initial experience with 5G on the iPhone hasn't lived up to the high-speed expectations. While Verizon's nationwide network is fast, its 5G Ultrawideband is even quicker, but it's not available in my area and only covers select parts of major cities.

When I finally connected to a 5G signal (about 10 miles from home), I achieved download speeds of 137.9 Mbps and upload speeds of 27.7 Mbps. While this is impressive, I've heard of even faster speeds. Unfortunately, once I returned home, I reverted to the sluggish LTE network in my neighborhood.

Nonetheless, as we hold onto smartphones for a few years, it's reasonable to expect that faster 5G will become more widespread.

Camera Enhancements

With the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple has enhanced an already exceptional camera system, focusing on improving low-light performance.

The camera setup includes three lenses: Wide, Ultra-wide, and Telephoto. While the megapixel count remains at 12, and the focal lengths span from 13 mm for the ultrawide to 52 mm for the telephoto, the aperture on the main wide camera has been widened from f/1.8 to f/1.6. This enhancement improves low-light performance by allowing more light to enter the lens, reducing graininess in dark images.

Additionally, Apple has taken low-light photography further with the inclusion of a LiDAR sensor and Deep Fusion technology, enabling pixel-by-pixel analysis through the new A14 Bionic chip. The LiDAR sensor enhances low-light imaging by detecting elements invisible to the naked eye, assisting the image sensor and AI in making the necessary adjustments.

Thanks to these advancements, virtually all camera modes can utilize Night Mode. This allows for stunning, flash-free nighttime portraits and captivating time-lapses. The quality of these images is remarkable given the lens size. While Apple's Portrait Mode occasionally struggles with differentiating between my bald head and surrounding objects, it generally produces sharp, vibrant, and beautiful photos.

I'm not concerned that Apple hasn't drastically increased the megapixel count. Even the 48MP sensors found in many Android devices often capture images at an effective 12 MP by combining four pixels. Apple's Neural Engine technology effectively sidesteps this process.

However, I'm disappointed that Apple hasn't introduced a 3X to 5X optical zoom lens. Competitors like the OnePlus 8 Pro offer a 3X optical zoom, which provides significant visual benefits. When Apple references a 4X zoom range, it refers to the cumulative zoom capabilities of all camera lenses, from the 12 MP ultra-wide to the telephoto.

The video capabilities of the iPhone 12 Pro are equally impressive. In addition to supporting 4K at 60 fps, the device can shoot in HDR with Dolby Vision. There’s no dedicated setting for Dolby Vision; it's integrated within the HDR functionality. You can also edit these videos using the native camera app without losing Dolby Vision support. The quality was outstanding when I AirPlayed it to my 65-inch 4K TV.

A14 Bionic Processor

The impressive performance of the iPhone 12 Pro (along with the iPhone 12, 12 mini, and 12 Pro Max) is largely attributable to the A14 Bionic ARM-based CPU. Not only is it more powerful and energy-efficient (built on a 5-nanometer process) than the A13 Bionic, but it is also the fastest mobile CPU available.

Geekbench 5 benchmarks demonstrate that it outperforms Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865, particularly in single-core scores (1592 vs. 904). The difference in multi-core performance is smaller (3904 vs. 3356). The graphics score comparison is less straightforward, with the A14 Bionic achieving a Metal score of 9437 and the Snapdragon 865 receiving an OpenCL score of 3196.

In everyday use, the iPhone 12 Pro stands out as the most powerful smartphone I've experienced. It can handle near-console quality games like PUBG Mobile, 4K video editing (though editing 4K HDR Dolby Vision video in Adobe Premiere Rush may be challenging), and AR games like Angry Birds Isle of Pigs. However, I have yet to see apps that fully utilize the LiDAR scanner.

Despite its power, battery life remains impressive. I managed to achieve 15 hours on a single charge, although I can't yet assess how 5G usage might affect it.

I'm particularly fond of the new MagSafe charging technology. Although it's essentially magnets surrounding the wireless charging coil, it significantly improves the ease of placing the phone on the MagSafe charger. The powerful magnets ensure a secure connection, eliminating uncertainty about whether the phone is charging.

Super Retina XDR Display

While the OLED display technology remains unchanged from the previous generation, the iPhone 12 Pro has a slightly larger screen and higher pixel density compared to the 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro (2532 x 1170 vs. 2436 x 1125). This results in a marginally higher pixel density (460 vs. 458). The display is undeniably stunning, with vibrant colors that enhance videos, images, and games (a contrast ratio of 2 million to 1 certainly helps).

The introduction of Ceramic Shield as a screen cover is intriguing, as it's not technically glass. While it maintains translucency, the ceramic crystals purportedly make it four times stronger than the glass used in previous iPhones. Although I haven't tested its durability through drops or scratches, the real concern is how well it withstands minor drops that can lead to screen damage.

At a time when many Android smartphones boast 120 Hz refresh rates, Apple’s flagship displays still operate at 60 Hz. Is this a sign of Apple falling behind? Perhaps, but I haven't noticed a significant difference in everyday use. If smooth scrolling is a top priority for you, this could be a drawback.

The notch remains a point of contention. I appreciate the Face ID biometric security system and find the 12 MP front-facing camera decent for selfies and FaceTime. However, I am weary of the large notch, which feels outdated compared to industry trends. The iPhone SE 2nd gen demonstrated that a depth camera isn't necessary for portrait mode, and I'd prefer a more expansive Super Retina XDR display with a smaller camera design. It may be time for Apple to adopt a teardrop or hole-punch design for the camera, along with an in-display fingerprint reader—perhaps in the upcoming iPhone 13.

If you currently own an iPhone 11 Pro, the incremental updates offered by the iPhone 12 Pro may not warrant an immediate upgrade. However, if design aesthetics matter to you, this device is undeniably more refined and visually appealing, boasting a beautiful, lightweight design and a larger display. Until 5G becomes more widely accessible, there may be little incentive to upgrade from the previous model. Conversely, if you own an iPhone 6 to iPhone 8, the iPhone 12 Pro is a compelling choice. And if the nearly $1,000 price tag is prohibitive, the $799 iPhone 12, while slightly less feature-rich, is an excellent alternative.