As happens every year, the launch of the new iPhone 12 has sparked the usual debate: are its changes enough? Is Apple innovating? Even more so this year, since the Cupertino company has decided to bring back an "old" design we saw years ago. Well, after several weeks with it, it's time to clear up your doubts, explore its strengths and weaknesses, and decide whether or not it's worth buying . Get comfortable. There's a lot to discuss.
iPhone 12, video review
A matter of design
As I explain in the video above, one memory I retain quite clearly is the first time I bought an iPhone. It was the iPhone 3G , the first one to arrive in Spain, and the feeling when I opened it was unique: I truly felt that this device was taking a giant leap forward in mobile telephony.
I haven't experienced that same fascination with subsequent generations that I felt for the first iPhone. However, I must confess that when I opened the iPhone 12 box, I did relive that feeling. Its design is, of course, to blame.
At a time when all phones are becoming more and more alike, and it's harder than ever to innovate in that regard—the iPhone hasn't escaped this curse either in recent years—finding a different form factor is a huge welcome. No, I mean a huge welcome.
Yes, I know, it's just a revamped design, so what? Motorola did it around this time last year with its foldable phone, a smartphone modeled after the legendary RAZR from over a decade ago, and we all thought it was a brilliant idea. Why not applaud Apple's decision? Whether it's due to a lack of fresh ideas or simply because they've blindly trusted this return to the past, the truth is that the brand has given us back what is arguably the best iPhone design ever , with that distinctive, square shape that makes it so special and also greatly enhances its comfort.
In fact, I find the notch much more objectionable. At this point, it's still too large , and no matter how much we get used to it, it's unforgivable that Apple hasn't managed to reduce it—especially when the market is full of phones with much more discreet and smaller notches.
Important leap in screen and processor, can you tell?
A reduction in its proportions would undoubtedly make its 6,1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display look even more impressive. This panel represents a significant leap forward compared to the iPhone 11 (remember that it uses an HD LCD) and looks incredibly good, with vibrant colors, improved definition, and more than adequate outdoor visibility. It's a fantastic screen for consuming multimedia content, with a size that's perfectly suited to avoid making the device uncomfortable to hold.
Just like a smaller notch, I also would have liked to see a panel with a higher refresh rate. Yes, the iPhone is very smooth and it's not something you'll miss if you've never tried it, but it's still a detail worth noting, considering that 90Hz and 120Hz panels have become standard in the industry and numerous high-end and mid-range Android phones (and even some entry-level ones) already use them. Given the iPhone's price, it's only fair that we at least expect it.
As you probably know if you regularly follow the latest iPhone news, this generation comes equipped with the new A14 Bionic processor . In terms of experience and everyday use , you'll likely notice a significant leap forward if you're coming from an iPhone 11, although this is always the case. The 5-nanometer chip is a marvel, but in practice, you'll only experience its full potential on a few occasions. One such instance is during the most demanding games , where the phone performs exceptionally well without any issues. Another is when using its cameras , where it obviously plays a crucial role managing all the processes involved in capturing images.
The cameras are still his strong point
And since we're talking about them, let's take a look at its camera system. The iPhone 12 has two 12-megapixel sensors ; the first, the main one, is what the brand calls the "wide" sensor, while the second is called the ultra-wide sensor.
The photos you'll get now with the iPhone 12 are in some ways very similar to those taken with the iPhone 11 during the day, although you'll certainly appreciate improved white balance and even a bit more detail in the scene. Color reproduction remains excellent, everything is perfectly balanced, HDR works brilliantly, and color rendering is fantastic. The main sensor performs very well, and while the ultra-wide lens isn't the best on the market, it also delivers satisfactory results.
However, the biggest difference comes at night . Here, the leap is more significant in terms of light and color capture, and you'll notice it even more. The iPhone 11's Night mode was already quite good, but they've improved it here, especially because it no longer tends toward a warm tone, which is a real treat. Furthermore, it now works on both lenses, although, it must be said, it's nowhere near as effective with the ultra-wide lens as with the main sensor.
As for video recording , it now supports 4K HDR recording with Dolby Vision, which is a very attractive bonus if you're interested in creating this type of content. The stabilization remains among the best I've seen on a phone, and combined with its new features, this iPhone 12 is undoubtedly one of the best smartphones you can get today for video capture.
You can see examples of all the photos taken with the iPhone 12 in the video at the beginning of this article - starting at minute 04:32.
How about the battery?
You've probably heard that the iPhone 12 has less battery life than the iPhone 11, however, I can confirm that its battery life is practically the same—I'd say very slightly less, but only by a small margin. How is this possible? Well, thanks to its processor, which uses power more efficiently. This means you can use it for a full day without needing to plug it in, and it will even last into part of the next day, but you'll never reach the end of the second day like you can with some other smartphones on the market. Therefore, the battery life is adequate and nothing to worry about . That's all.
Regarding the charger—I already addressed the controversy surrounding its absence in the box in our initial hands-on , so I won't repeat myself—I've been using the new MagSafe solution, a wireless charging pad that, as I mentioned before, isn't going to be a game-changer, but it works as expected. What will definitely change your life, if you'll excuse the digression, is the phone case: this iPhone 12 gets dirty incredibly easily due to its glossy back. If you don't want to spend all day wiping away fingerprints, consider getting a case.
Should you buy the iPhone 12?
As you've probably noticed, in this overview I haven't dwelled on points we've already discussed countless times about iPhones. Instead, I've focused on what you'll notice is different and how you'll experience it in your daily use. I should clarify that the area where I live doesn't have 5G, so I haven't tested this aspect. However, given the current slow rollout of this technology, I wouldn't say it should be a crucial factor in whether or not you buy this smartphone. In fact, the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are now cheaper and remain fantastic options. So, if the new features I've just mentioned in this generation aren't crucial for you, I encourage you to take a look at the 2019 models; you'll still have a great phone in your hands.
Is the iPhone 12 a phone that lives up to the high-end market? Absolutely. Is it the best on the market? In certain technical aspects… certainly not. Even so, the iPhone still has a trump card that's hard for other brands to beat: its incredibly robust ecosystem and network, not only within this iOS phone but also in relation to other Apple products, ultimately creating a cohesive experience that scores far more points, often even outweighing other technical aspects it can afford to omit.
It is up to you to decide what you give more importance to.
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