You Should Upgrade to iPhone 12, Here's Why

Usually, with new Apple iPhone introductions, the question is: “Is it worth upgrading?” But with the iPhone 12, the question of upgrading – even if you own an iPhone 11 – is moot. With 5G now available for iPhone, as well as a tougher screen, vastly improved cameras, clever snap-on cases, accessories, and faster and more accurate wireless chargers, it’s not a question of if you should upgrade, but to which iPhone 12 model – the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The 5G Difference

All four iPhone 12 models include 5G network connectivity, which promises typical speeds of up to 1 Gbps. By comparison, the FCC defines “high-speed broadband” connectivity as just 25 Mbps; in other words, your phone provides almost geometrically faster connections than your home WiFi network. In most places, a 5G phone renders WiFi almost unnecessary. It’s like comparing travel speed via bicycle to a car. 5G’s faster speeds mean far quicker web page loading and much speedier downloads and uploads of large files, such as photos and especially video. And, you’ll suffer less streaming video buffering and much less lag, “super-low” latency, as Apple puts it, to vastly improve online gameplay.

All three major U.S. carriers, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, now offer “nationwide” 5G coverage, defined by the FCC as covering at least 200,000 million people.

Not only do all four iPhone 12 models support what Apple claims is the widest assortment of 5G frequencies, but somewhat surprisingly, all models support both versions of 5G: the so-called “sub-6” that make up the bulk of 5G, as well as “mmWave” technology that can deliver peak speeds of 4 Gbps under optimal conditions, which usually is line-of-site to the cellular transmitter. mmWave networks are still developing and expanding, such as the new Verizon 5G UWB (ultrawideband) network, so the iPhone 12 is, in many ways, 5G future proof.

A much faster processor

All four iPhone 12 models are equipped with Apple’s latest A14 Bionic processing chip, which the company claims is the most powerful found in a smartphone. This potent chip is smaller than most – 5nm – but is packed with 11.8 trillion (with a “t”) transistors. The tiny A14 is integrated with all other of the iPhone’s components and operating system which promises to make the iPhone 12 far more power-efficient and perform all iPhone functions appreciably faster than all previous iPhones, and likely any other smartphone.

While Apple didn’t cite battery life as an improvement, it’s expected that the iPhone 12s won’t provide less power time than iPhone 11. Apple says that the new A14 Bionic chip is more efficient than the iPhone 11’s A13 processor, and a “smart data mode” means that if no 5G network is detected, the iPhones will automatically switch to a less power-hungry 4G LTE connection.

A tougher, better display

Apple worked with Corning, the makers of Gorilla Glass, to create Ceramic Shield, a display that has a 4x better chance of not getting cracked if the phone drops out of your pocket. The OLED display itself is packed with more pixels to make text more readable and photos sharper, with deeper blacks along with brighter and more shades of color.

Apple was able to fit a larger display into iPhone 12 models while maintaining approximately the same size body as the iPhone 11 models. The iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, the same size as the iPhone 11, but it’s OLED, rather than LCD, and higher resolution – a Super Retina XDR (2532 x 1170) display versus a Liquid Retina HD display (1792 x 828 pixels). The iPhone 12 also supports HDR. The new iPhone 12 Mini has a 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display. Both iPhone 12 Pro models also have Super Retina XDR displays. The iPhone 12 Pro moves up from a 5.8-inch to a 6.1-inch display, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max moves up from a 6.5-inch to a 6.7-inch display.

Faster and easier charging and accessory swapping

From a practical everyday usage point-of-view, iPhone 12 brings snap-on accessories and more precise and faster charging. All four models also are equipped with an Apple technology called MagSafe. Internal magnets allow you to quickly snap-on (and snap-off) cases and accessories rather than wrestle with them; Apple says it will have leather and silicone MagSafe case varieties at launch. One such add-on is a MagSafe Wallet, a small slip pocket that snaps onto the iPhone back – even if a MagSafe case is already attached – to store a couple of credit cards or some folded cash.

The MagSafe system also means no more hunting for the wireless charging sweet spot. iPhone 12 will simply magnetically snap onto the right spot on a compatible charger. There is one coming from Apple, which resembles the button charger you get with an Apple Watch. Plus, the iPhone 12 can be wirelessly charged at 15 watts instead of the usual 5 watts, so you won’t need to wait as long for a power fill up.

To save the environment, Apple won’t include a charging block – if you own an iPhone, you probably own dozens. All iPhone 12 models are fast-charge capable and can be charged up to 50 percent with a 20-watt or higher charger. But don’t expect those speeds from one of your old iPhone chargers; most are just 5 watts. You will get a USB-C to Lightning charging cable, which you will need to get high-speed wired charging.

Better cameras for iPhone 12 Pro models

If photography and video capture is a primary function for you, you should consider one of the two iPhone 12 Pro models. While all of the iPhone 12 models have the same 12MP front camera, the Pro models get some significant upgrades. For instance, iPhone 12 Pro is equipped with a 65mm telephoto lens, compared to a 52mm lens on the standard iPhone 12, which lets you optically zoom 2.5x. And if you zoom from the 26mm ultrawide lens, you get a 5x optical zoom as you move from ultrawide to telephoto. 

iPhone 12 Pro models cameras also have larger sensors to capture more detail in low light. With new LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanning, autofocus is six times faster and more accurate, even in low light or in the dark. For professional photographers, a new Apple ProRAW lets snappers capture stills in RAW with full effects possible in Apple’s own or third-party photo editing apps coming later this year.

Most impressively for videographers, the iPhone 12 models will be the first smartphone to capture, view, and edit in 10-bit Dolby HDR in 4K at 60 fps. iPhone 12 models support other HDR standards as well for capture high-contrast footage, all editable on the phone with Apple’s photo and video apps. And to capture cinema-like video, the iPhone 12 Pro models deploy sensor shift-based optical image stabilization (OiS) to keep action footage smooth and steady.

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 12 will be available for pre-order on October 16th and in stores on October 23rd,  starting at $699. The iPhone 12 Mini will be available for pre-order on November 6th and in stores on November 13th, starting at $799. Both standard iPhone 12 models, encased in recycled aluminum, are available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB versions, in blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED. If you trade-in a previous iPhone, monthly installments could drop to $12.99 for the iPhone 12 Mini and $15.99 for the 6.1-inch model.

The iPhone 12 Pro will be available for pre-order on October 16th and in stores on October 23rd,  starting at $999. The iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on November 6th and in stores on November 13th, starting at $1,099. Both iPhone 12 Pro models, encased in surgical stainless steel, are available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions, in silver, graphite, gold, and the new Pacific blue.

[Image credit: Apple]

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