The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have finally arrived in the UAE.
Apple has done well over the past few years to differentiate its regular gadgets from the Pro lineup, which it says is meant for professionals or people who really want the best next-gen tech.
This year is different however, as the new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are vastly more similar than they are different, at least from a design perspective.
Save for different colour options (the Pro models get the same sort of matte finish as last-year, but in new colours such as gold) and the existence of a new camera sensor, there isn’t much different from a design perspective.
In fact, we’d reckon that most current iPhone users won’t be able to tell the difference (and definitely not from the front). That mean that Android users certainly won’t.
So which is best for you?
What a looker
The two new iPhones look very much the same, but that’s not where the similarities end.
Both rock a Super Retina XDR display that stretches to 6.1-inches. Both have a pixel resolution of 460ppi, and include a tougher glass material that protect it from the odd bump and bruise. And both are rated to withstand being submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes (but we’d still recommend a good action camera if you want to take pictures of fishes).
Proper fast
Both iPhones are also incredibly fast, thanks to Apple’s latest and greatest A14 Bionic chip which comes with Apple’s next-generation Neural Engine. In theory, that means that these devices should be the fastest Apple has ever produced. In practice, that will translate to virtually seamless multitasking from browsing the web, watching movies, playing games and everything in between.
In Apple’s MacBook, the Pro moniker is reserved for computers that have huge amounts of grunt under the hood. Not here, as the iPhone 12 keeps pace with the iPhone 12 Pro no matter what you throw at it.
Both phones also rock the same 5G capability. Keep in mind that not everywhere in the UAE currently supports 5G speeds, and so both models have a clever mode that will help conserve battery life when 5G cannot be found. And while 5G might not be the biggest feature on many smartphone shoppers wish list because of the lack of coverage, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of future proofing.
What’s MagSafe?
Both new blowers also use Apple’s MagSafe tech, which makes snapping cases on and off a doddle. It also means both support the new MagSfe charger, which will allow the iPhone to juice-up wirelessly.
We’re quietly excited about the new MagSafe capabiltiies of the iPhones. There should be loads more applications for the technology, including additional accessories and mounts. We reckon it is also a feature that will soon be copied by some of Apple’s less inventive Android competitors.
Pixel Perfect
The Pro model really starts to come into the name in the camera department.
While video is more or less the same (both rock image stabilization, 4K video at 24 frames per second, and the like) the iPhone 12 Pro has an additional telephoto lens and a LiDAR sensor. Otherwise, both phones have a regular and wide-angle snapper.
That extra telephoto and LiDAR scanner combo however really improves performance, especially in low-light. You will lock on to subjects in the blink of an eye, and it’s never been easier to get those creamy bokeh portrait shots.
What’s it cost?
The biggest difference between the two is in the price tag.
The iPhone 12 costs around US$800 (AED3.400) while the iPhone 12 Pro goes for US$1,150 (AED4,200). Now that price is a tad misleading given the regular iPhone 12 come with just 64GB of storage (which is not enough given it is 2020) and the iPhone 12 Pro has 128GB.
Which is best?
In the past, iPhones with the Pro name had a better camera and a better screen, both of which always warranted the extra cash for the upgrade. But this year is different.
This year the iPhone 12 is truly stellar, and more like the Pro version than is different. And if you don’t overly use your phone camera – you really won’t miss the telephoto lens.
Photographers and those who take the ‘gram seriously will still want to opt for the iPhone 12 Pro, but for everyone else the regular iPhone 12 is a stellar smartphone. Albeit one that could do with a tad more base memory.
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