iPhone 12 Pro Review: Significant Increase

Well there is nothing wrong if there is a budget. The question is, how far is the difference between Apple’s latest flagships in 2020 when compared to the iPhone 11 Pro series? The answer depends on how you use a smartphone. It could be significant, it could be the same.

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to try the iPhone 12 Pro for some time, borrowing the unit from K2Gadgets. And here are experiences and a few testimonials about the latest iPhone camera.

Design

With the iPhone 12 series, Apple seems to want to combine the design language of their modern smartphones with old series such as the iPhone 4/5. Be the iPhone 12 Pro with flat sides, no longer rounded or circular. Some people think that the sharp angle will cause discomfort in the palms.

But in the hand, it just feels comfortable, like holding the iPhone 5 (the big version), even though the dimensions are also quite small for today’s flagship smartphone standards. Despite the larger screen, the iPhone 12 Pro is only 0.1mm wider and 7.4mm thinner, thanks to a new design and a slimmer display bezel.

The unit I tried was the hero color, namely Pacific Blue. The blue is very muted, in contrast to the usual iPhone 12 blue which is a bit flashy. With a layer of Gorilla Glass on the front and back glass, the stainless steel frame is easy to get dirty or leave fingerprints on. So if you want to keep it clean, you have to use an additional case.

Display

Apart from the slightly larger dimensions, I didn’t find any significant difference on the iPhone 12 Pro screen, compared to the previous generation Pro series. Both use the Super Retina XDR OLED screen, 1170p with a density of 460 ppi. Its dimensions are 6.1 inches, resembling the iPhone 11, but with the same physical dimensions as the 11 Pro.

So when I put my iPhone XR on the side, it still looks smaller. Apple also provides extra protection to the windshield, with a ceramic coating that is more scratch resistant and shatter resistant when dropped. This screen supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 standards and a brightness of up to 1200 nits.

The four bezels are really thin and balanced in thickness, and this is what makes the dimensions more or less the same, even though the screen is wider. But indeed, the bangs or notches have the same dimensions. Because Apple still needs space to put the sensors needed for the Face ID security feature.

Camera

At first glance, there is nothing different from the iPhone 12 Pro camera design when viewed from the outside. However, if you look carefully, there is an additional sensor in the lower right corner of the camera frame, namely the LiDAR Scanner, which provides additional functions. Then what about the three 12MP camera sensor setups?

In general, the resolution is the same, but Apple provides a hardware upgrade to the main sensor. Namely at a larger diaphragm at f / 1.6, which Apple claims can capture 27% more light. As well as an upgraded 7-layer lens, and optical stabilization (OIS) technology which is also claimed to be more stable than the iPhone 11 Pro. While the specifications of the other two sensors are the same; 12MP ultra-wide f / 2.4 and telephoto 2x optical zoom f / 2.0 with OIS.

What’s new in the iPhone 12 Pro for the ability to take photos is a night mode that can be activated when using the ultra-wide sensor (and front camera sensor), as well as night portrait mode using the LiDAR Scanner. Simply put, this is a much more sophisticated version of the depth sensor from Apple, so it can detect all existing objects accurately, even in low light conditions.

I myself don’t have time to try the photo quality at night. But for indoor and outdoor conditions in the evening, the result is… 11:12 am even with the iPhone XR. The difference is visible if we compare it side by side, where the iPhone 12 Pro has a wider dynamic range, provides better and more balanced shadows, and less noise. Here is a comparison of the two, the iPhone XR on the left and the 12 Pro on the right.

Also in situations where there is a corner of the room that is darker on one side, and lighter on the other. Better HDR capabilities make overall photos appear more detailed and balanced on the iPhone 12 Pro. But if the photo conditions are outdoor, the light is abundant, it will be difficult to find the difference.

The four cameras (front and rear) support video recording at up to 4K 60fps, with Cinematic Stabilization that combines EIS and OIS (on supported sensors), and Expanded Dynamic Range. What’s new is the Dolby Vision HDR format on video. But to be able to enjoy it, you also need a smartphone or monitor that supports playing this format.

Features

Run iOS 14, iPhone 12 Pro provides more or less the same features as several previous generations, there is no massive difference. The menu display can now be customized with widgets, and FaceTime Video calls already support the picture-in-picture (PiP) feature, so you can still stare at the other person even though you have access to other applications.

A quite crucial improvement in iOS 14 for me is the security feature, where users can finally choose the browser application (browser) and default email to applications other than Apple’s. And also the point in the form of a dot on the right, which indicates when the application is accessing the camera or microphone, so that we as users will be more aware.

Well, new features that are exclusive to the iPhone 12 series are MagSafe. The iPhone 12 Pro supports fast charging of up to 20 watts (which is sold separately, considering that now what is included in the box is a USB-C to lightning adapter cable only). 30 minutes of charging is claimed to reach 59%, and 60 minutes reaches 90%.

Meanwhile, for wireless charging, it supports up to 15 watts using a MagSafe charger. MagSafe is a little different from other wireless chargers, where the device will stick to the back of the iPhone with a magnet and is strong enough. So that the smartphone can still be used or held in hand.

Well, MagSafe is not just for charging, but can be paired with other accessories. Like the MagSafe Wallet in the form of a card wallet, where it can be attached practically, there is no need to use the wallet case in full. In the future, Apple will open opportunities for third-party accessory manufacturers to take advantage of this new technology in the iPhone 12.

For Apple devices, there is no need to doubt the availability of the type. One of the practical uses of the MagSafe is when it is integrated with a car holder. Can stick only with magnets, and can charge wirelessly. Just stick it, minimalism, aka no need for clamps on all four sides of the smartphone.

iPhone 12 Pro Price tag

Currently, iPhone 12 Pro not yet officially present in Indonesia. But looking at prices from nearby countries such as Singapore, the cheapest price for the 128GB memory variant is around Rp. 17 million. And the difference is around Rp. 2-3 million for the other two capacities (256GB & 512GB). While the iPhone 11 Pro 64GB is officially sold for IDR 15 million.

When compared to the 11 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro will feel different in terms of design, screen size, and camera (whose significance depends on the needs of Gizmo friends). New features like MagSafe can be considered “a nice thing to have”, aka not really necessary. Although it can be present as a differentiation in itself.

Or if you want to change to a new iPhone without having to spend too much, you can also consider the iPhone 12, which now has the same OLED screen. If you don’t need the ProRAW feature, Dolby Vision HDR or the presence of a telephoto sensor, of course this is very sufficient, especially using other identical specifications.

iPhone 12 Pro Tech Specs