For the first time ever, the new Apple lineup contains four smartphones. We are talking about iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Mini, and 12 Pro Max. This year, consumers have more choices but several people also have more confusion in mind. Should you opt for iPhone 12 or 12 Pro or you should wait for the Mini and the Pro Max? A lot of potential buyers are wondering which is the best iPhone to buy in terms of value for money among the 2020 lineup, naturally depending on their needs. If you are one of them, this comparison will help you. We will highlight the main differences between iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Mini, and 12 Pro Max in order to let you understand which one is worth buying.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 12 Mini vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
| Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Apple iPhone 12 Mini | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, 164 g | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, 189 g | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm, 135 g | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm, 228 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.1 inches, 1170 x 2532p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.1 inches, 1170 x 2532p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 5.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.7 inches, 1284 x 2778p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core | Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core | Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core | Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 512 GB | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 512 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 14 | iOS 14 | iOS 14 | iOS 14 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + LiDAR scanner, f/1.6 + f/2.0 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + LiDAR scanner, f/1.6 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 2815 mAh, fast charging 20W, Qi fast wireless charging 15W | 2815 mAh, fast charging 20W, fast wireless charging 15W | 2227 mAh, fast charging 20W, Qi fast wireless charging 15W | 3687 mAh, fast charging 20W, Qi fast wireless charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM, 5G, MagSafe, IP68 waterproof | Optional Dual SIM slot, optional eSIM, 5G, MagSafe, IP68 waterproof | Dual SIM slot, 5G, waterproof IP68, optional eSIM | Dual SIM slot, 5G, waterproof IP68, optional eSIM |
Design
The iPhone 12 lineup comes with exactly the same design with the exception of the camera module, the dimensions and the weight. The iPhone 12 Mini is the most beautiful because it is the most compact and even the lightest Apple phone of the lineup. But it is not for everyone due to its very small display. Despite the different dimensions and battery capacities, the four iPhones come with exactly the same thickness: 7.4 mm. What changes is the weight. All of them are waterproof up to 6 meters deep for max 30 minutes with the IP68 certification.
Display
The best display belongs to the 12 Pro Max. It is wider than the other phones (6.7 inches) and it contains more pixels. But the differences between the display of the Pro Max and the other variants are marginal, at least if we compare it with iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. These two handsets come with exactly the same panel, while the iPhone 12 Mini has an inferior and smaller display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels (instead of 1170 x 2532 pixels of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro). These devices do not rely on an in-display fingerprint reader, but they got Face ID thanks to the sensors found in the notch.
Hardware/Software
iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Mini, and 12 Pro Max are powered by the same chipset: the Apple A14 Bionic built at 5 nm with 5G support thanks to an external modem. What changes are the memory configurations: the 12 Pro and Pro Max are actually better because they pack 6 GB of RAM, while you get just 4 GB with iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. Further, with the Pro variants, you can get up to 512 GB of internal storage instead of 256 GB. This may be relevant on a phone without expandable storage.
Camera
Besides packing more RAM, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have a better camera department. They include two more sensors in their camera modules: a 12 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and OIS, and a LiDAR scanner to calculate depth info for AR appliances. With the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini, you get the same main camera and the same ultrawide camera as the Pro variants, but they lack the LiDAR scanner and the telephoto lens. There are no differences when it comes to the front cameras.
Battery
With its bigger 3687 mAh battery, 12 Pro Max is the battery life champion. Right after, we got iPhone 12 and 12 Pro with 2815 mAh, while the iPhone 12 Mini takes the last place with its 2227 mAh battery.
Price
Which iPhone should you go for? It depends on your needs. The 12 Pro Max is naturally the best, but it is costlier. You do not need it if you are not a productivity user and, if you are ok with smaller dimensions and you do not need the best cameras, the iPhone 12 Mini can be enough for you. The iPhone 12 is an iPhone 12 Mini with bigger dimensions, a bigger battery, and a slightly better display, while the 12 Pro is just a smaller Pro Max with a smaller battery. The vanilla version starts at $799/€939, 12 Pro begins at $999/€1189, iPhone 12 Mini costs $699/€839 in its base variant, and the 12 Pro Max starts from $1099/€1289 (note that prices vary depending on the market). Which one would you pick?
- Read More: Anker announces Doraemon-themed iPhone 12 charging accessories; pre-orders begin November 4
Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 12 Mini vs Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone 12
PROS
- Good quality price ratio
- Nice dimensions
- Very good display
- Same display and battery as the Pro variant
CONS
- Inferior cameras to Pro versions
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
PROS
- Nice dimensions
- LiDAR scanner
- Top camera department
- Better hardware than iPhone 12 and 12 Mini
CONS
- Price
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
PROS
- Very compact
- More affordable
- Lighter
- Same cameras as the iPhone 12
CONS
- Inferior cameras to Pro variants
