Apple launched its latest Apple iPhone 12 smartphone on 2020 October 13 alongside the iPhone 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max. It comes with fast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min, as well as an aggressive price tag for its high-end specs and features. The phone arrives in Black, White, Red, Green, and Blue. There are three price tags for the iPhone 12 in Kenya, and the different memory variants. Its price in Kenya starts at Ksh. Ksh. 109,500 for the 64GB version.
Inside the box
The charging cable, the charging brick, and the earphones are also no longer included in the box. If you haven’t purchased an iPhone recently or don’t have those cables lying around the house, you must include them in your purchase. You can visit the official product website by following this link.
Super Retina XDR OLED display
The biggest upgrade, the most important one we’re seeing this year, is finally an OLED screen on these iPhones. So we have OLED displays that are brighter with higher contrast ratios, better colors, and higher resolution than what was on the iPhone 11. These Super Retina XDR OLED displays are in the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini. Number two, this is way more important. It’s that new ceramic shield in these screens. It’s tech where they’ve supposedly grown tiny ceramic crystals inside the glass layer to make these screens way more durable. And it, according to Apple, has four times better drop performance than previous screens on iPhones.
5G connectivity
The Apple iPhone 12 smartphone is 5G ready! Now, whether or not the world is ready for 5G is a totally different question that I won’t get into in this review. But it is comforting to know that you’re buying a phone that will stand the test of time once 5G becomes more widespread. And trust me, when it does become available, it will be speedy.
iPhone 12 design and build
Now, speaking of standing the test of time, the Apple iPhone 12 is built to last. It has IP68 dust/water resistance (up to 6m for 30 mins), better scratch resistance in the oleophobic coating, and better drop resistance. Apple says they really drop resistance. They’ve added a ceramic shield, which sounds fancy and confusing because ceramic is more durable than glass, yes! But it is not transparent. Somehow, they made a clear ceramic covering to protect the glass on this phone. Apple says that it’s four times more drop-resistant than the previous generation, which is the iPhone 11, which was pretty good at holding up to drops.
Camera performance
They’ve also improved on other stuff. For example, they have the new Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) chip with better GPU and machine learning performance. They also have a new upgraded camera system. It still has two lenses, but the ultra-wide now supports low-light photos, which is nice. The software has been improved across the whole camera system. Regarding the camera, the setup is not all that different from last year’s iPhone 11.
As mentioned already, it still has the two lenses on the back: a wide-angle (12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) and an ultra-wide-angle (12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm, 1/3.6), no telephoto lens on this one. Except for this time, it has night mode on both lenses. In fact, it has night mode on the front camera and night mode for video. Needless to say, you will be able to use this camera in low light conditions for just about anything, even portrait mode. It’s also changed how it processes the video and the photos.
Next level processing
It does come with Apple’s computational photography called Deep Fusion, HDR3, and Dolby Vision, which is almost movie quality. You will have what looks like professionally edited photography and videos straight from your iPhone 12. The hardware and software have been optimized for the best 5G experience. Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) chipset has a smaller five-nanometer transistor, which pushes the most powerful chip and smartphone generations ahead. And all of the iPhone 12 models have the same processor.
MagSafe accessories
Apple has introduced MagSafe, which combines magnets, a magnetometer, and an NFC reader. It offers a combination of mounting accessories and a charging system. With MagSafe on the iPhone 12, you will be able to properly align your phone and the wireless charger or Snap on a MagSafe case, wallet, or both. Basically, MagSafe is an intelligent system of magnets that connects accessories in a whole new way.
Remarks!
The iPhone 12 and the Apple iPhone 12 mini are essentially the same phones. Unless specified otherwise, almost everything you read in this review applies to both devices. That is, in case you are deciding between the two. After this review, the choice should now be clear for you to make.
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Exploring Alternative iOS Value: How the iPhone 12 Compares to Legacy Flagships
While the upgraded design and 5G capabilities make this device a stellar choice, budget-conscious shoppers looking for maximum value can explore older generations that still deliver incredible performance. If upfront cost is your primary concern, the dependable Apple iPhone 11 remains an excellent entry point into the iOS ecosystem with reliable daily battery life and a capable dual-camera setup. On the other hand, if you prefer a massive screen and premium build quality without paying modern flagship prices, opting for a previous-generation tier like the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max gives you a triple-lens system and a expansive Super Retina display at a massive discount.
