Apple unveils four new iPhone 12 smartphones

If you’re in the market for a new iPhone, there will be four new ones to choose from after Apple launched its latest iPhone 12.

The new phones mark a new design phase for the company’s iconic phone. The edges are now more squared, with aluminum trim and glass on both the front and back. It’s also the widest gap in size for a model year to date, with screen sizes ranging from 5.4-inches to 6.7-inches.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

In another first, the word “mini” is now attached to an iPhone model. Apple has used it before for the iPad and Mac, but never the iPhone. The iPhone mini is the smallest of the bunch with the 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and a resolution of 2340 x 1080. And they’re also 5G-enabled, so they’ll be ready when that next-generation network gets going.

It shares all the same specs with the larger 6.1-inch iPhone 12, save for the things related to size, like weight, plus screen and battery size. That means you get Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, the same rear camera array and storage options (64GB, 128GB, 256GB).

Apple says the new architecture inside, driven by the A14 chip, is much faster, and therefore capable of more dynamic console-like gaming experiences. As a showcase title, Apple showed a League of Legends: Wild Rift demo to what’s possible when it launches on iOS soon.

The camera system is different from previous iPhones, and was built to shoot better in any situation through machine learning. The front-facing camera also gets Night mode support for the first time, making selfies easier to shoot in low-light conditions.

On the back of both phones is a MagSafe magnet that you can attach accessories to, like cases, chargers and other products that may come soon. You can still wirelessly charge either phone, but there will be chargers that “lock” the phone in place for the best maximum charge.

They’re also coming in a bunch of colours, including black, white, blue, green and Product Red.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max

Moving up, you get the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max as the two flagships of the new quartet. They each maintain the same design principles of the other two, so will look similar, and sport the same basic features, like the MagSafe magnet on the back and internal components.

Some things are different, however. You get three lenses here instead of two. There is a LIDAR sensor on the rear camera that Apple says will help improve image quality and augmented reality accuracy. Apple’s Deep Fusion processing should also let colours pop out a little more, yet maintain a higher level of accuracy than on any previous iPhone.

Machine learning will help deliver better low-light images. That’s including very dark conditions where it may have been harder to get better shots in the past. The iPhone 12 Pro models will be the first to really tackle long exposure photography. Apple also introduced ProRAW, its own RAW format to bring out even more editing capabilities to images. Video also gets a boost through Dolby Vision HDR support, which should make a difference in how footage looks.

The Super Retina XDR displays are bolder and should continue the excellent screen performance Apple has been known for. With 5G connectivity inside, you’ll be ready for the next-gen network when it’s readily available.

There are also new colours: silver, gold, blue and graphite.

Coming soon

You can pre-order the new iPhones starting October 16, though they won’t all come out at the same time. Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro start on Oct. 16, with both phones available on October 23. The iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max will start pre-orders November 6, with availability on November 13.