Sony today made its Imaging Edge Webcam software available for Macs, letting Mac uses transform their Sony cameras into webcams that can be used in lieu of built-in Mac webcams.
Sony first unveiled its Imaging Edge Webcam software for PCs in August, with the initial software limited to Windows 10 machines. At the time, Sony promised a fall expansion to the Mac, which has now happened.
Imaging Edge Webcam works with a wide range of popular E-mount, A-mount, and DSC cameras, with a full list available on Sony's website.
If you have a compatible Sony camera, the Imaging Edge Webcam software is free to download from the Sony website. macOS 10.13 to macOS 10.15 is required for the software to run.
Last month, Apple introduced a new iPad Air with a larger 10.9-inch edge-to-edge display, a faster A14 Bionic chip, and a USB-C port instead of Lightning. It is also the first Apple device to feature Touch ID built into the power button.
Apple says the new iPad Air will be available at some point in October, and ahead of the launch, cellular models of the device have now received the requisite FCC approval in the United States, as alerted to us by MyHealthyApple.com. Wi-Fi models received approval last month.
Apple has yet to provide a specific release date for the new iPad Air, but rumors suggest that the device could launch Friday, October 23, in which case orders could begin as soon as tomorrow. Pricing starts at $599 for Wi-Fi models, while cellular models start at $729, with 64GB and 256GB storage capacities available.
Honda this week introduced the 2021 Accord with upgraded styling and tech features, including wireless CarPlay and Android Auto integration on the higher-end EX-L and Touring trims, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen display.
Wireless CarPlay works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for the iPhone to be connected to the infotainment system with a Lightning cable. Together with wireless charging, these features free up the USB ports in the vehicle, which have been moved to the front of the center console for easier access.
Hyundai has also added wireless CarPlay and Android Auto to the 2021 Santa Fe, on models that are not equipped with navigation. Wired CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard on navigation-equipped models. The vehicle is now equipped with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, an upgrade from the 7-inch display in previous models.
In addition to Honda and Hyundai, wireless CarPlay is available in select vehicles sold by Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Alpine and Pioneer also offer aftermarket wireless CarPlay systems for self installation.
CarPlay is Apple's in-car platform that enables drivers to access a range of iPhone apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, WhatsApp, and Downcast. Since iOS 12, third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze have also been supported.
The 2021 Accord went on sale at Honda dealerships in the United States earlier this week, with pricing starting at $31,090 for a trim equipped with wireless CarPlay. The 2021 Santa Fe will arrive at Hyundai dealerships in the United States by the end of the year, but pricing was not disclosed in the press release.
In 2020, Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro as the successors to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, with a new squared-off industrial design, the A14 Bionic chip, OLED displays, and MagSafe across the lineup.
The iPhone 12 starts at $599, and while the iPhone 12 Pro has now been discontinued, it is sometimes available from some third-party stores for prices well below $999. As these iPhones share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the lower-cost model to save money, or opt for the high-end Pro model? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you.
Comparing the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro share an overwhelming majority of features, such as display size, processor, and 5G. Apple lists these same features of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro:
Similarities
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, featuring HDR, True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and Haptic Touch
Battery life with up to 17 hours of video playback
Ceramic Shield front
Water resistant to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes
Compatible with MagSafe accessories and wireless chargers
Available in 128GB and 256GB
Lightning connector
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a number of notable features. Even so, there are some key differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, including the LiDAR Scanner and Telephoto Lens.
Differences
iPhone 12
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 625 nits max brightness
Aerospace-grade aluminum
12MP Ultra Wide and Wide camera lenses
Optical image stabilization
2x optical zoom out, 2x optical zoom range, and digital zoom up to 5x
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 30 fps
Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
Available in Blue, Green, PRODUCT(RED), White, Black, and Purple
Note that the iPhone 12 Pro Max provides a few additional improvements over the iPhone 12 Pro beyond a much larger 6.7-inch display. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also offers a wider optical zoom range, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, a telephoto lens with a larger aperture, and longer battery life.
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro both have a squared-off industrial design with a flat band around the sides. The dimensions of both devices are identical, although the iPhone 12 is 25 grams lighter. More noticeable is the use of different materials and finishes.
The iPhone 12 uses aerospace-grade aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear, while the iPhone 12 Pro uses surgical-grade stainless steel on the edges and a single piece of matte glass on the rear.
iPhone 12 colors
The two devices also use completely different color palettes. The iPhone 12 is available in Blue, Green, PRODUCT(RED), White, Black, and Purple, while the iPhone 12 Pro is available in Pacific Blue, Gold, Graphite, and Silver.
iPhone 12 Pro colors
The iPhone 12 Pro espouses a more luxurious appearance, but the iPhone 12 still looks like a premium device. As the designs are so similar, and only vary in terms of color options and materials, preference for the iPhone 12 or 12 Pro will come down to personal taste.
Cameras
The main difference between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro is the rear camera setup. The iPhone 12 has a dual 12MP camera system with Ultra Wide and Wide lenses. This facilitates a two-times zoom out. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro has a 12MP camera system with Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lenses. This allows it to offer a two-times zoom in and a two-times zoom out. For video, iPhone 12 Pro can record HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, but iPhone 12 can only do this up to 30fps.
The iPhone 12 Pro also has a LiDAR Scanner, which allows for Night mode portrait photos and enhanced AR experiences.
iPhone 12 Pro triple camera
Beyond hardware, the two devices offer different camera software features. iPhone 12 can use digital zoom to zoom in up to five times, but iPhone 12 Pro doubles this to a ten times digital zoom. iPhone 12 Pro can also capture photos using "Apple ProRAW," a new RAW file format that takes full advantage of the device's rear cameras.
iPhone 12 dual camera
iPhone 12 Pro clearly provides a more capable and fully-featured camera experience, so users who prioritize photo and video capabilities should get the more expensive device, and even consider the iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, beyond the telephoto lens, many of these features, such as Apple ProRAW and LiDAR, will not be important to the majority of users. For most people, the iPhone 12's camera setup will be more than sufficient, and still offers a range of significant advances, such as HDR video recording with Dolby Vision, Night mode time-lapses, and front-facing Night mode and Deep Fusion.
Other iPhone Options
If you feel that the iPhone 12 is slightly out of your budget, and you do not need the new industrial design, 5G connectivity, the latest A14 chip, or OLED Super Retina XDR display, you may wish to consider the iPhone 11. The iPhone 11 uses the same materials as the iPhone 12, has the same 6.1-inch screen size, and starts at $499. The iPhone 11's A13 chip and dual-camera setup are still highly capable for day to day use.
If you feel that the iPhone 12 Pro is too small or you want the absolute best iPhone camera available, you may wish to consider the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a much larger 6.7-inch display, and comes with a wider optical zoom range, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, a telephoto lens with a larger aperture, and longer battery life.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro offers minor advancements over the iPhone 12 in terms of materials and the rear camera. The iPhone 12 Pro is around $100 to $200 more than the iPhone 12, and many people will find it difficult to justify the additional cash simply for more premium materials and a better rear camera setup. Those opting for the iPhone 12 Pro will be seeking the most premium iPhone, or be interested in specific features such as the LiDAR Scanner or the Telephoto lens.
Since the two phones share a large majority of features, including design, an OLED Super Retina XDR display, 5G connectivity, the A14 Bionic chip, battery life, and MagSafe, it is difficult to actively recommend the more expensive model. As the improvements of the iPhone 12 Pro are minor and specific, most people should get the iPhone 12.
One caveat to this recommendation is if you have a need for more than 64GB of storage. The iPhone 12 starts at 64GB for the base model while the iPhone 12 Pro starts at 128GB. If you want or need 128GB or more, then the price gap closes between the models.
Benchmark results for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are beginning to surface on Geekbench, and based on the scores available so far, the new A14 Bionic chip is over 20 percent faster than its A13 predecessor in iPhone 11 Pro models.
One result for the iPhone 12 Pro lists a single-core score of 1,597 and a multi-core score of 4,152, which is 26 percent faster than the iPhone 11 Pro's average single-core and multi-core scores of 1,327 and 3,289 respectively. Likewise, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is around 20-25 percent faster than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, although there are only two results so far.
As to be expected, iPhone 12 Pro performance appears to be roughly in line with the new iPad Air, which is also equipped with the A14 Bionic chip. In one result, for example, the new iPad Air had single-core and multi-core scores of 1,583 and 4,198 respectively.
iPhone13,3 corresponds with the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro
It's worth noting that some results for the iPhone 12 Pro models are showing significantly lower multi-core scores, but Geekbench founder John Poole informed MacRumors that this is common with brand new iPhones with a fresh "out of box setup," as the devices could be in the process of being restored among other factors.
As noted by Apple, the A14 Bionic chip is the fastest smartphone chip ever, and the first to be built on a 5-nanometer process. The chip's integrated Neural Engine has also been doubled from 8-cores to 16-cores, making it up to 80 percent faster for machine learning tasks, such as applying Deep Fusion to improve detail in photos.
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro pre-orders begin tomorrow at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max on November 6.
Following the debut of the iPhone 12 series, Apple is offering U.K. customers pre-approval for its monthly payment plan ahead of when first pre-orders begin this Friday.
Customers planning to make 24 monthly payments of £54.12 at 0% APR can use the Apple Store app on the iPhone to go through all of the pre-approval steps to get ready to purchase an 6.1-inch iPhone 12 or 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro on October 16.
"Get Ready" involves these three steps:
Choose your iPhone model and features, add a trade-in if you want, and select monthly payments.
Get approved now for a 24-month, no-interest loan from Barclays.
At 1:00 p.m. U.K. time on Friday, 16 October, use the Apple Store app on your iPhone to complete your order.
Pre-approvals are available until 05:00 a.m. U.K. time on Friday October 16.
Customers planning to pay in full can get ready by setting up Apple Pay or adding a payment card to their account, and adding their preferred iPhone to Favorites so they can check out quickly at pre-order.
Pre-sales for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro in Taiwan sold out within just 45 minutes, reports DigiTimes.
Market sources report that iPhone 12 and 12 Pro pre-orders from Taiwanese telecoms operators, including Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), and Taiwan Mobile, were extremely positive. Pre-orders opened yesterday, and CHT reports that its entire iPhone 12 pre-sales quota was sold out in 45 minutes.
65 percent of pre-orders from CHT were apparently for the iPhone 12, and FET reports that its pre-orders of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro were evenly split. Moreover, FET says that its iPhone 12 pre-orders were three times higher than last year's iPhone 11 lineup.
The same sources believe that iPhone 12 lineup will significantly help to accelerate demand for 5G, with 5G service subscribers expected to increase rapidly to one million in Taiwan by early 2021.
The report is the first concrete information about the iPhone 12 lineup's sales figures and model split after months of speculation.
iPhone 12 shipments could reach as many as 80 million units by the end of the year thanks to Apple's more affordable pricing strategy, according to market observers (via DigiTimes).
The pricing dynamics, coupled with a number [of] technology updates, including a faster A14 processor, improved product designs and camera functionalities, is expected to bring a new round of sales growth for Apple, said the observers.
Shipments of the new iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, will at least top 70 million units by the end 2020, with the possibility of hitting 80 million barring a further escalation of the US-China trade conflicts, they said.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max start at $999 and $1,099, respectively, which are the same prices that the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max were when they launched last year. However, the 256GB and 512GB storage options for both iPhone 12 Pro models are $50 cheaper than their predecessors were at those capacities. Meanwhile the iPhone 12 starts at $799, and the iPhone 12 mini starts at a more affordable $699 entry point.
Apple's decision to adopt a two-phase shipment strategy – with the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro becoming available later this month and the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini arriving in November – is not expected to significantly affect demand, and may extend Apple's order pull-ins from the upstream supply chain to the first quarter of 2021, according to DigiTimes' sources.
TSMC, which produces the 5-nanometer A14 Bionic processor in Apple's new iPhones, is expected to benefit most from robust sales. TSMC also fabricates the A14 chips in Apple's iPads, which are currently seeing a surge in popularity, and the foundry is expected to roll out over 150,000 wafers for 5nm chips in the fourth quarter of 2020, with Apple accounting for about 90% of related orders.
Foxconn remains Apple's main iPhone assembler, and has reportedly secured the bulk of orders for the new iPhone 12 series through the first quarter of 2021. Foxconn is also the sole supplier of the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max and is estimated to be handling over 70% of the orders for the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, according to DigiTimes.
Apple's iPhone 12 event this week was a pre-recorded online production, which meant there was no usual press hands-on time with the new iPhones immediately after. Instead, Apple debuted an iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on "Good Morning America," allowing ABC News tech reporter Becky Worley to have some time with the devices.
The five-minute segment offers a better idea of what the iPhone 12 in Blue and the iPhone 12 Pro in Pacific Blue look like in real life, as well as the how the new MagSafe magnetic wallets snap to the back of them.
The segment also includes a short interview with Apple VP of iPhone marketing Kaiann Drance, who introduced the iPhone 12 during Apple's digital event. Asked about the lack of EarPods and power adaptor in the iPhone box, France argued that the decision to leave them out was because it was "the right thing to do" because customers often already own them, and the new handsets have so much more to offer users anyway.
"Well, there's so much in the phones already. There's a lot of amazing reasons, and we think it's a good price for all that. But for the other reasons I mentioned, people often already have all that, and it's sitting around in their house. Maybe they have multiple ones of that. So it was kind of the right thing to do in terms of the larger environmental goals and the larger benefits to the environment."
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro launch on Friday, October 23, with pre-orders to take place this Friday. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max are set to become available in November.
According to Apple's regional French online store, every iPhone including the iPhone 12 comes with both a USB-C to Lightning cable and EarPods with a Lightning connector.
The inclusion of earphones is likely due to legislation in France that requires all smartphones to include a "handsfree kit" to protect children under 14 from the potential risk of electromagnetic radio waves. The obligation is based on the precautionary principle, because the risks of exposing developing brains to electromagnetic waves are not clearly known, according to French law:
At the request of the purchaser of a mobile phone, the operator must provide an accessory such as a hands-free kit or headset suitable for children under 14 years of age.
Promoting the use of a mobile phone without a handsfree accessory in France is punishable by a criminal fine of 75,000 euros.
As was rumored before Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 12, all four models ship without EarPods or a power adapter in the box in other countries around the world. In addition, the iPhone 11, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE no longer include these accessories either.
Apple's website encourages customers to use their existing Apple power adapter and headphones or buy these accessories separately, and to help offset the cost, Apple has now lowered the price of its EarPods with a Lightning connector from $29 to $19. Apple's new 20W power adapter for iPhones also retails for $19, down from $29 for its now-discontinued 18W power adapter that was included with the iPhone 11 lineup until now.
Apple touted the environmental benefits of no longer including EarPods or a power adapter with iPhones, noting that the move reduces carbon emissions and avoids the mining and use of rare-earth elements. iPhone 12 models also ship in a thinner box as a result, with Apple claiming that it can fit 70 percent more iPhone boxes on a single pallet during shipping.
(Thanks, Hussain!)
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple introduced the iPad Air at its September 15 event and at the time, said that the tablet would launch at some point in October. We're well into October, but Apple hasn't provided more information on when we might be seeing the new iPad Air models.
Apple's website for the iPad Air still says "Available in October," but Best Buy's Canadian site is listing an October 23 release date, suggesting that the iPad Air could perhaps be available on the same day as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
This date is not listed on Best Buy's website in the United States, nor are other retailers providing a release date at this time so it's possible that it's not accurate, but a launch date on the 23rd alongside the new iPhones makes sense. If October 23 is indeed accurate, pre-orders for the iPad Air could potentially be made available this Friday.
The fourth-generation iPad Air models feature an edge-to-edge display and the same A14 chip that's in the new iPhones, which could be why Apple is holding off on the iPad Air launch and waiting until the new iPhones become available. Apple may have wanted to prevent details about the A14 chip from leaking out before the iPhone 12 lineup was introduced, as the company typically introduces new chips in iPhones, not iPads.
Apple's new iPad Air models come in five colors that include rose gold, green, blue, space gray, and silver, and pricing starts at $599.
Apple today began sending out emails to iTunes and Apple TV customers who have purchased a Disney movie in the past, letting them know that their titles have been upgraded to 4K HDR at no cost.
Several MacRumors readers have received the emails, which come a week after Disney titles in the iTunes Store began showing up as 4K in the United States and Canada.
Many Disney titles are now showing up in the iTunes Store as 4K HDR, including Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars movies. 4K support for Disney movies has been a long awaited feature and it has been notably absent for years following the debut of 4K iTunes content in 2017.
Until recently, Disney movies purchased from the iTunes Store were only available in HD.
Apple's new iPhone 12 models are equipped with a ring of magnets in the back that allows them to work with a range of new accessories, including a new magnet-based MagSafe charger that snaps right onto the back of the device.
Apple is creating a line of magnetic accessories, and third-party companies are also working on useful new accessories that will be able to take advantage of the magnetic system. One company that plans to make use of that magnet ring in the iPhone 12 models is PopSocket.
PopSocket, which makes a super popular line of Grip accessories that attach to the back with adhesive, told TechCrunch that it is working on PopSocket products for the new iPhones.
PopSockets will support Apple’s MagSafe technology, TechCrunch has confirmed — meaning you’ll soon be able to pop on and off these ubiquitous iPhone accessories without worrying about the sticker on the back losing its adhesiveness over time and needing a rinse.
Though PopSockets confirmed it has MagSafe products in the works, there's no additional detail available at this time nor do we know when the first MagSafe-based PopSockets might launch.
Apple today announced the upcoming debut of Reigns: Beyond and The Pathless, two new Apple Arcade titles that are coming to the gaming service in the near future.
Reigns: Beyond is the fourth game in the Reigns series, which includes the original Reigns title, Reigns: Her Majesty, and Reigns: Game of Thrones. A card-based game, Reigns: Beyond will ask players to take on the role of an intergalactic indie rock band, using decision cards to chart a path to stardom.
As an intergalactic indie rockband, plot your rise to "stardom," traveling from planet to planet and gig to gig on your quest for fame and fortune. Play local (and not-so-local) clubs throughout the galaxy, recruiting alien band members along the way, and rock out across the cosmos! But make sure you're managing your ship's resources and keeping your crew in check while on this stellar tour because one wrong decision may leave you lost in space!
According to our sister site Touch Arcade, Reigns: Beyond is set to launch on November 6, and it will be an Apple Arcade exclusive. Apple Arcade subscribers interested in the title can sign up to get a notification when it launches.
The Pathless, another new game coming to Apple Arcade, comes from Annapurna Interactive and it's a game that's been in development for some time. Pathless was one of the first games to be announced for Apple Arcade, but as noted by TouchArcade, there were launch delays.
The Pathless is now set to launch on November 12. It's an open world puzzle adventure game where players take on the role of an archer with an eagle companion and fight battles to eliminate a dark curse.
Become the Hunter, a master of archery who travels to a mystical island to dispel a curse of darkness that grips the world. Forge a connection with your eagle companion and soar through the air. Perform fluid acrobatics and execute awesome trick shots with a unique archery system that allows effortless shooting while moving at high speeds.
Apple Arcade subscribers who want to be alerted when The Pathless launches can sign up for notifications through the App Store link.
Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month, and customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV can get a free three month trial to test it out. The promotion will begin on October 22 and coincides with the launch of new iPhones.
In 2020, Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 as the successor to the popular iPhone 11, with a new squared-off industrial design, the A14 Bionic chip, an OLED display, and MagSafe. As devices that are more affordable than the Pro models, but more fully-featured than the low-cost iPhone SE or the now-discontinued iPhone XR, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will likely be the most popular options for consumers.
The previous iPhone 11 continues to be sold by Apple. As it is a year older than the most recent iPhone 12, it starts at $499, while the iPhone 12 mini starts at $599. As the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the older model to save money? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you, but overall the iPhone 12 is a moderate upgrade over the iPhone 11.
Comparing the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12
The iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 share a large number of key features, such as display size and battery life. Apple lists these same features of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12:
Similarities
6.1-inch Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide color, Haptic Touch, and a max brightness of 625 nits
A-Series Bionic chip
Dual 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras with two times optical zoom range, Night mode, Deep Fusion, and optical image stabilisation
Battery life with up to 17 hours of video playback
Aerospace-grade aluminum
Lightning connector
4GB of memory
Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
Available in White, Black, Green, (PRODUCT)RED, and Purple
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a number of notable key features. Even so, there are meaningful differences between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, including display technology, the processor, and 5G connectivity.
Differences
iPhone 11
LCD Liquid Retina HD display with 1792-by-828-pixel resolution at 326 ppi and 1,400:1 contrast ratio
4G LTE cellular
A13 Bionic chip
Wide Lens f/1.8
Next-generation Smart HDR for photos
Water resistant to a depth of two metres for up to 30 minutes
Qi wireless charging
Available in White, Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, and (PRODUCT)RED
iPhone 12
OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and HDR
5G connectivity
A14 Bionic chip
Wide Lens f/1.6
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 30 fps and Night mode Time-lapse
Front-facing Night mode and Deep Fusion
Ceramic Shield front
Water resistant to a depth of six metres for up to 30 minutes
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging
Available in White, Black, Blue, Green, and (PRODUCT)RED
Note that the iPhone 12 Pro provides a few improvements to the iPhone 12 in the areas of camera quality, LiDAR, RAM, and material design. Meanwhile, besides the size of screen and battery, the iPhone 12 mini is otherwise identical to the iPhone 12.
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
The iPhone 12 has a new squared-off industrial design with a flat aluminum band around the sides. Both iPhones use aerospace-grade aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear.
iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12
The designs are actually fairly similar, but with the iPhone 12's edges being flat and the iPhone 11's being convex. The iPhone 12 represents a refinement, or what Apple calls an "elevation," of the iPhone 11's design rather than a complete overhaul, but it does feel markedly more modern, and may well be more secure to hold in the hand. The iPhone 12 is also 0.9mm thinner and 32 grams lighter than the iPhone 11.
Both are available in White, Black, Green, (PRODUCT)RED, and Purple but each generation has some exclusive colors. The iPhone 11 is also available in Yellow, while the iPhone 12 is available in Blue.
Display
The display is an area of major improvement for the iPhone 12. The latest model has an OLED Super Retina XDR display, compared to the iPhone 11's LCD Liquid Retina HD display. The OLED display offers nearly twice the peak brightness of iPhone 11, significantly higher contrast and true blacks, HDR for richer colors, and systemwide color management for industry-leading color accuracy.
The new OLED display also features reduced bezels compared to the previous LCD model. By pushing the display further to the edges, the overall footprint of the device is slightly smaller. iPhone 12 also features stronger Ceramic Shield front glass, with up to four times improved drop performance.
The display improvements of the iPhone 12 are one of the main reasons to get the newer model. The iPhone 11's LCD Liquid Retina display is good but slightly dated. There is no doubt that the advances made with the iPhone 12 and OLED make for a much more attractive device.
A13 vs A14
At the time of its launch, Apple said that the A14 was "the fastest chip in a smartphone" and the first commercial processor to be built on a five-nanometer process. The iPhone 12 is roughly expected to be 18.4% faster in single-core performance and 17.6% faster overall in multi-core scoring than the iPhone 11. For machine learning, the A14 Bionic features a 16-core Neural Engine, resulting in an 80 percent increase in performance.
A13 Bionic is still up to 20 percent faster than the A12, and the performance improvements of the A14 are not so drastic as to make the A13 feel slow by comparison. The A13 in the iPhone 11 remains a very powerful processor that is capable of completing all day-to-day tasks fluidly.
5G Connectivity
The iPhone 12 comes with sub-6Ghz 5G, as well as faster mmWave 5G in the United States. 5G will deliver improved internet speeds for faster downloads and uploads, higher quality video streaming, more responsive gaming, real-time interactivity in apps, FaceTime in high definition, and more. iPhone 12 models also feature a new "Smart Data mode," which extends battery life by intelligently assessing 5G needs and balancing data usage, speed, and power in real time.
The iPhone 11 has the normal 4G LTE cellular connectivity that has been present in smartphones for many years, with no ability to connect to 5G.
In spite of its merits, 5G is only worth it if have an eligible data plan and are in an area with 5G coverage. If you are in an area with good 5G coverage or you intend to keep your iPhone for some years, 5G connectivity with the iPhone 12 may be important to you. As 5G is still in its infancy, the iPhone 11 is still a good smartphone for its price without 5G.
Cameras Similar, Software Better
The cameras of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 are similar. Both feature rear a dual 12MP camera system with an Ultra Wide and a Wide lens. The Ultra Wide lenses have the same apertures, while the iPhone 12 Wide lens has a slightly larger aperture (f/1.6) which offers better low-light sensitivity. They also both share the same 12MP f/2.2 front facing camera.
Features such as Night mode, Deep Fusion, and optical image stabilization are shared between the devices on the Wide camera, but the iPhone 12 extends Night mode and Deep Fusion to the Ultra Wide and front-facing camera as well.
For video, the iPhone 12 can record HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps and time-lapses with Night mode.
For more significant camera improvements, you'll need to step up to the iPhone 12 Pro, which adds a third camera lens for telephoto capabilities, as well as a LiDAR scanner for improved autofocus and other features that rely on depth perception.
Battery and Charging
Both iPhones have a battery life allowing for up to 17 hours of video playback and can charge up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes with a 20W power adapter. Apple says that the iPhone 12 can achieve up to 11 hours of streaming video playback, instead of the ten hours of the iPhone 11, but both models will generally perform similarly when it comes to battery life.
iPhone 12 offers a unique charging feature, however. MagSafe improves wireless charging by easily aligning the charger with the internal coil via an array of magnets. MagSafe chargers can provide up to 15W of power while still accommodating existing Qi-enabled devices.
While the iPhone XR has now been discontinued, it is still available from many third-party stores for prices below $499. The iPhone XR shares the design and display of iPhone 11, but uses an older chip, cannot use camera features such as Night mode, and has a single rear camera only. If you are on a budget or don't need some of the iPhone 11's features such as the dual-camera setup, the iPhone XR may be a better option for you.
If you feel that iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 does not offer enough high-end features, and are interested in more advanced photography and videography, improved AR experiences, and more premium materials, you may wish to consider the iPhone 12 Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the iPhone 12 offers some clear improvements over the iPhone 11 when it comes to the design, camera software, display, 5G, and MagSafe. While the improvements with regards to the camera hardware, processor, and battery life are relatively small, the addition of Night mode and Deep Fusion to the Ultra Wide and front-facing camera of the Phone 12 could be significant for some customers.
5G connectivity, the OLED Super Retina XDR display, refreshed design, improved night photos of the iPhone 12 are the key features that differentiate it from the iPhone 11. While the typical day-to-day experience of the device is probably not significantly different, the overall improvements push us to recommend an iPhone 12 over the iPhone 11, budget permitting.
Apple yesterday introduced several new accessories for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models, including MagSafe cases in both Silicone and Leather along with other MagSafe-based accessories. Apple added several of the new cases to its online store, but leather cases are missing at the current time.
A leather iPhone 12 case shown off during the event
The new Leather Sleeve coming for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
Apple showed off leather cases during the keynote, including a new Leather Sleeve, and in the fine print on the iPhone 12 announcement page, it says that leather cases for the new iPhone models will be available starting on November 6.
MagSafe Charger, Leather Wallet with MagSafe, and iPhone 12 Silicone Case and Clear Case will be available beginning Friday, October 16. iPhone 12 Leather Case will be available beginning Friday, November 6. MagSafe Duo Charger and Leather Sleeve will be available at a later date.
Apple's iPhone 12 Pro announcement article says the same thing, confirming Leather Cases for the new Pro models do indeed exist.
MagSafe Charger, Leather Wallet with MagSafe, and iPhone 12 Pro Silicone Case and Clear Case will be available beginning Friday, October 16. iPhone 12 Pro Leather Case will be available beginning Friday, November 6. MagSafe Duo Charger and Leather Sleeve will be available at a later date.
With the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro launching on Friday, October 23 (with pre-orders to take place this Friday), customers who buy one of those devices but want a leather case will need to wait a few weeks for them to become available.
Apple's Silicone and Clear cases will presumably be available for order this Friday when the first iPhone models go on sale, and all of Apple's cases created for the new iPhones support the MagSafe charging accessory that's able to charge iPhone 12 models at 15W.
One of the key new camera-related features of the iPhone 12 lineup is support for Dolby Vision, a professional HDR video format that provides more accurate, lifelike color along with brighter highlights and darker shadows.
Shot on iPhone 12 Pro in Dolby Vision by Academy Award winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki
Apple says iPhone 12 models are the world's first devices capable of real-time Dolby Vision video recording — up to 4K at 30 FPS on iPhone 12 models and up to 4K at 60 FPS on Pro models. To achieve this, the devices have a new image signal processor that can take two exposures, create a histogram, and generate Dolby Vision metadata based on that histogram.
Apple demonstrated Dolby Vision on the iPhone 12 Pro during its event this week with a video shot by Academy Award winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, and it has since shared behind-the-scenes footage of the video on YouTube.
Dolby Vision support is end-to-end across the iPhone 12 lineup, meaning that users can capture, edit, and play back video in Dolby Vision directly on the devices. Dolby Vision grading is processed live and sustained during editing, which can be done in the Photos, iMovie, or Clips apps on the iPhone, or in Final Cut Pro on the Mac starting later this year.
Apple today seeded the tenth beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the ninth beta and nearly four months after the new update was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything features a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.
The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on. Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.
Tabs now support webpage previews, there's a built-in language translation feature, Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari, and YouTube supports 4K video playback. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.
Messages has been brought in line with the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.
Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.
For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup.
Update October 15: The update has also been released to members of the public beta program.
