Angular frame with perilla leaf canned design, somewhat uncomfortable to hold with one hand
Bump reduced and bezel thinner, but no noticeable difference from iPhone X
0.5x zoom for foreground shots, wide-angle used even in portrait mode
Vivid colors in shade and backlight... bright photos at night with Night mode
iPhone 12 128GB 1.16 million KRW, 190,000 KRW cheaper than iPhone 12 Pro
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The first impression of the iPhone 12 recalls the moment when the iPhone 4 was first encountered. Although the notch design has remained unchanged for three years since the iPhone X, the side frame has been changed to a squared design, making it distinctly new. While the iPhone 12 Pro is more popular, the iPhone 12 also has advantages that exceed expectations. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro differ in color and side frame material. The iPhone 12 uses aluminum, so unlike the iPhone 12 Pro (which uses stainless steel), it did not leave fingerprints when held. The display size is 6.1 inches, slightly larger than the iPhone X (5.8 inches), and due to the squared frame, it felt somewhat uncomfortable to hold with one hand. The display bezel is thinner than that of the iPhone 11, but compared to the iPhone X, there was no significant difference. The rear camera bump has also been reduced.
Starting with the iPhone 12 series, wired earphones and power adapters are no longer included, making the package simpler. The second element that might surprise users when opening the package is the absence of a charger. Moreover, the included cable is a USB-C to Lightning cable, which is not compatible with the existing 5W USB-A type chargers. If Apple insisted on USB-C, they should have included an adapter or abandoned the Lightning cable to allow compatibility with chargers from other manufacturers.
iPhone 12 (right) and iPhone X. The iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, larger than the iPhone X's 5.8-inch screen, but the iPhone 12 is thinner at 7.4mm, which is 0.3mm slimmer.
The improved camera features also attract attention. The rear of the iPhone 12 is equipped with a 12-megapixel wide-angle and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. Although the camera resolution is the same as the iPhone X, the results from the iPhone 12, which has an improved aperture and Deep Fusion feature, were noticeably different. Thanks to the wide-angle camera, it is possible to capture wide landscapes at 0.5x zoom, and when shooting in portrait mode, there is no need to step back, allowing shooting with the same field of view as in normal mode. The camera aperture has increased to f/1.6, and with AI technology adjusting white balance and Deep Fusion technology delicately finishing edges of fabrics and objects, these enhancements have been expanded to all lenses.
Especially compared to the iPhone X, it captured colors well even in shaded areas or backlit conditions. When shooting a maple tree against backlight, the iPhone 12 clearly distinguished the sky, foreground, and leaves, expressing each color vividly. Both front and rear cameras support Night mode shooting, enabling bright photos without flash at night. Time-lapse can also be recorded in Night mode.
A photo of ginkgo leaves and maple leaves taken with an iPhone X (left) and an iPhone 12 (right). Overall, the iPhone 12 captured the colors a bit better.
When photographing a maple tree against the backlight, the photo taken with the iPhone 12 (right) captured the red leaf colors well. The maple leaves photographed with the iPhone X appeared darker.
The results of the iPhone X (left), which does not support Night Mode, and the iPhone 12 (right) show a clear difference. Night Mode is applied to both the front and rear cameras on the iPhone 12, making everything from the leaves to the sky and people appear clearer and brighter.
The iPhone X (left) shows strong reflections when exposed to bright lights such as street lamps or the sun, whereas the iPhone 12 (right) renders lighting more softly. A light reflection appears on the right side of the photo as a green dot, known as the ghosting effect, which has not been resolved even on the iPhone 12.
Apple differentiated the camera features of the iPhone 12 Pro, but the iPhone 12’s camera is sufficiently usable. The iPhone 12 lacks a telephoto lens and LiDAR sensor, but the 128GB model is priced at 1,160,000 KRW, which is 190,000 KRW cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro (1,350,000 KRW). There is no need to buy the iPhone 12 Pro solely for the camera.
The battery capacity is 2815mAh, slightly less than the iPhone 11’s 3110mAh. When using 5G, which consumes more battery, the perceived battery life decreases further. The video playback time indicated on Apple’s website is based on LTE and Wi-Fi connections. If '5G Auto Mode' is selected in settings, the phone connects to 5G as appropriate; it switches to 5G when watching videos or downloading, and uses LTE mode for messaging or web browsing. Additionally, the front glass has been changed to Ceramic Shield, improving durability, and the water resistance has been enhanced to withstand 6 meters for 30 minutes.
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