When it comes to deciding whether you should go for the iPhone 12 versus the iPhone 12 Pro, there are a few differences to be aware of. At first glance, they may appear to be the same phone just with different branding, but the devil is in the details when it comes to these two smartphones.
The truth is that although the iPhone 12 Pro may be better suited for some people, the iPhone 12 is no slouch and shouldn't be ignored. Apple has attempted to bring feature parity to all four iPhone 12 models, with a only few differences to make your decision easier.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Size and Design
Regardless of which iPhone you're looking at, all four of them sport the brand-new redesign. This new design harkens back to the glory days of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5, with squared-off edges and slight curves around the corners. Gone are the rounded frames which became somewhat annoying for some to hold.
While the design is the same across the board, there are a few key differences between the iPhone 12 versus the iPhone 12 Pro. When it comes to the frame of the device, the Pro models feature a stainless steel frame while the iPhone 12 and 12 mini make use of an aluminum frame.
Another great improvement for all iPhone models is that we now have OLED panels across the board. This includes the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 12. In fact, when comparing the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 12 Pro, both devices feature the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, with the same 2532x1125 resolution.
The only difference you will find is that the typical brightness level for the iPhone 12 comes in at 625 nits compared to the 800 nits offered by the 12 Pro. Both devices sport a peak brightness of 1200 nits.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Battery Life
One of the biggest concerns when comparing new smartphones, such as the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro, is battery life. Your potential decision is not going to be made any easier, however, as both devices sport the same 2,815mAh lithium-ion battery. This will provide up to 17 hours of video playback and up to 65 hours of audio playback.
Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro can also take full advantage of MagSafe's 15W wireless charging speeds. Along with the same fast-charging capabilities that let you charge to 50 percent in about 30 minutes with the proper 20W or higher power adapter.
For the sake of comparisons, this is great news, as those looking at the iPhone 12 Mini will not only get a smaller 2,227mAh battery, but Apple has also limited MagSafe charging to just 12W of power. This was done to avoid any potential overheating when trying to use Apple's fastest wireless charging methods.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Performance
All four iPhone 12 models are powered by Apple's brand-new A14 Bionic chipset, offering the fastest performance on a smartphone to date. While the engine is the same, differences between these devices are found in the finer details, with the iPhone 12 including 4GB of RAM while the iPhone 12 Pro got bumped up to 6GB.
The additional RAM is presumably related to the camera and image processing that takes place in the iPhone 12 Pro. With the built-in LiDAR scanner and the ability to record video in 10-bit HDR and Dolby Vision HDR at up to 60fps, the extra 2GB of RAM is a necessary addition for the Pro model.
Another key difference comes down to the storage, as the iPhone 12 is offered with either 64GB, 128GB, or 512GB of storage. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro takes a leg up here, starting at 128GB and going all the way up to 512GB of storage.
With the "pro" user in mind, more storage is better, especially if you plan on taking advantage of the improved camera system.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Camera Differences
There are a lot of similarities when comparing the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 12 Pro, especially in the design department. But most of the differences actually lie in the cameras that both of these devices use.
The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 both use the same 12MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide camera sensors. Both can record 4K video at up to 60fps, along with being able to record video in HDR or Dolby Vision HDR at up to 30fps.
When looking at the iPhone 12 Pro, things are upgraded a bit, as there are two additional sensors to make use of. First, there's an additional 12MP telephoto lens, providing 2x optical zoom, equating to a 52mm zoom lens. Secondly, Apple included the all-new LiDAR time-of-flight sensor.
For the unaware, LiDAR is an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging. This sensor uses a pulsed laser, which calculates how long it takes for light to reflect back from objects. One example of how this is handy is via the built-in Measure app for the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
Video recording is also a bit different with the iPhone 12 Pro. Instead of being limited to standard HDR, like the iPhone 12, the 12 Pro is capable of recording 10-bit HDR video. And while both devices support Dolby Vision HDR video recording, only the iPhone 12 Pro is capable of recording at up to 60fps, whereas the iPhone 12 is limited to 30fps.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Price
With the iPhone 12 lineup, it's clear that Apple is trying to come in swinging at multiple price points. Ranging from $699 for the iPhone 12 mini all the way up to $1099 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max starting price, there's something here for everyone.
As for the iPhone 12 versus the iPhone 12 Pro, you'll be looking at $799 for the base model iPhone 12 with 64GB of storage. The iPhone 12 Pro starts at $999, but has a base storage configuration of 128GB.
This iPhone 12 Pro starting price higher than the maxed-out version of the iPhone 12, with 256GB of storage. So the decision lies in whether you want the extra 2GB of RAM, extra storage options, and an improved camera system.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Which Way Should You Go?
Instead of being a traditional apples-to-apples comparison, there are some pretty substantial differences between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro. While at first glance, you may think that these are the same phone, simply turn the phone over to see the camera differences and that's all you need to know.
Those who are wanting to take advantage of the additional camera sensors, improved video recording, and the LiDAR scanner will want to go with the iPhone 12 Pro. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 provides almost exactly the same experience for $200 less, making this the phone for just about everyone else.
Image credit: Denis Cherkashin/Unsplash