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Apple Editor's Choice 2020

iPhone 12

Apple iPhone 12 — 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, A14 Bionic & Dual 12MP Camera Review

Display 1170 × 2532 pixels (~460 ppi den...
Performance Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
Size 6.1 inches
Type Super Retina XDR OLED HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits typ, 1...
Expert Score
4.4
92% Confidence
Community Score
3.7
0% Confidence
AI Score
4.4
91% Confidence
Final Score
4.2
91% Confidence
Storage
RAM
Color
Regional
-76% In Stock
$190 – $300 $799

Lowest $170 Save $609 Best: Amazon

Read Reviews

Category Scores

Overall hardware score: 86/100 — gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED screen, powerful A14 Bionic speed, reliable dual 12MP cameras, and 5G connectivity.

87
89
Performance Great

Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) chip handles multitasking...

92
Display Excellent

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with HDR10...

88
Camera Great

Dual 12MP camera array featuring OIS and Dolby V...

77
Battery Great

2815 mAh battery manages standard daily routines...

90
Gaming Excellent

Apple 4-core GPU handles modern 3D mobile games...

86
AI Great

Neural Engine handles computational photography,...

94
Security Excellent

Secure Face ID facial recognition utilizing the...

90
Value for Money Excellent

Exceptional secondhand and budget iOS value for...

93
Design Excellent

Sleek flat-edge aluminum frame layout paired wit...

70
Repairability Good

Sealed modern smartphone construction requiring...

90
Software Support Excellent

Long-standing iOS update path with broad generat...

90
Connectivity Excellent

5G sub-6GHz network support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth...

88
Audio Great

Rich stereo loudspeaker configuration with spati...

92
Durability Excellent

IP68 dust and water resistance certification com...

80
Charging Great

Supports 20W fast wired charging and 15W MagSafe...

Specifications

Display 4
Size 6.1 inches
Type Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits typ, 1200 nits peak
Resolution 1170 × 2532 pixels (~460 ppi density)
Protection Ceramic Shield glass
Processor 3
Chipset Key Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
CPU Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
GPU Key Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
Memory 2
RAM Key 4GB
Type LPDDR4X
Storage 3
Internal 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Expandable No
Standard NVMe
Battery 2
Capacity 2815 mAh
Endurance All-day standard usage
Charging 2
Wired 20W fast wired charging, 50% in 30 min (PD2.0)
Wireless 15W MagSafe wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging
Camera 2
Main 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, wide, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Ultra Wide 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚
Front Camera 1
Sensor 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm wide with SL 3D biometrics sensor
Connectivity 4
Network 5G sub-6GHz/mmWave, Nano-SIM + eSIM
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC Yes
Sensors 5
Face ID Secure 3D facial recognition
Accelerometer Yes
Gyroscope Yes
Proximity Yes
Barometer Yes
Dimensions 3
Height 146.7 mm
Width 71.5 mm
Depth 7.4 mm
Weight 1
Weight 164 g
Operating System 1
OS iOS 14.1, upgradable across major iOS versions

Expert Review

By Dickens, Charles

Design

The iPhone 12 features a sleek flat-edge aluminum frame layout paired with a glossy glass back, measuring 7.4mm thick and weighing a lightweight 164g.

Display

The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen delivers crisp contrast, deep blacks, and solid protection via Ceramic Shield glass, though restricted to a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

Performance

Powered by the 5nm Apple A14 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM, apps, system UI navigation, and everyday workflows execute smoothly.

Gaming

Handles mainstream mobile games capably via custom Apple 4-core graphics.

Camera

The dual 12MP camera array features an f/1.6 wide sensor with OIS and an ultrawide lens, capturing sharp daylight shots and supporting Dolby Vision video recording.

Battery

The 2815 mAh battery manages standard daily tasks, supporting 20W fast wired charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging.

Software

Runs iOS with seamless ecosystem interconnectivity, smooth gesture controls, and long-term major OS upgrade support.

Ai

Utilizes the 16-core Neural Engine for computational photography processing, Smart HDR, and Face ID recognition.

Connectivity

Supports 5G sub-6GHz networks, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and MagSafe magnetic accessory mounts.

Pros

  • Vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
  • Powerful Apple A14 Bionic 5nm processor delivering fast app execution speeds
  • Lightweight, durable flat-edge aluminum design protected by Ceramic Shield glass
  • Dual 12MP cameras supporting Night Mode and 4K Dolby Vision HDR video recording
  • MagSafe wireless charging and magnetic ecosystem accessory compatibility

Cons

  • Screen refresh rate capped at standard 60Hz
  • Battery life endurance is average for heavy multi-day mobile workflows
  • Power adapter and earbuds omitted from the original retail box
The iPhone 12 brought 5G connectivity and a major flat-edge industrial redesign to Apple's standard smartphone tier. Powered by the 5nm A14 Bionic chip, it features a vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, a dual 12MP rear camera array with Night Mode on all lenses, MagSafe wireless charging support, IP68 water resistance, and tougher Ceramic Shield front glass.

Verdict

A dependable and compact baseline iOS smartphone that pairs a bright OLED screen and 5G connectivity with solid A14 Bionic performance.

Final: 4.2/10 Best for: Value seekers Segment: Budget

Product Intelligence

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support Apple A14 Bionic 5nm processor ensuring swift app execution and multitasking speed Dual 12MP camera system supporting 4K Dolby Vision HDR video recording Durable aerospace-grade aluminum frame protected by Ceramic Shield front glass MagSafe wireless charging compatibility for 15W magnetic accessories

Who Should Buy

Users looking for an affordable entry-point into the Apple iOS ecosystem with 5G connectivity, a crisp OLED display, and a modern flat-edge design.

Who Should Avoid

Users who prefer high refresh rate screens (60Hz display only) or heavy battery endurance during extensive daily use.

Key Takeaways

  • Introduced the modern flat-edge design language and OLED screens across the standard iPhone line
  • Provides outstanding price-to-performance value on the secondhand and refurbished market today

Buying Recommendation

Opt for the 128GB storage configuration to avoid running short on space for applications and multimedia files.

Competitor Comparison

DeviceScorePriceNotes
Samsung Galaxy A55
Google Pixel 7a

Upgrade Path

Upgrade From iPhone 11
Benefits
  • Massive jump to a sharp OLED screen
  • 5G network support
  • faster A14 processing
  • and a flatter aluminum chassis

Pricing & Price Intelligence

In Stock
Current $190 – $300
Lowest $170
Highest $300
Historical Low $190
Launch $799
Average $200
Savings $609
Discount -76%
Confidence 80%
Trend Down

Price Analytics

Best Deal Amazon $190
Best Value Amazon
Stability Low
Buy Timing Good time to buy

Prices are trending down with low stability. Compare offers at Amazon before buying.

Regional Pricing

EU €210

Store Comparison

Store Price Shipping Availability Rating
Amazon $190 In Stock Buy
Apple Official (Historic) $799 In Stock Buy

Variant Pricing

Colors

  • Black $190 – $300
  • White $190 – $300
  • Red $190 – $300
  • Green $190 – $300
  • Blue $190 – $300
  • Purple $190 – $300

Storage

  • 64GB $170
  • 128GB $200
  • 256GB $240

Ram

  • 4GB $190 – $300
Low: 190 High: 799 Avg: 494.5 Volatility: 61.58%

Track Price

Alternatives

iPhone 13 View device

Offers a smaller notch layout, upgraded battery life longevity, and improved primary camera stabilization

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