What new iPhone should I buy?

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently unveiled the new iPhone 12 range via a live stream event from their HQ in California. In addition to arriving six weeks later than normal due to COVID-19, it also saw the tech announce the release of four new smartphones rather than its usual three. 

This time around the flagship iPhone 12 and its more powerful brother the iPhone 12 Pro are joined by the smaller iPhone 12 Mini and supersized phablet the iPhone 12 Pro Max. 

With four models to choose from, all of which boast an array of fantastic features, knowing which new iPhone to go for can be tricky. In this guide, we’ll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each device to help you decide which new iPhone you should buy.  

What new iPhone should I buy?

iPhone 12 Mini 

Who should buy the iPhone Mini?

Anyone shopping on a budget

At £699 the iPhone 12 Mini is £100 cheaper than the regular iPhone 12 and a huge £400 cheaper than the premium Pro Max. As with this year’s SE, just because it’s significantly cheaper than its counterparts doesn’t mean that Apple has scrimped out on its quality. 

The company’s smallest phone in years has the same 5G capabilities and powerful A14 bionic chip as the rest of the range, as well as an 12MP dual camera set up with improved Night Mode, 64GB of storage and a ceramic hardened display for better protection against drops.  
 
Who shouldn’t buy the iPhone 12 Mini?

Those who want a large display

The only real downside of the iPhone 12 Mini is its small 5.4 inch display. If you’re somebody that streams a lot of Netflix you’ll want to opt for a device that’s really able to take advantage of Apple’s Super Retina OLED technology. 

iPhone 12

Who should buy the iPhone 12?

Those looking for the newest all round experience from Apple

The iPhone 12 is a fantastic device which is packed with all of Apple’s latest features. These include a new squarer design, Super Retina XDR display that’s now OLED rather than LCD, 5G, an 12MP dual camera with DSLR technology and the A14 bionic chip. 

Who shouldn’t buy the iPhone 12?

iPhone 11 users 

If you’ve already got an iPhone 11 you might find that these upgrades don’t make enough of a difference to warrant buying a new device. For example, although the 5G network is slowly growing the vast majority of customers won’t have access to it yet. 

iPhone 12 Pro

Who should buy the iPhone 12 Pro?

Those who want professional grade photos at a cheaper price

The Pro is slightly more affordable than the Pro Max, starting at £999 vs £1099, and while the latter’s camera does have a few more tricks up its sleeve, the Pro is still capable of capturing some truly stunning shots with a stunning amount of vibrancy and detail. 

Its 12MP triple camera set up, a clever combination of wide, ultra wide and telephoto lenses, includes next generation features like:

• a LiDAR sensor (Light Detection and Ranging) which provides x6 faster autofocus and high-quality portrait photos in low light conditions. Apple says this will give a “beautiful low-light bokeh effect." 
• Smart HDR 3 to adjust sharpness, colour and tone for more “true to life” images
• x4 optical zoom on the telephoto lens for crystal clear detail
•  Deep fusion which works with the powerful A14 bionic chip to drastically improve quality
• The ability to shoot 4K HDR video at 60fps in Dolby Vision

Who shouldn’t buy the iPhone 12 Pro?

Those who aren’t fussed about these extra camera features 

If you’re not much of a picture taker, you’re better off going for the iPhone 12. Other than these improvements to the camera, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro have exactly the same display size, 5G capabilities, design and performance chip.

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Who should buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max?

Those who want a premium, top-of-the-range smartphone camera

The Pro Max’s camera contains all of the superb features of the Pro plus a few others which boost it into one of the best smartphone cameras around. These camera upgrades include:

• A x5 optical zoom 
• A sensor on the wide camera lens that’s 47% larger than before which Apple says translates to 87% improvement in low-light photos. 
• A new OIS (optical image stabilization) system to protect against blur from the natural shake of your hands

Anyone who likes to stream a lot of video 

At 6.7 inches and with 3.5 million pixels, the Pro Max’s Super Retina XDR OLED display has both the largest display and highest resolution ever seen on an Apple device.

Who shouldn’t buy the iPhone Pro Max?

Anyone that’s shopping on a budget 

The iPhone Pro Max’s frankly astonishing price point, stretching to £1399 for the 512GB model, means that this device will be out of reach for many customers. 

How much will these new iPhones cost?

When can I buy the iPhone 12 range?

Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro will hit shops on 23rd October but those who are keen to get their hands on Apple’s latest excellent offerings can preorder these devices from 16th October. 

The wait is a little longer for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. They’ll both be available to preorder from 6th November and will be released to the public on 13th November.