This year, Apple announced four new iPhone models at its keynote back in October. This review will focus on the two “Pro” models, the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which we think are the most likely to appeal to photographers. There’s also an iPhone 12, and an iPhone 12 Pro Mini, which are both cheaper than those in the Pro series, but don’t come with such advanced camera features.

One image can change us.

A picture, a moment can change the way we feel. Change how we see ourselves. Change our understanding and change the rules. Provoke and change history.

MPB puts photo and video kit into more hands, more sustainably. Every month, visual storytellers sell more than 20,000 cameras and lenses to MPB. Choose used and get affordable access to kit that doesn’t cost the earth. Sell the kit you’re not using to MPB. Trade in for the kit you need to create. Buy used, spend less and get more. Buy. Sell. Trade. Create.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro / Max Features

Both the iPhone 12 Pro models feature a triple-lens setup, giving you a wide angle, ultra-wide angle and a telephoto lens. On paper, the iPhone 12 Pro Max should be the better performer, photographically, as it has a number of advantages over the smaller model.

A good example, is that although both feature 26mm f/1.6 lenses as the “main” camera, the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s sensor is larger than the iPhone 12 Pro. It also features sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (wide), while the iPhone 12 Pro uses Dual optical image stabilisation only (wide and telephoto). Both of these specifications should make the Max better for shooting in lower light conditions, and produce smoother video.

Another divergence is with the telephoto lens. The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2x zoom lens, giving you 52mm f/2.0 equivalent. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 2.5x zoom, which is 65mm f/2.2 equivalent. Whether you consider one or the other to be better here is down to personal preference - but you could say that getting closer to your subject is an advantage with the longer lens.

As well as the triple lens set up, there is also a LiDAR scanner, which is there to help judge distance and make autofocus quicker. On the front of the phones there is a 12 megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera - it’s the same on both phones.

Other notable features of the iPhone 12 Pro - from a camera point of view - is 4K video recording at up to 60p. Dolby Vision HDR is a new feature for the iPhone 12 Pro series, the ability to shoot in raw format and various shooting modes, including Portrait Mode and Night Mode. Perhaps the biggest piece of non-camera related news is the addition of 5G connectivity, which is a first for iPhones. This means you can enjoy faster download and upload speeds - if you have a compatible sim card / contract.

The base memory level of the iPhone 12 Pro series is 128GB, but you can also get 256GB and 512GB variants. Prices start at £999 for the 128GB version of the iPhone 12 Pro, or £1099 for the 128GB version of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Key Features

• 6.1” screen, Super Retina XDR display 2532 x 1170 pixels @ 460ppi, Ceramic Shield Front (iPhone 12 Pro)
• 6.7” screen, Super Retina XDR display 2778 x 1284 pixels @ 458ppi, Ceramic Shield Front (iPhone 12 Pro Max)
• Rear cameras: 3 x 12MP sensors, 26mm f/1.6 (both), 13mm f/2.4 (both), 52mm f/2.0 (iPhone 12 Pro) / 65mm f/2.2 (iPhone 12 Pro Max)
• LiDAR scanner
• Front camera: 12MP f/2.2
• Camera features: Apple ProRAW, Night Mode, Portrait Mode
• Video: 4K @ 24/30/60fps, 1080p @ 30/60fps, Slo-Mo, Dolby Vision HDR
• Battery: (size not specified), fast charging
• Memory: 128GB/256GB/512GB
• Dimensions & Weight: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm / 187g (iPhone 12 Pro), 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm / 226g (iPhone 12 Pro Max)
• Other: Lightning connector, MagSafe compatible, 5G, Face Detection
• Water resistant (IP68)
• Colour options: Silver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific Blue

Apple iPhone 12 Pro / Max Handling

Available in two sizes, the iPhone 12 Pro series are both premium models. The iPhone 12 Pro is the smaller of the two, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max being very large and almost approaching “phablet” territory. Which you prefer will likely come down to personal preference, but those with smaller finds might find the Max more difficult to use in certain scenarios, such as texting or emailing. It’s also difficult to fit the Max in smaller pockets (such as tight jeans), which is something to consider. On the plus side, viewing images, videos and apps on the larger screen of the Pro Max is great, so it might be worth the trade-off for that reason.

Both models have a “Ceramic Shield” front, which should mean that they are resistant to scratches, with Apple claiming that they are up to 4x better at “drop performance” than their predecessors in the iPhone 11 Pro range. Apple has also gone back to a more squared-off edge design, such as we saw in older models like the iPhone 4. This gives the phones a more utilitarian type appearance, but they remain quite striking.

One feature which appears on both models is the “notch” at the top of the screen, where the front-facing camera is found. This cuts quite significantly into the screen, and can’t be switched off. Still, most apps are designed with it in mind so it shouldn’t present too much of a problem in most scenarios. Apple uses Face Detection to unlock the phone, which you can set up when you first switch on the phone. Alternatively, you can use a pin code to unlock the phone, but there’s no fingerprint sensor here.

iPhones have always been known for their simplicity when it comes to the native camera app. We’re starting to see a little more advanced control compared to very early models, but there’s still nothing in the way of a professional mode which gives you access to deeper settings. While this may be frustrating for enthusiast users, the plus side is a simple or straightforward experience that allows you to concentrate on getting the shot.

The native app can be launched directly from the lock screen by holding down the camera icon. By default, it will launch in Photo mode, whereby you’ll be able to take ordinary shots. There are other modes you can swipe to, including video and Portrait modes. The standard Photo app gives you the option to change exposure, aspect ratio, add a digital filter, set a timer and shoot “Live Photos” (where a short video is recorded alongside a still image). A new feature for the iPhone 12 Pro series is the ability to record in raw format (DNG). You’ll need to enable this from the main menu first, after which, the option to shoot in raw will appear at the top of the app screen.

You have three different lenses to choose from, whichever iPhone 12 Pro model you have. For the iPhone 12 Pro, there’s a 1x lens, a 0.5x lens and a 2x lens. You can select which one you want to use by tapping the icons at the bottom of the camera app (or to the side if you’re holding it in landscape format). If you have the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the telephoto lens is a 2.5x optic instead. Alternatively, you can also pinch outwards on the phone screen to zoom in and out - though if you go beyond 2/2.5x, you’ll be activating digital zoom.

Portrait mode is for creating shallow depth of field effects and can be used with any type of subject - not just people, although the results will always be better if you’re photographing something with a more defined outline. Video mode allows you to shoot at up to 4K, at frame rates up to 60fps. You can also shoot in Dolby Vision HDR, but note that videos recorded in this format can only be viewed on compatible devices - such as other iPhones, or Macs running OS Catalina or later.

Apple’s Night Mode is not something which can be manually selected, but rather something that will automatically appear should the phone detect that there’s not enough light in the scene. Once it does appear, you can control how long it shoots for - or switch it off altogether if you prefer. It works essentially by shooting a number of short exposures and merging them together.

It’s worth noting that although the iPhone 12 Pro series phones come with a Lightning cable, they don’t come with a battery adapter. According to Apple, this is because most who buy an iPhone already have an adapter, so to reduce environmental waste, it’s no longer included in the box. If you don’t have a battery adapter, you’ll need to buy one separately. For the same reasons, Apple does not include headphones in the box either. Wireless charging (up to 7.5W) is possible with the iPhone 12 Pro series, as we saw before with the iPhone 11 Pro. You can also charge via a “Magsafe” charger, which attaches magnetically to the phone and charges wirelessly (up to 15W) - again, it is sold separately.

Battery life - Apple does not disclose the physical specifications of its batteries, however it does give an indication of battery performance. The iPhone 12 Pro boasts up to 17 hours of video playback, 11 hours of streamed video, or up to 65 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 12 Pro Max meanwhile offers 20 hours of video playback, 12 hours of streamed video or 80 hours of audio playback. Both phones are fast-charge capable, which means you can get up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately).

If you're going to be away from a power source, we'd recommend getting yourself a portable power bank just in case.