The big boost to Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup was the inclusion of 5G technology, bringing Apple’s smartphones into the fast lane. U.S. models even pack in ultra-fast mmWave technology that can allow for speeds into the gigabit ranges.
You also get Apple’s ultra-powerful A14 Bionic chip and even more advanced computational photography features across the entire lineup.
Check out our comparison of the iPhone 12, iPhone 11, and other models.
- Our Picks
- What to Look for in an iPhone
- About our Experts
Apple’s 6.1-inch iPhone 12 continues the tradition of striking the perfect balance between price and performance, packing in almost all of the critical features of Apple’s flagship “Pro” models at a much more affordable price. Like its predecessor, it was the best iPhone for most people, especially since Apple has included faster 5G technology in the mix, including ultrafast mmWave technology in the U.S. models.
Best Overall
Apple iPhone 12
Very affordable
5G technology
Same OLED display and processor as iPhone 12 Pro
Accessories not included
The iPhone 12 closes the gap with the “Pro” models, gaining the same Super Retina XDR OLED display as its considerably more expensive siblings. This means you get deep, rich blacks thanks to the 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, a P3 wide color gamut, Apple’s True Tone color matching technology, and full support for Dolby Vision and HDR10. Plus, the flexibility of OLED means that the 6.1-inch display can truly get right up to the edges of the iPhone 12 in a way that was previously the exclusive domain of the iPhone Pro lineup. Apple’s new Ceramic Shield glass screen also promises four times better drop performance, so you won’t have to worry about breaking that beautiful display.
Ultimately, all you’re missing from the more expensive iPhone 12 Pro is the third telephoto lens and LiDAR scanner. Still, we don’t think these are worth the extra cost for most folks, especially since the iPhone 12 packs in the same insanely powerful A14 chip for advanced computational photography. The dual-camera system can take some pretty amazing shots with support for the same Portrait Mode, Night Mode, and Deep Fusion features, plus 4K video recording at 60fps. The iPhone 12 also continues to offer excellent battery life—up to 17 hours of video playback and 65 hours of audio playback—along with Apple’s new MagSafe technology that allows for faster 15W wireless charging and opens the door to a whole new ecosystem of accessories.
If you’ve been longing for the days of the more pocketable iPhones, then the iPhone 12 mini is for you. Coming in with a 5.4-inch screen size, it’s the smallest iPhone Apple has made since the first-generation iPhone SE was released in 2016; it’s also the first time Apple has packed so much into such a small frame.
Best Mini
Apple iPhone 12 mini
- Amazingly compact size
- Full feature parity with iPhone 12 Pro
- Great price
The iPhone 12 mini is equal to the larger 6.1-inch iPhone 12 in every way except its size, which hearkens back to the days of the iPhone 5s. In this case, however, you’re pocketing the most powerful chip ever found in a smartphone in the form of Apple’s A14 Bionic CPU, a dual-camera system, and—for the first time in a standard iPhone model—Apple’s Super Retina XDR OLED display.
This means that you’re getting the same 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio with deep rich blacks and wide color gamut as Apple’s more expensive “Pro” iPhone models, along with a stunning 1,200 nits of brightness, full support for HDR and Dolby Vision, and 2340‑by‑1080-pixel resolution at 476 PPI — the highest pixel density Apple has ever put into an iPhone.
Although the iPhone 12 lacks the triple-lens camera of its more expensive siblings, the pair of 12MP shooters still take some fantastic pictures thanks to the new seven-element lens on the primary camera combined with the computational photography features of Apple’s A14 Neural Engine. Plus, the addition of 5G support—including ultrafast mmWave in the U.S. models—makes the iPhone 12 mini the smallest and lightest 5G phone on the planet.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max leads the pack if you’re looking for the ultimate iPhone since there’s more to it than just the larger size. While it’s mainly similar to its smaller 6.1-inch sibling, we can’t deny that the incredible Super Retina XDR display looks even more impressive at 6.7-inches, which means you’ll be able to more fully enjoy the latest movies—in 4K Dolby Vision HDR no less. The larger size also makes the elegant and slick stainless steel and glass design stand out, especially in the striking gold and Pacific Blue colors.
Best Splurge
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
2.5X telephoto lens
Native 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording
Expansive OLED display
Expensive
Accessories not included
While Apple’s larger iPhones have sported identical features to their smaller counterparts for the past couple of years, the iPhone 12 Pro Max pulls a bit ahead with a better camera, taking the triple-lens system of the iPhone 12 Pro up a notch with a 2.5X 65mm f/2.2 telephoto lens that increases the overall optical zoom range to 5X (2X ultra-wide, 2.5X telephoto), and the digital zoom range up to 12X. It also includes a 1.7µm sensor, which is 47 percent larger than the one found on the iPhone 12 Pro, giving it a big boost for capturing better photos in lower light conditions.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max also includes new sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology that can cancel out even higher-frequency movements like vibrations from a moving car, and thanks to Apple’s A14 chip, it can make up to 5,000 micro-adjustments per second so that your photos will be crisp, clean, and in focus no matter where you happen to be shooting from. Of course, you’re also still getting all of the fantastic advanced camera features of the smaller iPhone 12 Pro too, including the new ProRAW format and native 4K/60fps Dolby Vision HDR video recording and editing.
Apple’s iPhone SE is not only the most affordable iPhone that Apple has ever made, but it’s easily one of the best budget smartphones on the market. While it features the more classic design of the 2017 iPhone 8, with a home button and Touch ID sensor, don’t let that fool you, as it features the same A13 Bionic chip found in Apple’s iPhone 11 and recent iPhone 11 Pro models, which not only means that it will perform just as well as those iPhones, but will also be supported by iOS updates for years to come.
Best Budget
Apple iPhone SE
Extremely affordable
Same performance as current iPhone 11 models
Portrait Mode camera system
Aging design
Single-lens camera system
Smaller screen
Of course, while it may have the same A13 performance, that doesn’t mean Apple hasn’t had to cut a few corners to bring it in at a much lower price. The display and camera hardware are virtually identical to those found on the three-year-old iPhone 8. However, despite the single rear camera, the A13 Bionic chip still allows you to take advantage of more modern photography features like Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting. You can even shoot 4K video at a full 60fps, although the lack of the fancier TrueDepth camera on the front means you don’t get Face ID, and you’ll be limited to 7MP selfies 1080p video.
That said, the more traditional design of the iPhone SE not only offers a lower price tag but will appeal to users who still prefer the older method and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It still offers up to 13 hours of video playback or 40 hours of listening to audio, plus support for Qi wireless charging and wired USB-C fast charging.
When it was first released two years ago, Apple’s iPhone XR quickly became not just the most popular iPhone ever but the best-selling smartphone on the planet by a pretty significant margin, thanks to delivering the same basic specs as Apple’s premium iPhone models at a price tag that was within reach of many more customers. Reviewers lauded it as the iPhone most people should buy and began a journey leading to the iPhone 12, which is even closer to Apple’s much more expensive flagship lineup.
Best Entry Level
Apple iPhone XR
Inexpensive
Good battery life
Essential iPhone experience
Lacks OLED
Single-lens camera system
Older A12 chip
The iPhone XR has become such a hit that Apple is still selling it two years later. While it’s the oldest iPhone in Apple’s lineup, it’s no slouch thanks to its powerful A12 Bionic CPU, which offers performance that still rings around many competing smartphones. While it’s still not the most inexpensive iPhone in Apple’s lineup—that distinction belongs to the newer second-generation iPhone SE—it’s an excellent option for those who want to take advantage of more unique features like Face ID, the edge-to-edge display, and the front TrueDepth camera at a much lower cost of entry.
The Liquid Retina LCD offers an edge-to-edge display—or about as close as a non-OLED screen can get to the edges—along with a 1,400:1 contrast ratio and a 1,792x828 screen resolution with a 326ppi pixel density and a P3 wide color gamut. It’s the same screen that’s in the newer iPhone 11, and it’s about as close to OLED as an LCD can get while also offering Apple’s True Tone technology, which adjusts the screen’s color temperature to the ambient lighting for excellent color accuracy no matter where you are.
What to Look for in an iPhone
Cameras: These days, smartphones are about taking great pictures as much as anything else, so if you’re an avid mobile photographer, you’ll want to focus on one of the newer models—a triple-lens one with OLED if you can afford it. These offer better lenses and advanced computational photography features to make your photos look great, but higher-resolution screens ensure that the results look how they’re supposed to.
Size: Apple offers its iPhones in three basic sizes, offering choices from smaller iPhones that fit easily in your pocket to big “phablet” sized iPhones with nice big screens for watching videos or just having a larger canvas to work on. Also, remember that whatever size you pick, you’ll probably want to add a case, as Apple’s all-glass iPhones are fragile and even a bit slippery.
Storage: There are several storage tiers available for each iPhone. Apple limits the largest capacities to the top-tier models, but 128GB is more than enough for most users, especially if you’re willing to use iCloud or Google Photos to keep your photos and videos in the cloud.
About our Experts
Jesse Hollington is a tech journalist with over 10 years of experience writing about technology, with an especially strong expertise in all things iPhone and Apple. Jesse previously served as Editor-in-Chief for iLounge, authored books on the iPod and iTunes, and has published product reviews, editorials, and how-to articles on Forbes, Yahoo, The Independent, and iDropNews.
Lance Ulanoff is a 30-plus year industry veteran and award-winning journalist who has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” Previously, Lance served as a columnist for Medium, Editor-in-Chief of Mashable, and Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com.
Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer who’s been covering the mobile industry and products since 2006. He reviewed a number of phone on this list, particularly the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 mini.
