Apple iPhone 12 Pro review: We all are eagerly waiting for the launch of the most awaited Apple iPhone 13 series iPhones this year, which may take place next month. Ahead of the launch, the Cupertino-based tech giant has already released the latest iOS 15 update with several interesting features. As we are coming closer to the launch of the Apple iPhone 13 series - iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro Max, we think it's the right time for a revisit. Let's go back to Apple 12 series and see why Apple iPhone 12 series is highly successful and still in demand around the globe.

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The Cupertino-based tech giant launched four 12 series iPhones last year - iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max. And, according to a report from Counterpoint Research's ‘Market Pulse' Three iPhone 12 series smartphones (12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max) have contributed to 71 percent of Apple's total sales for the month of January, as the tech giant grabbed six places in the global top 10 best-selling smartphones list. The Apple iPhone 12 led the list followed by the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. I have been using Apple iPhone 12 Pro for a while, here's why I feel this iPhone is the best one in the market yet. Additionally, I will also explain why iPhone 12 Pro can be a great option for those looking for Apple 12 series smartphone.

Let's start with pricing. iPhone 12 Pro price in India starts at Rs 1,19,900 for the 128GB model. The 256GB and 512GB iPhone 12 Pro variants have been launched in India for Rs 1,29,900 and Rs 1,49,900, respectively. The iPhone 12 Pro is powered by an Apple A14 Bionic chipset, a new LiDAR Scanner for immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences and MagSafe, which offers high-powered wireless charging and an all-new ecosystem of accessories that easily attach to the iPhone. Apple iPhone 12 Pro comes in blue, gold, graphite, and silver color options. I was using the blue color variant, which looks beautiful and premium.

In terms of design and looks, iPhone 12 Pro comes with a new design, pro camera system, and edge-to-edge Super Retina XDR display, the largest ever on iPhone, protected by the all-new Ceramic Shield front cover, which provides the biggest jump in durability ever on iPhone. When it comes to design and looks in the super-premium smartphone category, no other brand or smartphone comes closer to this beautiful beast from Apple. Trust me, you will have zero complaints when you want to flaunt your phone in your group or anywhere.

When you compare it with iPhone 11 Pro, the 12 Pro offers a completely different feel with a flat-edge design, sharper edges that make it a perfect blend of subtleness and elegance. With three cameras on the rear side and the LiDAR sensor, the shiny metallic edges, the beautiful Pacific Blue color - iPhone 12 Pro is extremely beautiful. The LiDAR Scanner on iPhone 12 Pro measures how long it takes light to reflect back from objects, so it can create a depth map of any space you’re in.

Another good thing about the iPhone 12 Pro is the device is not slippery and thanks to the matte back the device does not attract fingerprint marks so say goodbye to the thumb impression on the rear side of the device. Like the other iPhones, the iPhone 12 Pro is extremely handy (146.7mm Height x 71.5mm Width x 7.4mm depth) and weighs 187 grams only. As I said earlier, the device is very handy. It is easy to hold you can carry in hands without any discomfort.  Overall, the looks of this device are very premium and appealing. The 'moment you see it, you will go for it.

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch and features a Super Retina XDR display which ensures a brighter, more immersive viewing and gaming experience with some key specifications. The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. It offers the most accurate and natural color reproduction and colors came bright on-screen even in direct sunlight. We didn't face any issues here. It comes with an IP68 rating to withstand water submersion up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, and are protected against everyday spills. The overall experience with iPhone 12 Pro display was smooth and amazing. Also, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro speakers deliver clear and loud sound. This is probably the best mobile phone when it comes to audio.

In terms of camera performance, Enabled by the A14 Bionic chip, iPhone 12 Pro comes with new wide cameras for even better low-light performance, an expansive Ultra Wide camera, and a Telephoto camera for capturing stunning images and video. The smartphone on the back has a 12MP main camera with an f/1.6 aperture; a 12MPcamera with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 12MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture with and a LiDAR sensor. The Apple iPhone 12 pro comes with sports a 12MP camera on the front for selfies and video calls with an f/2.2 aperture. The camera is the primary update in this device when we compare it to its predecessors. LiDAR sensor makes the iPhone 12 Pro focus faster in low light. The iPhone 12 Pro comes with sensors including Face ID, LiDAR Scanner, Barometer, Three‑axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor and Ambient light sensor. The Face ID worked smoothly and we didn't face any issues.

CAMERA SAMPLES

Together with the new image signal processor (ISP), A14 Bionic drives increased image quality and enables powerful computational photography capabilities. The camera mode offers various in-built features including - Portrait, Pano, Slo-Mo, Time-Lapse, and more. Apart from the camera specifications, the software also makes a major difference in the eventual images you get. You can expect brighter, sharp, and colorful pictures even in low-light settings. Thanks to the Night mode feature. I found that pictures in Portrait modes came out pretty brilliant. The iPhone 12 Pro captured sharp, high-resolution, and detailed images and videos in both bright and low lighting conditions. This Apple device has indeed captured more accurate and natural-looking colors to the photos. iPhone 12 Pro also offers HDR video with Dolby Vision, up to 60 fps, and even better video stabilization for cinema-grade productions.

iPhone 12 series runs on A14 Bionic chipset - the first chip in the smartphone industry built on 5-nanometer process. Faster and more efficient than ever, A14 Bionic has the fastest CPU and GPU by up to 50 percent compared to the fastest competing smartphone chips, enabling console-quality gaming experiences, powerful computational photography, and more, while delivering great battery life. The Cupertino-based tech giant has already announced its latest iOS update - iOS 15 and also released the public beta version of iOS 15 for testing. I'm currently using iOS 15 public beta version on iPhone 12 Pro and trust me, with this latest iOS update you will love this 12 Pro even more. While playing games like Garena Free Fire, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Call of Duty: Mobile on this device, we enjoyed lag-free gaming.

The graphic quality on the advanced setting was up to the mark. Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro was fast, smooth, switching between the apps and using multiple social media platforms was easy and the experience was up to the mark. Audio performance is a big plus here if you plan to buy the iPhone 12 Pro. The bottom speaker did produce high-quality sound while playing games and watching videos. iPhone 12 Pro is a 5G-ready smartphone and offers the broadest 5G coverage worldwide. iPhone 12 Pro models also feature Smart Data mode, which extends battery life by intelligently assessing 5G needs and balancing data usage, speed, and power in real-time. Sadly, we are still waiting for 5G connectivity in India, but we can expect a 5G rollout in India next year.

On the battery front, iPhone 12 Pro offers good battery life and lasts for nearly 13-14 hours on basic-to-moderate usage, just like iPhone 11 Pro. However, when I played heavy games for longs hours, the device lasted for around 10 hours. The good thing is we didn't face any heating issues on this phone during heavy gaming sessions and during video streaming. The battery drained quickly when the low power mode was off during heavy usage. But the good thing is, the smartphone supports fast charging and it can reach from 10% to 100% in a couple of hours. Alternatively, you can buy the company’s new MagSafe charger, which magnetically attaches to the back of your phone. It will cost you an additional Rs 4500 and offers 15-watt speeds when wirelessly charging. And please remember the company is not shipping charging adaptors with the phones anymore. You only get the Type-C to Lightning Cable inside the box which can be used with any adaptor.  

Verdict: Available at a starting price of Rs 1,19,900, iPhone 12 Pro is the best premium smartphone when it comes to design, performance, looks, and professional work. With the great camera performance, rock-solid privacy, beautiful design and looks, the iPhone 12 Pro is a true upgrade if you are already using iPhone 11 series. If you are spending around Rs 1.5 lakhs on a smartphone, iPhone 12 Pro is the right choice. The device is a PRO performer and it won't disappoint you.