Everything You Need To Know About Apple’s New iPhones

Thinking of upgrading your iPhone to one of the new models? Maybe you’re coming off contract or looking to treat yourself for the holiday season. Whatever the reason, here’s everything you need to know about the four (yes, four!) new smartphones the company released today.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max

The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are the two new top-line devices, both offering 5G connectivity and advanced technologies, along with an edge-to-edge Super Retina XDR display, Ceramic Shield front cover making them ultra-durable, and the Apple-designed A14 Bionic chip.

The new cameras include Apple ProRAW (coming later this year) for additional creative control for photos, and Dolby Vision for videos, which can be recorded at up to 60 frames-per-second. There’s also a new ultra-wide camera, telephoto camera with longer focal length on the Pro Max camera, and new wide cameras that allow for shooting in both bright and low-light environments. They also include a new LiDAR Scanner for immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences; as well as MagSafe for high-powered wireless charging and the ability to attach a new selection of accessories to the device.  

Both phones will come in four stainless steel finishes – graphite, silver, gold, and pacific blue – with pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Pro beginning Friday, October 16 and availability beginning Friday, October 23, and pre-orders for the 12 Pro Max starting Friday, November 6, with devices in stores beginning Friday, November 13. 

5G speeds will afford improved speeds for faster downloads and uploads, higher quality video streaming, more responsive gaming, real-time interactivity in apps, FaceTime in high definition, and more. Customers will also be able to enjoy a secure, fast connection, reducing the need to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots, says APple.

The iPhone 12 Pro has a 6.1″ screen and the 12 Pro Max a 6.7″ screen, both OLED displays compatible with HDR content, and reaching 1,200 nits of brightness. They both boast IP68 ratings, making them able to withstand submersion in up to six metres of water for up to 30 minutes. 

iPhone 12 Pro features the new seven-element lens Wide camera with an ƒ/1.6 aperture, the fastest ever on an iPhone, for 27% improved low-light performance in photo and video; the Ultra-Wide camera with a 120-degree field of view is perfect for capturing more scene in tight spots or epic landscapes; and a 52 mm focal length Telephoto camera is great for framing portraits, bringing the optical zoom range to 4x.

iPhone 12 Pro Max has a new ƒ/1.6 aperture Wide camera that boasts a 47% larger sensor with 1.7μm pixels for a massive 87% improvement in low-light conditions. It also includes the expansive Ultra-Wide camera and a 65mm focal length Telephoto camera for increased flexibility with closer shots and tighter crops. Combined, this system offers 5x optical zoom range. 

Improvements to Night mode, now expanded to the TrueDepth and Ultra-Wide cameras, allow for an even brighter picture. Night mode Time-Lapse delivers longer exposure times for sharper videos, better light trails, and smoother exposure in low-light scenarios when used with a tripod. Deep Fusion comes to all cameras, and with the new Smart HDR 3, you can expect more true-to-life images, even in complex scenes, Apple promises.

The MagSafe chargers provide up to 15W of power while still accommodating existing Qi-enabled devices. Charging solutions include the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger for use with iPhone and Apple Watch, as well as new silicone, leather, and clear cases that easily snap onto the back of iPhone, and a leather wallet. Apple also expects innovative MagSafe accessories from third-party manufacturers.

The new iPhone 12 returns to the square design that was featured with the iPhone 6

Both phones comes with iOS 14 and all of the benefits that come with it. 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available in Canada in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models starting at $1,399 and $1,549 (CAD), respectively. They are also available with trade-in for $1,029 (12 Pro) and $1,109 (12 Pro Max).

Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

For those who don’t want the highest end device but still want a new iPhone that can take advantage of the latest features, there’s the new iPhone 12 and 12 mini. Both include a new design, A14 Bionic chip, advanced dual-camera system, Super Retina XDR display with Ceramic Shield front cover, and 5G technology. 

They will come in five aluminum finish options, including blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED., with pre-orders for iPhone 12 beginning Friday, October 16, with availability beginning Friday, October 23, and pre-orders for iPhone 12 mini available beginning Friday, November 6, and in stores beginning Friday, November 13.

The iPhone 12 mini is the smallest and thinnest iPhone to date. Both are IP68-rated as well and include a new dual-camera system with ultra-wide camera and wide camera with an ƒ/1.6 aperture that provides 27% more light for low-light photos and videos, Night mode, TrueDepth, and Deep Fusion photos. Smart HDR 3 uses ML to intelligently adjust the white balance, contrast, texture, and saturation of a photo for natural-looking images. iPhone 12 features the first camera to shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision, says Apple. Like the other two iPhones, they also include MagSafe for wireless charging and connecting other optional accessories. And they will come loaded with iOS 14.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB versions starting at $1,129 and $979, respectively. You can also get iPhone 12 for $819 with trade-in and iPhone 12 mini for $669 with trade-in.

For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac, can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free and three months of Apple Arcade for free. There’s also the option to sign on for an Apple One subscription to enjoy discounts on multiple Apple services, and everything on one bill.