The iPhone 12 & 12 Pro Review: New Design and Diminishing Returns
by Andrei Frumusanu on November 30, 2020 8:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Mobile
- Apple
- Smartphones
- Apple A14
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
Video Recording
Video recording on the new iPhone 12 series is defined by the addition of real HDR format recording, meaning 10-bit profile within a new Dolby Vision format. Apple’s choice to go with Dolby Vision a forward-thinking one that’s certainly going to pay off in the future, however unless you have a recent compatible TV or lucky enough to feature a monitor capable of displaying the format, the playback experience on devices other than iPhones is going to be quite limited.
Video capture quality is quite excellent this generation as well, although I have a hard time to really differentiate things from the iPhone 11 series. Dynamic range of the shots is still quite good, however there’s still some key characteristics such as the jittering EIS that are still present, or the occasional pulsating exposure of certain objects in the scene, something that’s possibly related to the dual-exposure of every frame when video-recording.
At 4K30, the phone is able to take advantage of all the camera modules and allows you to switch around between the units during recording. When recording in 4K60, it’s no longer possible to switch from the main and telephoto module to the ultra-wide unit. If you start recording on the ultra-wide unit, you’re limited to this module and any zooming in will be digital.
Focusing is generally flawless on the main camera, although it’s noticeable in video that the ultra-wide angle module is of a fixed focus design, so you won’t be able to focus as near in some situations.
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GC2:CS - Monday, November 30, 2020 - link
Displaymate says peak white is like 10% down compared to 11 Pro.11 Pro was 8% down from the XS but at higher max brightness the efficiency suffers (apple said 15% better isoperf).
That combined with the A14 would pretty much eliminate any fears of downgraded battery life. Unless you turn 5G on.
KPOM - Monday, November 30, 2020 - link
Still better than what iPhones can draw from normal Qi chargers.calleng - Monday, November 30, 2020 - link
All this talk about edges and surface of the phone is bull. Who uses an iphone without a proper case. Maybe apple should make them out of rubber.Andrei Frumusanu - Monday, November 30, 2020 - link
If we didn't care about the design then why bother with a heavier steel variant then? I don't care for cases for one and use all my phones naked.zanon - Monday, November 30, 2020 - link
calleng is completely off base but I do sympathize with Apple being tugged multiple ways here. If 70-80% of owners use a case, well, 20-30% naked is still a LOT. Tens of millions, and reviewers in particular always mention it, and it's what people feel in the store too. So it definitely matters to pay major attention to a quality naked phone experience. Yet that doesn't change a super majority using it with a case, and Apple can't possibly be completely ignoring that either."Why bother with a heavier steel variant then" though really is an interesting question give the noticeable weight difference. There are lots of other premium materials, titanium of course but also all sorts of alloys and even ceramics that Apple has worked with in the past. Steel is certainly really versatile and can be very tough, but it's still a curious choice for a company that has tended to pay a lot of attention to weight and hand feel. As you say in the review it's genuinely debatable if it even is more "premium" here, and it's not like Apple doesn't have serious materials chops. They have high end titanium case options for their watches as well.
cha0z_ - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - link
The last pools I saw on the subject (this summer), it was 50% using their phones naked and 50% with a case. ;) the pool had around 40 000 voters.cha0z_ - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - link
Same, used all of my phones totally naked (no case, no screen protector) - all in perfect condition.FunBunny2 - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - link
from what I gather, most cracked screens are from butt compression due to carrying in back pocket. spongy rubber-ish case won't stop that.iphonebestgamephone - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - link
Look harder and youll see how its not perfect.Unashamed_unoriginal_username_x86 - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - link
I know it's not as comfortable or sexy, but I hope you put something on when you go outside. I don't want you getting arrested!