iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini use Apple's six-core A14 Bionic processor, which contains a next-generation neural engine. They both have three internal storage options: 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. Both also contain an IP68 water and dust-resistant rating along with dirt and grime, and is water-resistant up to six meters (20 feet) for 30 minutes. However, the manufacturer warranty does not cover liquid damage to the phone.

The iPhone 12 series are the first iPhone models to be supplied from launch without EarPods or a wall adapter, which Apple says was done to reduce carbon emissions and waste since most users already own them. Apple also claims 70% more boxes can fit on a pallet given the smaller box, and thus further reducing emissions.[22] A USB-C to Lightning cord is still included. This change also applies retroactively to all other iPhone models still in production.[23] To comply with French law regarding wireless device radiation and health which requires phones to be bundled with and promote use of hands-free accessories by children under 14, iPhone models will still include EarPods in this market.[24]

A magnetic connector known as MagSafe is introduced on the iPhone 12 models, allowing accessories such as cases and charging cords to be attached to the rear of the device. Accessories can also be stacked together.[25]

The devices support 5G cellular communications. This allows upload speeds of up to 200 Mbit/s and download speeds of up to 4 Gbit/s.[26] However, only models sold in the U.S. support the fastest mmWave technology; those sold elsewhere in the world, including Canada, support only sub-6GHz frequency bands.[27] A new feature called Smart Data Mode enables 5G only when necessary to preserve battery life.[28] 5G is not supported if both SIMs (eSIM and physical SIM card) are active. To use 5G, the user must manually disable one line.[29]

The iPhone 12 features a 6.1-inch (15.3-cm) display[30] with Super Retina XDR OLED technology at a resolution of 2532×1170 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 ppi.[31] The iPhone 12 Mini features a 5.4-inch display with the same technology at a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and a pixel density of about 476 ppi. Both phones have a peak brightness of 1200 nits, equivalent to the iPhone 12 Pro.[32] Both phones also use an improved glass-ceramic covering called Ceramic Shield which is co-developed with Corning Inc. Apple describes it as having "4 times better drop performance" and being "tougher than any smartphone glass".[33]

The iPhone 12 has a 10.78 Wh (2,815 mAh) battery, a slight decrease from the 11.91 Wh (3,110 mAh) battery found in the iPhone 11 and identical to the battery found in the iPhone 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 Mini has a 8.57 Wh (2,227 mAh) battery. The battery is not user-replaceable.[34]

Both the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini have the Apple A14 Bionic, the first ARM-based smartphone system-on-a-chip (SoC) manufactured on the 5 nm process node. However, unlike previous years, they are not the first Apple devices to receive the newest A-series processor, with the fourth-generation iPad Air being the first device from Apple to contain the A14 Bionic. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max also contain the Apple M14 motion coprocessor. Both phones use Qualcomm's X55 5G modem.

Both phones have two rear 12-megapixel cameras: wide and ultra-wide. The wide camera is a 26mm full-frame equivalent with an f/1.6 aperture (which captures 27% more light than the f/1.8 aperture in the iPhone 11)[35] and a seven-element lens.[36] The ultra-wide camera is a 52mm full-frame equivalent with an f/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens.[37]

Both rear-facing cameras now support Night Mode for both photo and video at full resolution.[38] Portrait mode has received improvements and works with Night Mode as well. Smart HDR has been improved (now called Smart HDR 3).[39] This iPhone model is the first capable of shooting 10-bit high dynamic range Dolby Vision 4K video at up to 30 fps which allows for greater brightness and deeper shadows.[40]

The front-facing, TrueDepth camera features a 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture. This model also added Night Mode to the front-facing camera.[41]

Sensors

The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini include mostly the same sensors found on prior iPhone models going back to the iPhone X. These include an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and a digital compass. The devices also includes the Face ID sensor for biometric authentication.

Both phones run iOS 14.[42] The devices come with the stock iOS apps, such as Safari, Weather, and Messages, and they include Siri, the personal assistant included in iOS.

Within two weeks after its public release, a thread was started at Apple Support Communities describing a problem with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro OLED panel black pixels not shutting off completely in black scenes, resulting in what was described as "ugly glowing".[49] A considerable number of users have since posted replies reporting the same problem, photos and videos have been shared online demonstrating the issue. As of January 2021, Apple has not yet made an official statement, although a YouTube user claims that Apple Support reached back to them and told that "they are working on this problem."[50]

Apple, through an environmental initiative, has removed the EarPods and power adapter from all new iPhone boxes, including the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. It is claimed that removing these items will reduce e-waste and permit a smaller iPhone box, allowing more devices to be transported simultaneously to decrease carbon footprint. Apple now includes a USB-C to Lightning cable, incompatible with the existing USB-A power adapters that Apple previously supplied with its devices. Users can still use their existing USB-A power adapters and cables, but must purchase a USB-C power adapter sold separately to enable Qi fast charging.

In December 2020, a Brazilian consumer rights watchdog Procon-SP Foundation has requested Apple to provide proof that not including chargers is beneficial to the environment. The watchdog argues that Apple removing the charger is anti-consumer and wants to force the company to include one as it claims the charger is an essential component.[51]

iFixit and Australian YouTuber Hugh Jeffreys discovered that a number of key components such as the cameras malfunction or display warnings if they are replaced with new ones or those taken from an otherwise identical donor unit.[52] Internal Apple documents also mention that, beginning with the iPhone 12 and subsequent models, authorized technicians would have to run the phones through an internal System Configuration tool to reprogram repaired units in order to account for hardware changes. While Apple has yet to comment on the issue, the inability to replace key system components have raised concerns about right to repair and planned obsolescence.[53] However, the iPhone 12 Mini does not have this issue.[54] Apple later addressed the issue with the release of iOS 14.4, which displays a warning message if the phone detects an unpaired camera module but otherwise allows for full functionality.[55]