iPhone 12 Review – The Greatest iPhone So Far
Apple has done a great job designing the new iPhone 12. Comparing to the previous generations, this new iPhone has a sleek design that will stay here for a couple of generations to come.
Many have speculated that this iPhone will be in high demand since it has many more upgrades than the previous models. Think of the completely new 5G internet connection, the much better cameras, the new A-14 chip’s high performance, the gorgeous design, and much more.
But as always, there are some downsides to this new iPhone as well. The first one is that Apple has chosen not to include a charger due to environmental reasons.
The second one is that they kept the base storage of the iPhone 12 at just 64GB. And the third one is that the iPhone 12 is missing some features already available in the Android world. Think of the fast refreshing displays, the super-sharp digital zoom, and some more features.
But let us be positive since this update has a lot more to it than just a super-sharp digital zoom. Despite some negativity from various technophiles, the iPhone 12 is still one of the best smartphones you can buy today.
Let me explain why.
The Design of The iPhone 12
Let’s start with the design of the iPhone 12 since this feature seems to be the most noticeable.
We are used to the fact that Apple rarely changes the design of its iPhones. Since the iPhone X, we haven’t seen any significant design changes (except for the larger iPhone Xs Max and the iPhone 11 Pro Max displays, obviously).
The most noticeable design change in the iPhone 12 is the flat-edge display. This charming-looking display is nothing like its previous models. As you may know, the previous iPhones had rounded edges, which made the iPhone more sensitive to scratches, bumps, cracks, and other damages.
Bend Testing The iPhone 12
As thin as it has to be, though, this new iPhone has a robust and durable frame. Lew from Unbox Therapy tried to bend it, as he did with the iPhone 6 and the 6s back then, but even the slightest bend didn’t show up. And despite the amount of pressure he put on it, the iPhone 12 didn’t give up.
Drop Testing The iPhone 12
Based on the amount of force he applied to it, Lew Later couldn’t get a bend on this iPhone. What about dropping it from a certain height? I mean, yeah, there is some possibility that you will sit on your iPhone and get the glass cracked, but letting it fall while you’re texting your best friend is a more conceivable scenario.
Well, we’ve got some testing made by PhoneBuff, and the results were impressive. Even after dropping the iPhone from a regular height more than ten times, the iPhone worked just fine. Its screen didn’t even crack! Check here the video.
One Problem With The Shape of The iPhone 12
But there is something that needs to be addressed when it comes to this new frame. Right now, maybe you are using the iPhone X, Xs Max, or the iPhone 11, and you’ve got used to the rounded shape of the phone. That way, you can easily use your phone for a couple of hours without having trouble holding it.
Well, as you may know, the iPhone 12 has a sharper frame. And that’s where I got my question marks. Holding the iPhone for a couple of hours means that you will end up with some marks from the sharp edges. And that will make the user experience much less pleasant for those who hold their phones for long periods.
So Keep in mind that if you’re the type that works with his/her phone for a long time, those edges may then dig in your hands. But you can quickly solve this problem by putting your phone in a case, which most people will do anyway.
Nonetheless, as I said at the beginning of this article, this new design is just gorgeous. And the best part, the iPhone 12 doesn’t feel less luxurious than the iPhone 12 Pro.
Plus, the crystal-infused ceramic glass, which the screen is made of, will come with the iPhone 12 as well. Apple claims that this glass is four times less likely to break when dropped, which in any case was confirmed in the mentioned video.
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The Price and availability of The iPhone 12
As of today, you can buy the iPhone 12 from various places, such as the Apple store, Amazon, and a couple of other (online) stores. For $829, you will receive an unlocked phone with 64GB of storage. Upgrading to 128GB will cost you $50 extra. If you want to maximize the capacity to 256GB of storage, you will pay $979.
But there is another way to get this iPhone. Namely, with a Carrier Trade-in Offer.
The Carrier Trade-in Offers at Apple
The Trade-in offers at Apple are a way to get the iPhone without paying in full. There are three carriers you can choose from. AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint, and Verizon. Each has a special offer.
AT&T
At AT&T, you can get the iPhone 12 for $0/mo. But there is something you need to give them to be eligible for this offer: Your used iPhone. So if you trade your iPhone 8 (or newer), you can get up to $700 in bill credits or up to $350 if you trade in your iPhone 6s through iPhone 7 Plus. Depending on the condition of your device. You can arrange this trade online (if you’re an existing customer) or in the Apple store (for both existing and new customers).
Of course, if you choose this package, you will pay a monthly fee for the data-plans you get along with your new iPhone. An AT&T installment plan will then cost you around $33.29 per month for 24 months. This plan comes with an iPhone 12 64GB.
T-Mobile/Sprint
What about the T-Mobile/Sprint plans? What do they have to offer? Like AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint also offers a trade-in credit. The difference, though, is the fact that they only accept an iPhone 8 or newer.
Trading this iPhone 8 will get you an additional $150 trade-in credit. After ordering the iPhone 12 and activating your T-Mobile/Sprint plan, you will receive two additional trade-in credits you can choose from. The Apple Trade-in Credit or The T-Mobile/Sprint Trade-in Credit.
Apple Trade-in Credit
Let’s start with the first one: The Apple Trade-in Credit. Trading your phone with Apple directly will get you a trade-in value that will be applied as an instant credit to lower your monthly payments. If you chose to pay in full, your payment method would then be credited after they have received your phone.
T-Mobile/Sprint Trade-in Credit
The picture will be slightly different if you choose the T-Mobile/Sprint Trade-in Credit. They will offer you this additional $150 trade-in credit in the form of a virtual prepaid Mastercard®. After receiving your phone, they then will send you an email with a promo code that you can submit at promotions.T-Mobile.com.
Like the AT&T installment plan, the T-Mobile and Sprint installment plans will both cost you $33.29 per month for 24 months.
Verzion
The Verzion Trade-in method works slightly differently. For this plan, I would recommend checking Apple’s website to see exactly what you will pay after trading-in your iPhone. The reason why it’s hard to write about it extensively because you need to select the iPhone you want to trade-in to get the exact numbers.
This means that the numbers will vary from model to model. They even offer the possibility to trade an Android phone for the new iPhone 12.
No Charger Included
You may have heard about it, but Apple will not include a charger to the iPhone 12 and even the iPhone 12 Pro. They even excluded the charger from their older models like the iPhone 11, the iPhone SE, and the iPhone XR. This goes only for the brick, though. Because you will still get the Lightning-to-USB-C cable. So, if you still have a wall charger with a USB-C port, be careful with it. A new one will cost you around $40.
Another downside to the iPhone 12 is the storage capacity of its base model. Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 starts with a storage capacity of just 64GB. In my opinion, that’s on the lower end for a 2020 phone. Nowadays, the amount of pictures, videos, games, apps, documents our phones contain is enormous. Let alone the capacity it needs for the upgrades and the built-in apps.
The good news is that upgrading to the 128GB model will not cost you that much. Whereas the 64GB model will cost you $829, for $50 extra, you can get the 128GB. So if you decide to spend your money on the iPhone 12, just put in an extra 50 bucks and go for the 128GB. It’s worth it.
