In addition to introducing its flagship iPhone 12 today, Apple continued its tradition of offering "Pro" models of its smartphone and unveiled the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max feature stainless steel bands on their flat sides rather than the aluminum on the iPhone 12 as well as matte glass backs. This year, the Pro models are ditching the Midnight Green color of the iPhone 11 Pro models for a new Pacific Blue, and there will be gold, graphite, and silver color options available as well.
The displays on both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have been upgraded. The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch 2532x1170 OLED display while the Pro Max is moving to a 6.7-inch 2778x1284 OLED screen. Both displays have reduced bezels, too, as well as a Ceramic Shield cover that offers 4x better drop protection compared to the iPhone 11 Pro models.
Around back, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max both have triple camera setups, but they differ a bit. The Pro's 12MP wide camera features an f/1.6 aperture and new seven-element lens that'll get you 27% better low-light performance in photos and video, and there's a 12MP ultra wide cam with 120-degree field of view and Night Mode support. The 12MP telephoto camera has a 52mm focal length and 4x optical zoom.
Meanwhile, the Pro Max's 12MP wide camera has a 47% larger sensor with 1.7μm pixels that promises an 87% improvement in low-light conditions. The 12MP ultra wide cam also has a 120-degree field of view and Night Mode support, while the 12MP telephoto cam has a 65mm focal length and 5x optical zoom range.
Apple has added a LiDAR sensor to the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max models this year. Also appearing on the iPad Pro, a LiDAR sensor can aid in depth sensing and room scanning, and Apple touts that it'll improve low light photography in Night Mode.
Additionally, a new feature called Apple ProRAW will be coming to the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max in a future iOS 14 update. It combines Apple's image processing with the versatility of the RAW photo format to give you more control when editing your photos.
Both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max include 5G connectivity, both mmWave and sub-6GHz varities, just like the regular iPhone 12. They've also got a Smart Data Mode that'll shift you to 4G when you don't need super-fast data speeds to help you save battery life, then move to 5G when those faster data speeds are needed.
Inside the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max's IP68 water and dust resistance bodies is Apple's new A14 Bionic processor that it says is up to 50% faster than competing smartphone chips.
MagSafe wireless charging will help you get perfect placement on an Apple MagSafe wireless charging pad as well as charging speeds up to 15W, but regular Qi charging is also supported at speeds up to 7.5W. Apple is also planning to launch new accessories that utilize MagSafe, like cases that snap on to the new iPhones as well as a leather wallet.
One other detail to note is that Apple confirmed today that it will not include wired headphones or a power adapter with the iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max. This move is meant to reduce their environmental impact, cutting down on e-waste and resulting in smaller packaging.
The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max will be available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. The iPhone 12 Pro will start at $999 and will be available for pre-order starting at 5:00 am PT / 8:00 am ET on October 16, with orders shipping on October 23.
Pre-orders of the iPhone 12 Pro Max will begin on November 6 and devices will begin shipping on November 13. Pricing for the Pro Max will start at $1,099.
