Aren’t smartphones already powerful enough that they could be classified as a prosumer or pro-level device? Apple doesn’t think so when it released the iPhone 11 Pro, and that trend continues with the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
If you take the iPhone 12 as the starting block, that gives us an idea of what else was added to make it worthwhile for the pro jump:
- Powered by the A14 Bionic SoC
- MagSafe wireless charging
- There’s no power adapter nor wired Earpods inside the box – only a Lightning to USB-C cable.
- Support for 5G and all the different bands
- Super Retina XDR display in larger dimensions
- Ceramic shield on on display for better protection
- HDR Dolby Vision recording with 10-bit HDR
- IP68-certified for protection against water adn other liquids
New Design and Innovative Display Technologies
Designed with premium materials, iPhone 12 Pro models boast a gorgeous surgical-grade stainless steel band paired with a precision-milled matte glass back, and introduces the incredibly durable Ceramic Shield. The models come as the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Pro-Level Camera System
You may think that the camera system will be almost the same as the iPhone 12, but that’s where the differences begin with some smaller differences between both these pro models. One quick look at the back and you’ll see the triple camera system in place.
iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max |
A seven-element lens Wide camera with an ƒ/1.6 aperture, for 27 percent improved low-light performance in photo and video; Ultra Wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, perfect for capturing more scene in tight spots or epic landscapes A 52 mm focal length Telephoto camera, great for framing portraits, bringing the optical zoom range to 4x. | New ƒ/1.6 aperture Wide camera boasts a 47 percent larger sensor with 1.7μm pixels for a massive 87 percent improvement in low-light conditions. Ultra Wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, perfect for capturing more scene in tight spots or epic landscapes A 65 mm focal length Telephoto camera for increased flexibility with closer shots and tighter crops. Combined, this system offers 5x optical zoom range. |
If you love shooting in RAW, the iPhone 12 Pro models will support the new Apple ProRAW that will be aded later in the year. Combining Apple’s multiframe image processing and computational photography with the versatility of a RAW format, Apple ProRAWgives you full creative control over color, detail, and dynamic range natively on the iPhone or with other professional photo editing apps.

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, now better and faster, comes to all cameras. Paired with the new Smart HDR 3, users can expect more true-to-life images, even in complex scenes. For better stabilization, the sensor itself will now be moving in concert with the lenses.
Augmented Camera Experience
Taking one of the iPad Pro’s major new additions and bringing it to the iPhone 12 is quite a feat, and will definitely help differentiate these pro models. The LiDAR Scanner comes to the Pro line, offering the ability to measure light distance and use pixel depth information of a scene. How does this play out?
- The LiDAR scanner will help deliver faster and more realistic AR experiences.
- It improves autofocus by 6x in low-light scenes for more accuracy and reduced capture time in photos and videos.
- Helps with taking Night mode portraits just like the front-facing camera.
As the new iPad Pro already supports it, expect some apps to be updated for the iPhone 12 Pro models.
You need to get one
If you cringed at the starting capacity, you’ll be surprised to hear that Apple has upped to start at 128GB and going up to 512GB of storage. Pre-orders in the Middle East should open up sometime this week.