Other Anyone else having a really hard time figuring out what iPhone 12 model to buy?

[ssledoux]

Is that you in your profile pic? You look way too young to have a granddaughter that uses a phone.

That’s me, and thanks! It won’t actually be a true phone for her right now, but I promised it to her to use like an iPod. She’s only 8, so it will be very restricted, and won’t be a “phone” for a while. I just won’t purchase an iPod at this point - waste of money.

 

[kevink2]

Well, I caved and went with the base 12 Pro. I kept on missing the telephoto lens that I had on my 7+ and X when taking quick pictures of my cats the last year with my 11.

And the < 1 year old 11 will be a gift to my sister to upgrade her original SE whose battery is degrading.

 

[rdillon2008]

I think if you are spending $879 for 128gb iphone 12 it is best to spend the $120 and get the base pro along with more ram, build, camera and extra features. I already had issues with ram with 4gb with 11 pro max so 6gb this year i would pay for that extra 2gb

 

[StrollerEd]

I think if you are spending $879 for 128gb iphone 12 it is best to spend the $120 and get the base pro along with more ram, build, camera and extra features. I already had issues with ram with 4gb with 11 pro max so 6gb this year i would pay for that extra 2gb

I like that argument as I'm settled on getting 128gb but I'd like confirmation that the extra 50% (2gb) of RAM is generally usable. Surely it cannot all be used by the extra camera processing features? Also, the AppleCare+ is more expensive on the Pro. My sums in the UK indicate that there is a £200 difference between the 128gb 12 and the base (128gb) 12 pro.

 

[oVerboost]

I like that argument as I'm settled on getting 128gb but I'd like confirmation that the extra 50% (2gb) of RAM is generally usable. Surely it cannot all be used by the extra camera processing features? Also, the AppleCare+ is more expensive on the Pro. My sums in the UK indicate that there is a £200 difference between the 128gb 12 and the base (128gb) 12 pro.

There’s a £150 difference between the 128GB 12 and the Pro. Get the Pro, I just saved you £50, in your head anyway lol. Or did you mean with the Apple care included? In which case one option, they now allow you to pay monthly for Apple Care in the UK, and it will run until you cancel. So it can run for 2,3,4,5 years... as long as you keep up payments, your protected.

 

[rdillon2008]

There’s a £150 difference between the 128GB 12 and the Pro. Get the Pro, I just saved you £50, in your head anyway lol. Or did you mean with the Apple care included? In which case one option, they now allow you to pay monthly for Apple Care in the UK, and it will run until you cancel. So it can run for 2,3,4,5 years... as long as you keep up payments, your protected.

In america the phones are $30 more on certain carriers for the 12
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I like that argument as I'm settled on getting 128gb but I'd like confirmation that the extra 50% (2gb) of RAM is generally usable. Surely it cannot all be used by the extra camera processing features? Also, the AppleCare+ is more expensive on the Pro. My sums in the UK indicate that there is a £200 difference between the 128gb 12 and the base (128gb) 12 pro.

Not camera, but apps is where i need the ram. Based on benchmarks, 5.60 is usable.

 

[StrollerEd]

Not camera, but apps is where i need the ram. Based on benchmarks, 5.60 is usable.

I agree, but a tad concerned - probably unnecessarily - that the extra ram will not be available generally for those apps but only for the camera processing. I also think the 50% ram is worth it if its generally available.

 

[StrollerEd]

There’s a £150 difference between the 128GB 12 and the Pro. Get the Pro, I just saved you £50, in your head anyway lol. Or did you mean with the Apple care included? In which case one option, they now allow you to pay monthly for Apple Care in the UK, and it will run until you cancel. So it can run for 2,3,4,5 years... as long as you keep up payments, your protected.

Yes, I was including AC+ in the sums. But I will check what you suggest about the monthly payments: does that really work, or just supposition?

 

[nill1234]

Did you ever notice any RAM problems? I just settled for the 12 128. In Germany its 200€ more for the Pro. I don't need the old crappy 2x zoom and a lidar.

 

[rdillon2008]

Did you ever notice any RAM problems? I just settled for the 12 128. In Germany its 200€ more for the Pro. I don't need the old crappy 2x zoom and a lidar.

I have notice it since the 11 pro max but not the xs max. I don't trust apple! They may bring out more features later that may only be for the pro models so I will risk the $120 to be safe

 

[oVerboost]

Yes, I was including AC+ in the sums. But I will check what you suggest about the monthly payments: does that really work, or just supposition?

No that’s what Apple themselves have said, it changed not too long ago...

AppleCare+ Monthly Payments Expand to the UK and Germany

After expanding AppleCare+ monthly payments to a number of new territories in July, Apple has now made the scheme available to customers in the...

www.google.co.uk

 

[StrollerEd]

There’s a £150 difference between the 128GB 12 and the Pro. Get the Pro, I just saved you £50, in your head anyway lol. Or did you mean with the Apple care included? In which case one option, they now allow you to pay monthly for Apple Care in the UK, and it will run until you cancel. So it can run for 2,3,4,5 years... as long as you keep up payments, your protected.

Can only see options on the Apple site for payment over 2 years. Do you have a pointer to payment over 5 years?

 

[nill1234]

I have notice it since the 11 pro max but not the xs max. I don't trust apple! They may bring out more features later that may only be for the pro models so I will risk the $120 to be safe

I never had Problems with my 11. But at 120$ thats a lot less than 200€. I think we overthink it and all iPhones will run perfectly fine.

 

[oVerboost]

Can only see options on the Apple site for payment over 2 years. Do you have a pointer to payment over 5 years?

You buy the phone first, can’t do it when ordering, go into settings and it will prompt you near the top that you have x amount of days to still take out AppleCare. Once clicked, this is the only way you can pay monthly outside of including it with a financed package or upgrade program.

It then renews much the same as a subscription would on your iPhone.

 

[barondebxl]

IMO this year the standout iPhone to buy is the standard iPhone 12 - this year it closed the gap significantly from the standard and Pro model, as it now has the exact same design, OLED display, its lighter, etc. Besides the camera enhancements and LiDAR I see no reason to go with the 6.1" Pro

This

 

[9646829]

I went for the 12 but did consider the 12 Pro as well, didn’t feel like it was worth the extra money.

 

[oVerboost]

For anyone keeping their phone long term, the extra RAM in the Pro will make a difference going forwards, especially as camera software keeps getting better as well as things like widgets. I'm not saying that the regular 12 will be rubbish, it's going to be awesome - but worth considering if anyone plans to keep their phone any real length of time.

 

[MacStreamer]

How many threads on here are about people complaining about lack of ram on one of the recent iPhones? I never see them. I think 4 GB is plenty for the 12. I am thinking the other 2 GB is mainly for the Pro cameras.

 

[barondebxl]

For anyone keeping their phone long term, the extra RAM in the Pro will make a difference going forwards, especially as camera software keeps getting better as well as things like widgets. I'm not saying that the regular 12 will be rubbish, it's going to be awesome - but worth considering if anyone plans to keep their phone any real length of time.

I agree that for anyone who plans on keeping their phones long term then the extra ram would be nice but it’s not that big of a deal especially because of how efficient IOS is. Me personally when I buy an iPhone I don’t think future, I think present only because what ends up happening is that the new phones usually introduce a feature (or more) that I want and therefore I upgrade. It’s not the case every year but usually it is. I’m positive the iPhone 12 with 4GB of ram will perform like a champ for a while. But then next year for example, it is highly likely that pro motion will make it to the iPhone. That would be a must upgrade for me and I’m guessing that it would only be available in the pro models which will have more ram. So yeah this year I don’t really care for the pro models but that’s just me.

 

[barondebxl]

How many threads on here are about people complaining about lack of ram on one of the recent iPhones? I never see them. I think 4 GB is plenty for the 12. I am thinking the other 2 GB is mainly for the Pro cameras.

Correct me if I’m wrong but the iPhone 11 Pro series have 4GB of Ram too and it’s pretty solid. I care for ram when I use an android phone, I don’t care as much when it’s an iPhone

 

[mjb59463]

I’ve been going back and forth between the 12 mini and the 12 pro, and I’m coming from the 11 pro.

Battery life is the main consideration for me in the switch. I’d love a small phone (I dislike large phones) but I’d hate having to charge it twice a day.

The Pro’s battery is noticeably bigger than the 12 Mini’s. No matter what level of optimization exists with A14, battery life isn’t going to be anywhere close to equal. Once you add 5G into the battery life equation and the fact that I live in a downtown metro where it exists in droves, it becomes a no-brainer.

So I think I’m going with the 12 pro. It shouldn’t be THAT much bigger than what I currently have, and I’m a yearly upgrader. Even if I truly hate it, I can live with it for a year.

 

[Detonation]

I ordered both the 12 and 12 Pro. Will make the decision when they arrive. The 12 Pro seemed like an easy decision at first, but I don't really need more than 64GB, and with AC+, it's a $220 difference. The lighter device would be nice, and I like the look of the 12 a little more. I'll probably still end up going with the Pro, but I'm not spending $1000+ without knowing for sure.

 

[kevink2]

The telephoto lens is the only reason I will probably do the 12 Pro. Otherwise I think I would do the mini. Though I do question if I would really miss the telephoto or not.......

I've missed the telephoto lens in the last year since I bought the 11. So I ordered the pro.

 

[kevink2]

Anyone debating carriers because of 5G differences?

I’m a long time GSM user cause I like how GSM works globally but Verizon’s 5G data rates shown by Speedtest were crazy better (where available) than ATT and T-Mobile. (ATT was clearly worse which may explain their aggressive upgrade offers).

I‘ve setup my iPhone upgrade program for a 12 Pro on ATT but am very curious about the Verizon option.

Early iPhone 12 5G speed tests show how results will vary by carrier and location - 9to5Mac

One of the headlining features of iPhone 12 is its support for 5G connectivity. Ahead of pre-orders beginning on Friday,...

9to5mac.com

In my case, I wasn't going to upgrade unless the phone could support the mmWave. Who knows what will be useful in next year or 2. But I'm staying on my ATT MVNO since in my market in Oklahoma, Verizon has de-prioritization issues. I have a backup line on a Verizon MVNO ($60/year) to handle coverage if necessary when traveling. And I may consider moving that line to my new 12, using eSIM for my primary line.

 

[MacStreamer]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the iPhone 11 Pro series have 4GB of Ram too and it’s pretty solid. I care for ram when I use an android phone, I don’t care as much when it’s an iPhone

Yes. 11 Pro and Max both have 4.