Comparison iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro: Screen, Cameras and More

Specifications that we find in them

A table of specifications is not decisive in any case, since in the end it is raw data that can be more or less similar with a good experience. However, we believe it is convenient to know first what the technical sections of these iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro are.

You will have noticed that we are not talking about your RAM memory and this is officially a piece of information that is not known. However, it has been possible to know how much memory of this type both phones have thanks to the analysis of the experts, who have determined that they have 4 GB and 6 GB respectively. The reason that Apple does not confirm these data is that the company does not give as much importance to the amount of RAM as it does to the general efficiency of the processor and is that thanks to this and the software designed by the company itself, a similar performance is achieved. or even higher than other phones that have more RAM.

The battery section is not mentioned for the same reasons as the RAM, but they can also be known unofficially. Interestingly, the iPhone 12 Pro has a lower capacity, 2,775 mAh, while the 11 Pro has 3,046 mAh. However, we will analyze this matter in more depth in the battery section of this article.

A similar design, but with appreciable differences

Same notch on the front, same rear aesthetics … Both devices could seem the same at first glance, despite their differences in size and specific colors of each one. However, they have a different form factor between them. The iPhone 11 Pro incorporates the same design that Apple has been integrating into the sides of its smartphones since the iPhone 6, with a curved shape that grips very well in the hand.

The iPhone 12 Pro for its part has an aesthetic that, without being entirely new, we have not seen for years and that is that it has flat sides with curved corners. This design reminiscent of the iPhone 4 is also evident on the front, leaving a phone that is completely flat on all its edges. On the back, for its part, it incorporates a LiDAR sensor in the camera module that also differentiates it visually.

Qualifying one as better or worse, prettier or uglier, is in the end a totally subjective matter. Each one has their tastes and preferences, so we cannot here qualify these phones beyond describing what it is that unites and separates them.

Which one is more comfortable to use?

There has been a change in size between both generations and that is that the iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch screen and the iPhone 12 Pro of 6.1. However for practical purposes we do not really find a very noticeable difference between them, especially when the weight is practically the same. The new edge design of the 12 Pro makes it appear more compact. At the level of grip, it must be said that both feel very good in the hand and are comfortable to use with one hand, but obviously there are differences.

The style of the edges of the iPhone 12 Pro makes it more unsafe to carry or at least that’s the feeling it can give until you get used to it. Not that he has a bad grip, but he can play tricks. Some enjoy carrying the phone without a case, but our advice for both terminals is to equip them with a case that is ergonomic and allows the iPhone not to slip when held in hand.

Doesn’t the iPhone 12 Pro come with a charger?

If we understand as a charger the charging adapter that connects to the electrical current, no, the iPhone 12 Pro does not come with a charger. And no wired headphones either . This has been one of the most controversial issues since its launch and is that alleging environmental issues, Apple did not add these elements in its iPhone and in fact it has also withdrawn it from other old phones that it continues to market.

We are not going to discuss whether it is a justified strategy or not, but as far as you as a user interferes, you should know that you will have to buy an adapter separately if you do not have one. What we do find in the box is the traditional Lightning to USB-C charging cable that was already present in the iPhone 11 Pro.

If Apple continued to sell the iPhone 11 Pro, you would also find it without a charging adapter, but since it is already a discontinued phone, you can buy it as it came (with adapter and headphones). It should be noted that it is still on sale in some third-party stores such as Amazon, where it comes with these aforementioned accessories.

The screens are of very good quality

Regardless of the size of both, both screens live up to the ‘Pro’ name. It is true that in the iPhone 12 Pro perhaps some improvement was expected such as the 120 Hz refresh rate that was not finally implemented, but having what we have in both cases we find an OLED panel with very good performance. Both look really good in any type of light situation and with a very natural color calibration that, despite being also somewhat subjective, generally gives users a very good experience. Is the iPhone 12 Pro better? The truth is that technically yes because being larger adopts a better resolution, but visually it is very difficult to find the difference.

The point that is interesting is that of the ceramic shield, a new , more resistant construction material that the most recent model adds. It is not that the screen is now indestructible or that it cannot get scratches over time, but the resistance to these increased. If you usually carry the iPhone in pockets or backpacks with keys and other sharp elements, you can be more relaxed with the iPhone 12 Pro, although we insist on emphasizing that despite being a good material it is not resistant to everything.

Performance differences of iPhone 11 Pro and 12 Pro

A13 Bionic vs A14 Bionic, the last two Apple processors and that these phones respectively incorporate. At this point we could show you the always interesting benchmarks of these phones, but for practical purposes it is something purely anecdotal. The iPhone 12 Pro chip is more advanced and at a technical level there is an important innovation in the number of operations that this chip is capable of performing. However, on a day-to-day basis the difference is hardly noticeable .

In both terminals applications are opened in very good times, and heavy tasks can be carried out without problem. The difference between one generation and another will only end up being noticed in the long term and is that the iPhone 12 Pro will have at least 1 more year of software updates for its processor, but the 11 Pro will not be obsolete soon either. Both are expected to continue incorporating versions of iOS until at least 2025 if we follow in the wake of updates that the company has been providing to its previous phones.

The iPhone 12 Pro has more base storage

A more than notable difference between the two terminals is that the 12 Pro starts from a memory capacity that is double that offered by the iPhone 11 Pro. Although the 64 GB that the 11 Pro brings may be enough for users who have cloud storage such as iCloud, the truth is that the 128 GB of the new device seemed already necessary. Where there are no variations is in the intermediate 256 GB and in the maximum capacity of 512 GB, which should already be sufficient even for heavy users of the iPhone.

Is 5G noticeable on the iPhone 12 Pro?

Here we find a notable difference and that is that while the iPhone 11 Pro achieves only 4G connectivity, the 12 Pro is capable of connecting to 5G networks. However, there are several points to highlight here. First of all, only the iPhone sold in the United States have the mmWave antenna that allows a better 5G, while in the rest of the territories it is not added and we can have what is known as a 4G Plus or advanced 4G .

That is, if you buy the iPhone 12 Pro in any country outside of Apple’s home territory, you can have better connectivity than 4G, but without reaching the high speeds that real 5G offers. To this must be added an external factor unrelated to Apple and that is that the infrastructures that currently exist for 5G are still scarce even in some major cities, so in the end there are times when it will be faster to navigate with 4G than with 5G . In short, an iPhone 12 Pro has better connectivity despite the drawbacks of the current 5G, but this should not be a determining factor of purchase based on what we have commented.

Several curiosities in the battery and autonomy

In Apple’s indications regarding autonomy we observe that both terminals are practically identical, except that in video playback the 12 Pro has even less. And all this with a lower battery capacity. Is this possible? What really happens? You have to take several things into account and this is where we return to the aspect of the integration of Apple’s own hardware and software that guarantee good performance to the terminal.

The iPhone 12 Pro have a processor improvement that has allowed them to match its predecessor with even less capacity, although with some notable changes that make it not better: larger screen, 5G connection, use of the LiDAR sensor … In our experience, We can say that both phones are effectively similar in autonomy and in fact they comply with a note. They do not reach the level of the ‘Pro Max’, but you can perfectly spend a day of intensive use with them without resorting to the charger and even have a more than acceptable percentage when finished.

Something different than what the iPhone 12 Pro has in its favor is its integration with MagSafe technology , being one of the first Apple smartphones to be compatible with a technology that had traditionally been the MacBook. The phone has a system of magnets that makes it compatible with charging bases with this technology, magnetizing instantly to them and avoiding unwanted disconnections. There are also interesting accessories like car mounts. The iPhone 11 Pro is also compatible with them, but it does not have the grip by magnets and the charge is slower in them.

Precisely in fast charging of these phones there are also aspects to highlight. Apple is still far from offering the record times of other brands, but in both cases it offers a 50% charge in half an hour with 18 and 20 W adapters respectively. It must be said in any case that this type of charges are recommended in emergency cases in which it is necessary to have the iPhone with an optimal battery level as quickly as possible, since in the long run it causes the battery to deteriorate more quickly.

IPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro cameras

At the camera level, it is not that there is a brutal difference between the two phones, but there are several highlights between them that we think should be taken into account. These are the specific specifications that we found for both devices.

At the level of daytime results, we do not find great differences, except that the back of the iPhone 12 Pro is able to better detect the figures in portrait mode thanks to the LiDAR sensor, which precisely serves to create maps in three dimensions and from which they are nourished the cameras. Also the Deep Fusion on the front added in this device is an improvement to take into account. We recall that this is an intelligent image processing system from Apple that captures up to 10 different photographs in a matter of thousandths of a second and composes an image with a better visual result, expanding the textures and other elements in detail.

In night mode , also available in video for the iPhone 12 Pro, is where we find a major difference. The photographs taken with the ultra wide angle and the portraits gain many integers when there is little light compared to what the iPhone 11 Pro offers us. However, there are no really big differences in the rest of the levels, being two very balanced devices and with the ones that get great results.

Are your prices comparable?

If we only take the starting price of these phones, we can see that they cost the same. Obviously with the passage of time the iPhone 11 Pro has been losing value and now that Apple does not sell it, a certain reference to compare them has been lost. Changing the size from one to another or expanding the base storage also makes this comparison even more complex to perform. At the time of publishing this note, the iPhone 12 Pro continues to start at 1,159 euros in its 128 GB versions, while the 11 Pro can be found cheaper in some stores such as Amazon.

Is it worth going from an iPhone 11 Pro to a 12 Pro?

Certainly not, especially if you’re happy with your device, it works well for you, and you also don’t have a special need to want a somewhat larger screen or an improved camera set. Obviously the iPhone 12 Pro is in the end an improved version, but it does not have changes so relevant as to make the generational jump from one to another. That you have the whim to change, great, you will enjoy the device a lot. However, we believe that the iPhone 11 Pro continues to be a tremendously functional device and that it will continue to be for years.

What to do if you don’t have any

If you have an older iPhone or even an Android phone, any of these devices can make you feel a good user experience. Now, since you haven’t had the 11 Pro, maybe you should jump directly to the 12 Pro. We believe that the price difference between the two is not so great that you don’t consider buying the most modern one, unless you find a good offer. by the previous one. Be that as it may, make your decision calmly and always keeping in mind that they are very recent phones and with not very abrupt differences between them, so making one or the other decision will not be something you regret.