O iPhone 12 hasn't reached Brazilian journalists yet, including us. So, so far, no national reviews. But reviews of the iPhone 12 are already out there, abroad. With the round of reviews of Vida Celular, you know first what they're saying. Just look:
CNET – 9.2 (iPhone 12) and 9.3 (iPhone 12 Pro)
O CNET reviewed the 12 and 12 Pro at once. And noted that, even though Apple has made big leaps before, this is the first time that so many options (four) have been launched at the same time. Here's what journalist Patrick Holland had to say:
A lot of people will get the iPhone 12 because it’s under a thousand dollars and it’s a great phone. Which it is. And a lot of people will get the Pro because it’s more premium. Which it is. Either way, it’s an amazing phone and has the best camera system you can get. I found myself using the 12 Pro more. Not because it had a telephoto camera with LiDAR, which the 12 doesn’t: I preferred it because of the textured matte back, the stainless steel band around the sides, and the fact that the Pro, despite weighing 25 grams, felt more solid and premium in my hand.
In his review, Holland noted that the iPhone 12's battery lasts less than the iPhone 11's. He noted that the Pro's speed was faster than the 12's, but considered it to be the provider's fault. And he commented on the big new feature, MagSafe:
I really enjoyed using MagSafe. The sound of the charger when it connects is beyond satisfying. There's even an animation that appears on the screen showing that everything has been properly connected. I tested it with some cases, which work well and allow wireless charging through them without losing power.
Engadget – 9.1 (iPhone 12) and 8.9 (iPhone 12 Pro)
Engadget, in its review of the iPhone 12, preferred the standard. Starting on an enthusiastic note, Chris Velazco states:
At the risk of sounding a bit dramatic, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro aren't just the phones of the year—they're the start of a new era for Apple
Velazco explains his preference for 12:
By any measure, this year's iPhone 12 is a huge leap forward from the iPhone 11. Better yet, the gap between the iPhone 12 and the Pro is Apple dramatically decreases. The iPhone 12's mix of design, performance, and price make it a no-brainer, although those who loved the 11's battery life will be a little disappointed.
And what didn't excite him about the Pro:
Compared to the iPhone 12, the new iPhone 12 Pro is a considerably less compelling choice. That may still be worth it for some. It has great performance and the same display as the 12, with more storage, a more flexible camera array, and LiDAR for better AR experiences. It’s worth the step up if photography is your priority (…) But if you simply want the best, you’ll have to wait and see what the iPhone 12 Pro Max will do.
Pocket-lint (no rating)
The iPhone 12 review by Stuart miles is another one to consider the Pro is not that different:
The iPhone 12 Pro does everything it can to earn the “Pro” label. The screen is fantastic, the camera capabilities are professional, and when you can use them, download speeds are as fast as 5G. And that means there are a lot of features here that most users won’t use or need, but that’s okay, this isn’t the phone for them, with the iPhone 12 offering much the same experience in a cheaper package.
Wired – 7 (iPhone 12)
Lauren Goode reviewed only the iPhone 12, and it was much less generous with the Apple. She didn't just feel a huge impact on 11.
In a vacuum, the camera is great; compared to last year's iPhones, it's not jaw-dropping. The display has the same refresh rate as the iPhone 11. Battery life wasn't noticeably better. No earbuds in the box. No power bricks either, though that might be a good thing.
And he has an almost philosophical conversation with the reader:
Buy the iPhone 12 if you've been needing a fast phone with a great camera for a while now and if you prefer iOS and living in the iOS ecosystem. Apple. But don’t buy the iPhone 12 just for 5G. A smartphone, more than ever, should be something that fits into your life and delivers the experiences and connections you need it to. It shouldn’t be a super-expensive piece of technology that you can’t even fully enjoy yet. And it shouldn’t be the cause of more stress. There’s enough of that already.
The Verge – 9 (iPhone 12) and 9 (iPhone 12 Pro)
Nilay Patel, in contrast to the others, It was brief in his review of the iPhone 12 and much more detailed when talking about the iPhone 12 Pro. Despite the note, he doesn't sound very excited. About the 12, he has this to say:
Apple The company has gone all out with the usual upgrades, like a faster processor and an improved camera, but that’s something we expected. On top of all that, there’s a new design, a new OLED screen, and a completely new charging system and accessories in MagSafe and, of course, 5G. (…) All of these new things also come with a higher price tag, and the discounts are seriously tied to carrier plans. In the middle of an economic crisis caused by the pandemic, that may not be convincing. It’s easy to recommend the standard iPhone for these times when you need a new phone anyway, but it’s much harder to say whether all of these new things result in something that will compel you to upgrade sooner than expected.
And, about the 12 Pro:
Then there’s the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro. Is it worth paying $200,00 more than the carrier-subsidized iPhone 12? Yes, because it looks good. That’s the best answer I have so far. It looks cooler than the regular iPhone 12, and some people value that, just as some of us value a telephoto lens, or the ability to take portrait photos in Night mode, or tricks with LiDAR.
The iPhone 12 still has no arrival date (and arrival date for reviews) in Brazil.