IPhone 11 vs iPhone 12: a match, two generations of Apple smartphones, which to choose 

In addition to HDR support, the iPhone 12 displays a much better definition 2340 × 1080 pixels (against 1792 × 828 pixels), higher resolution (476 pp against 326) and a higher brightness.
On this point, our measures contradict the technical sheets a little. The standard brightness noted for the iPhone 12 is 623 cd/m2 against 651 cd/m2 for the iPhone 11. However, it is necessary to specify that, name XDR requires, the iPhone 12 is capable of increasing its brightness up to around 1200 cd/m2.

iPhone 12 vs iPhone 11: What differences, should you buy the new iPhone ?

The iPhone 12 replaces the iPhone 11. The owners of the latter can then wonder if it’s worth changing. Others may hesitate between the two if they need a new smartphone. This comparison helps you make your choice with full knowledge of the facts.

The iPhone 12 was officially presented by Apple during a Keynote on October 13, 2020. Like every year, it is therefore time to scrutinize its characteristics and compare it to the model of the previous year, namely in our case the iPhone 11. Let’s go for the game of the seven (or more) differences.

Technical sheet of iPhone 12 and iPhone 11

At first glance, we can see thatApple did not make a multitude of changes Between the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12. But let’s analyze the situation in more detail in the rest of this comparison.

iPhone 12	iPhone 11
Screen	6.1 ” Super Retina Oled 1242 x 2688 pixels, 19.5: 9 ratio	6.1 ” Liquid Retina IPS LCD 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5: 9 ratio
Chipset	A14 (5nm)	A13 Bionic (7nm+)
BONE	iOS 14	iOS 13 (update to iOS 14 available)
Ram	4GB	4GB
Storage	64/128/256GB	64/128/256GB
microSD	No	No
Main sensor	12 MP, f/1.6 Ultra Grand Angle 12 Mp, F/2.4	12 MP, f/1.8 Ultra Grand Angle 12 Mp, F/2.2
Selfie sensor	12 MP, f/2.2	12 MP, f/2.2
Battery	2775 Mah Rapid recharge 18W	3110 Mah Rapid recharge 18W
5g	Yes	No
Biometry	Face ID	Face ID
Water resistance	IP68	IP68

A design that evolves little

Since the appearance of the famous notch in 2017 with the iPhone X, Apple has not turned the design of its mobiles. It is not yet this generation that we are going to attend a renewal. Notch returns to the iPhone 12 To accommodate 3D Face ID sensors and we still don’t have a fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. The notch of the iPhone 12 is still slightly smaller than that of the iPhone 11, the manufacturer managed to win a few millimeters.

The iPhone 11 returns to Plus flat borders, as on the old models, while the iPhone 11 fell on a more rounded Factor Factor. If the screen size is identical, Apple still managed to Reduce the dimensions of the iPhone 12 Compared to those of the iPhone 11. A similar screen size for a more compact format, this is an interesting argument. No big changes on the back, with in both cases a double prominent photo sensor, the now famous “hob”.

The two devices are certified IP68 resistant to water and dust. Their frame consists of aluminum. The iPhone 12 faces the game regarding the protective glass: the new “Ceramic Shield”Is announced as four times more resistant to falls than the glass present on the iPhone 11.

A screen of the same size, but OLED for the iPhone 12

The format of the iPhone 11 seems to have more to Apple since we come back to a 6.1 inch slab on the iPhone 12. This same diagonal was chosen for the iPhone 12 Pro, you have to go see the iPhone 12 Pro Max to have a larger screen. But the similarities between the tiles of the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 stop there.

We are indeed entitled to several improvements on the new generation of iPhone. First of all, the Super Retina XDR of The iPhone 12 is based on OLED technology, While the Liquid Retina is satisfied with IPS LCD, which notably offers much less convincing contrasts.

Then the definition. Apple has long been stingy in pixels on its products, offering a “false” Full HD+ as on the iPhone 11 (828 x 1792 pixels). The apple brand catches up with the iPhone 12 with an image quality superior of 1242 x 2688 pixels.

The screen ratio remains at 19.5: 9 for the iPhone 11 as for the iPhone 12. Difficult to adopt a more elongated format as long as the notch is present. The frequency of refreshment does not move either, it is 60 Hz. It has long been hoped that the iPhone 12 goes to 120 Hz, but Apple estimated that such a feature added to the integration of 5G would melt the battery.

The iPhone 12 Compatible 5G

5G, let’s come there. This is the big novelty of the iPhone 12, on which Apple should capitalize on its marketing campaigns and which could encourage consumers to swap their current smartphone for the iPhone 12. Our advice: don’t rush. 5G will be available in France in the coming months, but the network will still be in its infancy. And if you tell yourself that you will keep your iPhone 12 for many years and that you can enjoy it later, watch out for an element. Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro which supports both high frequencies (mmwave) and 5G low frequencies (sub-6GHz), The iPhone 12 is only entitled to 5G SUB-6GHZ, which will dominate the network to the beginnings of the deployment, but does not offer the best performance. You have to take this into account if your preference goes to the iPhone 12 for the 5G argument.

The iPhone 12 even faster than the iPhone 11

Each year it’s the same, iPhone crush the Android competition on benchmarks. The iPhone 11 was no exception thanks to the A13 Bionic SOC engraved in 7NM+ and the many optimizations brought by Apple to offer a quick, fluid and without slowdown system. The iPhone 12 is even more impressive and its A14 chip engraved in 5nm allows it to offer performance approximately 20% higher than those of its predecessor. All while being more efficiently speaking.

In its communication, Apple is even more dithyrambic on its SoC, promising 50% higher performance and 40% superior machine learning capacities on the A14 Bionic than on the A13 Bionic. The first city contains 11.8 billion transistors, 40% more than on the previous generation. The GPU is also very powerful, for even better results with regard to the graphic rendering of video games.

In terms of memory, no change. We remain blocked at 4 GB of RAM on one as on the other. For the storage space, three variants each time: 64, 128 and 256 GB of storage space. Neither of the two devices has SD card location in order to extend this capacity.

The iPhone 11 has a larger battery, but what about autonomy ?

Surprise, the iPhone 12 has a small 2775 mAh battery, while the iPhone 11 accumulator reaches 3110 mAh. Astonishing while 5G is supposed to be energy -consuming and shooting the autonomy of smartphones. Does that mean that the iPhone 12 is less enduring than the iPhone 11 ? Not necessarily. Apple still passed a milestone in the finesse of engraving with its chips. The A14 is engraved in 5nm and this new process promises an energy efficiency greater than the A13 Bionin engraved in 7nm+. We will have to wait for the autonomy tests to have a better idea of ​​the differences in autonomy between the two models.

For recharging, no new features: we remain on a power of 18W for the wired and a load support by induction. The iPhone 12 is also compatible with Magsafe, the new Apple owner technology. It is therefore possible to load it wirelessly on a charging mat based on this protocol. A system of magnets makes it possible to ideally position the smartphone on the load surface to improve its efficiency.

And in photo, it gives what ?

If we see sensitive Improvements of the camera of the iPhone 12 Pro compared to the iPhone 11 Pro, less attention was paid to the iPhone 12. The latter is equipped with the same number of sensors as the iPhone 11, and it is clear that there is not a great evolution. The main sensor is 12 Mp on both models, with an opening of F/1.8 for the iPhone 11 and F/1.6 for the iPhone 12. Stabilization is still better on the iPhone 12. The ultra-wide-angle module goes from 12 MP and F/2.2 on the iPhone 11 to 12 MP and F/2.4 on the iPhone 12. This is justified by the fact that the pixels of the iPhone 12 are larger and capture more light. In low light conditions, the iPhone 12 behaves better than the iPhone 11.

At the front, it’s a 12 Mp and F/2 camera.2 which is in charge of selfies on both sides. But the iPhone 12 still benefits from a few additional features, with among others the night mode that arrives on the front sensor. Changes have been made in terms of 3D scanners of the iPhone 12, whose Face ID is even faster and more practical, capable of recognizing a face in new positions and new angles.

iOS 14 for all

The iPhone 11 can already be updated to iOS 14, which is the version of the native operating system of the iPhone 12. Given that hardware evolves little between the two smartphones, the iPhone 12 does not really benefit from software exclusives compared to the model of the previous year.

On the other hand, it should be updated one more year. Apple usually highlights its appliances for five years, the software support for the iPhone 11 will be logically stopped a year before that of the iPhone 12.

The iPhone 12 is (necessarily) more expensive

The iPhone 12 is launched at a price of 909 euros for the 64 GB variant. It costs 959 euros in 128 GB and 1079 euros with 256 GB of storage. We are witnessing a significant price increase of 100 euros for each unit since the iPhone 11 was marketed from 809 euros with 64 GB, 859 euros with 128 GB and 979 euros for 256 GB of ROM.

It should be noted that the iPhone 11 comes with a charger of 5W. The iPhone 12 is delivered without charger, which can represent an additional expenditure if you are not already equipped.

iPhone 12 or iPhone 11: which one to buy ?

If you feel that you don’t need 5G, the iPhone 11 is clearly sufficient. Apart from the support of the new network generation, the only major intake of the iPhone 12 is done at the screen level, which goes to the OLED on the iPhone 12, with also better definition and technology more Advanced, but not 120 Hz on the horizon. Too bad the battery size is down, with the A14 SOC the autonomy would have been significantly up otherwise. The iPhone 11 being already very fast, the new chip does not bring much to the average user.

The price difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 11 gives to think about which to choose. The fact that Apple increases its prices so much makes the iPhone 12 not very attractive to anyone who is not interested in 5G. If you feel that you don’t need 5G, the iPhone 11 is clearly sufficient, especially since it can be purchased for less than its initial value on marketplaces. Depending on the offers that will happen, it’s up to you to see if the few additions of the iPhone 12 described earlier are worth or not the difference in price.

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iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12: a match, two generations of Apple smartphones, which to choose ?

We tested the iPhone 11 last year and the iPhone 12, when it was released this year. Today frontally opposed to the Apple range, it is time to make them meet in a match, in seven points.

If the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max bowed out after Apple’s announcements on October 13, Cupertino’s company has decided to keep its iPhone 11 in its offer for at least one year again. So that the range of Apple smartphones is made up of iPhone 12 Pro (and Pro Max), at its top, iPhone 12 (and 12 mini), then, iPhone 11, iPhone XR and of the iPhone SE, to finish. Or seven models in all, which cover a price delta ranging from 489 to 1609 euros…

But let’s go back to our iPhone 11, who is therefore confronted directly with the iPhone 12, which is its “replacement” or more exactly its update. Now that we have tested the iPhone 12, we have engaged in a match between the two generations of Apple smartphones. A meeting at the top, in seven points.

To discover also on video

Design: descendant of the iPhone X against heir to the iPhone 4

Apple does not change the design of its smartphones every four mornings. So you have to know how to assess developments. In this case, with the iPhone 12, the Tim Cook teams had the good idea to use us a appreciated design, modernized by the iPad Pro (and air) and embellished by nostalgia. Goodbye rounded bend, (re) welcome to vertical, marked, more frank, and always aluminum edges.

In fact, design is obviously a matter of taste essentially. But not only. In this case, in addition to a more frank and more pleasant ergonomics, this change in external appearance allows iPhone 12 to gain compactness and weight compared to the iPhone 11. A gain made possible thanks to a change of technology for the screen ..

Screen: Farewell LCD, hello oled

The iPhone 11 and 12 rigorously offer the same screen size: 6.1 inches diagonal. However, without saying that it is day and night, the slabs have little to see. The iPhone 11 offered an excellent LCD Liquid Retina HD screen while the iPhone 12 drops off the balance on an OLED Super Retina XDR slab. A technological choice that has many repercussions.

In addition to HDR support, the iPhone 12 displays a much better definition 2340 × 1080 pixels (against 1792 × 828 pixels), higher resolution (476 pp against 326) and a higher brightness.
On this point, our measures contradict the technical sheets a little. The standard brightness noted for the iPhone 12 is 623 cd/m2 against 651 cd/m2 for the iPhone 11. However, it is necessary to specify that, name XDR requires, the iPhone 12 is capable of increasing its brightness up to around 1200 cd/m2.

From a point of view of the precision of the color rendering, the two smartphones stand in a pocket handkerchief. The iPhone 11 displayed a Delta E 2000 of 0.9, while its successor holds a 0.95. In other words, colorimetric fidelity is slightly better on the iPhone 11, but nothing and the two slabs are excellent on this point.

But the LCD passage to the OLED especially has an advantage, it allowed Apple designers to reduce the size of the borders around the screen (which made it possible to reduce the size of the case also. In other words, thanks to the arrival of the Super Retina XDR slab, the display of the iPhone 12 is more edge to board, which makes its screen ratio increase significantly, the surface it occupies on the front front. The iPhone 11 obtained a 79.2%ratio, while the iPhone 12 does much better with 85.8%. So, it is not yet the level of certain competitors under Android, but these smartphones do not have the asset of which we are talking about.

Power: Apple A14, the revolution gently

One thing evolves every year, it is the SOC developed by Apple. This year is no exception to the rule and the A14 Bionic brings its share of developments. They manifest themselves in substantial power gains on the CPU and graphic parts.

If the A13 Bionic was not lacking in breath and turned the interface, the most gourmet applications and games without the slightest hiccups, the A14 obviously works in these same steps. Performance gain should therefore satisfy the demands of demanding uses, and to come, as a longer lifespan.

To put figures on these progress, let us turn to a proven synthetic test tool, Geekbench 5. There is a clear progression of the scores obtained. For the multicore part, a gain of almost 39.6% is recorded, while the graphic part with Metal exceeds 34% more performance.

There is therefore an interest in opting for the iPhone 12 if you are looking for the most power as possible.

Especially since the contribution of the A14 Bionic does not stop there. It also introduces a new neural processor for all calculations related to artificial intelligence algorithms and a new image processor (ISP), which will fluidify certain existing and future uses, and enrich the photographic partition.

Photo: always limits, but better

The impact of the A14 Bionic in the photos taken with the iPhone 12 is substantial. The additional power provided thus allows Deep Fusion technology to operate on all the camera modules embedded by the new smartphone. Until now, she was only operational on the Grand Angle and the Telephoto. The ultra-wide angle, the most recently arrived, was not entitled to it.

For the record, this “computer photography” solution (Computational photography, in English) consists of taking nine shots with different exhibitions when you take a photo (four before, one at the time of trigger and four after). These nine shots are then merged into a single image to provide the best result. Thanks to the A14 Bionic, the solution is faster and the measurement is done at each pixel, according to Apple.

In fact, there is indeed a slight gain in dive, and a slight reduction in digital noise. It can nevertheless be linked to a material change between the two generations of iPhone. Indeed, the iPhone 12 has a new high-angle camera module, which benefits from an opening at F/1.6 against f/1.8 previously. It is felt a lot, especially in low lights. Night mode is also progressing significantly.

If we remain very frustrated by the fact that the iPhone 12 only offers two rear cameras modules (and still no telephoto lens, which remains the prerogative of pro models), it is clear that the new generation pleasantly improves the photographic part.

Autonomy: better and more clever

If the power is welcome, an additional in this area is sometimes accompanied by a greater electrical consumption of the fleas and therefore of a lower autonomy. In this case, the iPhone 12 does better in two of the three autonomy tests that we carry out. Progress that is all the more appreciable as it concerns the tests that most correspond to real uses.
Thus, for our versatile autonomy test, which simulates everyday uses in an intensive and successive manner, the iPhone 12 wins 2h50. In streaming video reading, the gain is less but welcome with fourteen minutes more. On the other hand, in communication, the iPhone 12 remains very behind compared to the competition and even compared to the iPhone 11 and died after 4:44 p.m. … but which spends so much time on the phone ?

In addition to these good autonomies, which make it possible to keep an electrical outlet a whole day with a fairly intensive use, the iPhone 12 always offers wireless recharge via technology at the Qi Standard. But this year, Apple adds its little touch to it with the return of Magsafe technology. It will allow you to take advantage of a 15 W charger, against 7.5 W previously, while ensuring that the recharge goes well since the charger is magnetic.

5G: The future of the mobile connection … when it is there

If the autonomy of the iPhone 12 is increasing compared to the iPhone 11, a sword of Damocles remains unanswered for the moment: the effect of 5G.

Because, the iPhone 12 is 4G compatible, of course, but also with the new mobile phone standard. Be careful however, in France, we will only be entitled to 5G Sub-6 GHz and non-millimeter, which will not be available in our latitudes for several years.

Theoretically, therefore, the iPhone 12 is more turned to the future and ready to offer you the very high flow rates and the low latency promised by 5G.

Price and storage: the mini effect

Comes the last point of this duel. A double point since Apple continues to distinguish its models according to the proposed storage. Like its elder, the iPhone 12 offers only 64 GB for its entry -level model. We strongly recommend that you ignore this offer and opt for the 128 GB model. It is a question of sustainability and comfort of long -term use. With 64 GB, even using iCloud, you risk being too quickly in space and being embarrassed on a daily basis.

This means that the iPhone 11 costs 739 euros (not 689 euros), while the iPhone 12 is obtained at 959 euros. The iPhone 12 is more expensive than its elder when it was released last year. This is the fault of the iPhone 12 Mini, which slides at the opening of these mid -range models.

Which one to choose ?

Anyway, these 220 euros difference weigh heavy, of course, when making his choice. In order of importance to us, they are essentially justified by:

• better autonomy, while waiting to measure the impact of 5G;
• A more pleasant screen, which is accompanied by a very pleasant design;
• A certain power gain, which will ensure greater longevity, even if it may seem superfluous on a daily basis;
• Advanced photo progress
• compatibility with 5G, obviously.

The iPhone 12 is a fair and beautiful attractive upright of the iPhone 11, a progression in continuity. A richer offer. Besides, the fact that the two smartphone models are offered with the same storage capacities clearly show that Apple designs them as two distinct, complementary but competing offers.

Thus, the iPhone 11 will rather intend to:

• Those who do not necessarily seek to always have the last version to date;
• Those who change iPhone regularly (every two years);
• Those looking for the best performance/ergonomics/price ratio;
• or those who want almost the best but without paying the bill.

Because, ultimately, the iPhone 11 still has something to seduce. Apple was not mistaken, by keeping it in its offer … and its 220 euros less may well be its best argument. Even if he is no longer the king of Apple’s means of the range.