iPhone 12 Pro – Page 2 – MacRyu – The Worst Mac Blog in Singapore, and Some Say the World

Which iPhone 12 to Buy? Top Features to Consider and Price Differences (in Singapore Dollars)

October 30, 2020 by Ryu

Thanks to 2020 and the weird release schedules of the various iPhone 12 models this year, many potential buyers are likely still undecided on which iPhone 12 version to buy. With preorders for the two most interesting models (iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max) coming up in exactly one week’s time from the time of this posting, have you decided which iPhone 12 you want? Are you confused by the number of models this year and the difference in features between each model? Fret not, I have prepared a two-step solution to your first world problems.

1. Select the color of your iPhone 12 series

All available colors of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

All available colors of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max (Pardon the lighting).

2. Select the storage capacity of your iPhone 12 series

I have prepared two sets of data, one for the 128GB models and one for the 256GB models (512GB models are $330 more). Look at the respective charts for the features of each model and their price differences. 64GB is not listed because it is frankly speaking, too little storage. As the file sizes of iOS and apps grow in the future, you will likely regret saving that little bit of money now. Besides, if your budget can only afford you the 64GB models, you do not need the following information in the first place.

All prices are in Singapore Dollars (SGD).

The 128GB Models

Model	Top Features	Body	128GB $(SGD)
iPhone 12 mini (5.4-inch display)	Mini size Pocketable Cute	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1219
iPhone 12 (6.1-inch display)	Standard Model Same accessories as 12 Pro	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1369 (+$150)
iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Telephoto lens(2X)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1649 (+$280)
iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Biggest screen Longer Telephoto(2.5x) Better Main Sensor	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1799 (+$150)

The 256GB Models

Model	Top Features	Body	256GB $(SGD)
iPhone 12 mini (5.4-inch display)	Mini size Pocketable Cute	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1389
iPhone 12 (6.1-inch display)	Standard Model Same accessories as 12 Pro	Glossy Back Matte Sides (aluminium)	$1539 (+$150)
iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Telephoto lens(2X) 512GB Option(+$330)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1819 (+$280)
iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.1-inch display)	Premium Feel LiDAR ProRAW Biggest screen Longer Telephoto(2.5x) Better Main Sensor 512GB Option(+$330)	Matte Back Glossy Sides (stainless steel)	$1969 (+$150)

So, which iPhone 12 will you buy?

First Impressions of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and Also the iPad Air

October 26, 2020 by Ryu

I did not order one of the 6.1 inch iPhone 12s, simply because I am way more interested in either the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. So no physical phone for me to play for now.

How does one get to see the actual phones in an Apple Store in these pandemic days? Why, an Apple Shopping Session of course.

I booked one for Saturday at the nearest Apple Store to me, Apple Jewel Changi Airport.

After a good dinner, some queuing and the usual check-in process, I was accomplished by an elderly female staff member, who was friendly and tried her best to accomolate my wishes to see the various items. She was unfortunately probably the most clueless staff that I have ever met in a local Apple Store, often making mistakes about very basic terms and features and unable to answer any of my questions. I always wonder what standard makes the cut for being an Apple Staff, I guess being friendly and unthreatening is all that is required these days.

The Store was not too crowded when I arrived around 5pm (my appointment was at 7:30pm), but by the time my appointment rolled by there was a long queue just to get in. The Store was pretty crowded when I got served. The female Staff led me to a table where there were only four iPhone 12/Pros, as the table with all the current models was occupied. After some attempt by her to give me a basic sales talk, I got to some serious scrutinizing.

The first thing that struck me was the screen. The OLED screen on the 12/Pro look really crisp and nice, even though it was supposed to be on the same level as that of my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Maybe I am not just used to seeing the OLED screens without any glass screen protectors in between, but they were really nice. The new body shape definitely feels a lot nicer in the hand, and MagSafe for iPhone is COOOLLLL. Decided to go MagSafe for my eventual iPhone 12 charging right there and then.

The most important aspect of the iPhone 12/Pros is of course, the colours.

This year’s lineup of colors for the non-Pro models are pretty lame, with a mint and pale green and a salmon red colour that is closer to orange than to red. The white model also looks like it has a slight champagne tone in the Apple Store lighting. While I will have definitely preferred a more vibrant blue, there is no mistaking that the iPhone 12 Blue is the best colour in the whole line-up, both non-Pro and Pro phones. The Black is nice too. Anyone going for a non-Pro iPhone 12 should go for either the Blue or the Black, the other colours really do not cut it.

Pro-wise, all the colours are pretty dull and average, even compared to last year. Apple is pushing Pacific Blue as the colour to buy, but I have to say that it is probably even more boring than Midnight Green last year. Graphite is looking decent and safe, and Gold is for the rich Asians/wannabes. Buy Silver if you want to polish the stainless steel frame after every scratch. If you have to get a iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max, maybe buy the Pacific Blue or Graphite. But actually they are all decently average, so any colour is fine. The expensive iPhones never had the best colours anyway.

Now you know that with the Apple Store’s lighting it was next to impossible to test the capablities of the iPhone 12’s cameras, but on first looks they do not seem too different from the cameras of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pros. The biggest upgrade has to be the availablity of Night Mode in all the cameras, instead of just the wide cameras in the 11 series. Again, cannot be test in store. You just have to take Apple’s word for it that they are better this year.

Oh, and the Apple Silicon cases are totally a must-buy this year. For the first time since Apple made iPhone cases (non-battery ones) they have a range of cases that cover the bottom of the iPhone. Pair that with the MagSafe capability makes the Silicon Case a must buy this time round.

Lastly, I took a look at new iPad Air colours before leaving. Sky Blue is so nice on the Air. Why do we not have that colour on the iPhones? Apple (or Alan Dye) is an arse.

Which iPhone 12 Should You Buy?

October 26, 2020October 20, 2020 by Ryu

Writing this after the 6.1 inches 12 and 12 Pro preorder day is over sounds counterproductive, but despite recent reports of Apple’s own predictions of which iPhone 12 will sell well, for the bulk of people who are likely to be early buyers, the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are more likely to be the preferred models.

Coming from a Singaporean perspective, the easy answer here is to buy either the 128GB or the 256GB models of the 12 Pro Max, with the rational that since you are already spending upwards of 1.5K for most of the regular sized models, the Max at 1.8/1.9K is not that far off price wise, not to mention that the Max is spec-wise, the best iPhone 12 in the whole line-up with its improved camera sensor.

What about the regular 12 and 12 mini then? The mini’s price points this year is exactly the same as that of last year’s iPhone 11, and simply put, if you are unwilling to spend the kind of money needed to buy a Pro iPhone, the ambiguous prices for the regular 12 ($1369 for 128GB, $1539 for 256GB) and the kind of tradeoffs (no zoom lens, aluminum frame, less ram, no ProRAW) versus the Pro make the regular 12 the phone NOT to buy if you are looking for the best cost-performance ratio.

The mini, however, is quite a bit cheaper than the Pro Max for the same capacities (mini at $1219 for 128GB vs Max at $1799 for 128GB), has the highest PPI screen, and the added benefit of fitting the one hand use of people who refused to add a bunker ring to the back of their phone cases. With the allure of the MagSafe charger and accessories this year (making it hard to add a bunker ring if you want to use them), a small phone is very attractive. If you do not want to spend Pro Max money, and want to use your iPhone with MagSafe, and have no problem with the smaller screen, the mini is your iPhone 12 of choice.

Lastly, the regular Pro is really only for people who absolutely refused to buy the Max, for the price difference is only $150 but you get the better sensor, you get the longer range zoom lens, and you get a bigger display for what you will spend for lunch for three people in a stationary Airbus A380.

All prices in Singapore dollars