Time to upgrade from your aging iPhone 12 Pro. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
When it launched in October 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro packed cutting-edge hardware. Four years later, that’s not the case. While Apple’s 2020 flagship iPhone can still hold its own, you should consider upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro.
Wondering if the improvements are even big enough to warrant an upgrade? Find out in this comparison.
The iPhone 13 Pro cost much more to produce than a similar model from two years ago. Photo: Apple
About 60% of the price of an iPhone 13 Pro goes into producing it, according to a analysts’ estimate. That figure comes from examining the cost of each component in Apple’s new high-end smartphone. It’s much more than Apple used have to pay.
And note that the rest of the selling price isn’t pure profit.
The iPhone 13 is heavier than its predecessor. But that’s because of a larger battery. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The good news for buyers of the iPhone 13 series is that all four handsets promise significantly longer battery lives. The downside is that the change required putting in bulkier batteries that add to the weight and thickness.
Still, the increases are fairly marginal for an improvement that’s near the top of so many iPhone users’ wish lists.
Apple's new service program covers iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro with 'no sound' issues. Photo: Apple
Apple says a new service program will address sound problems some iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro users experience when placing or receiving calls. It’s the first service program for the iPhone 12 series.
Here's how the new MagSafe Battery Pack looks when attached to iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Apple
On its website Tuesday, Apple offered a new MagSafe Battery Pack, designed to work with the iPhone 12 series from mini to Pro Max. That is, it’s designed to work as of the release of iOS 14.7, due imminently.
Unlike all the other unofficially “MagSafe compatible” wireless battery packs that came out after the iPhone 12’s release, this one’s MagSafe-approved, straight from Apple. It took a while, but it’s here.
Handy for charging. Handier for retrieving your dropped iPhone from a canal in Germany. Photo: Apple
What do you do when you drop your iPhone 12 Pro in a canal and can’t find it? Simple: You take advantage of one of its neat new features to fish it out of the murky depths.
That’s what Twitter user and developer Frederik Riedel recently did — crafting a fishing rod with magnet that allowed him to latch on to the MagSafe charging magnets on the back of the device. Impressively, it worked. As did the iPhone continue to do.
Find out how much your old iPhone is really worth. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iPhone 12 and 12 mini is now available to preorder in purple for the first time. If the new color option has encouraged you to upgrade, it’s time to turn your old model into fast upgrade cash.
Sell your old iPhone (and other Apple devices) to Cult of Mac today and we’ll send you a fat stack of cash to make your upgrade more affordable.
The recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series drops in value as much as $281 a month. Photo: Samsung
Those planning to resell their handset someday might want to steer clear of Samsung latest flagship models. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly lost between 44.8% and 57.1% of its original value since in debut in January 2021.
Of course, every smartphone depreciates over time. But iPhones hold their value better than their rivals.
The top-notch camera in the iPhone 12 Pro Max scored kudos from “Consumer Reports.” Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Consumer Reports on Thursday revealed its “Best Smartphones of 2021.” And Apple’s biggest and most expensive model beat every other iOS device. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was named the “Best iPhone”
Rocky Lira works his day job and podcast production here. Photo: Rocky Lira
Rocky Lira, aka “Rocky Bandit,” and his “knucklehead” friends Eddie and Paddy went big into podcasting on a moderate budget recently. And they have the gear and the podcasts in circulation to show for it.
He and his Chicago pals started the weekly show Bums of Manarchy for fun, recording more than a dozen episodes so far. Lira got off to a fast start handling the podcast editing and production. He said he uses an M1 MacBook Pro and an older model, along with two iPad Pros and his iPhone 12 Pro — in concert with a Rode RodeCaster Pro Integrated Podcast Production Studio console.
Verizon is now offering a brilliant buy one get one free deal on all iPhone 12 models. Simply purchase one and open up a new line with an Unlimited service plan to get a second handset for absolutely nothing.
The iPhone 12 is a monster hit for Apple. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 12 looks like a monster hit for Apple, a new note to investors by research analysis firm Cowen suggests. The firm estimates that iPhone orders climbed 50% year-over-year last quarter, propelled by the enormously popular iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models.
For the March 2021 quarter, Cowen thinks Apple will build 57 million iPhones. That’s up from the firm’s own previous prediction of 55 million.
Despite its high cost, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular 5G model in the US. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Americans are united about one thing: the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Market research from two different sources finds that the Apple’s super-size handset is the most popular 5G phone in the US.
iPhone 12 may be Apple’s prettiest smartphone to date, so you’ll probably want to keep it looking that way by protecting its glass and metal frame. Do it with a brilliant new case from SwitchEasy.
SwitchEasy’s new lineup is available today from the Cult of Mac Store, with prices starting at under $15. It includes super-slim skins that keep things thin, and rugged cases that protect against almost anything.
Some iPhone handsets are proving more popular than others. Photo: Cult of Mac
A pair of reports published by Digitimes Friday add more evidence to previous ones claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro series is proving to be the big hits of this year’s iPhone refresh. The iPhone 12 mini? Not so much.
One report claims that Apple manufacturer Foxconn is “expected to see extra momentum in the first quarter of 2021” thanks to Apple increasing orders for the iPhone 12 Pro handsets. A second report, meanwhile, claims that fellow manufacturer Pegatron has seen a slowdown in orders for the iPhone 12 mini. The report blames this on shrinking sales in the US and Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
iPhone 12 mini isn't as popular as its bigger brothers. Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly cut iPhone 12 mini production so it can meet stronger demand for the pricier iPhone 12 Pro.
Cupertino’s smallest handset apparently accounted for just 6% of all sales during the iPhone 12 series’ launch period last fall. And it suffered from lackluster demand ever since.
NKCHU from China took this stunning image using an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Apple
Whether it’s the iPhone 12 mini or the high-end iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple’s latest handsets are pretty darn great when it comes to taking photographs. To show just how good, on Tuesday Apple released a lineup of images, snapped using its latest iPhones.
From hyper-detailed close-ups to moody interiors to gorgeous landscapes, they show off just how versatile Apple’s new camera phones actually are.
Check out Laut's new iPhone 12 lineup today. Photo: Laut
The Cult of Mac Store’s big January sale is in full swing, offering big discounts of up to 72% on must-have accessories. We’re now expanding it by adding all products from Laut, which are now available at 20% off the usual price.
You’ll find iPhone cases and screen protectors, stands for all your Apple devices, and lots more. Bag yours before the sale ends!
The Liquid Silicone is super-slim. The Protective Armor is ultra-rugged. Photo: Elago
Elago’s brilliant cases are now available for the entire iPhone 12 lineup. There are four different styles to choose from, from the super-slim Liquid Silicone to the ultra-rugged Protective Armor.
And the best bit? They’re all nicely priced at just $18.
Apple ProRAW in the iPhone 12 Pro series It combines computational photography with the RAW format. Photo: Apple
Travel photographer Austin Mann has been shooting images with a iPhone 12 Pro Max in ProRAW format, and he calls it, “a monumental leap forward in digital imaging on iPhone.”
The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are proving particularly popular. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 12 is seemingly shaping up to be a massive winner for Apple, with a Tuesday report claiming that Apple is set to produce between 20% and 30% more handsets than it did last year.
The report says that Apple has plans to produce up to 230 million iPhones in 2021. While that also includes older handsets like the iPhone 11 and SE, it is primarily driven by “demand for [Apple’s] first-ever 5G” phones, according to Nikkei.
Customers can't get enough of Apple's top-tier smartphones this year. Photo: Apple
The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are reportedly proving to be customer favorites this year, based on a new report by J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee.
In a note to clients, Chatterjee observed that the lead times for the two high-end iPhones “continue to build,” representing a “favorable indicator of customer demand.”
Other people also have iPhone 12 battery problems or dropped calls. Photo: Cult of Mac
Some iPhone 12 users are reporting problems with either battery life or dropped calls. The difficulties aren’t happening to every user, but they seem to be fairly widespread.
There have been complaints about all four variations of the iPhone 12, not a specific model.
The sum of iPhone 12 Pro parts cost is less than half the price of the product. Photo: Cult of Mac
The iPhone 12 Pro starts at $999, but the components for this high-end smartphone cost less than half the selling price. Market researchers disassembled Apple’s latest top-tier handset to ascertain its parts cost.
And they figured out that only a tiny percentage of the device is actually made is China.
MNML iPhone cases are think, light and protective. Photo: MNML
This iPhone 12 case post is presented by MNML Case.
Those who upgrade to the new iPhone 12 series face a dilemma. Do they flaunt the gorgeous thing to the max, going without a case? Or do they protect the precious and pricey device like a responsible person, strapping on a protective covering that obscures it? Thanks to MNML, it’s hardly a hard choice anymore, because the company’s cases provide barely noticeable protection.