iPhone 12 Pro

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on iPhone 12 Pro:

Apple swallows iPhone 13 Pro’s higher production cost

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The iPhone 13 Pro is as powerful as it is beautiful.
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.

iPhone 13 battery life improvements come at the cost of increased weight

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iPhone 13 battery improvements come at the cost of increased weight
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 launches MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 series [Updated]

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Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
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.

Man fishes dropped iPhone from canal using its MagSafe connector

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MagSafe charger for iPhone
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.

Want a purple iPhone 12? Sell your old model today for fast upgrade cash

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purple iphone 12
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.

Samsung Galaxy S21 plummets to half its original value in 3 months

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is not a good investment.
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.

RodeCaster Pro powers Chicago trio’s Bums of Manarchy podcast [Setups]

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Rocky Lira works his day job and podcast production here.
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.

iPhone 12 is one of the hottest iPhones in history

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A fix is coming for the iPhone 12 green screen glitch.
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.

These affordable cases protect iPhone 12 against almost anything

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SwitchEasy case for iPhone 12
Prices start at just $14.99.
Photo: SwitchEasy

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.

Another report claims iPhone 12 Pro is booming, iPhone 12 mini is a bust

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iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
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.

Apple cuts iPhone 12 mini production to meet stronger Pro demand

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Get the Phone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini with no extra wait.
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.

New ‘Shot on iPhone’ images showcase what’s possible with iPhone 12

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iPhone 12 Pro Max image
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.

Shield your iPhone with great cases, protectors and stands at 20% off

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Laut iPhone 12 cases
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!

Strong demand for iPhone 12, new Apple TV on the way in 2021

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iPhone 12 Pro Shiny sides
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.

iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are hardest iPhones to get your hands on right now

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iPhone 12 Pro Max screen looks great, even from an angle.
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.”

It’s not just you: Complaints about iPhone 12 battery life and dropped calls are widespread

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It’s not just you: iPhone 12 battery problems & dropped call complaints are widespread
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.

iPhone 12 Pro components cost surprisingly little

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iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
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 Cases treat iPhone 12 series to fresh new colors, branding-free protection and a Cult of Mac discount

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MNML iPhone cases are think, light and protective.
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.

Optimize your new iPhone experience with these expert setup tips

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iPhone Xs
Get your new iPhone set up the right way.
Photo: Apple

For many people, iPhone 12 will be radically different from previous iPhone models. Despite this, the iPhone setup process hasn’t changed much. However, while you might find yourself on familiar ground, there are still plenty of little things you really ought to do before you fire up your new phone for the first time (or pretty soon thereafter).

Let’s take a look at all the things you can do to get your iPhone set up exactly how you want it.