iPhone 12 Pro

A few weeks back, I pondered about whether or not I am going to do the yearly iPhone upgrade this year. Well, now that the entire iPhone 12 lineup has been released, I’ve purchased an iPhone 12 Pro. Yes, despite the supposedly better camera system in the larger Pro Max, the quality improvements that I’ve read in the reviews aren’t enough to justify the dramatic increase in size. Ever since returning to the “regular” sized iPhone last year, after two consecutive years of having “Max” iPhones prior, the smaller phone is far handier to use on a daily basis.

I can even take a photo while holding the phone with one hand. Comparatively, it’s a two-handed affair with the Max iPhones, unless you want camera shake.

So I am glad the camera improvements in the 12 Pro Max isn’t compelling enough for me to make the switch back to the larger iPhone. I get to keep the same size, and save a bit of money as well. One thing I did switch back to this year is using the iPhone without a case. Dangerous as it may seem in terms of dropping fears, the iPhone design and colors are so beautiful that it’s a shame to cover them up in a case. Why opt for the fancy “Pacific Blue” color just to disappear it into a cradle of plastic? Not once did I really get to enjoy the lovely “Midnight Green” of last year’s iPhone 11 Pro, having stuck it in a case soon as I took it out of the box.

Admittedly, it was very awkward initially to once again use an iPhone without a case. The whole thing felt super fragile; lacking in the extra grip that a case provides, there’s an additional stress layer of dropping potential. Thankfully, after a week, I am now used to the feel and handling of an “unprotected” iPhone, and I have to say it feels tremendous and high-quality in the hands. Like a Zippo lighter, it’s something you want to keep in your hands for no reason at all, because it’s so nice to touch.

The last time I ran an iPhone case-less, I only dropped it twice over the span of a year. I’ll be quite happy if that is repeated with the iPhone 12 Pro. Let’s see!

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Fire exits.

No new iPhone for me?

Am I getting the new iPhone this year?

Ever since the iPhone 7 - coinciding nicely with attaining a stable income - I’ve done the yearly upgrade to my Apple smartphone like clockwork. While indeed it’s really nice to have the latest and greatest shiny thing every one turn of the calendar, my reason for upgrading annually is for the improvements to the camera system. Apple continues to make leaps every year on the iPhone’s photographic capabilities, and as a hobbyist photographer, it’s a useful tool worth the upgrade cost.

Obviously, 2020 is no ordinary year. With the global pandemic shutting down all manners of travel, and relegating us to our homes more so than ever, there’s really not much opportunity for photography to happen. Is it worth getting the new iPhone 12 when the usage rate is this low? I’m not so sure.

But there’s another problem: Apple put the newest camera technology only in the largest of the iPhone 12 lineup, the Pro Max. Having gone back to a “regular size” iPhone 11 Pro after a string of plus-sized iPhones, I’ve come to prefer the practicality and convenience of a smaller device. It’s far easier to fit into pant pockets, and I can take photos with a single-hand, whereas the largest iPhone would require two hands just to steady the phone body. Apple going back to putting the best cameras only in the largest iPhone is putting me into quite the first-world dilemma: what’s more important? Portability, or picture quality?

I have a strong feeling that if I do upgrade this year, I’m going to reluctantly choose the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The size is going to take some time to get reacquainted with, but the improvements that comes with the larger sensor and new stabilization is ultimately worth the trade-off. I want the best picture quality possible.

Let’s see what happens in a few weeks, when the Pro Max becomes available for purchase.

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The Bavarian legend.