iPhone 12 Pro Dissapointed in iPhone 12 Pro (coming from 6S)

[jonppa]

So I got my iPhone 12 Pro to replace my iPhone 6S. There was no particular problem with 6S, just thinking that after 5 generations of iPhones maybe it is time to upgrade and see the new world. Mostly I have been interested in the cameras & computational photography.

I've been now using the phone for under six hours and I feel dissapointed. Here are some of my rants:

- Unlocking with Face ID. I thought it works so that you look at the phone and it unlocks AND goes to home screen. But no! You need to wipe up to access home screen. WTF, seriously? Touch ID is much easier, just place your thumb and off you go. No need to hit in the border with finger and then swipe. I was sure I was doing something wrong since I didn't believe it works this way. Outside I need to take my glove out. If my finger is wet or dirty I still need to touch the glass.

- Camera performance in low light. The images are colorful and overall nice when looking at 50% zoom level but at 100% the image looks horrible smushy. I sure hope the cameras perform better tomorrow in daylight. The night mode is just a gimmick, the outcome images are not usable for prints or anything serious. Maybe the quality increases if one uses a tripod but then it is really the same to bring a decent DSLR and get sharp images.

- Telephoto lens flare. I hope my camera is flawed but I don't think so. In low light it is totally common to get lens flare from bright lights. And those flares aren't beautiful, more like getting reflections from dirty window glass.

- Home screen display usage; why there isn't an extra row of icons on such tall screen? The space is wasted with those dots and there is some space below top bar and first row of app icons. I need to grab my 6S and compare, I'm pretty sure the screen space is just totally wasted.

- I took some photographs of kids in normal night indoor lightning. Camera selected exposure 1/17 and aperture f2. I cannot find used ISO anywhere but I'm sure under 800. On my DSLR I can use ISO 6400 and the pictures look great. So if someone is saying smart phones are replacing DSLR I will laugh all the way out..

It is freaking 1200 euros phone and currently I think the photos are from some ancient iPhone! Also I cannot see any significant performance boost anywhere. It is unbelievable close to my iPhone 6S. Five generations and this little difference?

I'm seriously considering returning this and maybe getting SE - or even returning back to 6S.

Sorry for the rant, I needed to steam somewhere.

 

[ruslan120]

I feel the same way. I’m going to get 12 promax to try it out and compare the cameras but from what I see so far it’s not a significant difference. And the battery life is less than the 11 Pro Max to boot.

I’m an Apple fan in general but this might be the first skip for me in numerous generations.

I‘ll wait a generation or two, hoping for at least 90Hz, thicker battery (why not go thick on the Pro Max, I mean THICK since we’re differentiating the two), and much bigger lenses.

I think they might go to Mini, Regular, and Plus next year by the way. The 12 and 12 Pro are so similar.

 

[LongWayHome]

OP that doesn't seem right as you should see a pretty significant improvement in photos going from a 6S to a 12. You could have a defective unit.

 

[ARizz44]

Sounds to me that more than anything else, you came into this with unrealistic expectations. And while Face ID won’t appeal to everyone, I personally love that any app requiring my password in keychain, or is locked needing authentication, opens automatically with my face, thus not requiring me to touch a home button dozens of times per day.

 

[jhearty99]

The swipe to open with Face Id is so you can see and read the notifications on your lock screen. Lock screen notifications would be completely useless if every time you looked at your phone it opened to the homepage.

 

[Gjwilly]

- Telephoto lens flare. I hope my camera is flawed but I don't think so. In low light it is totally common to get lens flare from bright lights. And those flares aren't beautiful, more like getting reflections from dirty window glass.

Are using a case?
I think I remember from past iPhones that off-spec cases could cause lens flare.

 

[jonnyb098]

Wow.....just wow.... this is the most GET OFF MY LAWN thread I've read in a while. Ok old man we get it. You keep everything till it breaks like my 95+ year old grandparents rocking a 70's couch you sink to the bottom in .

EMBRACE CHANGE!

 

[AKcars]

Wow.....just wow.... this is the most GET OFF MY LAWN thread I've read in a while. Ok old man we get it. You keep everything till it breaks like my 95+ year old grandparents rocking a 70's couch you sink to the bottom in .

EMBRACE CHANGE!

My thoughts exactly! 🤣

 

[Sam in SoCal]

Whatever your feeling about your first impression with Face ID I can’t go back to a phone that doesn’t have “tap to wake”. Your screen size preference is you. I can’t do small screen phones, and with small screen comes small battery. Nope. And there’s no way that the cameras on the 6S vs 12pro aren’t a significant jump for you. I honestly think for you it’s more a money issue than a phone issue. it’s like you’re talking yourself out of it. Just return it and get that 400$ SE instead.

 

[sjperformance]

No way you can't feel and see differences between a 6S and 12 pro.

 

[jonppa]

OP that doesn't seem right as you should see a pretty significant improvement in photos going from a 6S to a 12. You could have a defective unit.

I haven't tested the phone in daylight yet so that is untested. I don't think I have defective unit because all the cameras have same performance. Tomorrow is another day and there should be some sun available for good lightning conditions too.

Sounds to me that more than anything else, you came into this with unrealistic expectations. And while Face ID won’t appeal to everyone, I personally love that any app requiring my password in keychain, or is locked needing authentication, opens automatically with my face, thus not requiring me to touch a home button dozens of times per day.

Maybe, but only because of the price and the hype. And the five generations of phones between. The password/login use with FaceID is nice and a bit spooky (this and this opened without any actions). TouchID isn't bad either..

The swipe to open with Face Id is so you can see and read the notifications on your lock screen. Lock screen notifications would be completely useless if every time you looked at your phone it opened to the homepage.

Ah, wouldn't tought of that! I don't generally have notifcations and usually I spot them from watch anyways. But maybe a choice that if you don't have notifications, then skip the notification screen

Are using a case?
I think I remember from past iPhones that off-spec cases could cause lens flare.

Yes, the original 12 case with magnets inside. So I don't believe that is off-spec..

Wow.....just wow.... this is the most GET OFF MY LAWN thread I've read in a while. Ok old man we get it. You keep everything till it breaks like my 95+ year old grandparents rocking a 70's couch you sink to the bottom in .

Haha I just try to be realistic and look things objectively. Maybe that is the problem here HYPETRAIN HERE I COOOOOOOMEEEEEEE!!

 

[bodonnell202]

The 6s was already so fast I'm not that surprised that it doesn't feel any faster, but I'm really shocked that you aren't seeing a big difference in camera. I was blown away by how much better the camera was going from an 8 to an 11. My mother that has a DSLR took some comparative photos between her DSLR and her iPhone 11 when she upgraded and said she thinks the iPhone photos look better. From what I've seen in reviews the iPhone 12 camera outperforms the iPhone 11 camera across the board (although in many cases only slightly). Perhaps your camera is defective?

With regards to Face ID, sure it's a matter of personal preference, but your comment about having to take your glove off or touch the screen with dirty or wet hands is an even bigger issue with Touch ID, so that doesn't really fly?

 

[rawCpoppa]

Op take pics with the 6s and the 12 and post them side by side.

 

[neteng101]

Face ID might take a bit of getting used to but once you adopt it there's no going back - you forget about the swipe up and its really much more seamless. I still have Touch ID on my old iPad that I'm still using. The only issue with Face ID is one we all face now - it doesn't work if you have a mask on. If this fingerprint on sensor on screen becomes a thing though I can see going back to Touch ID+++.

 

[DNichter]

No big deal, return it

 

[catean]

If this fingerprint on sensor on screen becomes a thing though I can see going back to Touch ID+++.

Next year they will probably implement it in the power button as they did in this years iPad Air 4.

 

[QCassidy352]

The 6s was already so fast I'm not that surprised that it doesn't feel any faster,

There’s a very clear speed difference between my 7 (A10, 2 GB RAM) and my wife’s Xs (A12, 3 GB RAM). There’s no way the A14 with 6 GB RAM doesn’t feel faster than an A9 with 2 GB.

 

[DexBell]

So I got my iPhone 12 Pro to replace my iPhone 6S. There was no particular problem with 6S, just thinking that after 5 generations of iPhones maybe it is time to upgrade and see the new world. Mostly I have been interested in the cameras & computational photography.

I've been now using the phone for under six hours and I feel dissapointed. Here are some of my rants:

- Unlocking with Face ID. I thought it works so that you look at the phone and it unlocks AND goes to home screen. But no! You need to wipe up to access home screen. WTF, seriously? Touch ID is much easier, just place your thumb and off you go. No need to hit in the border with finger and then swipe. I was sure I was doing something wrong since I didn't believe it works this way. Outside I need to take my glove out. If my finger is wet or dirty I still need to touch the glass.

- Camera performance in low light. The images are colorful and overall nice when looking at 50% zoom level but at 100% the image looks horrible smushy. I sure hope the cameras perform better tomorrow in daylight. The night mode is just a gimmick, the outcome images are not usable for prints or anything serious. Maybe the quality increases if one uses a tripod but then it is really the same to bring a decent DSLR and get sharp images.

- Telephoto lens flare. I hope my camera is flawed but I don't think so. In low light it is totally common to get lens flare from bright lights. And those flares aren't beautiful, more like getting reflections from dirty window glass.

- Home screen display usage; why there isn't an extra row of icons on such tall screen? The space is wasted with those dots and there is some space below top bar and first row of app icons. I need to grab my 6S and compare, I'm pretty sure the screen space is just totally wasted.

- I took some photographs of kids in normal night indoor lightning. Camera selected exposure 1/17 and aperture f2. I cannot find used ISO anywhere but I'm sure under 800. On my DSLR I can use ISO 6400 and the pictures look great. So if someone is saying smart phones are replacing DSLR I will laugh all the way out..

It is freaking 1200 euros phone and currently I think the photos are from some ancient iPhone! Also I cannot see any significant performance boost anywhere. It is unbelievable close to my iPhone 6S. Five generations and this little difference?

I'm seriously considering returning this and maybe getting SE - or even returning back to 6S.

Sorry for the rant, I needed to steam somewhere.

You are either trolling or have no idea what you are doing when it comes to photos. You own a DSLR, so you should know that you shouldn't be using the stock camera app. There are several apps that let you manually control the camera settings and shoot in RAW. Use one, I'd suggest Halide.

 

[barondebxl]

I have a 6s at home and I’m using an 8 plus (12 getting delivered today). The difference in performance between my 6s and 8 plus is so significant I can’t help but think that you’re trolling a little

 

[Dkka1]

The cameras are good. However, all the over the top Apple marketing makes it sound like it's a DSLR killer, and it's not, by a country mile. Look at the size of those sensors: it just takes common sense. A sensibly priced Sony EVIL will run circles around it.

I agree with your Face Id criticism, it's not convenient. Touch Id is more convenient.

At the end of the day you have to understand that Apple's kool aid is just palaver. It's a good phone with nice phone cameras and a luxury price tag. Just think about the A14 stories: super powerful. So what? Are you going to run SolidWorks, Autocad, Maya...? No. You're going to run WhatsApp, Amazon and Youtube. So it's really a non-story.

If you're not into the status symbol and ecosystem thing, just buy an A series Samsung or, otherwise, a cheaper iPhone.

 

[jonppa]

No way you can't feel and see differences between a 6S and 12 pro.

I said "any significant". Of course 12 is a bit snappier but I don't think the changes are significant or dramatically different in UI use.

The 6s was already so fast I'm not that surprised that it doesn't feel any faster, but I'm really shocked that you aren't seeing a big difference in camera.

I need to underline; I was testing the most interesting part - night mode. Maybe I was sold by it too early. Of course I understand technically that it is not easy to do but I was sure it would be better.

So tomorrow; daylight and a more testing. If you have a good lightning conditions even a potato cameras make decent images. The difference comes in low light or high dynamic scenes. That's why I put 12 to low-light test straight away..

The only issue with Face ID is one we all face now - it doesn't work if you have a mask on. If this fingerprint on sensor on screen becomes a thing though I can see going back to Touch ID+++.

In Finland we are quite isolated; staying home etc. so currently I'm not wearing masks that often. The annoying thing about touchID is that it doesn't work with wet fingers and if I have gloves, I need to take those away. FaceID would solve this problem if it wouldn't require touches.
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I have a 6s at home and I’m using an 8 plus (12 getting delivered today). The difference in performance between my 6s and 8 plus is so significant I can’t help but think that you’re trolling a little

My business phone is 8 and I cannot find any differences between them. I feel like I'm using two same model phones. And I'm not trolling.

 

[DexBell]

I said "any significant". Of course 12 is a bit snappier but I don't think the changes are significant or dramatically different in UI use.



I need to underline; I was testing the most interesting part - night mode. Maybe I was sold by it too early. Of course I understand technically that it is not easy to do but I was sure it would be better.

So tomorrow; daylight and a more testing. If you have a good lightning conditions even a potato cameras make decent images. The difference comes in low light or high dynamic scenes. That's why I put 12 to low-light test straight away..



In Finland we are quite isolated; staying home etc. so currently I'm not wearing masks that often. The annoying thing about touchID is that it doesn't work with wet fingers and if I have gloves, I need to take those away. FaceID would solve this problem if it wouldn't require touches.
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My business phone is 8 and I cannot find any differences between them. I feel like I'm using two same model phones. And I'm not trolling.

The 12 is clearly better than your 6...

Pictures taken with the iPhone 12 / 12 Pro

iPhone 12 vs iPhone 6. There was exceptionally low light in the room (pitch darkness aside for one very small bedside lamp)

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sounds like buyer’s remorse to me. Either that, or you are so set in your ways with your old phone, you are creating reasons to return so you can go back to what is comfortable to you.

 

[bodonnell202]

There’s a very clear speed difference between my 7 (A10, 2 GB RAM) and my wife’s Xs (A12, 3 GB RAM). There’s no way the A14 with 6 GB RAM doesn’t feel faster than an A9 with 2 GB.

I said "feel" any faster. Most won't notice that it has trimmed a few milliseconds off launch times unless you are comparing them side by side.

 

[jonppa]

The cameras are good. However, all the over the top Apple marketing makes it sound like it's a DSLR killer, and it's not, by a country mile. Look at the size of those sensors: it just takes common sense. A sensibly priced Sony EVIL will run circles around it.

I agree with your Face Id criticism, it's not convenient. Touch Id is more convenient.

At the end of the day you have to understand that Apple's kool aid is just palaver. It's a good phone with nice phone cameras and a luxury price tag. Just think about the A14 stories: super powerful. So what? Are you going to run SolidWorks, Autocad, Maya...? No. You're going to run WhatsApp, Amazon and Youtube. So it's really a non-story.

If you're not into the status symbol and ecosystem thing, just buy a A series Samsung or, otherwise, a cheaper iPhone.

Good insight. I agree with sensor size and lenses. For some reason DSLRs are using 1/4" to "full size" sensors and for some reason good lenses are big and usually heavy. If that isn't the case, why wouldn't DSLR manufactures just use mobile phone sensors..

Surely 12 is a good phone but is it worth 1200 euros? I'm probably doing something wrong if I reflect things on the price tag.

About A14 and other computing power. I'm totally keen to see what those will bring to computational photography. That is one big point why I decided to grab to 12 Pro.

I'm 100% Apple user so my phone is iPhone, no questions about it.