First Impressions From New iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Owners

It's already Friday, October 23, in Australia and New Zealand, which means some customers who purchased an iPhone 12 or 12 Pro already have their new devices in hand. We've seen dozens of reviews of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro from media sites, but now first impressions from regular Apple customers are available.

iphone12firstimpressions

Image via MacRumors reader Boardiesboi

New ‌iPhone‌ 12 and 12 Pro owners are sharing their opinions of the device on the MacRumors forums, and for those awaiting their own new ‌iPhone‌ or considering making a purchase, impressions from average consumers provide useful insight.

MacRumors reader Boardiesboi shared several photos and says that the lighter weight of the 12 Pro is immediately noticeable coming from an iPhone 11 Pro Max. The color of the Pacific Blue ‌iPhone‌ is described as "beautiful," and Boardiesboi found the squared-off edges make the ‌iPhone‌ "nice to hold" and "less slippery."

iphone12firstimpressions2

Image via MacRumors reader Boardiesboi

A Redditor who got the new Pro also in Pacific Blue said that he's glad he didn't chose the mini because the squared off shape makes the ‌iPhone‌ 12 more compact. He also said the shiny edges of the ‌iPhone‌ attract a lot of fingerprints.

Twitter user Kewal said the new ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro feels lighter than the ‌iPhone‌ XS and appears to have a warmer display tint.


Some other insights from new ‌iPhone‌ 12 and 12 owners:

  • Hard to tell the difference between photos taken with 12 Pro and 11 Pro Max
  • MagSafe magnet is "quite strong" but case doesn't "magically attach" like demoed at Apple Event.
  • ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro has a warmer display than ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌
  • Bezels appear thinner
  • Face ID speed is the same
  • New iPhones come with iOS 14.1 installed

Have a new ‌iPhone‌ 12 or 12 Pro? Let us know your thoughts and we'll add it to our first impressions article.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

sniffies Avatar
67 months ago
Three more weeks
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
67 months ago
But none of them mention...
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swrobel Avatar
67 months ago
12 Pro lighter than 11 Pro Max is NEWS OF THE DAY /s
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thejadedmonkey Avatar
67 months ago

But none of them mention...

Because nobody cares.

Seriously, nobody cares.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwd3885 Avatar
67 months ago
Is it me or are these first impression comments a little underwhelming? Maybe it’s because I’m sitting on the fence now between an 11 pro max for a 12 pro or 12 pro max
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdoyle Avatar
67 months ago
The new charger and earpods are so light you'ill hardly know they are there....
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)