Apple iPhone 12 Pro Review: Price Insights, Full Features, Performance & Alternatives

Introduction

Apple iPhone 12 Pro launched late in 2020 is still a major player in the market for smartphones in 2025. Its sleek design, high performance and quality camera appeal to tech lovers and casual users. The iPhone 12 Pro is a great choice for anyone who wants a high-quality device that's reliable and has a strong Apple ecosystem. The review will focus on its features, performance, overall value and local considerations, such as pricing and alternative devices available in Bangladesh.

Unboxing and first Impressions

Apple iPhone 12 Pro unboxing is minimalistic and premium. In a sleek white box, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro is housed along with an USB-C Lightning cable, a SIM ejector and other accessories. Apple has, as usual, left out the charger and earphones. Apple is promoting sustainability, which may be disappointing to some.

The iPhone 12 Pro's premium design is instantly noticeable when held. Flat-edged, with a stainless steel front and frame, the design is elegant yet sturdy. Matte finish adds sophistication to the back, and the slim design ensures that the device is comfortable in the hand. First impressions are of high quality. This sets the tone for an enjoyable and smooth user experience.

Build and Design Quality

Apple iPhone 12 Pro features a sleek design that seamlessly blends durability and sophistication. It feels luxurious in the hand thanks to its stainless steel flat edges and Ceramic Shield. Matte glass is both visually pleasing and offers a good grip. This reduces the chances of getting fingerprints. The iPhone 12 Pro weighs just 189g, which is a comfortable weight yet feels substantial. The iPhone 12 Pro's dimensions of 146.7 x 71.5" x 7.4" make it easy to hold and compact, especially when compared with larger flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, or OnePlus 9 Pro.

Its sleek and modern design is enhanced by a 6.1" Super Retina XDR screen that covers nearly all of the front. The bezels are kept to a minimum, contributing to a device that looks both stylish and contemporary. Water and dust resistant, the iPhone 12 Pro has an IP68 rating. This makes it as durable as other devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, or Google Pixel 5.

Display

Apple iPhone 12 Pro has a 6.1" Super Retina XDR Display, setting a new standard for OLED displays. Its impressive 460ppi pixel density ensures crisp, detailed images, regardless of whether you are watching movies, surfing the web, or playing video games. Display supports HDR10, Dolby vision, and provides vibrant colors and deeper blacks with an excellent contrast ratio. Its peak brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits. This makes it among the brightest screens available in any environment, including outdoor.

Comparing the iPhone 12 Pro to other competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S21, with its Dynamic 2X AMOLED display, it offers similar high contrast ratios, and color accuracy. Galaxy S21 display stands out, though, with its higher 120Hz refresh rate, which allows for smoother scrolling and animations. The iPhone 12 Pro, on the other hand opts for 60Hz, which prioritizes battery efficiency while not sacrificing the display's quality.

Apple's True Tone Technology adjusts the white balance of the display to the ambient lighting, providing comfortable viewing under different conditions. Ceramic Shield adds additional protection from scratches and falls, further increasing the durability of your display.

Performance

Apple iPhone 12 Pro runs on the A14 Bionic processor, the first smartphone chip to be manufactured in 5nm. The A14 Bionic chip is based on an advanced architecture that not only provides a dramatic increase in performance, but also improves the energy efficiency. This A14 Bionic has a 6-core processor, 4-core graphics card, and 16-core Neural engine, which all contribute to the A14 Bionic's lightning-fast performance for a variety of tasks, including heavy gaming and intensive video and photo editing. The A14 Bionic outperforms its rivals in benchmarking tests. This includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, Samsung's Exynos 2110, and flagship models such as the Samsung Galaxy S21, and OnePlus 9

Geekbench 5 scores the iPhone 12 Pro impressively. Single-core performance is consistently above 1600 points, and multi-core scores are over 4000. This puts it in the top tier of the industry. Comparatively, the Galaxy S21, with its Snapdragon 888, averages 1100 points in single-core testing and 3500 for multi-core, showing an obvious gap in performance.

Its 4-core GPU also excels at graphics-intensive tasks. This allows it to deliver smooth, consistent frame rates for demanding games such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile. This device can run these games with high settings and minimal throttling. It is superior to the Samsung Galaxy S21 or the OnePlus 9 Pro which sometimes experience performance drop due to thermal limitations.

Operating system and UI

iOS 14 is the operating system of choice for iPhone 12 Pro. It offers a highly intuitive and smooth user interface that's regularly updated with new features and security patches. iOS 14 introduced several improvements, such as home screen widgets and compact phone calls. It also improved the Messages application, which made it easier to stay organized and connected. Apple's ecosystem is one of the highlights, allowing seamless sync between iPhone, iPad and MacBook.

iOS 14 has a fluid and responsive interface that provides a smooth, seamless experience for everyday tasks such as app navigation, gaming, multitasking and more. It is minimalistic and clean, and focuses on simplicity. App Store offers a variety of applications that have been optimized to work with the iPhone hardware. This ensures that the user gets the most out of their device.

iOS is more streamlined than Android options like the Samsung Galaxy S21 which uses One UI 3.1 based Android 11. iOS also offers fewer customizations, but a consistent, less fragmented user experience. One UI is an advanced interface with many customizations, however it may be overwhelming to those who like simplicity.

Camera

Apple iPhone 12 Pro has a triple camera system at the back, which includes a 12MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP telephoto. It also features a LiDAR sensor for improved low-light performance, as well as depth perception. The camera system offers exceptional versatility and allows users to take stunning pictures or videos under different lighting conditions. This camera setup offers exceptional clarity and color accuracy. The ultra-wide lenses provide a wider perspective and are perfect for group and landscape shots. With its 2-times optical zoom, the telephoto allows you to get close ups with great detail.

The iPhone 12 Pro is a great performer in daylight, delivering sharp images that are vibrant and balanced with a wide dynamic range. Smart HDR 3 ensures shadows and highlights are properly exposed, and Night Mode kicks in automatically during low light environments for brighter and more clear photos. The iPhone 12 Pro is now highly competitive with flagship competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It has a superior 108MP camera but suffers from inconsistent low-light performance.

LiDAR technology improves the portrait camera, as it allows for more accurate depth detection. Apple has top-notch video recording capabilities, including Dolby HDR at 60 frames per second. This sets Apple apart from its competitors, such as the Google Pixel 5. The Google Pixel 5 offers great photography, but does not have advanced video recording features.

Charging and Battery

Apple iPhone 12 Pro is equipped with 2815mAh, which provides decent battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro, despite its relatively small battery, can run for a whole day with moderate usage, such as web browsing, video streaming, and social media. Apple has optimized iOS 14 to ensure that the battery is used efficiently, so the iPhone 12 Pro can perform throughout the day with minimal drain. Users can expect to get 10-12 hours screen time in real world testing. This is comparable with other devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 (4,000mAh) or the OnePlus 9 (4,550mAh), depending on the usage.

The iPhone 12 Pro is compatible with 20W rapid charging. This allows the phone to be charged up to 50% within 30 minutes. Apple does not include a power supply in the package, and users are required to purchase it separately. This can cause some inconvenience. The iPhone 12 Pro is compatible with 15W MagSafe wireless charging. This charging method is fast but less efficient than the 30W warp charge available on the OnePlus 9 Pro and the 25W wireless charger on the Galaxy S21.

Network Connectivity and

Apple iPhone 12 Pro supports 5G networks and offers a wide range of connectivity options. This is important because 5G infrastructure continues to expand globally including in Bangladesh. The iPhone 12 Pro supports both sub-6GHz bands and mmWave, which can offer faster upload and download speeds depending on the network. It is therefore competitive with flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S21 which has 5G connectivity. However, the iPhone 12 Pro generally offers a slightly faster, more stable connection in actual usage.

The iPhone 12 Pro is compatible with Wi-Fi 6, (802.11ax), which ensures fast connectivity in busy environments. Bluetooth 5.0, which offers reliable connections to peripherals such as wireless headphones or smartwatches is included. This feature matches that of the OnePlus 9 Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro also comes with Ultra Wideband (UWB), which enhances certain features such as AirTags, spatial awareness, and location accuracy.

The iPhone 12 Pro does not have a headphone jack 3.5mm, as is commonplace amongst premium smartphones. However, the device compensates by supporting high-quality audio wirelessly through Bluetooth and AirPods.

Storage Options

Apple iPhone 12 Pro comes with three storage options: 128GB (standard), 256GB and 512GB. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro offers three internal storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Series offers different storage options on its various models.

• Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are available in 128GB or 256GB versions.

• Galaxy S21 ultra Offers 128GB,256GB,and 512GB storage options.

Note: that the Galaxy S21 does not support expansion via microSD cards, which limits storage options.

The iPhone 12 Pro also does not have a slot for a microSD, making it important to choose the right storage option when purchasing. You can determine which option is best for you by assessing your needs in terms of app usage, data storage, and media consumption. If you often capture and store high-resolution videos and photos, or have a large media library, the 256GB/512GB model may be more suitable for your needs.

Sound Quality

Apple iPhone 12 Pro offers a commendable performance in audio, with stereo speakers capable of delivering a balanced and clear sound that is suitable for gaming, music and videos. DxOMark gave the iPhone 12 an audio score of 72, which highlights its excellent playback abilities, particularly in terms of dynamics and timbre.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Series also has robust audio features. DxOMark awarded the Galaxy S21 Ultra a score of 70 for its audio, which reflects playback dynamic and minimization of artifacts. Some users, however, have complained that the S21 speakers lack the richness and depth found on other flagship smartphones.

Users' experiences can vary. Some iPhone 12 Pro owners have noted that their speakers sound more dense and detailed compared to older models. Others have noticed that they sound thin or produce a rattle effect when playing at high volume. Galaxy S21 owners have also reported that video recordings in noisy environments may distort the audio.

Unique Features

Apple iPhone 12 Pro has several unique features which set it apart.

• Scanner LiDAR: Improves the low-light experience and enhances AR experiences by providing a faster and accurate autofocus.

• MagSafe Tech: Contains a magnetic system at the rear of the device that allows for easy attachment to accessories such as cases and chargers, while also supporting wireless charging.

• Ceramic Shield: Front cover is made of a co-developed glass-ceramic mixture with Corning Inc. It offers enhanced durability and protection from drops.

• ProRAW photography: Combining Apple's computational imaging with RAW formats, this software allows for more flexibility when post-processing photos.

• Dolby HDR Video recording: Enables the user to record high dynamic range videos, with improved color gradation and depth.

Comparison of Apple iPhone 12 Pro with Other Flagship Smartphones

This is a comparison of eight flagship smartphones with the Apple iPhone 12 Pro. It highlights their prices, differences and recommended choices based on features, performance and price.

• Apple iPhone 12 Pro Price in Bangladesh

  • Official : BDT 146,999 for the 128GB variant. ​

  Key Features:

  • 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display​

  • A14 Bionic chip​

  • Triple 12MP rear cameras with LiDAR scanner​

  • 5G connectivity​

• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Price in Bangladesh

  • Official: BDT 146,999.

  Key Features:

  • 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate​

  • Exynos 2100 processor​

  • Quad-camera setup with 108MP main sensor​

  • 5G support​

• OnePlus 9 Pro Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial : BDT 120,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.​

  • Snapdragon 888 processor​

  • Quad-camera system co-developed with Hasselblad​

  • 5G connectivity​

• Xiaomi Mi 11 Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 80,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.81-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate​

  • Snapdragon 888 processor​

  • Triple-camera setup with 108MP main sensor​

  • 5G support​

• Realme GT Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 60,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate​

  • Snapdragon 870 processor​

  • Dual-camera setup with 64MP main sensor​

  • 5G connectivity​

• Oppo Find X3 Pro Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 130,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate​

  • Snapdragon 888 processor​

  • Quad-camera system with 50MP main sensor​

  • 5G support​

• Vivo V21 Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 30,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.44-inch AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate​

  • MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor​

  • Dual-camera setup with 44MP main sensor​

  • 4G connectivity

• Asus ROG Phone 5 Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 150,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate​

  • Snapdragon 888 processor​

  • Triple-camera setup with 64MP main sensor​

  • 5G support​

• Sony Xperia 1 II Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 100,000.​

  Key Features:

  • 6.5-inch OLED display with 21:9 aspect ratio​

  • Snapdragon 865 processor​

  • Triple-camera system co-developed with Zeiss​

  • 5G connectivity​

• Google Pixel 5 Price in Bangladesh

  • Unofficial: BDT 70,000 (Unofficial).

  Key Features:

  • 6.0-inch OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate

  • Snapdragon 765G processor

  • Dual-camera setup with 12.2MP main sensor

  • 5G support

Recommendation

• The Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and  LG G6 are the top choices for users who want a device that offers a powerful performance and exceptional camera features, as well as 5G connectivity.

• The OnePlus 9 Pro or Xiaomi Mi 11 are both flagship models that offer premium features for a lower price.

• The ROG Phone 5s pro is a gaming phone that offers superior performance.

• The Vivo V21, and Google Pixel 5, are designed for users who want a camera with dependable performance at an affordable price.

Verdict

Apple iPhone 12 Pro is a great choice for tech lovers and professionals alike. It combines a stylish design with advanced camera features. The powerful A14 Bionic processor ensures smooth performance, and the triple camera system enhanced with the LiDAR scan delivers excellent photography and videography. Some features, however, may seem outdated with newer models such as the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro. Some users may also be concerned about the fact that the EarPods and power adapter are not included in the package. The iPhone 12 Pro is a great option if your priorities are a good display, robust performance and superior camera capabilities.

Value and Price

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro will be available to Bangladeshians in April 2025 through third-party sellers. Official retail prices for 128GB are BDT 146999. Due to the fact that it's a model from a previous generation, you can often find this device at discounted prices in the local market, ranging between BDT 120,00 and BDT 130,00.

The iPhone 12 Pro is a great value compared to the newer iPhone models. The A14 Bionic processor, triple cameras with LiDAR and premium build all come at an affordable price. It may not have the most recent features, like ProMotion screens and camera improvements, but it is still a good choice for those who want high-performance without paying premium prices.

Audience Target Suitability

Apple iPhone 12 Pro was designed for those who value premium design, robust performance, and advanced camera features. The sleek, stainless steel body and Ceramic Shield display appeals to users who are looking for a luxury aesthetic. The triple camera system is enhanced by a LiDAR scan, and excels at low light conditions. It offers advanced AR experience. The A14 Bionic chipset ensures smooth multitasking, high-end gaming and seamless performance. The iPhone 12 Pro is a good option for those who do not need the most recent specifications, but want a quality device. Some users may also be concerned about the lack of an adapter included in its box. The iPhone 12 Pro is a great choice for anyone looking to strike a good balance between functionality and luxury.

After-Sales Service and Availability in Bangladesh

Apple iPhone 12 Pro can be purchased in Bangladesh from various online stores, such as Device Pandora. The device is available for BDT 132,000 depending on storage type and condition. Local stores, such as the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex in Dhaka that sells iPhone 12 Pros, also have contact numbers for questions.

Apple Stores are not available in Bangladesh for after-sales service. In Dhaka, however, support is available from authorized service providers such as Executive Machines or iService by Satcom iCenter Limited. Prices are listed on the website of iCare Apple, which offers repair services, such as display and battery replacements for iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Conclusion

Apple iPhone 12 Pro introduced in 2020 remains an attractive and competent smartphone until 2025. The sleek design of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, its robust performance, powered by the A14 Bionic processor, and the versatile camera system, with LiDAR scan, continue to satisfy many users. The iPhone 12 Pro may seem less sophisticated with newer models such as the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro. This is especially true when it comes to battery life and refresh rate. The absence of a charging cable in the package and the reliance on Face ID - which can be problematic when wearing a mask - are also notable. The iPhone 12 Pro is a great option for those who want a quality device that's more affordable. Just make sure you match its features with your needs.