The world’s best cellphone gets better.

I opted for the Max large version of the iPhone 12 Pro for two reasons. I really want to obsolete my 7″ Kindle Fire for reading (it’s a nice small size and weight which can be held in one hand when lying on the sofa) as fewer gadgets are always a good thing. And because the iPhone 12 Pro Max has some nice enhancements over the iPhone 12 Pro and 11 Pro when it comes to the cameras. Night Mode is now available on both 12 Pro models for the UWA lens (not available in the iPhone 11 Pro) and internal processing sees to it that the objectionable UWA ‘mustache’ distortion is no longer present.

Uncorrected UWA images – iPhone 11 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max.

You can read about the high distortion levels in the UWA lens in the iPhone 11 Pro here and follow the link to my LR/PS distortion correction profile from that piece. Suffice it to say, as the above images disclose, there is no need for a distortion correction profile with the UWA lens in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Masochists can go to Settings->Camera->Lens Correction to turn off in camera distortion correction for both the UWA and standard lenses.

Another reason to upgrade to the iPhone 12 is the shape of the case. The iPhone 12 has reverted to the slab sided design seen in the iPhone 4 and boy, is it wonderful to hold after the slippery eel that is the iPhone 11. So much so, that while I am sticking with a (larger) belt holster for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I no longer use a protective cover or case as it’s so much nicer to hold naked in the hand. The worst aspect of the iPhone as a full time camera has always been its awful ergonomics, and this is a significant step in the right direction.

There’s another ergonomic upgrade courtesy of software changes. Go to Settings->Accessibility->Touch->Back Tap and set it as follows:

Back Tap.

You can now simply double tap the rear of the iPhone to release the shutter; sadly no single tap option is available. But either way, this is a strong argument to avoid the use of any sort of protective cover, or to cut a hole in the back if you do use one to permit the use of Back Tap. I have found that the UWA is so wide that getting your fingers out of the way is a challenge using Back Tap with that lens, but it’s easy with the other two.

Speaking of lenses, the ‘long’ lens, still at 50mm in the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, is now 65mm in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Until a periscope zoom comes along in later iPhones, this is a step in the right direction.

Finally, the new LIDAR detector permits accurate determination of focus even in darkness. This image of my son watching TV on the patio was taken in almost total darkness, the iPhone advising me to keep still during the three second hand held exposure. This is magic. Why would anyone revert to the dated, incompetent offerings from Sony, Nikon, Canon et al?

LIDAR assisted Night Mode in near total darkness. 65mm lens.

As for obsoleting that Kindle Fire as a book reader, here are the key statistics:

Kindle Fire – screen diagonal 6.8″, weight 10oz, battery life 7 hrs.
iPhone 12 Pro Max – screen diagonal 6.4″, 8.6 oz, battery life 20 hrs.

Hast la vista Kindle.

More when Apple Pro RAW becomes available in the iPhone 12 with an upcoming iOS release.

The iPhone 12 Pro is the best camera in the world for 99% of users.

You think the iPhone 12 Pro Max is expensive? Run the numbers. Read this. It costs $300 a year.