iPhone 12 and 12 Mini Bring Night Mode to All Three Cameras

Apple today announced the iPhone 12 and 12 mini, the company’s latest iPhones that promise greater photo and video performance. With a new 7 element lens, Apple promises the new iPhone 12 and 12 mini to see a 27% improvement in low light performance.

Apple combines computational photography with physical changes to the iPhone 12 cameras to produce improved dynamic range and sharpness. Apple’s latest rear cameras use a new 7-element lens array that the company promises will improve low light performance.

The new 12-megapixel, 26mm wide lens is capable of even greater light absorption thanks to its f/1.6 aperture. It also retains optical image stabilization.

Apple says that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini deliver powerful computational photography features enabled by A14 Bionic and a new dual-camera system, bringing what the company says is “an unparalleled camera experience.”

This advanced camera system features the Ultra-Wide camera and a new Wide camera with an ƒ/1.6 aperture, providing 27 percent more light for even more amazing low-light photos and videos. Computational photography is taken to the next level on iPhone 12 models with Night mode and faster-performing Deep Fusion now on all cameras — TrueDepth, Wide, and Ultra Wide — for improved photos in any environment.

The main benefit of the computational photography is found in the company’s Smart HDR 3 mode, which Apple promises will bring out details in faces that are in deep shadow as well as increase the sharpness and clarity of those subjects. Smart HDR 3 uses machine learning to intelligently adjust the white balance, contrast, texture, and saturation of a photo for remarkably natural-looking images.

Apple’s improvements to Night Mode extends, for the first time, to all cameras on the device: both cameras on the rear of the phone, plus the selfie camera on the front of the phone.

Just like with the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, both the iPhone 12 and 12 mini feature support to shoot and edit HDR video with Dolby Vision. And just like with the iPhone 12 Pro models, Dolby Vision grading is processed live while recording, and sustained during editing, whether in the Photos app or iMovie.

Both models also now feature improved cinematic video stabilization, even more true-to-life selfie videos with Dolby Vision, and Night mode Time-Lapse, offering longer exposure times for sharper videos, better light trails, and smoother exposure in low-light scenarios when used with a tripod.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will be available in blue, green, black, white and (PRODUCT)RED starting at $799 and $699 respectively. You can pre-order iPhone 12 beginning at 5 AM PDT on October 16, with shipping and availability starting on October 23.

Discussion