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Short Summary
Main recommendation: The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are the core focus, and the reviewer's first-impression verdict is that the new industrial design is strong, but the box omits a charger and the MagSafe magnets are weaker than hoped. The unboxing reveals a much smaller box, a phone and a USB-C-to-Lightning cable only, and new MagSafe accessories that snap to the back of the phone via embedded magnets.
Key Points
- The smaller box is roughly half the height of the previous iPhone box, with the phone placed face down on top and little extra packaging.
- Apple removed the wall charger from the box, arguing it reduces waste, but the included USB-C cable pairs with a USB-C wall brick that most iPhone 12 buyers don't already own.
- The iPhone 12 (aluminum sides, 162 g) and iPhone 12 Pro (stainless steel sides, 192 g) are the same size, so cases fit both; the reviewer prefers the matte aluminum finish.
- MagSafe uses magnets embedded in the wireless charging coil, and accessories like the charger, wallet, and case are recognized by the phone, likely through an NFC chip, each triggering a specific on-screen animation.
- The reviewer found the magnets relatively loose, questioning whether they can hold accessories like a car mount firmly over bumps.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions: No step-by-step setup instructions were given. Actionable advice from the video: if you lack a USB-C wall brick, you will likely need to buy one separately to charge the iPhone 12 from the included cable; if you want a firm MagSafe hold for accessories like a wallet, the reviewer suggests checking how strongly the magnets hold, since the wallet can pop off in a pocket; a single MagSafe layer over a case still works, but stacking a second accessory on top of a case-and-wallet setup is less effective.
- The included items are the iPhone, a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, a SIM card removal tool, paperwork pamphlets, and a sticker; there is no headphones or wall brick.
- The MagSafe charger delivers 15 watts, has a three-foot cable, and is a flat puck that can spin freely since it does not align with the lower magnets.
- Still, the iPhone 12 is described as still technically Qi wireless charging, so Android phones with Qi can also magnetize and charge on it.
- The extra cutout beneath the power button houses the 5G antennas.
Bottom Line
The iPhone 12 line brings good design and a clever MagSafe system, but its no-charger box and modest magnet strength make the value and accessory ecosystem questions to watch in the full review.