Apple usually introduces a new iPhone with the upgraded features. As we are concerned about the camera, iPhone 12 models have upgraded camera features when compared to iPhone 11, especially iPhone 12 Pro models. iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro has proved to be one of the best camera smartphones in the market with amazing night mode and next-generation smart HDR where it adjusts the white balance, contrast, texture, and saturation of a photo for natural-looking images. The iPhone 11 is added with features, a standard wide and ultra-wide lens.

The iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 both feature a dual-camera setup on the back with 12MP wide and ultra-wide lenses. The difference between 11 and 12 pro is that the iPhone 12 features an upgraded wide-angle lens with a ƒ/1.6 aperture when compared to the ƒ/1.8 aperture in the iPhone 11. More light can enter the iPhone 12 camera, thereby improving low-light photography and video performance. Apple says that the new wide camera on iPhone 12 allows for 27% more light than the iPhone 11 camera.
The iPhone 12 offer two lenses and the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with three cameras plus a new LiDAR scanner. The iPhone 12 Pro series has major photography improvements that include a larger image sensor and a fourth telephoto camera for more distant objects.
iPhone 12 models have a wider ƒ/1.6 aperture for the primary camera along with a new seven-element lens design that delivers high-quality photos, particularly in low and medium-light scenarios. The iPhone 12 Pro features a larger image sensor with Sensor-Shift image stabilization technology, and its telephoto lens brings 2.5X optical zoom. This is one feature that is upgraded from 2X zoom of the iPhone 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and 12 Pro models.
The features that are the same in both the devices are Optical image stabilization, 2x optical zoom out, Brighter True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh, and Depth Control, Digital zoom up to 5x, Portrait Lighting with six effects. The front camera on both the smartphones are almost the same but the iPhone 12 comes with software updates like Night Mode and Deep Fusion.
Looking at the video features, iPhone 11 and 12 models have almost same features like:
- 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
- 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
- Extended dynamic range for video up to 60 fps
- Optical image stabilization for video
- 2x optical zoom out
- Digital zoom up to 3x
- Audio zoom
- QuickTake video
- Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
- Time-lapse video with stabilization
- Stereo recording
But the iPhone 12 model support HDR video recording with Dolby vision up to 30 fps along with night mode and time lapse support. The front camera also supports HDR video recording with Dolby vision up to 30 fps.
Camera Features
iPhone 11 | iPhone 12 |
Dual 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras | Dual 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide and Wide cameras |
Ultra-Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view | Ultra-Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view |
Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture | Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture |
2x optical zoom out | 2x optical zoom out |
Digital zoom up to 5x | Digital zoom up to 5x |
Features Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono) Optical image stabilization (Wide) Five‑element lens (Ultra Wide); six‑element lens (Wide) Brighter True Tone flash with Slow Sync Panorama (up to 63MP) Sapphire crystal lens cover 100% Focus Pixels (Wide) Night mode (Wide) Deep Fusion (Wide) Next-generation Smart HDR for photos Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos Advanced red‑eye correction Auto image stabilization Burst mode Photo geotagging Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG | Features Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High‑Key Mono) Optical image stabilization (Wide) Five‑element lens (Ultra Wide); seven‑element lens (Wide) Brighter True Tone flash with Slow Sync Panorama (up to 63MP) Sapphire crystal lens cover 100% Focus Pixels (Wide) Night mode (Ultra Wide, Wide) Deep Fusion (Ultra Wide, Wide) Smart HDR 3 Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos Lens correction (Ultra Wide) Advanced red‑eye correction Auto image stabilization Burst mode Photo geotagging Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG |
Video recording 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps 720p HD video recording at 30 fps Extended dynamic range for video up to 60 fps Optical image stabilization for video (Wide) 2x optical zoom out Digital zoom up to 3x Audio zoom Brighter True Tone flash QuickTake video with subject tracking Slow-motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps Time-lapse video with stabilization Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p) Continuous autofocus video Take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video Playback zoom Video formats recorded: HEVC and H.264 Stereo recording | Video recording HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps 720p HD video recording at 30 fps Optical image stabilization for video (Wide) 2x optical zoom out Digital zoom up to 3x Audio zoom Brighter True Tone flash QuickTake video Slow-motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps Time-lapse video with stabilization Night mode Time‑lapse Extended dynamic range for video up to 60 fps Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p) Continuous autofocus video Take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video Playback zoom Video formats recorded: HEVC and H.264 Stereo recording |
TrueDepth Camera 12MP camera ƒ/2.2 aperture Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High‑Key Mono) Animoji and Memoji 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps Slow-motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps Next‑generation Smart HDR for photos Extended dynamic range for video at 30 fps Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p) Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos Retina Flash Auto image stabilization Burst mode | TrueDepth Camera 12MP camera ƒ/2.2 aperture Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High‑Key Mono) Animoji and Memoji Night mode Deep Fusion Smart HDR 3 HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 30 fps 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps Slow-motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps Time-lapse video with stabilization Night mode Time‑lapse Extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p) QuickTake video Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos Lens correction Retina Flash Auto image stabilization Burst mode |