What I REALLY Think of the iPhone!

What I REALLY Think of the iPhone! is Marques Brownlee's exhaustive, long-form take on the iPhone 12 Pro after months of use, presented as an all-encompassing review rather than a typical short spec overview. He begins by unpacking the realities behind embargoed first impressions, the editing load in a long-form review, and how YouTube review timelines affect what makes it into a single piece. The video then dives into design, noting the flat-edged aesthetic, the satin back on the Pro, the glass front and back, and the sharp stainless steel rails. He discusses how the industrial design influences grip, fingerprints, dust, and the overall premium feel, while warning that most people will rely on cases anyway. The display section follows, evaluating the OLED panel, color accuracy, brightness, contrast, and the persistent notch, while contrasting the experience with the iPad Pro’s 120Hz display and the iPhone 12 Pro’s 60Hz limit. He interrogates the 120Hz refresh rate debate, explaining the underlying touch sampling rate, and explaining why some die-hard enthusiasts might still miss a higher refresh from Apple. The camera segment is thorough, describing the triple-camera system, sensor sizes, lenses, and the role of computational photography, with emphasis on the point-and-shoot strength and the limitations of Pro modes on iOS. He highlights ProRAW and the ecosystem of apps that can unlock more manual control, while noting the iPhone’s signature “ease of use” philosophy that makes great photos with minimal effort possible but sometimes sacrifices flexibility. The MagSafe discussion explores the convenience and limited charging speed, the magnet ecosystem, and the potential for a broader accessory world if portless charging becomes the norm. Battery life is analyzed through real-world screen-on time, efficiency gains, and long-term health considerations, acknowledging that Apple hasn’t led in charging speed or battery size but has so far delivered reliable endurance. The video also covers software and ecosystem aspects, including iOS 14 widgets, the App Library, and the broader Apple ecosystem with HomePod mini, AirPods, and rumored AirTags, framing how this orthogonal layer strengthens device lock-in. Marques punctuates details about 5G reality versus hype, stressing that coverage and infrastructure shape actual performance, and reflects on how the iPhone’s value proposition rests in a mature, well-supported experience rather than radical year-to-year changes. Throughout, the tone remains diagnostic yet appreciative, balancing critical notes with praise for design cohesion, camera quality, and the overall user experience, while acknowledging trade-offs like the notch, 5G rollout, and charging speed. The result is a comprehensive portrait of a flagship device that favors consistency, polish, and a robust app ecosystem over radical, flashy upgrades, ending with a nuanced verdict on whether the iPhone 12 Pro remains worth the premium in a rapidly evolving smartphone landscape.

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