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Surprise, a new iPhone 12 is coming this week, and it's purple

Apple announced the new purple iPhone 12 on Tuesday along with new iMacs, an updated AppleTV, AirTags and an iPad Pro.

Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials
  • Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
Patrick Holland
2 min read
Purple iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 is now available in purple.

Apple

The iPhone 12 now comes in purple. Tim Cook made the announcement himself at Tuesday's Apple's spring event. Until now, the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini were available in black, white, blue, green and red (part of Product Red). The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max come in graphite, gold, silver and blue finishes. A video showing off the purple iPhone included The Candy Man, the song from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Cook said the new purple color is meant to evoke spring. The announcement came along with new iMacs, an updated Apple TV, AirTags and an iPad Pro.

Read more: New iPhone 13 designs and colors could be on the way

The purple iPhone 12 goes on presale April 23 and will be available on April 30. Prices start at $829 (£799, AU$1,350) for the iPhone 12 or $799 if you activate it on a carrier when you buy it. The purple iPhone 12 Mini starts at $729 (£699, AU$1,199) or $699 with a carrier discount.

Watch this: Apple launches new purple iPhone 12 and 12 Mini

For all intents and purposes, the purple iPhone is the same as the existing iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. It has the same flat-sided design, support for 5G and OLED screen with support for HDR. The screen is covered with Apple's ceramic shield. The body has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and supports MagSafe wireless charging and accessories. It has the same A14 Bionic processor, runs the same iOS 14 software and even has the same cameras.

Read more: Is the iPhone 12 good enough or do you really need the Pro or Pro Max model?

The purple iPhone comes exactly six months after Apple launched the iPhone 12 series which is halfway through its update cycle. With rumors increasing about an iPhone 13 coming out this fall, the timing of a new color could help sway people on the fence about getting a new phone.

Purple iPhone 12
Apple
Purple iPhone 12
Apple
Purple iPhone 12
Apple

iPhone 12 specs compared to iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max


Apple iPhone 12Apple iPhone 12 MiniApple iPhone 12 ProApple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Display size, resolution 6.1-inch OLED; 2,532x1,170 pixels5.4-inch OLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels6.1-inch OLED; 2,532x1,170 pixels6.7-inch OLED; 2,778x1,284 pixels
Pixel density 460ppi476ppi460ppi458ppi
Dimensions (inches) 5.78x2.82x0.29 inches5.18x2.53x0.29 inches5.78x2.82x0.29 inches6.33x3.07x0.29 inches
Dimensions (millimeters) 146.7x71.5x7.4mm131.5x64.2x7.4mm146.7x71.5x7.4mm160.8x78.1x7.4mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 5.78 oz.; 164g4.76 oz.; 135g6.66 oz.; 189g8.03 oz.; 228g
Mobile software iOS 14iOS 14iOS 14iOS 14
Camera 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 12-megapixel (telephoto)12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 12-megapixel (telephoto)
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel12-megapixel12-megapixel12-megapixel
Video capture 4K4K4K4K
Processor Apple A14 BionicApple A14 BionicApple A14 BionicApple A14 Bionic
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB64GB, 128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GB, 512GB128GB, 256GB, 512GB
RAM UndisclosedUndisclosedUndisclosedUndisclosed
Expandable storage NoNoNoNo
Battery Undisclosed; Apple lists 15 hours of video playbackUndisclosed; Apple lists 15 hours of video playbackUndisclosed; Apple lists 17 hours of video playbackUndisclosed; Apple lists 17 hours of video playback
Fingerprint sensor No (Face ID)No (Face ID)No (Face ID)No (Face ID)
Connector LightningLightningLightningLightning
Headphone jack NoNoNoNo
Special features 5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM) 5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM) Lidar scanner; 5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM) Lidar scanner; 5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
Price off-contract (USD) $829 (64GB), $879 (128GB), $979 (256GB)$729 (64GB), $779 (128GB), $879 (256GB)$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB)$1,099 (128GB), $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB)
Price (GBP) £799 (64GB), £849 (128GB), £949 (256GB)£699 (64GB), £749 (128GB), £849 (256GB)£999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB)£1,099 (128GB), £1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB)
Price (AUD) AU$1,349 (64GB), AU$1,429 (128GB), AU$1,599 (256GB)AU$1,199 (64GB), AU$1,279 (128GB), AU$1,449 (256GB)AU$1,699 (128GB), AU$1,869 (256GB), AU$2,219 (512GB)AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,019 (256GB), AU$2,369 (512GB)