Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus side by side: Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) vs Apple A18, 12MP vs 48MP camera, 2815mAh vs 4674mAh battery, $999…

Apple

iPhone 16 Plus

$899

12categories won

6 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 16 Plus takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the iPhone 12 Pro leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 16 Plus. Choose the iPhone 16 Plus if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 Pro if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryiPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Plus takes battery honors offering 4,674 mAh alongside 27W charging.

🎮 GamingiPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Plus provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A18 and 8GB RAM.

📸 CameraiPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro wins photography with 12MP main imaging and 2x dedicated optical zoom.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Plus wins on budget and value at $899 compared to $999.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 16 Plus: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Screen size	6.1"	6.7"
Resolution	1170 x 2532	1290 x 2796Winner
Pixel density	457 ppi	460 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Peak brightness	1200 nits	2000 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)	Apple A18
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	1,120,000	1,720,000Winner
Geekbench multi	4890	8200Winner
Maximum RAM	6 GB	8 GBWinner
Maximum storage	128GB	512GBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Main sensor	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3Winner	2
Optical zoom	2x	—
Ultrawide	12 MP	12 MP
Selfie camera	12 MP	12 MP
Max video	4K at 60fps Dolby Vision 10-bit HDR	4K at 60fps Dolby Vision

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Capacity	2,815 mAh	4,674 mAhWinner
Wired charging	20 W	27 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Weight	189 gWinner	199 g
Thickness	7.4 mmWinner	7.8 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Surgical-grade stainless steel frame, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back	Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused glass back

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
Operating system	iOS 14	iOS 18
OS updates	6 years	6 years
Security updates	7 years	7 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Specification	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 16 Plus
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$999	$899Winner