Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 13
Compare Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 13 side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A15 Bionic, 12MP vs 12MP camera, 2815mAh vs 3240mAh battery, $699 vs $599…
Apple
iPhone 12
$699
3categories won
Apple
iPhone 13
$599
4categories won
14 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 13 takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 13 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. For battery longevity and charging speed, the iPhone 13 takes the lead, while the iPhone 12 is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the iPhone 13 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
iPhone 13 takes battery honors offering 3,240 mAh alongside 20W charging.
iPhone 12 leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Apple A14 Bionic and 4GB RAM.
Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.
iPhone 13 wins on budget and value at $599 compared to $699.
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 vs iPhone 13: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.1" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1170 x 2532 |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 457 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 1200 nits |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Process node | 5 nm | 5 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 3,200,000Winner | 1,240,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 10800Winner | 5320 |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,815 mAh | 3,240 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 20 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 164 gWinner | 174 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mm | 7.65 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back and aluminum design | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18 | iOS 15 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 6 years |
| Security updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699 | $599Winner |
Apple iPhone 12
The Apple iPhone 12 upgraded the best-selling base model formula with a stunning Super Retina XDR OLED panel, Ceramic Shield glass, 5G capabilities, and featherlight 164g ergonomics.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A14 Bionic
- Main camera
- 12MP
- Battery
- 2,815mAh
Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 introduced sensor-shift optical image stabilisation to mainstream phones, reduced the TrueDepth notch by 20%, doubled base storage to 128GB, and delivered outstanding battery efficiency with the 5nm A15 Bionic.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A15 Bionic
- Main camera
- 12MP
- Battery
- 3,240mAh