Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17
Compare Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A19, 12MP vs 50MP camera, 2815mAh vs 3650mAh battery, $699 vs $799. Full…
Apple
iPhone 12
$699
5categories won
Apple
iPhone 17
$799
13categories won
3 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 17 takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 17 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. For battery longevity and charging speed, the iPhone 17 takes the lead, while the iPhone 12 is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the iPhone 17 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 17 takes battery honors offering 3,650 mAh alongside 45W charging.
iPhone 12 leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Apple A14 Bionic and 4GB RAM.
iPhone 17 takes photography with 50MP optics.
iPhone 12 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $799.
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 17: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.27" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1179 x 2556Winner |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 449 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 2500 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A19 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 3,200,000Winner | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 10800Winner | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 8 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 50 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 16 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,815 mAh | 3,650 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 45 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 164 gWinner | 171 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mmWinner | 7.8 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back and aluminum design | Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused matte glass back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18 | iOS 19 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $799 |
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 17
The standard iPhone 17 represents the biggest upgrade to the base iPhone in years: 120Hz ProMotion is finally standard, accompanied by the 3nm A19 chip and 25W MagSafe fast charging.
- Display
- 6.27"
- Chipset
- Apple A19
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 3,650mAh