Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Air
Compare Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 17 Air side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A19 Pro (2nm), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 2815mAh vs 3150mAh battery, $699 vs…
Apple
iPhone 12
$699
4categories won
Apple
iPhone 17 Air
$1,099
14categories won
2 categories tied · 20 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 17 Air takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 17 Air proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. For battery longevity and charging speed, the iPhone 17 Air takes the lead, while the iPhone 12 is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the iPhone 17 Air if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 17 Air takes battery honors offering 3,150 mAh alongside 25W charging.
iPhone 12 leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Apple A14 Bionic and 4GB RAM.
iPhone 17 Air takes photography with 48MP optics and 1x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone 12 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1099.
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 Air: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.6" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1260 x 2740Winner |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 457 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 2800 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A19 Pro (2nm) |
| Process node | 5 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 3,200,000Winner | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 10800Winner | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 256GB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2Winner | 1 |
| Optical zoom | — | 1x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 24 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,815 mAh | 3,150 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 25 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 164 g | 149 gWinner |
| Thickness | 7.4 mm | 5.5 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back and aluminum design | Grade 5 Titanium mid-plate, ultra-thin ceramic back, Ceramic Shield 2 front |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 17 Air |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Air |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $1,099 |
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 Air
Measuring an astonishing 5.5mm and weighing only 149 grams, the iPhone 17 Air represents Apple’s most daring design revolution since the iPhone X, delivering full A19 Pro power in a featherweight frame.
- Display
- 6.6"
- Chipset
- Apple A19 Pro (2nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,150mAh