Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 18
Compare Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 18 side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A20 (2nm TSMC), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 2815mAh vs 3800mAh battery, $699 vs…
Apple
iPhone 12
$699
2categories won
Apple
iPhone 18
$899
14categories won
5 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 18 takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 18 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 18 leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18. Choose the iPhone 18 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 18 takes battery honors offering 3,800 mAh alongside 35W charging.
iPhone 18 provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 (2nm TSMC) and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 18 takes photography with 48MP optics.
iPhone 12 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $899.
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 18: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.3" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1179 x 2556Winner |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 447 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A20 (2nm TSMC) |
| Process node | 5 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 3,200,000 | 3,200,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 10800 | 10800 |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 18 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,815 mAh | 3,800 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 35 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 164 gWinner | 172 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mm | 7.6 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back and aluminum design | Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18 | iOS 20 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $899 |
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 18
The base iPhone 18 finally adopts smooth 120Hz ProMotion display technology alongside TSMC’s bleeding-edge 2nm Apple A20 chip, dual 48MP Fusion optics, and dedicated Camera Control 2.0.
- Display
- 6.3"
- Chipset
- Apple A20 (2nm TSMC)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,800mAh