Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Compare Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro side by side: Apple A14 Bionic vs Apple A20 Pro, 12MP vs 48MP camera, 2815mAh vs 4288mAh battery, $699 vs…
Apple
iPhone 12
$699
3categories won
Apple
iPhone 18 Pro
$1,199
12categories won
1 categories tied · 16 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 18 Pro takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 12, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 18 Pro leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18 Pro. Choose the iPhone 18 Pro if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 12 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 18 Pro takes battery honors offering 4,288 mAh.
iPhone 18 Pro provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 Pro and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 18 Pro takes photography with 48MP optics and 4x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone 12 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1199.
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 Pro: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.3" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1206 x 2622Winner |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A20 Pro |
| Process node | 5 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 3,200,000 | — |
| Geekbench multi | 10800 | — |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 2TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3Winner |
| Optical zoom | — | 4x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 18 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision | 4K at 120 fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,815 mAh | 4,288 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | — |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 164 gWinner | 211 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mmWinner | 8.75 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Ceramic Shield front, glass back and aluminum design | Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 18 | iOS 27 |
| OS updates | 6 years | — |
| Security updates | 6 years | — |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 12 | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $1,199 |
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 Pro
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is a $1199 flagship smartphone built for mobile photographers and power users. Featuring a 2nm A20 Pro chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a triple 48MP camera system with variable aperture, it delivers top-tier performance but relies on a standard aluminum unibody.
- Display
- 6.3"
- Chipset
- Apple A20 Pro
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 4,288mAh