Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Apple iPhone X

The Verdict

The iPhone 12 mini is the clear winner here, offering substantially better value and modern technology at $300 less than the iPhone X. Display quality heavily favors the 12 mini, which features a brighter Super Retina XDR panel at 1200 nits versus the X's 625 nits, delivering superior visibility and color accuracy. Performance is dramatically better with the A14 Bionic processor crushing the aging A11, delivering faster apps, better gaming, and improved AI capabilities. Camera systems reflect their generational gap: the 12 mini's f/1.6 main sensor with advanced computational photography outperforms the X's f/1.8 lens, while the X's 2x telephoto is offset by the 12 mini's superior software processing. Battery capacity favors the X at 2716 mAh versus 2227 mAh, but real-world endurance is comparable due to the 12 mini's efficient A14 chipset. The 12 mini adds 5G connectivity, MagSafe wireless charging, and IP68 water resistance (versus IP67), plus it's significantly lighter at 133g. iOS 14 on the 12 mini also provides years of additional software support compared to the aging X. Storage maxes at 256GB on both, though the 12 mini's base offering is 64GB. The iPhone X feels dated in 2024, making the 12 mini the superior choice unless you specifically need the larger 5.8-inch display and telephoto lens.