Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
Both flagships share a $999 price point, but the iPhone 14 Pro delivers substantially better value two years later. Display technology shows a marked upgrade: the 14 Pro's 120Hz LTPO OLED panel with 2000 nits brightness obliterates the 12 Pro's 60Hz, 800-nit screen—a critical difference for scrolling smoothness and outdoor visibility. Camera performance heavily favors the newer model, featuring a 48MP main sensor versus 12MP, enabling superior detail capture and 8K video recording. Processing power separates them significantly: A16 Bionic vastly outperforms the A14, handling computational photography and gaming with ease. Battery capacity increased from 2815mAh to 3200mAh, paired with faster 27W charging. iOS 16 on the 14 Pro introduces lock screen customization and advanced features absent from the 12 Pro's iOS 14. Both maintain IP68 durability and MagSafe. At identical pricing, the iPhone 14 Pro's generational leap—superior display, camera, performance, and software—makes it the unambiguous choice for new buyers.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Apple iPhone 14 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | iOS 16 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 206 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Stainless steel frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 48 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | 12 MP 3x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3200 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 27W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W MagSafe |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 2000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Hexa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Pros
- First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
- ProRAW format for professional photo editing
- Flat-edge design revival praised for aesthetics
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display at Pro pricing
- Small 2815 mAh battery requires charging daily
- Charger removed from box controversially
- 2.5x telephoto falls short of Android competition
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Pros
- Introduced the Dynamic Island cutout design
- Massive 48 MP camera jump with ProRAW support
- Always-on display first on iPhone
- ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Compact Pro form factor easy to handle one-handed
Cons
- Still uses Lightning connector at $999
- Heavy stainless steel frame
- Charging speeds lag far behind Android rivals
- Smaller battery than Pro Max model
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