Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 14
The Verdict
Both phones maintain the same $799 price point with identical 6.1-inch OLED displays and 60Hz refresh rates. iPhone 14 pulls ahead with a newer A15 Bionic processor versus iPhone 12's A14, delivering noticeably faster performance and better energy efficiency. Battery capacity increases from 2815 mAh to 3279 mAh, providing approximately 20 percent longer endurance on iPhone 14. RAM jumps from 4GB to 6GB, improving multitasking fluidity. Camera specifications appear identical on paper (12MP main, ultrawide, front sensors), though iPhone 14 benefits from improved computational photography. iPhone 12 offers the Ceramic Shield front, which iPhone 14 removed. Software matters significantly here: iPhone 14 launches with iOS 16 while iPhone 12 starts at iOS 14, meaning iPhone 14 owners receive two additional years of immediate feature parity. For buyers at this price tier, iPhone 14 represents substantially better value through superior processor performance, increased RAM, and improved battery longevity. iPhone 12 only makes sense if Ceramic Shield or existing ecosystem attachment strongly appeals.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Apple iPhone 14 if…
- →Emergency SOS via satellite debuted on iPhone 14
- →Action mode for stabilized video without a gimbal
- →Reliable A15 Bionic performance for daily tasks
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Apple iPhone 14
Pros
- Emergency SOS via satellite debuted on iPhone 14
- Action mode for stabilized video without a gimbal
- Reliable A15 Bionic performance for daily tasks
- Comfortable lightweight body
- Crash Detection safety feature
Cons
- Carries over A15 Bionic from iPhone 13 Pro
- No 48 MP camera upgrade reserved for Pro models
- Still uses Lightning at $799
- Only 60Hz display with no ProMotion
- Same design as iPhone 13
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | iOS 16 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 172 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3279 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 20W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W MagSafe |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2532 x 1170 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Hexa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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