Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone 16

The Verdict

Both iPhones maintain the $799 price point while the iPhone 16 delivers meaningful upgrades across nearly every dimension. The 16 features a substantially better main camera at 48MP versus 12MP, enabling sharper photos and better zoom capabilities. Display brightness jumps from 1200 to 2000 nits, making outdoor visibility noticeably superior. Battery capacity increases by 746 mAh (3561 vs 2815), paired with faster 25W MagSafe wireless charging against 15W. RAM doubles from 4GB to 8GB, supporting smoother multitasking and app performance. The A18 processor outpaces the A14 Bionic with a newer architecture and more GPU cores, while iOS 18 brings generative AI features unavailable on iOS 14. The iPhone 16 trades Ceramic Shield for standard glass and gains USB-C with Wi-Fi 7 support. Weight increases slightly to 170g. For most buyers at this price, the 16 is the obvious choice thanks to the superior camera, brighter display, larger battery, and modern software. The 12 only makes sense if you absolutely need the lighter weight (164g) or already own Lightning accessories, but those benefits hardly justify older hardware.