Apple iPhone 12 vs Apple iPhone XR
The Verdict
iPhone 12 significantly outperforms the iPhone XR across nearly all critical dimensions. Display quality is substantially superior, featuring OLED Super Retina XDR technology with 1200 nits brightness compared to XR's 625-nit IPS LCD, resulting in dramatically better contrast and color accuracy. Performance gap is pronounced: A14 Bionic chip demolishes the older A12, delivering roughly 40% faster CPU performance and better efficiency. Camera systems favor iPhone 12 with improved low-light performance from f/1.6 aperture, superior TrueDepth front camera at 12MP versus 7MP, and Dolby Vision HDR video. Additional benefits include 5G connectivity, MagSafe charging, IP68 water resistance (vs IP67), and modern iOS 14 software. Battery capacity favors XR slightly, but 12's efficiency negates this advantage. At $799 versus $749, iPhone 12 justifies its premium through tangible improvements in everyday experience. iPhone XR feels dated in comparison.
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 XR if…
- →Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- →Great battery life for the era
- →Six vibrant color options
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 XR
Pros
- Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- Great battery life for the era
- Six vibrant color options
- Same A12 Bionic as the XS models
- More affordable entry into Face ID iPhones
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution
- Single rear camera only
- Thicker bezels than XS
- Only 3 GB RAM
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone XR |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | iOS 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 194 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 2942 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 7.5W Qi |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1792 x 828 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 625 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Apple GPU (4-core) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | Lightning |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
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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