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Apple iPhone 12 models - comparison, specs, and which one is best for you

By Peter Kostadinov

Updated: Jul 06, 2021, 3:01 AM

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iPhone 12 models

Which iPhone 12 should you buy? The new iPhone 12 models exert a heavy toll when it comes to answering that question.

Apple has unveiled four new iPhones, the most new devices we've been ever treated to at a single time, and the opportunities for upgrade are now seemingly more than ever. The affordable iPhone 12 is now available in two sizes that are perfectly suited to cater to any taste, whereas the more feature-rich Pro models are now larger than ever and, naturally, come along with all the top features Apple has in its arsenal. The iPhone 12 Pro Max stands out as the most advanced new iPhone, though its price is also higher than its brethren.

iPhone 13 leaks, release date, price, and specs

With so many iPhone users around, it's more than natural that those flaunting an older model would find the new iPhone 12 series appealing. Despite the fact that the new iPhones don't come with 120Hz displays, which is a very nice feature to have, now is arguably the best time to upgrade your older device to the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max: all iPhones come with one of the fastest and most efficient chips, have OLED displays, versatile camera setups, and finally, incorporate arguably the best design Apple has ever come up with, a nostalgic flashback to the iPhone 4/4s era.

But which iPhone 12 model should you buy? We are going to get to the bottom of this by evaluating each new model and making clear which new iPhone 12 phone is the right match for you.

iPhone 12 mini specs and overview

iPhone 12 mini summary

Don't let the "mini" moniker fool you: the iPhone 12 mini is just as adept as the iPhone 12 Pro/12 Pro Max thanks to the A14 Bionic chipset inside. Sure, there's only 4GB of RAM and the top models have 6, but that probably shouldn't be an issue as Apple's memory management is usually well-optimized.

Prices start at $699 for the 64GB variant, $749 for the 128GB option, and $849 for the 256GB version. The unlocked 64GB iPhone 12 goes for $729, 128GB - $779, and the 256GB one is $879.

Apple iPhone 12 mini

- 5.4", A14 Bionic, 4GB RAM, dual-camera, 5G

$699

Buy at Apple

iPhone 12 specs and overview

iPhone 12 summary

The iPhone 12 succeeds the iPhone 11, and subsequently, the iPhone XR as the 'affordable' iPhone in Apple's lineup. Yet, unlike the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR, which were pretty similar to one another, the iPhone 12 scores a new design, an OLED display, and 5G support. Just like the rest of the iPhone 12 lineup, the iPhone 12 comes with the 5nm A14 Bionic chipset, so there won't be any compromises in the performance aspect.

To say that the iPhone 12 is the best value-for-money new iPhone probably wouldn't be an overstatement. Aside from the better cameras, the iPhone 12 is extremely similar to the iPhone 12 Pro, which sells for a lot more. Seemingly, the iPhone 12 strikes the best balance between features and pricing. The iPhone 12 is available for preorder right now and officially hit the shelves October 23.

Prices start at $799 for the 64GB variant, $849 for the 128GB option, and $949 for the 256GB version. The unlocked 64GB iPhone 12 goes for $829, 128GB - $879, and the 256GB one is $979.

Apple iPhone 12

- 6.1" Super Retina XDR, Apple A14 Bionic, 5G, Dual camera

$799

Buy at Apple

Buy iPhone 12 at Best Buy (Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile)

Further reading:
iPhone 12 is official: Welcome to 5G
iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
iPhone 12 vs OnePlus 8T

iPhone 12 Pro specs and overview

iPhone 12 Pro summary

The iPhone 12 Pro is the smaller of the two new high-end iPhones. While at first sight it looks pretty similar to the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro has a couple of strengths over the more affordable model. It has a 2x telephoto camera assisted by a LiDAR sensor for precise depth-measurement, both of which are absent on the cheaper models. The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch display (a bit bigger than the 5.8" on the iPhone 11 Pro) and starts at a price of $1,000, and arrives in Apple's three signature colors: silver, graphite, and gold, as well as a fourth, brand new color option, a blue model. Storage for the base model is 128GB, and you can also buy a 256GB and a 512GB versions.

Prices start at $999 for the 128GB variant, $1099 for the 256GB option, and $1299 for the 512GB version, no matter if carrier-locked or SIM-free.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

- 6.1" Super Retina XDR, Apple A14 Bionic, 5G, Triple camera

$999

Buy at Apple

Buy iPhone 12 Pro at Best Buy (Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile)

iPhone 12 Pro Max specs and overview

iPhone 12 Pro Max summary

The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen (slightly larger than the 6.5" on the iPhone 11 Pro Max), and its base price is set at $1,100. It arrives in the same choice of colors: silver, graphite, gold and the new blue option, and it is also offered in the same storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

Prices start at $1099 for the 128GB variant, $1199 for the 256GB option, and $1299 for the 512GB version, no matter if carrier-locked or SIM-free.

iPhone 12 series models - Full specs

	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 12	iPhone 12 mini
Display	6.7" Super Retina OLED, 2778x1284 pixels	6.1" Super Retina OLED, 2532x1170 pixels	6.1" Super Retina OLED, 2532x1170 pixels	5.4" Super Retina OLED, 2340x1080 pixels
Processor	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Camera	12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto, 12MP front	12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto, 12MP front	12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP front	12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP front
Battery	3687mAh	2815mAh	2815mAh	2227mAh

Which iPhone 12 is the one best for you?

If you're part of the ecosystem and usually go for the largest and best iPhone, have used either the iPhone 11 Pro Max or the iPhone XS Max, or simply always go for the very best, then there's no second way about it: you should shortlist the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

If you generally like the screen size and overall footprint of the iPhone XR/iPhone 11/iPhone 12, but want to go for more oomph, then the new iPhone 12 Pro seems like the perfect match for you. It has it all, though the more affordable price tag of the iPhone 12 probably spells bad news for the iPhone 12 Pro.

The iPhone 12 should be considered by those swearing by the iPhone 11 or the XR. But don't let that be a limiting factor: the iPhone 12 feels like an excellent entry into the Apple ecosystem and should be the shortlisted by Android users willing to switch. If you're still holding onto an iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 8 Plus, then the iPhone 12 should be taken into your consideration.

If you're still rocking an older, smaller iPhone, like the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone 8, or iPhone SE (1st gen), then the new iPhone 12 mini should definitely spark your interest. It's the smallest new iPhone, with a 5.4-inch display, but thanks to its bezel-busting design, it's actually more compact than the 4.7-inch devices with the old design. Thus, people who don't want a large phone are very likely to find their match made in heaven with the iPhone 12 mini.

Best iPhone 12 deals in 2021

Check out the best deals on any of the iPhone 12 series by visiting the links below.

Further reading:
iPhone 12 Pro Max is now official with 5G, triple camera, more
iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone XS Max

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Peter, an experienced tech enthusiast at PhoneArena, is captivated by all things mobile. His impartial reviews and proficiency in Android systems offer readers valuable insights. Off-duty, he delves into the latest cryptocurrency trends and enjoys sci-fi and video games.