Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 12 Comparison and Differences
Smartphone 1
Apple iPhone 15
Smartphone 2
Apple iPhone 12
Smartphone 3
Differences between Apple iPhone 15 and Apple iPhone 12 - Which to Choose?
Reasons to consider the iPhone 15:
- More powerful Apple A16 Bionic chipset which should offer better performance than the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.
- Larger battery capacity at 3349 mAh compared to 2815 mAh in iPhone 12, potentially offering longer battery life.
- Higher RAM of 6GB which may contribute to better multitasking capabilities compared to the iPhone 12's 4GB.
- Improved camera system with higher megapixel count (48 MP) that could provide better photo quality.
- Latest iOS version out of the box (iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.2).
- Supports faster Bluetooth version 5.3.
- Higher screen resolution (1179 x 2556) which provides sharper image quality.
- Enhanced fast charging capabilities at 25W and additional wireless and reverse charging options.
- Improved AnTuTu v10 benchmark scores, indicating better overall performance.
- New features such as Emergency SOS via satellite.
- Improved Face ID sensor for enhanced biometrics.
Reasons to consider the iPhone 12:
- Lower starting price which might be more budget-friendly.
- Lighter weight at 164g compared to 171g for the iPhone 15, which might be preferred by some users for comfort.
- Despite being an older model, iPhone 12 still offers 5G connectivity.
- Excellent camera performance that still holds up well, with dual 12 MP cameras.
- A still-strong iOS ecosystem with periodic software updates and access to the Apple App Store.
- Support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 on the display, ensuring high-quality video playback.
- Comes in multiple color options providing a variety of choices for personal preferences.
- Proven build quality and resilience with an IP68 dust/water resistance rating.
When choosing between these two models, factors like budget, performance requirements, camera capabilities, battery life, and the need for the latest software should be considered. The iPhone 15 generally offers advancements in technology, performance, and features as expected from a newer model. However, the iPhone 12 continues to be a strong contender with robust capabilities and a potentially more attractive price point for users who do not require the latest specs.
Apple iPhone 15 or Apple iPhone 12 Specs Comparison
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Common specs
| Brand and model | Apple iPhone 15 | Apple iPhone 12 | |
| Rating | (+0) | (+1) | |
| Release date | 2023, September 12 | 2020, October 13 | |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 5.81 x 5.81 x 2.82 in | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 5.78 x 5.78 x 2.81 in | |
| Weight | 171 g | 6.03 oz | 164 g | 5.78 oz | |
| Body Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | |
| Case | buy from Amazon | buy from Amazon | |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink | Black, White, Red, Green, Blue | |
| Battery | 3349 mAh, Li-Ion, non-removable | 2815 mAh, Li-Ion, non-removable | |
| Battery life |
Stand by time - Up to 17 h (multimedia) Music play - Up to 65 h |
||
| Approximate price | $ 899 | 880 EUR | |
| Check price | from Amazon | from Amazon |
Screen
| Technology | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED | |
| Touchscreen | capacitive touchscreen | capacitive touchscreen | |
| Display colors | 16M | 16M | |
| Screen size | 6.1" in | 6.1" in | |
| Screen area | 91.3 cm2 | 90.2 cm2 | |
| Screen format | 19.5:9 (height:width) | 19.5:9 (height:width) | |
| Screen to body ratio | 86.4% | 86.0% | |
| Screen resolution | 1179 x 2556 px | 1170 x 2532 px | |
| Screen PPI /points per inch/ | 461 PPI | 460 PPI | |
| Screen protection | Ceramic Shield glass | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | |
| Other specs | - HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak) - |
- Dolby Vision -Wide color gamut -True-tone -HDR10 -625 nits (typ) -1200 nits (peak) |
|
| Screen protector | buy from Amazon | buy from Amazon |
Camera and Video
| Rear camera, main | 48 MP, Dual | 12 MP, Dual | |
| Camera specs | -48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS -12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS -12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6'' |
|
| Functions | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), Cinematic mode (4K@30fps), stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec. | |
| DxOMark Main Score | 145 | 122 | |
| DxOMark Photo | 147 | 132 | |
| DxOMark Video | 153 | 112 | |
| Front camera, selfie | 12 MP, Single | 12 MP, Dual | |
| Specifications | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6'' SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
|
| Functions | HDR, Cinematic mode (4K@30fps) | HDR | |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | |
| DxOMark Selfie Score | 149 | 98 | |
| DxOMark Photo | 145 | 101 | |
| DxOMark Video | 156 | 93 |
Performance
| Operating system - OS | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.2 | iOS 14.1 | |
| Chipset | - Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | - Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | |
| CPU | - Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth) | - Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) | |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | |
| External memory | No | No | |
| Internal memory | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
Benchmark
| Antutu 10 Total | 1374104 | 1070567 | |
| Antutu 10 CPU | 356479 | 281737 | |
| Antutu 10 GPU | 444086 | 326234 | |
| Antutu 10 Mem | 255398 | 170150 | |
| Antutu 10 UX | 356479 | 281737 | |
| Antutu 8 Total | 598478 | ||
| GeekBench 6 Single Core | 2545 | 1998 | |
| GeekBench 6 Multi Core | 6315 | 4418 | |
| GeekBench 6 Metal | 22441 | 15923 | |
| GeekBench 5 Single Core | 2519 | 1580 | |
| GeekBench 5 Multi-Core | 6165 | 3920 |
Communication and Connectivity
| SIM card | Nano-SIM and eSIM - International Dual eSIM with multiple numbers - USA Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) - China |
Single SIM (Nano-SIM and/or eSIM)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) - for China | |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | |
| Bands | -2G - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM) CDMA 800 / 1900 -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -4G - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66, 71 -5G - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave |
-2G - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM) - for China CDMA 800 / 1900 -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -4G - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2176 -5G - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2176 |
|
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | |
| GPRS | Yes | Yes | |
| Edge | Yes | Yes | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort | Lightning, USB 2.0 | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE | |
| Harmful irradiation |
SAR - 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) SAR EU - 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
SAR EU - 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
Music and Audio
| Radio | No | No | |
| Headphone jack | No | No | |
| Others |
Other features
| Sensors | - Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | - Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | |
| Other extras |
- Ultra Wideband 2 (UWB) support -Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving) - 25W Fast charging 50% in 30 min -Power Delivery 2.0 -15W wireless (MagSafe) -15W wireless (Qi2) -4.5W reverse wired - IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) -Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
- Siri natural language commands and dictation - Fast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min -USB Power Delivery 2.0 -Qi fast wireless charging 15W - IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) -Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
|
| Versions |
- Versions: A2399 (International); A2176 (USA); A2398 (Canada, Japan); A2400 (China); A2399 (Hong Kong) |
Reviews and Opinions on Apple iPhone 15 and Apple iPhone 12
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